Our Firm Foundation

God’s Word is our firm foundation and is given to us for our obedience, our benefit, and our families.

INTRO:

“Don’t play with your ________!” (food)

“Don’t run with ________!” (scissors)

“Don’t touch that stove it’s ______!” (hot)

“If you can’t say something nice, ____________.” (don’t say anything at all)

“When crossing the road, make sure you look ______ ______.” (both ways)

“When driving, keep your hands at ____ & ______.” (10 & 2)

“Stop, drop and ______!” (roll)

Everyone teaches these things to their children because they’re so important! Some of them are even life and death kind of important!

So it leads to the question… “when it comes to the Word of God [hold up the Bible], why are we… sometimes at best… on the fence… about whether or not we make sure our children know the MOST important things they could ever know?”

Words are important aren’t they? I mean really important. Do you know American football is played pretty much only in America? I don’t know if you know that, but the rest of the world is not playing American football I know we now play a handful of NFL games in Europe every year and they like it but for the most part American football is played in America, where it was invented and where we know it and understand it and love it.

But if you were to take even a game as important as the Super Bowl and put it on television somewhere in an island in Asia but muted the television, no captions, no translation, no commentary and they sat for 4 1/2 hours and watch the entire Super Bowl they would have no idea what was going on.

From plays being called to flags being thrown for penalties the fact that sometimes you score 6 points, three points, two points or one point. They would have no idea what had just happened and why in the world in the middle of the game, did Beyoncé come out and sing and dance!

Without words, without a translation, without commentary, they would be completely lost.

And if we had somehow been able to be on that hill 2000 years ago, and without any words predicted from the prophets in the Old Testament, without any of Jesus‘s words predicted, as he was on his way to the cross and his explanation, without any words from the disciples in the letters written after Jesus resurrection to explain to us salvation…. if you had just seen three men being crucified on the hill 2000 years ago something that happened many times before that and many times after that, and even if you saw it get very dark outside at a weird hour right after the middle guy had died, you would have no idea what happened….. you would be completely lost.

Words are so important. Words have always been important. God’s word has always been the most important, and when he selected a people for himself, the Israelites… and he selected a prophet for them Moses, one of the first things he had Moses tell them was how important his words were going to be for them,

and that they should know them

and listen to them

and speak of them to their children

and memorize them

and obey them

And God’s word…. these words that are wrapped up in this book, the Bible, are the only foundation for your home and family that will never fail.

so turn with me to deuteronomy chapter 6 and let’s read this passage together....

Deuteronomy 6:1–9 ESV

1 “Now this is the commandment—the statutes and the rules—that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you, that you may do them in the land to which you are going over, to possess it, 2 that you may fear the Lord your God, you and your son and your son’s son, by keeping all his statutes and his commandments, which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be long. 3 Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them, that it may go well with you, and that you may multiply greatly, as the Lord, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey. 4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

PRAY

BODY:

Postmodern challenge

One of the biggest problems in our post modern world today is that people think that our actions are not determined by our beliefs, but instead by how we feel at any given time.

People have devalued objective truth.

Some people have called this an instinctually stimulated generation where people prefer to feel that to think

Because of this, reading is becoming less and less important, and that includes the reading of the Bible. Even some Christians do not believe that the Bible is as relevant in today’s generation as it once was. And because of that, the Bible reading habits of Christians today is nothing like the disciplined habits of Christians from past generations

It’s crazy to think about, but Christians will actually fight to defend scripture and their Christian beliefs. They will fight for the right to worship. They will fight for the right to have prayer and the Bible in schools. They will fight against things that the Bible is against like Abortion.

But those same people will then go about their lives not following God‘s word. Living as if it is a book of suggestions, rather than a clear-cut way of living that God desires from us.

But this goes against what we just read. And our conversation about the fact that God‘s word has always been the most important thing, and our belief in it should determine our actions.

God’s Word is a gift for His people. And I think we see in our passage today 3 reasons God’s Word is given to us....

the first is this....write this down.....

1. THE WORD IS GIVEN FOR OUR OBEDIENCE

The main topic for chapter 6 here in Deuteronomy is “obeying God’s commands”

we use this passage often, as we are today, to talk about passing down God’s commands to the next generation.... but this passage isn’t just for parents....

Moses didn’t say, “hey all of you that got children, come over here real quick let me talk to you about something...” this wasn’t the first New Parents’ sunday school class.

NO! Moses was speaking to the entire nation of Israel.... so just as these words were relevant for everyone back then… they are relevant for the whole room in here today!

vs. 1 - “commandment” - singular form - the whole of the Law

“statutes and rules” - plural form - the details of the Law

all of it! this isn’t a menu of items God is giving for his people to pick and choose which ones they like.... this is His Law.... His Ways… and He wants us to know it and obey it

vs. 1 “that you may DO them”

vs. 2 “by keeping all his statutes and his commandments”

vs. 3 “be careful to do them”

there is no mistaking what our relationship with God’s Word is supposed to be. We’re supposed to learn it and obey it.

vs. 2 - “that you may fear the Lord your God...”

fear = awe

but also, there is a sense in that fear means fear...

even Jesus said plainly in Matthew 10

Matthew 10:28 ESV

28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

i think it’s a fear that motivates us to action....

but also knowing the greatness of God… his eternal nature.... his omnipotence.... his omniscience.... and knowing his willingness to step out of heaven… and humbly stoop down to love, forgive and save a sinner like me....

fearing that God will motivate me to live for him and love him with all i am

“Love God in a way that the fear of the Lord means His frown is your greatest dread, and His smile your greatest delight.” - Colin Smith

know God’s word and be careful to do God’s Word!

The Word is given for our obedience.....

The second reason is this.....

2. THE WORD IS GIVEN FOR OUR BENEFIT

vs. 3 -

keeping all his statutes and his commandments — that your days may be long

be careful to do them - that it may go well with you,

and that you may multiply greatly

God’s laying it out here for his newly chosen people, the Israelites....

“I’m God… you’re the people… I created you.... I know what’s best for you.... these are my ways.... you should follow them if you want the best outcome in every area of your life”

James 1:22–25 (ESV)

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

blessed in his doing!

obedience = blessing

disobedience = cursing

God’s Word also sustains us during hard seasons.

Psalm 119:92 ESV

92 If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.

Have you ever been at such a low point in life you didn’t think you could go on? So did the psalmist that wrote this verse, but the Word of God sustained him even in the hardest and darkest times of his life.

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let me say this about hard times and affliction… most of the time we think about things that happen to us that are out of our control.

cancer diagnosis

loss of a loved one

infertility troubles

loss of a job

and this psalm absolutely is one to hang on to when those times come because God’s Word will sustain during those seasons.

But God’s Word will also sustain us in difficult seasons brought on by our own sin.

when we, as Christians, choose to go against God’s Word, choose to disobey God’s Word, there will be earthly consequences.

broken relationships

personal financial problems

distance in your love relationship with God

and even in these times… if God’s Word is your foundation,

then God’s Word can help restore you again!

help you repent.

help you turn back to Him

and begin following His ways once more

When God’s Word is your foundation, you will know it’s the only place to turn when things go wrong.

God’s Word will save us and God’s Word will sustain us in hard times

[read vs. 5] - vs. 5 - this isn’t about certain parts of you that we need to break down… he’s saying .... you’re everything! the all of you! Love God with all that you are!

and God’s Word is the key to entering into a love relationship with God rather than the world!

if you’re constantly struggling with the pull of this world on your heart…

if you can’t let go of sin....

if your desires are wrapped up in materialism, success, popularity....

if you feel distant from God rather than close to Him...

i guarantee you, you’ve been neglecting your Bible!

Love the Lord God with all your heart, soul, and might…

Jesus, in the book of Matthew, called this the Great & first commandment (matthew 22:36-38)

Matthew 22:36–38 ESV

36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment.

there’s an exchange that happens!

it’s like the boy that finally finds in that girl everything his heart has been wanting… all of a sudden things change… he’s not hanging with the fellas as much… he’s not golfing or fishing as much.... he’s packing his lunch instead of eating out because he’s spending money on her… or perhaps even saving up for a ring.... because spending time with her as changed everything for him!

and when we spend time with God in His Word… and exchange happens… we find what our soul has been longing for… and suddenly.. all the world begins to fade away because of the greatness of our God!

John Piper - “You do not merely decide to love Him. Something changes inside of you, and as a result He becomes compellingly attractive. His glory - His beauty - compels your admiration and delight. He becomes your supreme treasure. You love Him.”

and what could be a greater benefit for us than to enter into a loving, saving relationship with God through His Word?????

The Word is given for our benefit....

and finally....

3. THE WORD IS GIVEN FOR OUR FAMILIES

vs. 6 - [READ VS. 6] — God’s Words must be in our heart before we can teach them to our children.

vs. 7 - Diligently = repeatedly --- in a way that it would be impressed upon them

vs. 7 - talk about God’s Word all the time!

when you’re at home

when your’e in the car

before you go to bed

when you wake up

talk about God’s Word all the time!

vs. 8-9 -

buy Gospel t-shirts

buy Gospel pictures, frame them and put them in your home

put scripture on note cards and place them on your bathroom mirror

and on the dashboard of your car

The Word is given for our families!!!!! Get it in front of them every chance you get!!!!

I know that many conversations I have with parents go something like this… “but how? how do we pass on this knowledge of the Bible? how do we help them to love the Bible?”

it can be intimidating… but i want you to see it doesn’t have to be...

today I want to give you....

3 Starting Points for Leading Your Family:

and i’ve even had some cards with these starting points on them printed out for you today. if you haven’t already, grab one on your way out

Your Example

Our children are watching. From the moment they are born, children are watching their parents to learn how to talk, how to walk, and how to eat. Children learn more from their parents than most parents realize.

what’s one thing, without a doubt, you learned from your parents?

While we are called to teach the Word of God to our children, we must always take great care to actually live out our faith in front of them as well.

Charles Spurgeon: “Train up a child in the way he should go—but be sure you go that way yourself.” One of the greatest starting points for leading your family to the Lord is your own faithful example.

Our children are going to do what we do. So let our actions match our words:

When you sin, model repentance When they sin, model grace When you eat, model family prayer When you’re in traffic, model patience and self-control When you’re worried, model dependence on the Lord

Every week brings countless opportunities for you to live out your faith in front of your children and it is your constant example that remains one of the greatest starting points for spiritually leading your family.

Your Devotion

Many have said, “You can’t give someone what you don’t have.” This resonates with us as we recognize that we cannot lead our families to seek the Lord if we are not seeking the Lord.

In our passage today, the Scripture carries a command for parents to teach the Word of God diligently, or repeatedly, to their children. However, before parents are called to lead in this family discipleship, they are commanded to: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”

and...

“These words that I command you today shall be on your heart.”

Before parents can teach the Word of God to their children they are to love God and delight in His commands.

Then, they lead their children to do the same.

This is why one of the greatest starting points for leading your family is your own morning devotion. When you begin your day delighting in the Word of God, enjoying the Lord’s presence, devoting yourself to prayer, you are equipped and ready to now spend your day leading your family—talking about the Lord with your children “when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”

There is also a practical side to this starting point. Many parents feel lost when it comes to leading a family devotion. However, if you have already had a time of personal devotion earlier that day, you have a wonderful starting point for your family devotion: - Begin your day with a time of personal devotion, reading a passage from the Bible - Set aside a time to gather with your family later in the day, perhaps at dinnertime or bedtime - Read the same passage of Scripture with your family from your morning devotion - Discuss the Bible passage by asking a few questions about the Scripture you read

Your Testimony

Just as your own devotion time can encourage the rest of your family, your own testimony can serve as another starting point for spiritually leading your family.

Let me ask you a question.... Do your children know your testimony? Have you shared with them the story of how the Lord saved you?

every time you get a chance to share with them about your journey, include different details...

Share about the different Christians that taught you the Gospel and helped lead you to Christ.

Share about the different Bible verses that the Lord used to make Himself known to you.

Share about some of the doubts and challenges that you faced before submitting to Jesus as the Lord of your life.

Share about some of the ways the Lord has grown you and changed you since then.

When we tell our kids how the Lord saved us from our sin and gave us new life, we invite them to celebrate salvation with us and we provide for them a personal example of the power of the Gospel.

CONCLUSION:

Jesus, the great teacher, more than a thousand years later, had the same message for the people as Moses did

Matthew 7:24–27 (ESV)

24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

I love these words from Stuart Townend in his song Every Promise

From the breaking of the dawn To the setting of the sun, I will stand on every promise of Your word. Words of power, strong to save, That will never pass away, I will stand on every promise of Your word. For Your covenant is sure, And on this I am secure, I can stand on every promise of Your word.

When I stumble and I sin, Condemnation pressing in, I will stand on every promise of Your word. You are faithful to forgive, That in freedom I might live, So I stand on every promise of Your word. Guilt to innocence restored: You remember sins no more! So I’ll stand on every promise of Your word.

isn’t that encouraging? that we have a God who loves us, makes promises to us for our good… and never breaks one of them?!?!

can i ask a real 1st grade question????

how can we stand on every promise of His Word if we don’t know it?

God’s Word is our firm foundation and is given to us for our obedience, our benefit, and our families.

PRAY