Revolutionary Parenting

I recently finished "Revolutionary Parenting" by George Barna, based on the research and data that was collected over several years from - what he calls - "Spiritual Champions" and their "Revolutionary Parents". Because there was so much content presented in each chapter, he included a section at the end of each chapter called "Rapid Review". The following are the reviews from each chapter.

• You cannot control the outcome of your parenting efforts.
• Your responsibility is to be obedient to God in raising your children; you must leave the outcomes up to Him.
• Revolutionary Parents are great coaches.
• Count the costs involved in expanding your family.
• Socioeconomic factors do not provide an excuse for failing to produce spiritual champions. 
• Parenting is your primary full-time job. 

• Focusing upon raising spiritual champions is the chief obligation in the life of Revolutionary Parents.
• Faith in God is very real and central in the lives of Revolutionary Parents. That faith is perceived as the most valuable asset they can transfer to their children.
• Raising a spiritual champion for Christ requires developing and sustaining an authentic relationship with the child, based on love and trust.
• The Christian faith of Revolutionary Parents must be continually maturing.

• The world begin influencing the values and beliefs of your children sooner than you may think. You've got to join the fray when your children are very young. 
• Set responsible goals for your children and stick with them. 
• Every child requires a unique strategy and plan. You can apply the same principles with each child, but you must customize the implementation. 
• Don't force your little people to become big people before they're ready. Let them develop at a pace that suits their God-given makeup.
• Nothing will serve your children better than working on instilling godly character. 
• Use your time well; establish your parenting priorities and major on them.
• You're not your child's best friend, only his or her best parent.
• Your kids need stability; provide the structure that gives the support they need.
• Use your local church as a support system, not as the leader of your children's spiritual development journey. 
• Never lose sight of the big picture of what you are striving to facilitate. Daily nuisances get to you if you're not careful.

• Pick your fights. not everything merits a confrontation. Be prepared to win your battles. 
• Establish clear rules and expectations. You are responsible for establishing guidelines your children can understand and follow.
• Establish and enforce a curfew.
• Participate in the selection of your children's friends. Those peers have a dramatic influence on your children.
• Identity the media regimen you will allow for your children. Limits must be set and enforced, or your kids' media diet will expand according to the time available.
• Empower your children to adopt your morals and values.
• Identify a model of discipline you will use, and deploy in consistently.

• You are in charge of your family. That must be the undisputed truth in the minds of all residents of your household. You cannot allow the kids to challenge or mock your authority.
• Always keep your emotions under control. never let your anger take over.
• When your children ask for an explanation of your decisions or reasoning, give it to them. They deserve it, and it becomes a teaching moment for you. 
• Don't shortcut your role by trying to deliver "quality time" without "quantity time" `as well. Always invest ample time in your relationship and duties with your children.
• Model the principles and behaviors you want the kids to adopt.
• Be consistent. Nothing undermines your efforts like waffling or changing gears.
• Take on the role of spiritual mentor with enthusiasm and expectation. 

• You can't pass on what you don't possess, so be sure you have a vibrant relationship with God. Pursue Him and practice good spiritual habits.
• Regard the Bible as your guidebook. Trust it and rely on it in all circumstances.
• Embrace the existence and significance of absolute moral truths revealed by God.
• Be active in a community of faith.
• Never push salvation on your children. Lead them toward Christ, encourage them to accept Him, but allow the decision to be theirs.
• Serve other people with your children.
• Pray, regularly, openly, and faithfully.

• Teach your children to think independently, based on appropriate principles.
• Be careful that you do not burden your kids with too much activity and responsibility. Just like adults, they can burn out or crack under the stress.
• Help them learn important faith skills, such as prayer, Bible study, and worship.
• Explore different faiths with your children, pointing out similarities and differences.
• Teach your kids the central beliefs and principles of Christianity, using stories and teachings that have personal and practical applications. 

• Children are God's gift to you. Enjoy and treasure that gift.
• Always look out for your children's well-being. It's your job to protect them.
• In raising your children, work as an inseparable, mutually supportive team with your spouse.
• Remember that your children were made in god's image, not yours; raise them that way.
• We were made to be obedient. Satan lives to undermine those efforts. Do what you can to foster a commitment to doing whatever honors God.
• Discipline your children. It's your job. Nobody else can do it as effectively, nor should yo expect them to.
• Provide a positive, nurturing home environment. 
• Show your children what Christianity looks like by the way you live.
• Be firm but gentle with them. You want to shape them, not break them.
• Work at helping them to understand the Bible. It's more important than any other book they will ever read.
• Purify their character. It will define them for the rest of their lives.
• Obliterate any obstacles to their relationship with God.