A major key to successful parenting is to begin with the end in mind. As a parent, our goal should not be our child’s happiness. Our goal should be to raise mature adults who will contribute to the world in a positive manner.

In the first scenario, we try to prepare the path for the child.
In the second scenario, we prepare the child for the path.

It is the same with God.
In the Old Testament, God was revered as a Deity, high above us.
In the New Testament, Jesus is revealed as our Savior, beside us.

Matthew 6:9
“Our Father, who is in heaven…”

God wants us and invites us to see Him as a loving Father, directly interested and involved in our lives.

And His main goal for us is to: Know our identity - who we are - His, bought with a price to grow and develop into mature adults who add value to His good world.

To grow, we need three things:

TO BE KNOWN

TO BE LOVED

TO BE CHALLENGED

John 15:2
…while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.


Heb 3:12-14
See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. 14We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end.

We are best when we are KNOWN, CHALLENGED, and LOVED.

If you are only Known and Challenged - you get LEGALISTIC
If you are only Loved and Challenged - you get DISCOURAGED
If you are only Known and Loved - you are OFFENDED

John 6:60-66
On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words and life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them. From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.

So What Do We Do Then? If We Are….

Legalist?
Realize we are loved for who we are, not what we do.

Discouraged?
Believe we are seen and we matter and are able to accomplish our mission and what’s happening.

Offended?
Believe that stretching and challenging is a necessary part of discipleship.

This is how to grow!!!!!!!