Study Desk

And you, dear brothers and sisters, are children of the promise, just like Isaac.

So, dear brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman; we are children of the free woman.

And this is God's plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God's children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus.

Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won't be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.

Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do.

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.

so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.

Children, always obey your parents, for this pleases the Lord.

Fathers, do not aggravate your children, or they will become discouraged.

As apostles of Christ we certainly had a right to make some demands of you, but instead we were like children among you. Or we were like a mother feeding and caring for her own children.

And you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children.

For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don't belong to darkness and night.

He must manage his own family well, having children who respect and obey him.

A deacon must be faithful to his wife, and he must manage his children and household well.

But if she has children or grandchildren, their first responsibility is to show godliness at home and repay their parents by taking care of them. This is something that pleases God.

She must be well respected by everyone because of the good she has done. Has she brought up her children well? Has she been kind to strangers and served other believers humbly? Has she helped those who are in trouble? Has she always been ready to do good?

So I advise these younger widows to marry again, have children, and take care of their own homes. Then the enemy will not be able to say anything against them.

An elder must live a blameless life. He must be faithful to his wife, and his children must be believers who don't have a reputation for being wild or rebellious.

These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children,