Give Them Grace - Chapter Two

1. What is the history of mankind's goodness and our attempts to be good?

Mankinds goodness didn't last long. As soon as Adam and Eve sinned they looked for a way to cover themselves....Cain killed his brother because he wanted to be as good as him. Our attempts at goodness fail every time.

2.How can we encourage our kids when they are obedient? Do our words really make a difference?

We can acknowledge when they obey by saying it reminds us of Christ's obedience and that it tells us that God is working in them.

Yes, our words help shape the way they see themselves and the way they see themselves before God....How HE sees them.

3. What should motivate our obedience and that of our children?

God's goodness. Grattitude for His goodness to us.

4. In what ways are human obedience and passive righteousness different? In what ways do we try to make them the same?

Righteousness is GIVEN to us by God in His grace and mercy toward us. We can't earn it. It is a gift given to us at salvation..."even though we continue to sin terribly". Human obedience can be accomplished by anyone, believer or non-believer alike. It's rule-keeping by self effort, relying on my abilities instead of Christ's righteousness. It's trying to accomplish righteousness on my own.

We SAY they are the same....not sure I'm clear on how I do this. Lord, please show me...


5. How does teaching our children about justification and Christ's righteousness help them?

It keeps them from feeling like they have to be good on their own. Keeps them from reaching for the impossilbe and being frustrated or turning into man-pleasers or slaves to the opinions of others. It points them to their need for Jesus and hopefully draw them to a real relationship with Him.


6.Where can parents and children find ultimate rest and hope in?

In what Christ did. In trusting in that.

7. Summarize what you have learned in this chapter in 3 or 4 sentences.

The number one thing I've been thinking about is how I speak to my kids. When I see them obey I must STILL point them to the work of Christ. That it is HIM at work in them....and in ME!

We need to stop and thank God when we obey.

People can be good without Christ, but they can't satisfy God's wrath with their own goodness. He is only satsified with the perfect life of Christ....and that is what He sees in us when we trust in Christ's righteousness instead of our own.

"Raising good kids is impossible unless they are drawn by the Holy Spirit to put their faith in the goodness of ANOTHER." This statement points me to Christ and MY desparate need for Him to draw my kids. I can't do it!