Captain Your Boat
Notes
Transcript
Captain Your Boat
Captain Your Boat
Family Matters AND IT REALLY DOES!
As time grows to a close…Pressures on Families.
Age of social media etc…attacks on families....harder to parent.
Speak to the Parents tonight!
So tonight I want to speak to the parents and hopefully leave you with some keys to help you
Speaking to the parents tonight.
Parenting feels like your in a boat on rough seas sometimes.
Feel like a boat in the middle of the waves
Sometimes we try to control whats going on out there but we cant....tries to make you feel, like you have no options.
But…what you can do is say “I’m the captain of this boat (family) and I’m going to look after what I have right here. I’m going to navigate this thing with the help of the Holy Spirit and as for me and my house ...
WE WILL SERVE THE LORD!
I love what Ps John said this morning - parents staying strong, so there is something solid for a child to come home to.
and so in the middle of the waves we read this prayer by Paul in Ephesians:
For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
For this reason [seeing the greatness of this plan by which you are built together in Christ], I bow my knees before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
For Whom every family in heaven and on earth is named [that Father from Whom all fatherhood takes its title and derives its name].
Ephesians 3:14-15
For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
That you would understand God’s plan of salvation… that we would build strong families into strong churches to hold up as an example to the spiritual powers and principalities, overcoming the plan of the enemy!
Thats what I think Paul is saying here in Ephesians - that as we are strengthened and know God’s love, filled with the fullness of God, we become part of God’s A plan and in this defeat the plan of the enemy.
Ps Derrin - The enemy’s plan is destruction and his strategy is devision.
The great thing is we are all small boats within a great boat..that’s what makes the church!
For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
For this reason [seeing the greatness of this plan by which you are built together in Christ], I bow my knees before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
For Whom every family in heaven and on earth is named [that Father from Whom all fatherhood takes its title and derives its name].
Ephesians 3:14
That you would understand God’s plan of salvation… that we would build strong families into strong churches to hold up as an example to the spiritual powers and principalities, overcoming the plan of the enemy!
Ps Derrin - The enemy’s plan is destruction and his strategy is devision.
As for you …whats it going to be?
As for you …whats it going to be?
5 Keys for Parents to help captain your boat: (disclaimer! Nath & I haven’t got it all worked out, but this is what we have learnt so far)
Love God, Love People
1. Love God, Love People
First thing you can do for your kids is cultivate your own relationship with the Lord and love people.
You need Jesus in your life and you need Jesus in your boat!
The first and greatest commandment
27 So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’ ”
27 So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’ ”
28 And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.”
27 So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’ ”
28 And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.”
Luke 10:
Be real! Children can be taught, but a most often it’s caught! When we as, parents live in genuine faith and relationship with God, not legalistically, but in freedom, it becomes attractive to our kids.
Luke 27-28
&28
Luke
Luke 27-28
REMEMBER children see us at our BEST and WORST in life. This is life…we cant preach and teach one thing, and live out another.
In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides].
Ephesians 6:10-
2. Love Your Spouse
Love your spouse
Love your spouse
Marriage relationship comes before your relationship with your kids
If you’re a single parent, look after your wellbeing first! understand that you are amazing and called to lead your kids! You are worth respect!
Loving your spouse gives kids comfort and security - Mums funeral talked about “kitchen cuddles”, but that interaction between Dad and Mum made me feel safe.
The mutual serving of one another, open displays of love, help your kids to build strong relationships.
3. Plant your family in the local Church
Families are stronger in community.
In the local church your children can outwork their God given purpose.
Corporate worship, the spoken word and prayer are powerful in the life of your children and help them to grow.
Most adults will remember Sunday school.
4. Train your kids, but give them room to make choices and experience consequence.
Train up a child in the way he should go,
And when he is old he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 22:6
When your kids are little , you decide what happens and when. As they get older it is foolish to make all decisions for them. Give them room to make choices, trusting the Holy Spirit and what you have sown.
Love what Ps Anita said
Let them experience good and bad consequences - ultimately it is their own life they need to govern and discipline in faith.
Work with the Holy Spirit.
Change your method as life changes.
5. PRAY!
Learn how to pray! Sometimes that will be the only thing you can do!
Prayer works! Prayer helps us direct our need to the Father and allows Him to intervene in the lives of our kids!
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
Philippians
Conclusion
Tonight I want to give you an opportunity to pray for each others boats (Families). As the last message on this theme of Family Matters, I think we can take the time to pray for each other.
Perhaps the waves have threatened to overthrow your boat. I know the this year there have been some big waves for our family.
Just like Paul, we are going to pray for each other that we, as parents, be strengthened, that the families of Oasis would be strong!
PRAYER