The Biblical Pattern for Parents & Children

The Biblical Pattern for • Parents & Children Colossians 3:20-21 January 12, 2020 THE BIG IDEA: God’s Word to Parents: Don’t Provoke • • The foundation of a Christian home is Jesus, acknowledged and worshipped as Lord. His Lordship leads to grace- Colossians 3:20-21 (ESV) 3 20 Children obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. God’s Word to Children: Obey • • • • • Meaning of "obey" – “listen under” – meaning, “hear under the authority of your parents” Jesus, Himself, was a model of obeying His Father. John 15:10 à “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.” And, he “was submissive” to Joseph and Mary (Luke 2:51). God’s design for children and parents has always been for loving parents to guide and shape their children and for children to listen and obey. The scope of the obedience – “in everything” The motivation – it pleases the Lord. Paul’s argument is that this is a part of our learning to listen to God’s voice and obeying His words. Proverbs 1:8 (ESV) 8 Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, And forsake not your mother’s teaching, “provoke” -- means to “stir up” or “embitter” Consistent provocation results in the child becoming "dis-couraged" à literally, “without heart” or “without spirit”. driven love and guidance from parents and children who obey their parents. Finally, there are 2 calls to children. One is time-limited: obey them. The other never ends: Honor them. 12 WAYS TO DISCOURAGE YOUR CHILDREN: [Steven J. Cole] o Unpredictability o Unreasonableness o Unfairness o Favoritism o Selfishness o Extremes of over and under discipline. o Criticism without praise o Insensitivity o Unavailability o Breaking promises o Hypocrisy o Legalism A Special Word for Grandparents: Deuteronomy 4:8–9 (ESV) 8 And what great nation is there, that has statutes and rules so righteous as all this law that I set before you today? 9 “Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children— The church has your child, at best, 1% of the time; the schools (if they are not home-schooled) has your child around 16% of the time; but, the home has the child 83% of the time.