Kingdom leaders often expend tremendous time and energy building their teams and organizations, leaving little time to focus on their personal lives. Yet, 1 Timothy 3 reminds us that leadership starts at home. Those in our own household are the most immediate and consistent people we lead. In this episode, we share practical tips for leading your children and family well from our Christian Life School of Theology Global online course, “A Theology of Parenting,” taught by faculty member Dr. Lon Flippo.
TODAY’S GUEST: DR. LON FLIPPO
Dr. Lon Flippo is a Christian Life School of Theology Global faculty member and Professor and Chair of Pastoral Studies at North Central University in Minneapolis, MN. With more than 30 years of pastoral ministry experience, Lon has written several Christian parenting books and publications related to faith, church, and parenting in a secularized society. He has also spoken at national conferences about family ministry best practices and parenting ministry.
EPISODE OVERVIEW
For most of us, technology and social media permeate our lives and parents are juggling the growing amount of extra-curricular activities our children are involved in.
Adding to these trending issues are the leadership questions that have always existed: How do we lead our children in love? How do we, as a family, serve others well? How do we relate to one another in healthy, life-giving ways? How do we parent and lead in such a way that our children will allow us opportunities to speak into their lives when they make mistakes?
In the Christian Life School of Theology Global course “A Theology of Parenting,” my long-time friend and faculty member, Dr. Lon Flippo, offers practical advice for today’s parents rooted in the Word of God and developmental psychology. He offers the following wisdom for leading your family:
Keep your view Godly. Focus on the eternal more than on what you can see. So often, we spend more time talking about the president, the culture, or silly YouTube videos than we do talking about God. Of course, it’s appropriate to talk to your kids about politics and have nonsensical fun, but most of us need more practice when it comes to focusing our lives and time spent together on Jesus.
Practice real grace and forgiveness daily. More than just small moments of Christlikeness, families need to make it part of who they are. In this way, when your kids and teens make mistakes, they are more likely to trust you with their hearts and share their struggles.
Maintain discipline. Parents should be on the same page with respect to discipline, never caving or giving up. If we do, we set in motion an entire generation that believes they can argue, cry or bargain their way out of consequences.
We should parent our children the way God parents His children. Has He ever broken relationship with you? Has He ever once taken away grace and forgiveness? No, He’s consistent and loving. Even when our kids break our hearts, we don’t break relationship.
Love like Jesus loved. When you don’t know what else to do for your kids, just love them.
Consider Apostle Paul’s admonishment shared in 1 Timothy 3:5: “If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?”
You can also subscribe to the Pinnacle Leaders Podcast with Dr. Langley to listen to this episode and others for more Biblical wisdom on the areas of lordship, leadership and lifestyle.
RELATED RESOURCES
A Theology of Parenting (CC410) – This CLSTG course is designed for Christian parents, grandparents, children’s ministry staff and everyone who wants to positively impact this emerging generation. Taught by CLSTG faculty member Dr. Lon Flippo, you will learn about a broad range of topics including: parenting skills, stages of child development, understanding temperament, communication, the dynamics of discipline, instilling self-esteem, how to be a technologically responsible parent, and much more. Learn more about this course by visiting: https://www.christianlifeschooloftheologyglobal.org/course/a-theology-of-parenting-cc410
“Leadership Soul Care in a Covid-19 World,” Pinnacle Leaders Podcast, Episode 3 – As a leader, it can often be challenging to make your own emotional and spiritual health a priority with all of the associated pressures of leading. You may be familiar with the expression “it’s lonely at the top.” For many Kingdom-minded leaders, feelings of social isolation and loneliness have been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. In this episode of the Pinnacle Leaders Podcast, Dr. Lon Flippo shares Biblical wisdom on the topic of leadership soul care. https://www.christianlifeschooloftheologyglobal.org/2021/01/04/pinnacle-leaders-podcast-leadership-soul-care-in-a-covid-19-world
QUOTES & SCRIPTURE TO REMEMBER
“I believe that, going forward, families are going to fast and take a day off from technology.” – Dr. Flippo
“You can’t over-pray with your children.” – Dr. Flippo
“What could we do as a family to serve more? To model service and giving?” – Dr. Flippo
“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” – 2 Corinthians 4:18
“Love like Jesus loved. When you don’t know what else to do for your kids, just love them.” – Dr. Flippo