What Responsibility Do I Have To My Grandchildren?

Introduction:

We have learned so far from God’s word, that for men to be a godly leader it must begin with the Man and His God. We see that this relationship is paramount to everything else as he develops spiritual disciplines such as prayer, reading and studying God’s word, living in obedience to God’s word by living holy lives and mortifying besetting sins.

We saw next that this relationship with God and the development of the essential spiritual disciplines necessary for a godly, will also translating into a God glorifying essential relationship between the Man and His Wife. In which we learned from God’s word that marriage originated with God as a covenant between one man and one woman and God, making it the first institution he established, and doing so before the fall. We saw that because of the fall, mankind has sought to defy the permanence of marriage by seeking ways around its covenant through divorce. We also saw that God’s institution of marriage was to be an antitype of Christ and His church, making it the greatest of all human relationships. We learned the our wives our to be our number one human priority and our to be honored and protected as the weaker vessel. Finally we saw that marriage is so permanent, that even if our spouse is an unbeliever and defies our leadership, if she chooses to remain with us, we are to continue in what God has given us to do.

What we will look at next in our quest to become the godly leader God has ordained us to be, is something that flows from the man and his relationship with his wife, and that is the Man and His Children. So we look at God’s word for guidance as we look at four lessons on the purpose of children, how to teach our children, what to do if our children reject our teaching, and what is our responsibility to our grandchildren.

So we began by answering the question, What is the Purpose of Children? from Psalm 127, and saw The Vanity of Self-Effort (1-2), and The Reward of Children (3-5). Thus showing us that God is the one that builds the house, and that part of that building is the reward of children that become an extension of ourselves as we properly prepare them and then launch them into the world to have an impact both physically and spiritually in our dark world.

Last time we met, we answered the question, How Should I Teach My Children?, and took our direction for the answer from the Old Testament text in Deuteronomy 6.

This morning, we will look at various passages from the Old Testament to try and understand our responsibility and response when our chiuldren don’t listen, and will therefore seek to answer the question, “What Should I Do If My Child Rejects My Teaching?” We shall attempt to take our direction from the book Proverbs, and the Prophet Ezekial.

Text: Deut 4:9-14

Deuteronomy 4:9–14 ESV

9 “Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children— 10 how on the day that you stood before the Lord your God at Horeb, the Lord said to me, ‘Gather the people to me, that I may let them hear my words, so that they may learn to fear me all the days that they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children so.’ 11 And you came near and stood at the foot of the mountain, while the mountain burned with fire to the heart of heaven, wrapped in darkness, cloud, and gloom. 12 Then the Lord spoke to you out of the midst of the fire. You heard the sound of words, but saw no form; there was only a voice. 13 And he declared to you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, that is, the Ten Commandments, and he wrote them on two tablets of stone. 14 And the Lord commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and rules, that you might do them in the land that you are going over to possess.

Main Idea: To cultivate a faithful community, we must actively remember God's past deliverance, teaching these truths to the next generation, thereby ensuring their faith in Christ endures.

I. Vigilant in Memory (9)

Deuteronomy 4:9

Perhaps you could begin by highlighting the importance of personal vigilance in our spiritual journey. Moses stresses that the Israelites must keep their souls diligently and never forget what God has done for them. You can suggest to your listeners that they need to nurture their awareness of God's work in their lives, thereby cultivating a robust faith that withstands life's trials. This vigilant memory can inspire believers to live in obedience to God and share their experiences with others, linking the past deliverance with future hope in Christ.

II. Vibrant Testimonies (10-11)

Deuteronomy 4:10-11

You could discuss how God’s revelation at Mount Horeb was a pivotal event requiring ongoing remembrance. This passage emphasizes that such divine encounters should be taught to successive generations. Encourage your audience to share their stories of how God has revealed Himself in their lives as a testament to His faithfulness and power. This can mirror Christ’s teaching mission, urging believers to bear witness to His love and truth, and assure future generations of the enduring relevance of His commands.

III. Vital Commandments (12-14)

Deuteronomy 4:12-14

Maybe you could focus on God’s commandments given amidst a significant revelation. Moses recalls how God spoke from the fire, commanding adherence to His statutes. Highlight how Jesus, as the living Word, fulfilled these commandments, urging that His followers walk in His ways. Invite believers to consider how Christ reinforces the law through love and grace, and challenge them to embody this call in teaching others, creating a faith that actively remembers and responds to God’s covenantal call.