*SUNDAY SCHOOL HYMN*

1. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,

O how I love Thee well,

I am happy, it makes me glad

To rejoice at Thy birth.

2. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,

Thy friend friendship suits me well,

Both young and will sing Thy song,

We long for Sunday School.

3. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,

Christ was Thy first teacher,

The Holy Spirit, great teacher,

Does manifest in thee.

4. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,

This testimony is sure,

That God, the Father Almighty,

Poured His blessing on Thee

5. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,

Though the sun be so bright,

Or if the clouds be black with rain,

I’ll be in Sunday School.

6. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day

I rejoice to see Thee,

Will thou pass over me today?

Without my being blest?

BIBLE PASSAGE: Esther 2:5-9.

[5] Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite;

[6] who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.

[7] And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter. [8] So it came to pass, when the king’s commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the king’s house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.

[9] And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out of the king’s house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women.

MEMORY VERSE: Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6

INTRODUCTION: Good parenting does not just happen. The actions we intentionally take or refuse to take and the ways we consciously parent in the midst of all of life’s challenges have a direct impact on our children. In this lesson, we shall consider what it means to parent intentionally and some of the ways to go about it.

OUTLINES:

1. INTENTIONAL PARENTING DESCRIBED

2. WAYS TO BE INTENTIONAL

1. INTENTIONAL PARENTING DESCRIBED

Intentional parenting means parenting with a goal (Habakkuk 2:2). It means being able to think through every step of your child’s stage of development (1Samuel 1:11). Intentional parenting means making informed and conscious parenting choices (Genesis 24:3-4; 1 Samuel 1:24).

Intentional parenting focuses on; what parents can do to help their children succeed (2Timothy 1:5; Proverbs 13:22a); what specific actions they will take to support their children’s strengths and weaknesses (Exodus 18:15-24; Ruth 3:1-5); how parents will facilitate the development of their children and what the outcome will look like (2 Timothy 3:14-15).

The goal of intentional parenting is to help children walk in the footsteps of godly parents (1 Corinthians 11:1). It is not permissive parenting; it involves giving up control to God while we intentionally do our part as parents (Genesis 18:19; Joshua 24:15). It also means parents understand themselves, their values, their motivations, strengths, and weaknesses. Intentional parenting begins with the parents and not with the child. It cannot be outsourced.

CLASS ACTIVITY 1: What are the goals and focus of intentional parenting?

2. WAYS TO BE INTENTIONAL

1. Believe that God has given you the power to influence your child positively (Philippians 4:13).

2. Get the right knowledge through the word of God, counselling, reading books on parenting, attending training/seminars, etc (Proverbs 4:7).

3. Know that childhood is neither a race nor a competition. There is no basis for comparison (2 Corinthians 10:12).

4. Give them age-appropriate responsibilities (Genesis 37:13-14; 1 Samuel 17:17-18).

5. Teach them essential life skills (Proverbs 31:1-9).

6. Deliberately teach them the word of God (Deuteronomy 6:6-7, 2 Timothy 3:15).

7. Accept your child’s uniqueness (Psalms 139:14).

8. Be a great role model (Titus 2:7).

9. Be consistent, persistent, and deliberate with discipline (Proverbs 29:15; Hebrews 12:7).

10. Communicate values clearly to your children. Do not parent on assumption (Psalms 78:2-4).

11. Be an emotionally intelligent parent (Colossians 3:21).

12. Work on yourself as a parent (Matthew 7:3-5).

CLASS ACTIVITY 2: Discuss the ways to be intentional in raising a child who is showing traces of disobedience.

CONCLUSION Parenting with intentionality will bring you and your child greater happiness (Proverbs 29:17). Start early.

QUESTIONS:

* Describe intentional parenting in three sentences

* Mention four things parents can do to be intentional in raising a child.

ASSIGNMENT: Mention any five (5) Bible characters that were intentionally parented with Bible reference. (2X5=10 Marks).