Sermons
Will My Children and Grandchildren Be Christians Part 4
Series: Will My Children and Grandchildren Be Christians4Will My Children and Grandchildren Be Christians
Introduction:
1. What can parents do to be assured that their children and grandchildren will be Christians.
2. In previous lessons we have considered Deut. 6 and 7. We have considered God as the model Father relating in ways to create faith in His children and grandchildren.
3. Yet, the realization is that although God is the perfect parent, not all His children were faithful. It is a challenging task. Individual wills are involved. There are negative cultural influences, materialistic challenges, and doubts that interfere with the accomplishment of our objective.
4. The later history of Israel indicates widespread failure as idolatry and unfaithfulness led to Babylonian captivity. Yet, some remained faithful to the Lord. The situation, though difficult, is not hopeless.
5. What can we do?
Discussion:
I. We can be genuine in our faith.
A. Deut. 6:6 says, “These words shall be on your heart.” Verse 5 says, “You shall
love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your
might.”
1. This is no superficial kind of faith. It is not a faith that assembles with the
church a couple of times a year. It is not a faith that has a copy of the Bible
that is never read. It is not a faith that sends children to a house of worship
but does not personally participate.
2. Parents who do this tend to have children who identify as “not associated with
any religion.”
3. When these words are on your heart there is involved in that a deep
commitment of loyalty and devotion.
B. Our hearts must be circumcised (Jer. 9:25-26; Isa. 29:13ff; Matt. 15:3-9).
1. Circumcision of the heart involves two elements of separation.
a. A cutting off.
b. A joining together.
2. Circumcision traces to Gen. 17 and the covenant between God and Abraham.
a. It involved more than a physical cutting off. It is a circumcision of the heart.
b. It symbolized the unique separation from the world and joining to God.
c. It involved an exclusive relationship with God (cf. Ex. 20:2-5; James 4:4ff;
2 Cor. 6:14ff).
C. Genuine faith is founded upon understanding and knowing the Lord which
leads to circumcision of the heart (Jer. 9:23-26).
1. Lovingkindness, justice and righteousness characterize the Lord, and it is
in these things that He delights.
2. What does it look like to “know the Lord”? (Jer. 22:13-17).
D. We must practice what the Lord has taught us. It is more than “going to
church” (Jer. 7:3-11).
E. We teach our children what we believe and practice ourselves. If we have
genuine faith in God that is what we teach. If we have a little faith in God that
is what we teach. If we have no faith in God that is what we teach.
II. What can we do? First, we can be genuine in our faith. Second, we can be open about our faith.
A. Faith that is not exposed is not communicated intergenerationally.
1. James said, “I will show you my faith by my works” (2:18).
2. Our faith is not to be hidden but seen. “Let your light shine before men in such
a way that they may see your good works” (Matt. 5:16). This is not for self-
glorification, but for the glorification of God.
3. Our faith needs to be evident to our children.
B. How can I make it evident? Here are some ways . . .
1. It will be evident with wholehearted repentance (Jer. 24:7). Parents are not
perfect and children know this better than most. Humility is quite effective in
communicating faith in God.
2. Our prayers illustrate our faith. Do you pray? Do you pray so that your
children hear you? Do you express thanks for meals? Do you pray on special
occasions, openly? For safety on a trip? For those suffering? For yourself as
a parent?
3. Contributing in a community of faith communicates our faith to children.
a. Not just talking about “attending” worship, but being a part of the
congregation.
b. Not what “they” are doing but what “we” are doing.
c. Self-sacrificial contributions communicate where our heart is.
4. “Going the extra mile” (cf. Matt. 5:41). Instead of “striking back” look for ways
to be gracious. This communicates a distinction from the world.
III. What can we do? First, we can be genuine in our faith. Second, we can be open about our faith. Third, we can communicate a biblically accurate faith.
A. The world has skewed views of God and Christianity.
1. Many religionists play into these skewed views because they also have
skewed views.
2. “Does God hate homosexuals? Does God hate transexuals? Does God
hate women? Does God hate immigrants?” If not, why should we ridicule,
disparage, be rude, condescending, and hateful? James 3:8-10 says, “No
one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. With it
we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been
made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and
cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.”
3. Among the things that people report that lead them to identify as “of no
religion” is the attitudes of some religionists against minorities.
B. We don’t have to be a part of these attitudes.
1. We can seek to comprehend, commend positive elements, before critiquing.
2. Does this mean we compromise the teaching of Scripture. NOT AT ALL!
3. We can communicate conviction WITH compassion. We can communicate
conviction AND compassion.
4. This is what we are called on to do with all forms of sin (1 Cor. 6:9-11; 2 Tim.
2:24-26).
C. We need to be careful not to mar biblical faith with our own prejudices. We need
to communicate a biblically accurate faith to our children. We need to show
respect. Everyone is created in the image of God. Valued by God who gave
the precious value of His Son for us.
Conclusion:
1. What can we do to be assured that our children and grandchildren will be Christians?
2. There is no guarantee of positive results.
3. But there are positive things that we can do.
a. We can be genuine in our faith.
b. We can be open about our faith.
c. We can communicate a biblically accurate faith.
