WHAT IS PEACEMAKER PARENTING?


WHAT IS 
PEACEMAKER PARENTING?

Peacemaker Parenting is a model for parenting that is rooted in the teachings of Jesus and backed by modern neuroscience. It equips parents and caregivers to develop deeply connected and secure relationships with their children, and empowers them with tools and strategies to lead and guide their families with Jesus, and His grace, at the center.
  



THE SIX PILLARS OF 
PEACEMAKER PARENTING
 
Jesus is our model for how to treat others, including our children.



Children fully bear the image of God; therefore they are worthy of the same dignity, respect, and honor as adults.
 

Our children are our smallest disciples; therefore discipline is modeled after the greatest disciplemaker: Jesus.



 
On the cross, Jesus bore the punishment that brought our peace. Therefore we can discipline our children from a posture of peace, instead of punishment.



Only grace transforms hearts and lives; therefore discipline always reflects grace, and never withholds or compromises affection, connection, or protection.



Modern neuroscience backs up what Jesus taught about relationships and how to treat others. It helps us better understand the blueprint of His image bearers He has given us to nurture and raise.


A CLOSER LOOK AT THE SIX PILLARS OF 
PEACEMAKER PARENTING


PEACEMAKING PILLAR: JESUS AS OUR MODEL
The life and teachings of Jesus matter! The second person of the Trinity in His incarnate perfection reveals to us God's original design for humanity. He fulfilled what no other person could, and in doing so He provides an example for us of how to live! We can confidently listen to His teaching and apply it to parenting:


Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Matthew 7:12

Love your neighbor as yourself.

Mark 12:31


PEACEMAKING PILLAR: CHILDREN FULLY BEAR THE IMAGE OF GOD
Respect is a birthright, not a reward. For those of us who claim the name of Jesus, the way we interact with our children should reflect a core theological belief: our children bear the Image of God. When we lay this as our foundation for parenting, it radically shifts how we view respect. No longer is it a reward for good behavior; it is a birthright, born out of their divinely-given worth.


I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 18:3

Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.

Matthew 25:40


PEACEMAKING PILLAR: OUR CHILDREN ARE OUR SMALLEST DISCIPLES
Our children are our smallest disciples, and our relationship with them as parents is modeled after the greatest disciple-maker: Jesus. When it comes to teaching, leading, and disciplining, we imitate Christ and seek to bear the fruits of His Spirit,  even (or especially!) when they misbehave.


Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently.

Galaians 6:1


Fathers, do not exasperate your children, instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Ephesians 6:4


PEACEMAKING PILLAR: JESUS BORE OUR PUNISHMENT
Jesus bore the full weight of our punishment and our children's punishment. Therefore discipline is done from a posture of peace. We can parent without punishments—not because our children deserve it, but because our trust is in the completed work of Jesus on the cross. 


But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.

Isaiah 53:5

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

I John 4:18


PEACEMAKING PILLAR: ONLY GRACE TRANSFORMS HEARTS  AND LIVES
The message of the Gospel of Peace is that God enables His children to turn from sin not by punishing them but giving room for grace, faith, and repentance. There's nothing punishment can do that grace can't do better. How do we know this? Because if punishment were able to transform our hearts and lives, there would be no need for the cross.


For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.

Ephesians 2:8-9

And from His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.

John 1:16


PEACEMAKING PILLAR: MODERN NEUROSCIENCE BACKS UP JESUS' TEACHING
We have learned more about the human brain in the last 25 years than in all of human history combined—and one of the most remarkable things we've found is that science backs up and explains the teaching of Jesus about how to treat others!



I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.

Psalm 139:14

But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.

Isaiah 64:8





PEACEMAKER PARENTING
THE COURSE
The Peacemaker Parenting Course is a full-length parenting course that combines Jesus-Centered Foundations and Brain-Development Facts to help you stop yelling, fighting, and grasping for control of your child's behavior and help you cultivate lasting peace in your home and family. 





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