Welcome Prompt:

Welcome to our small group! Tonight, we’re diving into parenting—specifically, how to disciple our kids intentionally towards Christ-likeness. Parenting can be complex, but our goal is clear: nurturing resilient disciples who love God deeply. Our desire is inward transformation, becoming spiritually mature as disciples ourselves, which produces Christ-like fruit in our relationships, homes, and world.

Opening Prayer Prompt:

Lord, thank You for the children You have put in our lives to steward. Give us wisdom, unity, and a heart for discipleship. Guide our discussion tonight so we might better reflect Your love and purpose in our homes. Amen.

Purpose of our Small Groups at Real Life:

Our small groups at Real Life exist to help people grow in spiritual maturity in relationship. We believe discipleship means loving God wholeheartedly and loving others genuinely. Tonight’s conversation about parenting seasons supports this vision, helping us steward the next generation toward spiritual maturity.

Group Guideline:

Fight for Relationship: Parenting often brings strong emotions, disagreements, or different viewpoints. Commit to maintaining relationship above disagreements. When conflict or differences in parenting approaches occur, especially between spouses, fight for unity and relationship by addressing these differences with humility and openness.

Fun Icebreaker Question:

What’s one funny or unforgettable lesson you have learned from a child?

Main Idea from the Sermon:

In every parenting season, our goal remains consistent: raising resilient disciples of Jesus by partnering with God, prioritizing our marriage, and living our faith visibly each day.

Main Passage:

Deuteronomy 6:4–9 & Ephesians 6:1–4

Head Level Questions:

1. From Deuteronomy 6:4-9, what specific actions does God instruct parents to take in discipling their children?
2. What does Paul identify as essential to healthy parent-child relationships in Ephesians 6:1–4?

Heart Level Questions:

1. How does the idea of raising resilient disciples change or reinforce your beliefs about parenting?
   • Follow-Up: Why do you think resilience is important spiritually?
2. Reflecting on the command in Ephesians 6:4 to avoid provoking our children to anger (NIV uses exasperate, meaning to irritate or frustrate intensely), what might need adjustment in your parenting?
   • Follow-Up: What’s the difference between enforcing discipline and exasperating your kids?
3. What does it look like to raise children in the training and discipline of the Lord?
4. From the sermon, which aspect of parenting (keeping your eyes on the target, marriage priority, or living a life on display) challenges your heart the most right now?

Hand & Feet Level Questions:

1. What practical steps can you take this week to visibly model your faith?
2. How could  intentionally prioritizing marriage impact the spiritual growth of children in your life?
3. Challenging: If parenting is stewardship rather than ownership, identify one area where you struggle to trust God fully with the children in your life. How can you practically surrender this area?

Recap:

Tonight, we’ve explored God’s clear call to intentionally disciple our children in every parenting season. We discussed practical strategies and heart attitudes needed to partner with God effectively, prioritize our marriages, and model authentic faith at home. Remember, parenting with purpose is about stewardship, unity, and resilient discipleship.

Closing Prayer Prompt:

Father, help us steward our families faithfully, reflecting Your love, grace, and truth. Strengthen our marriages, guide our parenting, and empower us to live transparently before our children, pointing them always toward You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.