Sermon Tone Analysis

Raising Godly Children.

(Recite proverb) This week I asked some of you some tips and some difficulties you face in raising children.

One gave an illustration of a tomato plant as to how they view raising children.

They need good soil, to be fed spiritual food, supported through love and discipline until eventually they bear fruit.

(Recite proverb) Most proverbs are directed to the child or youth, but this proverb is directed to the parents of the child.

You could say that this proverb reveals the responsibility of the parents in their chief duty within the family.

Why is this so important for us to discuss?

Let us pause to think very carefully why training a child to follow Jesus is our top priority.

I believe with all my heart that when parents take great care in discipling their children, future generations of godly men and women will continue that trend.

On the other hand, if we do not make this a priority, the world will indoctrinate our children and the future will look darker and great pain will be on our doorstep.

This week I have struggled with preaching this sermon.

I feel completely inadequate to teach in an area where I failed miserably as a parent.

My priorities were to make a living, come home and put feet up, cuddle with the kids and play video games or watch sports.

Setting time to train our children in godliness was mom’s responsibility.

Now we have children that do not revere God, nor do they hold Jesus as dear and sweet for saving sinners from condemnation.

I still struggle at times with guilt and despair over my laziness in this area.

But God is good and through his promises that are unfailing, we entrust our children into his care.

So for this morning, our goal is to show the beauty of fruit bearing believers.

Mature followers of Jesus that strengthen churches and culture.

How this comes to fruition is by first having good soil (believing parents).

Secondly by nurturing the young plant (children).

Thirdly seeing them in the world bearing fruit (adulthood).

Point #1 - Godly children need good soil.

Does it matter what kind of soil you plant a seed in?

A tomato seed planted in fertile, loose soil has the most likely chance to grow into a full robust mature plant that bears fruit to enjoy in those tasty soups.

The good soil that a child needs is believing parents.

Followers of Jesus Christ that desire to live in such a way that brings delight to our Saviour for what he has done for us on the cross.

Now we know that as Christians, we will not always look like we are that good soil.

We struggle with sin and are constantly waging war on the weeds that crop up in our own lives.

What makes us good is not ourselves but Jesus in us.

In being born again by the saving grace and faith that God has given us, we are now God’s children.

We now live in light of this glorious truth and seek to raise up godly offspring as the Lord God has desired ().

Now we know that as Christians, we will not always look like we are that good soil.

We struggle with sin and are constantly waging war on the weeds that crop up in our own lives.

But the reality is not that we are good, but that Jesus is always good.

His perfect life is our life because we are now part of the vine grafted in by the saving grace and faith that God has given us.

We live and have been set free from the penalty of sin because of Jesus who died in our place on the cross.

Believing parents are Spirit filled Christians.

Immersed in gospel truth whether we always realize it or not.

Our failures as parents do not take away the truth that we are born again.

Transition: Therefore, Christian parents serve as the good soil children need for the best chance to grow into mature believers themselves.

Point #2 - Godly children need loving care to grow.

Now anyone familiar with gardening knows that you put a seed in potting soil, you water it and place it in a south facing window for light and warmth.

You do what is needed to give it the best chance to grow.

When a baby is first born you do absolutely everything for them, you love and care for them, change diapers repeatedly and sacrifice sleep for them.

As they get older you see them crawl and encourage them to take those first steps but you will also notice something very evident.

Their sinful nature is revealed.

They don’t want to share toys in being selfish so you discipline them in correcting bad behaviour.

This is the pruning so that they don’t become wild and uncontrollable.

You will also notice something very evident.

Their sinful nature is revealed.

They don’t want to share toys in being selfish so you discipline them in correcting bad behaviour.

This is the pruning so that they don’t become wild and uncontrollable.

You will also notice something very evident.

Their sinful nature is revealed.

They don’t want to share toys in being selfish so you discipline them in correcting bad behaviour.

They soon head off to kindergarten or get involved in community sports or whatever.

They are carefully being exposed to the world where they learn to live in a world that isn’t so safe like the confines of home.

Too early and they suffer trauma, too late and they don’t accustom to where they need to live.

A tomato plant needs to be hardened off before it gets transplanted in the garden.

It needs to be carefully brought in and out of the windy elements to get strength.

For a child, they soon head off to kindergarten or get involved in community sports or whatever.

They are carefully being exposed to the world where they learn to live that isn’t so safe like the confines of home.

Too early and they suffer trauma, too late and they don’t accustom to where they need to live.

Children continue to grow and are constantly supported by the good soil that holds them in place.

Through the truth found in God’s word, the law and the gospel is taught.

Constant nourishing of living water is poured liberally onto the child.

The child is shown how to live in the world but not to be of he world.

The child is discipled in understanding doctrine, grace, attributes of God and the love of God in Christ Jesus.

This prepares the child to be able to stand on truth in a world that hates God and seeks to destroy your faith.

Think of this as the support cage that holds up a plant until it dies so it doesn’t fall over from the weight of the fruit it will bear.

The weeds that continually pop up around the plant are constantly being removed.

False teaching and foolish behaviour is constantly being pointed out and plucked up.

Notice the proverb in (5) is tied to our current proverb.

“Thorns and snares are in the way of the crooked; whoever guards his soul will keep far from them” Training the child in the way he is to go helps him/her see the dangers of the world so they can steer clear of them.

The body of faith also plays a huge role in the child’s life.

The child sees other believers live out there lives in the community as well as in SS and the corporate worship.

I was told this week how important this church is to their kids.

Why?

Because you as a fellow believer affirm what mom and dad teach.

They see faith in action.

Relationships are formed and they see that you truly care about their well being.

Transition: Therefore, raising a child in gospel truth is really hard, but there comes a time when it all becomes worth the effort.

Transition: Therefore, raising a child in gospel truth is really hard, but there comes a time when it all becomes worth the effort.

Point #3 - Godly children grow up to change the world.

Anyone who knows gardening knows that it is hard work, and parents know that raising children is hard work.

We can be disappointed and impatient.

Frustrated with why don’t they just get it?

How long oh Lord till they stop acting out?

If you were to ask those who have adult children, they would say that they also struggled with this reality.

But the days that seem so long and the continual labour to raise the child in the way they should go are all worth it when as adults they bear fruit of that labour and lead lives that leave you rejoicing in the Lord for his faithfulness!

A mature tomato plant that seemed so small now is this huge plant and loaded with ripe red juicy fruit.

Eating the fruit makes the long hard days worth it.

You see brothers and sisters, there is no greater satisfaction than to see an adult child rejoice in their salvation and never depart from it.

Seeing them make decisions for the Lord in spite of how hard it is to do the right thing.

I have seen how you weep with joy.

When children are set on the right path from an early age, they grow up and have healthy Christ exalting marriages if God grants them a spouse.