Children and Parents

READ Ephesians 6:1-4

We have spent 4 weeks discussing the family.

Instead of looking toward our government, schools, and the even the ministries of the church to bring healing into society, the 1st place that disciples are cultivated is the home.

Have you noticed how children speak to their parents these days?

Our culture is reaping the devastation of family disintegration.

When the family falls apart, everything is affected.

Todays message is 75% for the kids, 25% to fathers, and 100% for the church. Paul wrote timeless words for children and their parents.

“Children obey and honor their parents”

This verse is so important for the development of a child into a teenager and eventual adult.

Why obey? Because it is the right thing to do. To obey reveals righteous and Godly character.

Unless a parent is contradicting God, children are to obey.

Obedience to parents is pleasing to the Lord.

“Honor” reflects the 5th commandment and comes with a promise.

Children were required by Roman law to submit to their parents authority.

Honor toward parents bring stability and blessings from God.

My dad did not want me to leave the USA on a mission trip. I didn’t agree.

Kids, God will bless you when you learn to obey.

Honoring our parents is a lifelong process.

This message will garner many emotions.

What stress and pain have we generated by refusing to honor parents?

We are only hurting ourselves.

Don’t honor your parents for their sake alone. Look above and see your heavenly Father.

“Father’s bring peace and training into the home”

Paul then turns to the Fathers. As the head and leader of the family, dads have the primary responsibility of leading the children to love god.

Roman law allowed great authority of fathers over their children.

They could decide whether a newborn lived or died.

Discipline how they wanted.

Paul taught Christian men not to misuse their authority.

“This is what to do Christian men. Raise up your children righteously.”

“Don’t stir up anger” - Don’t correct your children in a way that they become bitter.

Be an encourager, not a discourager.

Praise them and make sure they know you are proud to be their dad.

Correct with a point and purpose.

We are running short of Father’s and Dad’s in our culture. (How often do we pray for fathers?)

Learn God’s divine guideline and teach it to Your kids so that they can grasp it.

Age-appropriate discipline in love and not anger.

Hebrews 12:5-6 says, “5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: My son, do not take the Lord’s discipline lightly or lose heart when you are reproved by him, 6 for the Lord disciplines the one he loves and punishes every son he receives.”

God disciplines in love. We our kids the same.

Let’s turn our family over to God and let Him guide us.

“Intentional Parenting” From Family Discipleship pg. 96.