This summer, after reading Don’t Make Me Count to Three by Ginger Plowman, I started making flashcards for myself to study and learn the Biblical way to correct my children. I knew I had blown it many times in the past (and I still do! With Christ’s help, I’m working on it! Phil 4:13) and wanted to have an absolute truth for each situation and a Biblical reaction to that situation: for the squabbles amongst brothers, for the acts of disobedience or defiance, for the laziness and lack of self-discipline – you know, all the stuff we struggle with in our homes from time to time.
And after making flashcards using the specific examples in Ginger Plowman’s book, I started jotting down the scriptures I would need for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16). Only… the task was much bigger and deeper than what my time and effort were allowing for. I needed help with this task.
So, when I say this, I mean it: Of all the materials I could ever recommend to anyone (aside from the Bible), this one tops the list. All else pales in comparison. Why? Because if I’m deciding between a [fill-in-the-blank] curriculum or training in righteousness, training my children about what it means to love the Lord and others is the most important thing I can teach them. And, for the record, I need this for myself just as much as I need it for them. I am literally studying this book right now as I work through my own character issues (sins).
For Instruction in Righteousness is a topical Bible reference that can be used when your children need Biblical correction or discipleship. It organizes 52 different character problems into seven types of sins:
- Sins of a Proud Heart
- Sins of Discontent
- Sins of Unbelief
- Sins of an Undisciplined Life
- Sins of the Tongue
- Sins of an Unloving Heart
- Sins in Relationships
In the Introduction of this book, Pam Forster exhibits complete humility as she admits
“This book is the result of ignorance, not expertise… Raising children is a humbling experience; each new baby exposes more of my weaknesses…”
That very statement drew tears to my eyes. Someone else who I highly respect has felt ignorance in the area of training children “in the way they should go”? Simply reading the introduction was a great encouragement to me!
How the book is set up:
(Download the sample chapter on Arguing and Contention on this page.)
Each chapter contains the following with scripture references for each:
- General information and commandments about the sin (scripture references)
- What happens or should happen to the person committing the sin (with a suggestion for a consequence that parallels the Biblical consequence)
- What the person committing the sin should do instead of that sin (or what the Bible says about repenting or turning from this sin)
- What the Bible likens that sin to (and ideas for object lessons)
- Stories that illustrate the consequence of those who have committed the sin
- God’s blessings for those who resist this sort of temptation (with ideas on how to reward a child), and stories from the Bible about those who obeyed God’s Word.
- Verses to memorize.
In addition to these chapters, the appendix includes several ideas on how to help your child learn from scripture (e.g., using object lessons and parables), how to use For Instruction in Righteousness as a life-changing Bible study, and thoughts on rewarding children (including paying children for work).
In short, this concordance helps me to follow through with Biblical correction. It allows us as a family to dig deep into God’s Word as we focus on Biblical character training. There are so many lessons for each chapter that we can continue to study and/or correct behavioral issues but still have new stories/Bible verses/examples each time in which we can search out God’s truths about the issue.
Ultimately, I want my children to know that there is an absolute truth based upon God’s standards, not my own. I don’t want to flippantly respond to their complaining or arguing in whatever way I feel like at the moment, but rather use God’s Word as our ultimate guide. My hope and prayer is that by training them to seek God’s Word about such things, they will always be able to seek out truth in what they are dealing with in their lives.
You can read much, much more about this resource and download samples on the Doorposts website. Free Resources from Doorposts include a list of fun ways to build strong relationships with your children, a Mayflower Dinner idea, scriptures for moms, and courtship discussion topics. [Note: We have also used Doorposts Small Charts in our home.]
To purchase a copy of For Instruction in Righteousness, visit the Doorposts website. (There’s also a digital version of this product available.)
I was given a copy of this product in exchange for a review. This review is my honest opinion. Please download and try the free Arguing/Contention chapter to see for yourself how you might use this concordance in discipling your child! An Amazon affiliate link is contained within this post [which does not increase the cost of your purchase]. We use affiliate links to cover the costs of this website and for supporting ministries around the world. For our full disclosure policy click here.