SF201 - HOPE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION (Proverbs 22 6)
SF201
HOPE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION
Proverbs 22:6, Ephesians 6:4
INTRODUCTION
BOTH THE BEST OF TIMES AND THE WORST OF TIMES
Time Magazine cover story on children in 1989 recorded the following:
Computers are commonplace
Television and satellites have brought the world into their rooms
The three R's are being crowded out by courses on AIDS, drug abuse, sex and suicide
Parents, at the mercy of economic changes, have become absent, or been replaced by sitters and day care workers. That nine‑cent
loaf of bread now costs 71 cents; that three‑bedroom house, $82,000.
Here are a few examples:
Every 31 seconds a teenager becomes pregnant
Every 78 seconds an adolescent attempts suicide
One in eight teens runs away from home at least once
One in four drops out of high school
Poverty virtually eliminates hope for one‑fourth of our children
Child abuse and neglect are so rampant that most state social workers are handling 2‑3 times the normal caseload
22 million children need day care; about six million are in day care programs
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1A. THE PROBLEM
PRO 29:15
The rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother.
1B. Sinners By Nature
PRO 22:15
Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him.
2B. Sinners By Choice
Romans 3:23
3B. Sinners By Practice
PRO 1:16
For their feet rush into sin, they are swift to shed blood.
ISA 59:7
Their feet rush into sin; they are swift to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are evil thoughts; ruin and destruction mark their ways.
SEEDING AND WEEDING
A friend once told the poet Coleridge he didn't believe ingiving religious instruction to a small child. He insisted that every young person must have an open mind when he chooses his faith. Without replying to his statements, Coleridge invited his visitor into the backyard to look at his garden. The man was surprised to see that part of it was badly in need of attention. "Why, you have nothing here but weeds!" he exclaimed. The poet answered, "I didn't wish to infringe in any way upon the liberty of this plot of ground, so I gave it a chance to express itself and choose its own product."
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2A. THE PERSON
CHILD: Used to refer to every age from birth (Exo 2:6) to a young man (2Sa 14:21).
Three Stages
PRO 1:22
"How long will you simple ones love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?
1B. Simple
1C. Care Free
2C. Curious/Easily Led
3C. Accountable
2B. Mocker
1C. Delights in Mocking
2C. Defies Instruction
3C. Despises the Godly
4C. Destined for Destruction
3B. Fool
1C. Rejects wisdom
2C. Ridicules righteousness
3C. Rejoices in sin
4C. Reserved for judgement
3A. THE PROCESS
TRAIN prim root "to narrow", fig. "to initiate or discipline:‑ to dedicate, train up"
1B. Remember The Simple Can Be Taught
PRO 1:1‑4
The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight; for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young‑‑
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Must Start Young
2B. Remember That They Learn By Example
1C. What you do speaks louder than what you say.
James 1:22
Do not merely listen to the word...Do what it says.
2C. Show him how sin is punished in others.
PRO 19:25
Flog a mocker, and the simple will learn prudence; rebuke a discerning man, and he will gain knowledge.
3C. Allow him to suffer the consequences of his sin before it becomes too serious.
PRO 21:11
When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom; when a wise man is instructed, he gets knowledge.
THE HOME ENVIRONMENT
If a child lives with criticism, he learns to condemn.
If a child lives with hostility, she learns to fight.
If a child lives with fear, he learns to be apprehensive.
If a child lives with jealousy, she learns to feel guilty.
BUT
If a child lives with encouragement, he learns to be self‑confident.
If a child lives with tolerance, she learns to be patient.
If a child lives with praise, he learns to be appreciative.
If a child lives with acceptance, she learns to love.
If a child lives with approval, he learns to like himself.
If a child lives with honesty, she learns what truth is.
If a child lives with love, he learns that the world is a wonderful place to live in.
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3B. Guard His Company
PRO 13:20
He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.
PRO 22:10
Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife; quarrels and insults are ended.
THEY'RE SOAKING IT UP!
Since sponges are animals that live in the sea, divers must descend to the ocean floor to gather them. After they are brought to the surface, they must be "cleaned" in order to be useful for household purposes. Once all living matter is removed, the "skeleton" with its open‑celled structure has an amazing capacity to soak up liquids. Children are a lot like sponges. Quietly they take in everything around them. They are what they are not only because of inherited family traits, but also because they are continually influenced by their environment. For this reason, parents must be concerned about what is allowed to fill their minds. How important it is to exercise wise control over their surroundings!
4A. Understand the Promise
1B. Proper Direction
WAY = "a course of life or mode of action.
PRO 14:12
There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.
PRO 12:28
In the way of righteousness there is life; along that path is immortality.
2B Permanent Dedication
1C. OLD = The term used to refer to Abraham in Gen 24:1.
2C. TURN FROM IT
turn aside, depart; Used to describe Israel's apostasy. Conversely, "not to turn aside" was a way of affirming a man's steadfastness before the Lord.
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CONCLUSION
WHAT SHOULD BE DIFFERENT ABOUT CHRISTIAN PARENTS?
1. Christian parents should not allow society to push our children too fast.
2. Our children, especially in their early years, need to know we love them.
3. Our children need us to talk to them, listen to them, and just be with them.
4. As we nurture our children, we must consider their uniqueness.
CHILDREN AND THEIR WORLD
A Father was trying to entertain his small son. Getting weary, he decided to give the youngster something that would take up a lot of time. He found a map of the world in a magazine, cut it into small pieces, and gave it to the boy to put together again. In no time at all little Jimmy came running to his father saying, "Here it is, Daddy‑the puzzle's all finished!" His father was amazed and asked, "How did you ever put it together so quickly?" "Oh, it was easy, Daddy," said the lad. "On the back of the map there's a picture of a boy; I knew if I could build him right, the world would come out all right too!" Yes, the shape of tomorrow's world depends upon how we build today's youth!
