The Christian Family (pt2)

Colossians 3:18–21 (ESV)

18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. 20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

Introduction:

On last when we looked at this passage we saw that one of the mandates for the Christian family is Godly conduct.

The husband and wife model this conduct before their children and establish the way children must live both at home and away from home. Our families must be on one accord. That is we must live so that God is glorified. The husband and wife begin with Godly conduct as a pattern for the home and their children are to be raised to be Godly.

Transition: So, the Christian family consists of Godly Conduct, Godly Children and Godly Correction. Let’s look first at Godly children.

DT: When we exhibit honor and obedience to our parents it pleases God

AIM: We will please God daily with the proper attitude and total obedience to our parents

Propositional Statement: Godly children are those who seek to please God with obedience to their parents in every facet of their life.

Godly Children (v.20)

“20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.”

Paul explains that there is a benefit for children who are obedient. This benefit is the smile of God. The text says, “for this pleases Lord.” Paul tells children and parents that God is glorified and pleased when children obey. Now, Paul did not make this up and come up with some way to burden children so that they will do what their parents ask them to do. Paul is repeating what has long been Jewish teaching. This verse is basically a paraphrase of one of the commandments. Children are to listen to and carry out the instructions of their parents, both parents.

Exodus 20:12 (ESV)

12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

Deuteronomy 5:16 (ESV)

16 “ ‘Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

Honor and obedience is not optional. Obedience to parents is not some choice that can be randomly made or pushed aside. Obedience is expected and required by God. The verse says, “in everything”. Children do not have some pick and chooses on what they will and will not do when their parents speak.

Disobedience to parents is a serious sin when children are old enough to understand because it violates one of God’s commandment and is ultimately rebellion against God.

Romans 1:30 ESV

30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,

How do parents ensure that the Children God gives them pleases Him? Parents must teach their children to obey. Parents must teach their children to be Godly.

Proverbs 22:6 (ESV)

6 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

It is one of the many responsibilities of the parents to teach their children.

Illustration:

Application: Model obedience to God before your children and explain that God is the authority in your life.

The responsibility of parents toward their children id to ensure their children have a relationship with God.

- educate them about God

Pray with your children

Let your children see/hear you pray

- Teach them to honor God and bring God glory

- Bring your children to church.

Spiritual training ought be just as important as football practice, basketball practice, cheerleading practice, hopscotch and patty cake.

Mark 10:13–14 (ESV)

13 And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.

Do not be a hinderance to your child or grandchild’s spiritual growth.

See, if we do not instill in them the importance of obeying God we will always have problems teaching them the importance of obedience to parents.

Godly children are taught to obey and required to obey.