Parent Discipleship Guide 17 May 2026

PARENT–CHILD DISCIPLESHIP GUIDE
FROM SELF-RELIANCE TO JESUS-RELIANCE 
Week 2: Under the Father’s Voice

Scripture as Discipleship for Mission

Big Idea to Repeat Each Day:
The Bible is not a guilt assignment. The Bible is the Father’s voice teaching us what is true, showing us Jesus, helping us turn away from lies, and training us to follow Him.

Weekly Question for Families:
When we open the Bible, are we trying to prove ourselves, or are we listening for God’s voice?

DAY 1 — God Speaks Through the Bible
Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16–17

Parent Says:
The Bible is God’s Word. That means when we read Scripture, we are not just reading an ordinary book. God is teaching us. He shows us what is true. He shows us what is wrong. He helps us come back when we go the wrong way. He trains us to live like followers of Jesus.
God did not give us the Bible so we would feel bad all the time. He gave us the Bible because He loves His children and wants us to know His voice.
Ask:

•  What book did God give us to teach us?
•  Why does God correct His children?

Truth to Remember:
 God speaks to us through His Word.

Prayer:
 Father, thank You for giving us the Bible. Help us listen to Your voice and follow Jesus. Amen.

DAY 2 — Not Every Voice Tells the Truth
Scripture: Genesis 3:1

Parent Says:
In the garden, the serpent asked Eve, “Did God actually say?” He wanted Eve to doubt God’s Word. He wanted her to think God was not good and that she should choose her own way.
That still happens today. We hear many voices every day. Some voices tell us to trust God. Other voices tell us to disobey, be selfish, stay angry, hide the truth, or do whatever we want.
The Bible helps us know what is true so we do not follow lies.
Ask:

•  What did the serpent want Eve to doubt?
•  How does the Bible help us when we hear wrong voices?

Truth to Remember:
 God’s Word helps us know what is true.

Prayer:
 Lord, help us listen to Your voice and not follow lies. Teach our family what is true. Amen.

DAY 3 — Jesus Listened to the Father’s Word
Scripture: Matthew 4:4

Parent Says:
When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, Satan tried to get Him to prove who He was. But Jesus did not listen to Satan. Jesus trusted the Father. Jesus answered with Scripture.
Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
That means we need God’s Word even more than we need food. Food helps our bodies live. God’s Word teaches our hearts how to live with Him.
Ask:

•  What did Jesus use when Satan tempted Him?
•  Why do we need God’s Word?

Truth to Remember:
 Jesus teaches us to live by God’s Word.

Prayer:
 Jesus, help us follow Your example. Teach us to trust the Father’s Word when we are tempted. Amen.

DAY 4 — God Helps Us Understand
Scripture: Nehemiah 8:8

Parent Says:
 God’s people gathered to hear the Bible read. The leaders did not only read the words. They also helped the people understand what the words meant.
Sometimes the Bible can feel hard to understand. That does not mean we should quit. God gives us parents, pastors, teachers, and mature believers to help us learn.
Asking questions is not bad. It is part of growing as a disciple.
Ask:

•  Who helped the people understand God’s Word?
•  Who helps you learn the Bible?

Truth to Remember:
 God gives us people to help us understand His Word.

Prayer:
 Father, help us understand the Bible. Thank You for people who teach us Your truth. Amen.

DAY 5 — The Bible Shows Us Jesus
Scripture: Acts 8:35

Parent Says:
 A man from Ethiopia was reading the Bible, but he did not understand what it meant. God sent Philip to help him. Philip explained the Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
That is one of the most important things to remember: the Bible shows us Jesus. The Bible teaches us who God is, what sin does, why we need saving, and how Jesus came to rescue us.
When we read the Bible, we should ask, “What does this teach me about God? How does this help me trust Jesus?”
Ask:

•  Who helped the man understand Scripture?
•  Who does the Bible help us see?

Truth to Remember:
 The Bible helps us see Jesus.

Prayer:
 Father, when we read the Bible, help us see Jesus clearly and trust Him more. Amen.

DAY 6 — God’s Word Brings Us Back
Scripture: 2 Kings 22:11

Parent Says:
 King Josiah heard God’s Word and realized the people had gone the wrong way. He was sad because they had not been obeying God. But he did not ignore God’s Word. He listened, humbled himself, and helped the people return to God.
Sometimes the Bible shows us that we have sinned. That can feel uncomfortable, but it is actually a gift. God corrects us because He loves us. He does not want us to keep walking the wrong way.
When God’s Word corrects us, we do not need to hide. We can return to Him.
Ask:

•  What did Josiah do when he heard God’s Word?
•  What should we do when God shows us we are wrong?

Truth to Remember:
 God’s Word helps us return to Him.

Prayer:
 Lord, when we go the wrong way, help us listen to Your Word and come back to You. Amen.

DAY 7 — God’s Word Trains Us to Follow Jesus
Scripture: Acts 2:42

Parent Says:
 After many people believed in Jesus, they kept learning together. They listened to the apostles’ teaching, prayed, shared meals, and lived as God’s people.
Following Jesus is not something we learn all at once. We grow little by little. God uses His Word to train us. He teaches us how to pray, forgive, tell the truth, love others, serve, and share Jesus with people.
The Bible is not only for church on Sunday. God’s Word belongs in our home, our conversations, our choices, and our daily life.
Ask:

•  What did the first Christians keep learning?
•  How can our family listen to God’s Word this week?

Truth to Remember:
 God’s Word trains us to follow Jesus.

Prayer:
 Father, train our family through Your Word. Help us follow Jesus at home, at church, at school, and everywhere we go. Amen.

Family Practice for the Week
This week, choose one short Bible passage to read together more than once. After reading, ask three simple questions:

1. What does this teach us about God?
2.  What does this teach us about people?
3.  How can we follow Jesus today?

Keep it simple. The goal is not to prove that your family is perfect. The goal is to listen for the Father’s voice together.

Closing Family Reminder
The Bible is not a guilt assignment. God does not give His children Scripture so they can feel like failures. He gives His Word because He loves us.

• God’s Word teaches us truth.
• God’s Word shows us Jesus.
• God’s Word helps us turn away from lies.
• God’s Word brings us back when we drift.
• God’s Word trains us to live as disciples.

When our family opens the Bible, we are listening to the Father’s voice.





© 2026 Dr. G. Ryan Perry, PhD. Published in partnership with Good Hope Baptist Church (GHBC) and Cross+Walk Ministries. All rights reserved. Permission granted for personal use, family discipleship, classroom teaching, and local church ministry use. Not for resale, unauthorized commercial reproduction, or reposting as original content.