Questions that Help Bring Conviction

"Stop that right now!" Unfortunately, that phrase can easily begin to summarize my approach to parenting. Because of my self-centeredness, laziness and desire to have children who parent themselves, I can easily fall back into focusing on behavior modification ("Stop doing that!") rather than heart transformation. My ultimate goal in parenting is to help my children realize their need for a Savior, to love Him and live for Him. Working toward that goal takes more effort than barking abrupt commands - it often requires asking questions that help my child to see what is in his or her heart. Here are some questions that I found in Lou Priolo's Teach Them Diligently that help in that process:

Questions that Help Bring Conviction

1. Do you know what God calls what you just did/said?
2. Do you realize that what you did is a sin? The Bible calls it ________.
3. Can you think of a more gracious way to say that?
4. What exactly did you do? (Instead of "Did you do that?")
5. What went through your mind when you did/said that?
6. What did you want (long for, crave) when you did/said that?
7. Are you more concerned about pleasing yourself or pleasing God?
8. How exactly was God glorified by what you said/did?
9. How did those words build up or give grace to that person?