God's Plan Includes Kids

God’s Plan Includes Kids

EX:  The greatest Teacher that I had—Mrs. Letitia Burns

She helped us to follow a plan—we started at the beginning and learned our way through.  We did NOT start at the End.   She even gave incentives along the way!  God has a plan for each of us!  We must learn to trust Him and His plan.  Then, we have to commit to follow Him and His plan.  This morning we will look at a very specific part of God’s plan, because God’s Plan Includes Kids.

Ephesians 6:1

   -predicated on the fact that parents are following God’s plan

     -Ephesians 5:22-33—God’s plan for marriage—kids in marriage

   -Children = “one’s own child; offspring”

     -young person betw. infant & youth; a childlike person

     -applies as long as you are dependent on your parents

     EX:  young man in other church—plan was to stay at home

       -that is never God’s plan according to His Word

   -Obey = “obey; do what is told”

     -follow commands or guidance; conform or comply with

   -includes inward reverence and outward expressions

   Reasons To Obey:

   1.  God Demands It

   -He would never do anything to give us hardship

   Genesis 18:19—God’s plan for Abraham included authority

   2.  It Is His Plan

   -His plan is for protection and provision in Him

   -When we follow His plan we get His favor

   3.  It Reflects Him

   -we are a reflection of Him

   -when we are obedient to Him others see Him in us!

   your parents = “parents” every instance is this word

   in the Lord = according to His plan

   Ephesians 6:4—fathers have responsibility to raise child in

     discipline and instruction of the Lord

     -discipline = "admonition; exhort"

     -instruction = “training”

     -the whole training and education of children (which relates to the

       cultivation of mind and morals, and employs for this purpose now

       commands and admonitions, now reproof and punishment) It also

       includes the training and care of the body.

   Proverbs 22:6—Train a child in the way he should go

   -Train = “dedicate”  

   -Hebrew ‘hanak’—idea of setting aside, narrowing, or hedging in.

   -proverb—training gives you the foundation to make decisions

     -lack of training leaves too much room for error

   -this is right = His plan always works; we just have to learn to apply

EX:  Growing Up I didn’t want to disappoint my parents because I

            recognized all that they did for me.  Graduating High School

            was a realization that nothing would be the same, but they had

            prepared me to be on my own and encouraged it.  Not every

            decision was perfect or right, but I had the foundation!

            Parents—give your child the right foundation—God’s Plan

            Students—seek the right plan—God’s Plan

            Children—learn the right plan—God’s Plan