1. What are some ways that parenting today is similar to, and different from, earlier generations? Were yesterday’s parents also “scared and overwhelmed”? Do today’s parents tend to hover too much? What role should cell phones play in parenting? Are our children too closely programmed? To what degree is materialism a threat to our families?
2. A parent laments that “society puts so much pressure on children to give up their innocence at a very young age.” Do you agree? How can the church help parents reduce this pressure? How closely should parents control their children’s playmates and activities? What can we learn about parenting from Luke 2:41-50, where 12-year-old Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem?
3. How does your congregation support parents of children and teenagers? How do children and teenagers get to know and feel connected to adults in the church? How could churches do a better job of coaching parents?
4. What advice would you give to today’s parents? Would you recommend Proverbs 23:13-14 regarding discipline? If you were playing the parent role over again, what would you do differently? What role will technology play in parenting in the future?
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