Parent Night

INTRO

@Summit we like to get loud so parents where you at?

raise your hand if your a parent tonight? keep your hand up if you actually claim them

summit give them a round of appluase

Parent night is one of my favorites becuase my parents came to church for the first cuz of a parent night

I told students that I was going to tell you that you should’t make them do their homework or chores.

I believe the Lord wants to speak to all of us tonight (Student, parent, leader)

parents are the most important people in the world

Being there to change diaper, bath you, get you to school, make lunch, help you through the break-up, support you sport band, be your piggy bank

My mom is so important because she seems to find things I lose and can’t find

parents you are called to more then just making sure your kid doesn’t die by 18, God has more

called to disciplepship

Matthew 28:19–20 ESV

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Discipleship: following after someone and becoming more like them

a parents job is to disciple their student to become like Jesus

SCRIPTURE:

Jesus is coming up to his death on the cross as he shares some final words with the people he calls his family

John 15:5–11 ESV

5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 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. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

TEACHING:

ABIDE IN THE VINE (v.5-6)

5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.

V.5

Jesus is using a metaphor: He is vine we are branches

you know it’s so easy to get distracted in this world

we share every week how easy it is for students to get distracted by the world

The same can be true for parenting

We think if i can just get them good at this sport, in that friend group, get that grade point average

get so focused on stuff that doesn’t really matter that we miss out on the thing that really matters

That is what Jesus is saying, HEY you can do NOTHING apart form me

Cant be the parent you need to be, you can’t be the son/dughter need to be

You may be the cool parent but at the expense of your child’s eternity

Being the parent your kid needs starts with abiding in Christ

students to be the sone/daughter you need to be starts with abiding

Abide=Meno in greek

means to reside, connotation of staying at a house

Lucie & I jsut recently became home owners

took over church parsonage

and I think it was built during the american revolution, I thought it was a crack house (looked something like mosnter house)

But I notice how much life you do in a house (it’s more then just a place to sleep)

In the same way We need to reside in God

Abiding in God is not a holiday Inn one night stay

it’s a lifetime of doing life with HIM

Parent’s you need to set the example?

Discipling your child starts with abiding in christ

V.6

the bible is telling the gravity of the situation

the importance of living like Christ has eternal importance

more focused on being a disciple of jesus then a parent to child

If you care for your childs eternity, then while they are trapped in your home you will use every moment for Jesus

2. ABIDE IN GOD’S LOVE (V9-11)

V.9

You know I never had a parent show me God’s love early on

my dad walked out of my life when I was in 8th grade

I got a stepdad, and he was a biker, verbally abusive

He got hurt by the church so he would never go

we started going and he picked us up from church camp

He came in wearing crocs, wife beater, gym shorts, and said if anyone judges me i’m out

He ended up giving his life to Christ and he’s been a real dad ever since

God’s love is complete in you in following him, discipleship

to disciple your kids you must first become a disciple of Jesus yourself

V.10

Keep God’s commands, follow How God says to live,

students how to follow your parents

husband, love wife and wife love husband

Why?

V.11

so that your joy may be complete

I’ll never forget how broken my messed up family was

at the time we never thought going all in with god would fix it

even when we did it wasn’t perfect, but through a process we ha

Abide in God’s commandment

do as I say not as I do wont work

your kids are watching the way you live cuz I watched my parents

V.8- you need to prove to your kid that youre following the God

Jesus got in the dirt with his disciples John 13:12-20

these students see people acting on social media and TV, they can tell when youre acting

Your child is waiting to see something real, someone

church attendance, treat your spouse, prayer, slow to anger

Abide in God’s word

V.7

are you getting in the bible, do your kids see you getting in the bible

Your kids faith cant just be taught but caught

are you showing your child the things of God through scripture

In jewish culture they sit around the table and dispute the scripture

Maybe some of you need to talk about God around the dinner table

Abide in God’s joy

Parenting is a joy

building God’s kingdom is a joy

unleashing your child to be a weapon for God is a joy

When I think about Joy, I think about Jesus

He found the joy in giving up his life for us

English Standard Version Chapter 15

12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

INVITATION:

V.16

God has chosen you young person, parent

He has chosen you to be their parent and their child

My friend and his wife gave birth to a stillborn, I went to the funeral last week

he said I never knew how much deeper I could love something until I saw my baby

it got me thinking, if parker loved his child more then he could fathom, to the point it hurts, how much does God our father love us

maybe you are in here and you have never experienced a father’s love, through Jesus you can

Maybe your a parent and you don’t know how to love, through Jesus you can