What is a parent to do? Maybe you have heard people say this in embarrassment as their child throws himself angrily to the floor to thrash around in a tantrum fit. Maybe you have made the statement yourself. Parents face challenges. Bickering and quarreling among siblings, children who use profanity, or who seem to delight in breaking the rules of the home.

What is a parent to do? Do you let them get away with it this time because you are too busy or too tired? Do you give them a second, third or fourth chance. Do you say, “You’d better do what I say before I count to ten or I am going to . . .” then count real slowly hoping to avoid the confrontation?

What is a parent to do? Do you cover for your child to avoid getting him/her suspended from school? Do you cover for your child to keep him/her from being hauled into juvenile court? Do you bail your grown child out of jail when he/she is caught shoplifting?

What is a parent to do? Do you take on an extra job so you can support your family as well as your grown son or daughter and their kids who are too lazy to get a job, or are too proud to work for minimum wage? Do you pay their overdue bills so they don’t get evicted from their apartment?

The Canning family is faced with some tough questions. The news article we will use to set the background for this lesson will lead us to discuss the biblical roles of parents and children. We will struggle with the ethical and the biblical ramifications as we endeavor to discover how God would have us conduct ourselves as Christian parents or children.

Lesson Objective: By the end of this lesson students should have a clear picture of the biblical roles of parents and children.