Model Marriage by Bishop Dag Heward Mills

Model Marriage

Principle No. 2 – Your Environment Trains Your Children More

than You Do

The community your children live in and the school they attend influences them even more
than their parents. Accept the fact that the environment is training your child for you. Therefore,
make the effort to control their environment, and don’t just give them a set of rules to follow.

7 examples of the environmental things that affect your children:

1. The school your children attend.


2. Who their friends are [it is important to restrict the friendships of your children].


3. Television.


4. Church [create the environment for church].


5. Films.


6. Internet/computer.


7. Neighbours.

Principle No. 3 – Training Must Be Focused

Training is repeated action, which when left alone will be continued.

6 things you should train your children to do:

1. Train your child to attend church regularly [parents, demonstrate this by becoming
   regular church attendees yourselves!]


2. Train your child to have his/her quiet time everyday.^3


3. Train your child to pray.


4. Train your child to believe in a higher authority that will correct him.


5. Train them to work hard all the time and at everything they do.


6. Train them to be God-conscious at home.^4

And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And

thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when

thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou

liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon

thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.

Deut. 6:6-8

O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy

wondrous works. Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me

not; until I have shown thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to

everyone that is to come.

Psalm 71:17-18