What we do speaks more loudly than what we say, so parents, who represent Christ to their children, teach by example whether or not they intend to. God's words must first be in a parent's heart, since a child will not walk a path the parent does not walk. Jesus Christ taught by example for three and a half years, and through His example, the mind of the Father is seen. Good teachers live wisdom before talking about it, showing genuine patience, kindness, and mercy without talking down. Our conduct reveals whether we resemble Satan or our heavenly Father. Yet even the best example cannot convert anyone, because only God initiates a relationship with Him and gives the increase. Also see sermons and articles about 'Example, Teaching by'.
1 Corinthians 1:26-29 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.
Matthew 5:14-16 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Related Scriptures
Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.
Ephesians 6:4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.
Titus 2:1-5 But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things— that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.
1 Peter 2:12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.
