Kingdom Living for the Family.Honoring Parents
Kingdom Living for the Family
Pastor E. Keith Hassell
“Honoring Father and Mother”
Foundation Scripture: Ephesians 6:1-3
I. Obey your parents
A. This is right. Why?
B. No. 1: Parents are God’s delegated authorities
1. God commands us to obey our parents
2. When we obey parents we obey God
3. When we disobey parents we disobey God
C. No. 2: Parents love us
1. They dreamed about us before we were born
2. They rejoiced at our birth
3. They took our pictures
4. They changed our diapers
5. They rocked us when we couldn’t sleep
6. They cared for us when we were sick
7. They work so that we can eat
8. They sacrificed so that we can have
9. They celebrate when we succeed
10. They encourage us when we fail
11. They believe we can do anything
12. They pick us up when we fall
13. They rejoice when we’re happy
14. They cry when we’re sad
15. They are proud when we’ve done our best
16. They stay when everyone else walks away
17. Parents love us!
D. No. 3: Parents understand us
1. They know our strengths
2. They know our weaknesses
3. They know our when we’re thinking clearly
4. They know our blind spots
E. No. 4: Parents are wise
1. They have experience that we don’t have
2. They have knowledge that we don’t have
3. They have wisdom that we don’t have
4. They have understanding that we don’t have
F. No. 5: Parents have our best interests at heart
1. They want us to be happy
2. They want us to make right choices
3. They want us to be successful
G. No. 6: Parents are instruments of God’s protection
1. Ignorance: What we don’t know can destroy us
2. Boundaries: Trespassing holds tremendous consequences
3. Media: Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks
4. Friends: Bad company corrupts good morals
5. Romance: Love is blind
6. Deceivers: Someone is trying to lead us astray
7. Enemies: Someone is plotting to destroy us
8. Faith: What we believe determines the choices we will make
H. No. 7: Parents are accountable to God
1. If we obey them then God holds them accountable
2. If we disobey them then God holds us accountable
I. No. 8: Parents release God’s blessing
1. Blessing is spiritual empowerment to succeed
2. People in the Bible coveted their parent’s blessing
3. Don’t underestimate a parent’s covenant blessing!
J. No. 9: Parents release of inheritance
1. Our future is connected to our past
2. Part of what we need for our future is connected to our parents
3. Obedience insures a better and lasting inheritance
K. No. 10: Parents can confirm God’s will
1. Christian parents have the ability to discern and confirm God’s direction for your life
2. Parents are a great source of counsel long after you leave their home
II. Honor your father and mother
A. Why honor?
1. We honor God (who gave them)
2. We honor their commitment
3. We honor their sacrifice
4. We honor their longsuffering
5. We honor their wisdom
6. We honor their correction
7. We honor their love
B. What does it mean to honor?
1. Receive them: Accept them as God’s gift in your life
2. Respect them: Treat them with dignity (words & actions)
3. Obey them: Submit to their authority
4. Cover them: Shield their weakness (Noah)
5. Consider them: Think of their needs and desires
6. Esteem them: Regard them as having great value
7. Recognize them: Acknowledge them before others
8. Thank them: Express appreciation to them
9. Celebrate them: Find occasion to praise them
10. Care for them: Show caring concern and responsibility in their old age or time of need
C. What is God’s promise?
1. That it may be will with us
2. That we may live long on the earth
III. Question: Have you truly obeyed and honored your parents?
IV. Response to the Word
A. Repent for your disobedience and disrespect
B. If possible, ask your parents to forgive you
C. Obey and honor your parents if you are still under their authority
D. Choose to honor your parents all the days of your life
