Train Up The Little Children

Train Up A Child

INTRO: If you were raised in the church I am sure you can probably remember those who took the time to teach in Sunday school. I know I can remember several bible class teachers who had a profound impact on my faith and walk with Christ.

Hal Pruessner - the bald headed wonder. If he was ever late to class he would have to do 100 push-ups. It taught responsibility and accountability

Richard Rendon - how he taught us as junior high boys to live out when he would make us be reconciled to our fellow junior high classmates before we could start class.

The Goode’s - who did puppets better than anyone that I can remember. I can still here Gretchen the puppet saying “you know whatttttt” we learned how to laugh and learned all types of important practical biblical lesson set to real life situations.

Gary Underwood - pew packers sing father Abraham

Carol Yarborough - who taught the new born’s to 2’s and 3’s - I remember many of the ladies and even the elders wanting to stop having bible class for children that young because it was pointless and to her credit she showed them the proof of how important it is and they pick up more than you think. I was able to witness children who many years when they were in high school who would still come to see her and found her to be such a comforting spirit to them. she calm any baby. Very rarely did you ever hear a peep out of her class expect for her singing and reading to them.

teachers have an impact on the children they did and because the impact those children they have a direct impact on the church and its future. in fact statistics bear this out

58% of adults that attended bible school every week as children still attend regularly

it is 20 x’s more likely that you will have an active faith if as a child you attend bible class regularly

children who attend bible school are less likely to change faiths as adults, children who attend bible class regularly are more likely to have an active faith

85 % of the people who come to Christ are under the age of 18

2 Timothy 3:14–15 NASB95

You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Hear me out parents, church. Children are more likely to come to Jesus and stay in the faith if they are attending Sunday bible school class regularly

when you add in parent that are spiritually active and attend regularly then the percentages increase significantly.

THE OPPORTUNITIES

Proverbs 22:6 NASB95

Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.

As a bible class teacher for our children you have the opportunity to partner with us as parents to help us train up our children in the way that they should go so that will not impart. The statistics bear that out. You have probably heard the the African proverb: It takes a village to raise a child.

I’m sure this has biblical roots

Ecclesiastes 4:9 NASB95

Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor.

And reiterates the importance of all of us working together to raise Godly children. You have an opportunity to help our children remain faithful as adults. You heard the statistics earlier children are more likely to attend and have an active faith if they attend bible class as children, but in order for them to do so we have to have teachers.

I know that if you have taught my children as a parent I am extremely grateful and each of you have had a positive impact on my children and for that I am grateful.

you have the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of our Savior in showing how important children are to God. Did you know that children are important to Jesus, that children are important to God?

Matthew 19:13–14 NASB95

Then some children were brought to Him so that He might lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, “Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

Jesus rebuked his disciples. Why? Because children are important and the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.

Look at

Luke 9:46–48 NASB95

An argument started among them as to which of them might be the greatest. But Jesus, knowing what they were thinking in their heart, took a child and stood him by His side, and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in My name receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me; for the one who is least among all of you, this is the one who is great.”

Who’s the greatest? that's the question or argument that Jesus is addressing by taking the child and standing him beside him. Who’s the greatest according to Jesus? The preacher, Elders, Deacons, 20+ year members, NOOOO!!!

The children and those who are like them. You have the opportunity to show children that they are important to God.

If the children are the greatest and they are that important to God and to Jesus, don’t you think they should be important to us.

As a teacher through your time, energy, effort, study, and commitment you are telling our children they are important to God and they are important to you.

We should never forget how important our children are to us and the church. There is a reason God tells Moses to tell the people to teach their children and grandchildren

We should never forget them, neglect them, or discourage them.

We should always thank them, pray for them, and help them.

Are you taking advantage of the opportunity to train up our children in the way they should go and showing them how important they are to God and to you by participating in teaching Bible class for our children.

It is vitally important for us to teach our children while they are young. I heard one person say once that what is rooted in the heart of a child is almost impossible to uproot in the life of an adult. What is he saying?

Proverbs 22:6 NASB95

Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.

research tells us that we have a small window to impart how important God should be in their lives. 4-14 is that window.

teaching our children in the younger years is crucial, notce waht the wiseman solomon writes in

Ecclesiastes 12:1 NASB95

Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will say, “I have no delight in them”;

is written by an old man looking back over a lifetime with God. He says:

Psalm 71:17–20 NASB95

O God, You have taught me from my youth, And I still declare Your wondrous deeds. And even when I am old and gray, O God, do not forsake me, Until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to all who are to come. For Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the heavens, You who have done great things; O God, who is like You? You who have shown me many troubles and distresses Will revive me again, And will bring me up again from the depths of the earth.

Ps. 71:17-20

O God, from my youth thou hast taught me, and I still proclaim thy wondrous deeds. So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, till I proclaim they might to all the generations to come … Thou who has done great things, O God. Who is like thee? Thou who hast made me see many sore troubles wilt revive me again…” (verses 17-20).

It is a magnificent thing when an old man can stand and say, "God has been my hope from my youth on. I have seen sore troubles, but have never been forsaken, and by God's grace have never forsaken Him." That is what I want my sons to say in 70 years. I don't want them to have to give any glowing conversion story. I want them to say, just like I hope to say myself with the Psalmist, “For thou, O Lord, art my hope; my trust, O Lord, from my youth” (71:5).

We can see from scripture and statistics that we need to teach and train up our children, we understand that children are important and that teaching them is important.

the problem is that we often don’t participate in teaching our children or showing our children how important they are. Often time children are placed on the back burner and often not given their proper place in the kingdom.

The problem is that Children's ministry in most churches are woefully under-supported with workers and finances, in fact most are invisible to the rest of the church. It’s unfortunate but a reality that children must first become prodigals before we will make them priorities.

the problem is that the workers are few. We need workers. Are we really going to be satisfied with using the same old ridiculous excuses. Here are the excuses I have heard all my life

that I’m too tired to teach the little children

that I have done my time it s time for others to do their time

it was too much work

take too much of my time

I just didn’t want to

If we are filled with excuses why we cannot then we are looking at it all wrong.

It is a

privilege to teach children, why, because the they are important to God and we have the opportunity to help train them up so they will not depart

it’s an incredible opportunity to show them how important and valuable to God they are

it’s a valuable endeavor because we can have a profound impact on the future of the church.

How many adult problems would be solved if every preschooler who entered our churches left knowing they have a Heavenly Father who loves them? Or what if every elementary child left knowing they can place their trust in Jesus for every area of their lives? Or what if every High School student left knowing their place in God’s story and having made a lifetime commitment to serving Christ. What if every college ministry developed that calling to life service? What if everything we did for children focused on winning them to Christ? What if we all were involved and participated in this ministry. Where will the church be 10 20 30 40 50 years from now.

to all our teachers over the last couple of years we as parent thank you. The children want to thank you this morning and we cannot even begin to thank you enough for the impact that you have and will make in our children's lives. thank you for seizing the opportunity to partner with us in train them up and showing them how important they are to God, and thank you for not contributing to the problem but being an answer to the problem.

It truly does take a village to raise a child and you, each one of you are valuable and important to helping train up our children in the way they should go. you don’t have to to teach bible class to help. You have an opportunity tocome with a smile and love on our kids. you can come with positive attitudes and not be complainers. you can be regularly attend and thank our kids for being here every Sunday. You can serve with a smile and show our kids what is to walk in the steps of the savior. You can make it a joy for our kids to be here. As captain planet always said “the power is yours”

Will you consider partnering up with us in

Proverbs 22:6 NASB95

Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Prov. 22

4 reasons to be involved

you’ll make an eternal impact on a child’s life

you’ll be a better bible student

reminds us to humble

you have something to offer (experience, love, knowledge)

if we can help you to be humble like a child or we can share the gospel with you, or help you in being obedient to the gospel please come this morning while we stand and sing.