The Five Stages of Parenting - Week Four
Discipling the Next Generation
“The Five Stages of Parenting”
Luke 2:40
At the heart of both parenting and discipling is goal-oriented training.
If the overall goal is to develop God-centeredness, it will require:
optimizing stages, prioritizing goals and utilizing skills.
- Nurturing Trainer (0-1) Nurture them to trust.
Parenting goals: Helping kids feel loved and secure; learn to trust.
Discipleship goal: To set a foundation to learn God is love
Training skills: Attentive observation, showing love and affection, meeting
needs, engaging interaction, wisdom.
- Directive Trainer (1-5) Teach them to obey.
Parenting goals: Helping them feel loved and learn to listen and obey.
Discipleship goal: Connect with the Story of God and His character.
Training skills: Attentive observation, showing love and affection, patient instruction,
positive reinforcement, loving discipline, wisdom.
- Encouraging Trainer (5-12) Encourage them to learn.
Parenting goals: Helping them feel loved; begin to learn to make wise decisions.
Discipleship goals: Learn and reflect God’s character and that He has a purpose
for their life. Surrender their life to God. Praying and learning the Bible.
Training skills: Attentive observation, showing love and affection, teaching Scripture
and life skills, positive reinforcement, delegation, letting them fail, loving
discipline, wisdom.
- Supportive Coach (12-17) Gradually release them to decide.
Parenting goals: Helping them feel accepted, keeping communication open,
choosing healthy friends, making wise decisions, pursue God’s purpose
for their life.
Discipleship goals: Know their Bible; helping them live out their faith in word and
action, learn to trust God during crisis and difficulty, grow in prayer, live a God
centered life; growing in Christlikeness.
Training skills: Attentive observation, showing love and affection, positive
reinforcement, delegation, letting them fail, loving discipline, letting go,
communication, wisdom, trusting God.
- Caring Consultant (18+) Help them to discern.
Parenting goals: Help them feel supported, be available to help them to discern.
Discipleship goals: To feed themself from the Bible and do it consistently; joyfully and
confidently trust God during crisis and difficulty; live a God centered life; growing in Christlikeness; discipling others.
Training skills: Letting go, showing love and affection, wisdom, trusting God.
