Do you know the guy in the cubicle next to you better than you know your own children?

How can we disciple our children unless we actually know them?

Here are a few questions that I brain stormed recently in preparation for a meeting with the men at our church. Take a look and see how well you'd be able to answer these questions about your children. Use it, not as a tool with which to beat yourself over the head, but rather as a ruler to assess the areas where you need to get to know your children better.

1. What words would you use to describe each of your children?
2. What are their strengths and natural abilities?
3. What are their weaknesses and the things that they struggle with?
4. What sins are they struggling with?
5. How will these realities affect them as they get older?
6. What are you doing to nurture their gifts?
7. What are you doing to help them overcome the sins that they struggle with?
8. What are their worries?
9. What are their favorite activities?
10. Who would they consider their good friends?
11. Are you asking your wives for their insights?

Reminder - getting to know your children requires that you set aside time. This will not happen by accident. Be at least as pro-active in doing this with the kids you love as you are with the co-worker that you can't stand.