Rearing Christian Children
Introduction
I. Children are a wonderful blessing from God.
(Psa 127:3-5 KJV) Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. {4} As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. {5} Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.
A. But we must return them to the Lord.
(1 Sam 1:11 NKJV) Then she made a vow and said, "O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head."
(1 Sam 1:28 NKJV) "Therefore I also have lent him to the LORD; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the LORD." So they worshiped the LORD there.
II. How do we rear Christian children?
A. I'm talking to parents & children - Family Affair.
B. I talked with the college class.
Discussion
I. NURTURE.
** 1. To nourish; feed. 2. To educate; train. 3. To help grow or develop.
A. Love.
(Exo 21:5 KJV) And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free:
(Gen 22:2 KJV) And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.
(Titus 2:4 KJV) That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
1. Show it (2 Cor 12:14; Eph 6:1-3).
2. Express it - "I love you."
3. Experience it - Friendship.
(Prov 18:24 KJV) A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
(Prov 27:6, 9 KJV) Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. {9} Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.
(Prov 27:14 NKJV) He who blesses his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, It will be counted a curse to him.
B. Instruction.
(Gen 18:19 NKJV) "For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and justice, that the LORD may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him."
1. Deut 6:4-9; Eph 6:4; 2 Tim 3:15; Eph 1:10 - house law.
(Psa 119:11 KJV) Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
C. Correction.
(Heb 12:5-6 NKJV) And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: "My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; {6} For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives."
1. Methods change as children mature - don't embarrass.
2. We are none perfect, but we all have feelings.
D. Watch.
(Prov 17:17 NKJV) A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.
1. Think about Adam & Eve.
II. EXAMPLE.
A. Spiritually (1 Tim 4:12).
1. Christians (Mat 16:26); Worship (Heb 10:25); Service (Rom 12:1-2); Evangelism.
B. Morally (Rom 2:17-24).
1. Drinking/Drugs; Lying; Sexuality; Honesty/Integrity.
C. Generally.
1. Marriage (Eph 5); Bodies (1 Cor 6:19); Citizens (Rom 13); Work (1 Tim 5:8); Respect (1 Tim 5:1-2); Optimism/Enthusiasm.
III. LISTEN.
A. Communicate.
(Prov 18:21 NKJV) Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.
(Prov 21:23 NKJV) Whoever guards his mouth and tongue Keeps his soul from troubles.
(Job 19:2 NKJV) "How long will you torment my soul, And break me in pieces with words?
(Eph 4:29 NKJV) Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
(Col 4:6 NKJV) Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
1. Communicate in good times & bad times.
2. Yelling is not good communication.
B. Explain (Eccl 11:9-12:1).
1. Correction without reason can lead to rebellion.
C. Reciprocate.
** 1. To give or take mutually; interchange. 2. To show, feel, or give in response or return.
1. Compromise.
2. We must treat young adults as adults.
IV. TRUST.
A. Truthful.
(Eph 4:25 NKJV) Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another.
(1 Pet 3:10-12 NKJV) For "He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit. {11} Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it. {12} For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil."
B. Forgiveness.
(Eph 4:32 NKJV) And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.
(Col 3:12-13 NKJV) Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; {13} bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
C. Repent.
1. Work at reestablishing trust.
(Luke 3:8 NKJV) "Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
(2 Cor 7:11 NKJV) For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
Conclusion
I. If our home life isn't what it should be, let's make the needed changes - Parents/Children.
II. It's never too late to become what God has in mind.
** If you have any questions or if you would like to become a Christian, please let us know.