Jesus Owned Family: Colossians 3:20-21

Introduction:

· Hook: The 1677/1689 Second London Baptist Confession of Faith is a mature statement of Baptist on what the Scriptures teach. It first adopted and published by an unknowable amount of churches in 1677, but then adopted and republished by some 108 Baptists churches in 1689. In 1677, the publishers wrote an introductory letter, explaining their reason for publishing the Confession of Faith. Toward the end they say something of their day that is equally fitting in our own, listen.

“There is one spring and cause of the decay of religion in our day which we cannot but touch upon and earnestly urge a redress of, and that is the neglect of the worship of God in families by those to whom the charge and conduct of them is committed.”

They then lay responsibility on parents and caregivers:

“May not the gross ignorance and instability of many, with the profaneness of others, be justly charged upon their parents and masters, who have not trained them up in the way wherein they ought to walk when they were young, but have neglected those frequent and solemn commands which the Lord hath laid upon them, so to catechize and instruct them that their tender years might be seasoned with the knowledge of the truth of God as revealed in the Scriptures.”

· FCF: To whom do your families belong?

· BI: Your families Belongs to Jesus

Body:

I. Your families belong to Jesus, so children obey your parents: 20

· Children obey your parents:

1. This Obedience is to be done in love: To be committed to their good and honor.

2. This Obedience is to be done in honor: Think highly and reflect a positive image of their parents

3. This Obedience is to be done in reverence: To respect them, bear their reproof, and respond to their correction.

4. This Obedience is to be done in gratitude: To remember their kindness and show them kindness in Old Age or difficulty.

5. This Obedience is to be done in subjection: Heed to their commands, suggestions, and corrections.

· In everything: So long as a command is not against the things of God, then a child is required to obey. Even if something is difficult, annoying, or even stupid, obedience is expected and should be done.

· For this pleases the Lord: A child’s ultimate motivation for obeying their parents is that it pleases the Lord.

· Applications:

1. Children in the Home—Listen to your parents and do what they command.

2. Children out of the Home—Respect your parents and speak well of them.

3. Church—Come alongside parents in the rearing of their children, assisting them in the discipleship of their children.

II. Your families belong to Jesus, so fathers don’t provoke your children: 21

· Children don’t ultimately need cool guys or engaging programs, to be entertained. They need parents, especially dad’s, physical and spiritual, who teach, love, and live out the Word of God.

· Fathers, do not provoke your children: To provoke is to arouse or embitter.

1. This can be done by words: Nagging, hateful remarks, name calling, and comparing children

2. This can be done by actions: Inconsistent discipline, discipline doesn’t match the wrong done, and absence.

· Lest they become discouraged: By deriding a child with constant nagging, unrealistic standards, and conditional love a child can see themselves unable to please their parents or as worthless.

· Illustration: The Shaming of Children On Social Media and Unbalanced Correction

· Application: Parents, especially fathers.

1. Know your children: Their dreams, loves, and fears.

2. Feed your children: The Gospel, the Scriptures, and food.

3. Lead your children: Be who they should aspire to be. Put the gospel at the center of the home.

4. Protect your children: Guard them from false teaching, their own sinful desires, and those who seek to do them harm.

· Application: Church

1. Train: Equip parents to be the primary disciple makers in their home.

2. Encourage: Encourage them to do what is right and point them to the truth when difficulties arise.

3. Correct: When a parent is in the wrong with the harshness of their discipline or unrealistic in the expectations for their child, correct them by reminding them of Scripture and the Gospel.

Conclusion:

· Hook: 1689 Preface

· FCF: To whom do your families belong?

· BI: Your families Belongs to Jesus

· R2C