Sermons
Will My Children and Grandchildren Be Christians? Part 6
Series: Will My Children and Grandchildren Be ChristiansWill My Children and Grandchildren Be Christians?
Eph. 6:4
Introduction:
1. “Will my children and grandchildren be Christians?” is a very important question as we are trying to be lights in the world.
2. It is an emotional question, very dear to our hearts. Our love for our children and our love for the Lord meethere in a very dramatic way.
3. It can be thrilling to see our children and grandchild obedient to the Lord, but it can result in traumatic grief when they are not!
4. Back in the late 70’s I was teaching a Bible class in a small church in Fountain Run, Kentucky. We were discussing the first few verses of Eph. 6. One of the members of the congregation, a very big man (about 6 feet 6 inches, could not read or write, built corn cribs for a living) with a large family, began to speak. With tears rolling down his cheeks he said, “When I was young and raising my family I was a drunk. Now when I try to talk to my children about the Lord they don’t want to listen to me.”
5. (It was out of this context that I decided to preach. I thought, “If I can help offset some of this kind of pain my life will be well spent.”)
6. But the circumstance illustrates the severity and the practicality of our study. Some of you have experienced the thrill of children and grandchildren who are Christians. Some of you have experienced the same grief that this man was experiencing.
7. What can we do to help our children and grandchildren be Christians, not so much for our own benefit, but for theirs? Because we want them to have the life that God wants them to have.
8. In this lesson I want to consider three things with you.
a. The relationship between parents and the congregation.
b. The teaching of Eph. 6:4b.
c. Suggestions for Bible studies with young people.
Discussion:
I. The relationship between parents and the congregation. How the Fort Logan church works to support parents and grandparents in perpetuating the faith to coming generations.
A. Parents have a peculiar responsibility to perpetuate Christianity to their children
(Eph. 6:4; Deut. 6:2, 7).
1. The term translated “fathers” (Eph. 6:4) is “pat?r” (3962). It is in masculine
form. It is appropriately translated “fathers” not “mothers,” nor even “parents.”
2. Fathers seem to be the primary leaders here. Mothers are not excluded from
responsibility. Certainly, they act together as a team. Both are involved. But
fathers are the lead mule here.
3. A responsibility not to be handed off to the mother.
4. Our industrialized society has created an environment of “public work” that
suggests that fathers are to leave the home and go out to work. Often this
defaults to the mother accepting responsibility for the training of the children
and dad feeling like he has done his part if he provides financially. This is a
view that is defined by modern culture and NOT biblical revelation (although
some have interpreted 1 Tim. 5:8 in this way).
B. The church’s responsibility is to perpetuate Christianity more generally—to all,
including our children.
1. But parents should NOT excuse their responsibility and pass it on to the
church.
2. The church should occupy a supporting role to parents.
a. The church should encourage parents, work to teach them and be
supportive in every way.
b. Here at Fort Logan this is done through children’s classes, Vacation Bible
School, the regular instructional activities (This series of lessons is an
example, but all worship and instructional activities generally.).
c. The “Our Spiritual Heritage Curriculum” is designed to be particularly
supportive to parents. (This is the curriculum used in most of our children’s
classes.) It involves daily instructional activities that are oriented to teach
at home. So that activities on Sunday and Wednesday Bible classes are
reviews of what has been studied at home.
C. Understanding that we are all on the same team, the church, fathers and
mothers. . . and the Lord . . . we all have the same goal and the same interests.
Integrating and cooperating with the system is a healthy approach.
II. “Fathers . . . bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4b).
A. Already, we have seen that fathers are the “lead mule” here.
B. The term translated “bring them up” is “ektréph?” (1625). As defined by
WSNTDICT (Spiros Zodhiates, ed.) this word means to nourish, rear, feed, to
bring to maturity, to educate. It is used in Eph. 5:29 of how we nourish our own
bodies. So, fathers are to provide whatever is appropriate to causing their
children to thrive. Luke 2:52 describes Jesus as “increasing in wisdom and
stature, and in favor with God and men.”
1. Four areas of consideration are identified here:
2. Intellectual/mental development.
3. Physical development.
4. Spiritual development.
5. Social development.
C. The term translated “discipline” is “paideia” (3809). It primarily involves
instruction, but with correction by deed. It is to be distinguished from penal
inflictions. My translation of this is that it involves instruction with
consequences for violation that are designed to bring alignment. It is not
like a jail sentence that would imply rebellion in the child (cf. Titus 1:6: The
children of elders are not accused of dissipation or rebellion.).
D. The term translated “instruction” is “nouthesía” (3559). It means to admonish,
to warn, to exhort, encouragement, the reproof which leads to correct
behavior.
E. The two terms “discipline” and “instruction” involve an appeal to the
conscience, will, and reasoning faculties. (WSNTDICT).
III. Suggestions for Bible studies with young children.
A. Make them age appropriate.
1. Attention spans of children are short.
2. Too much and you are going to lose them.
3. Be brief.
4. Don’t do all the talking.
5. Ask questions.
6. Once had privilege of sitting in on a family Bible study. The dad had observed
that his kids, who were very young, were uninterested and resistant. He read
a long reading to begin the study and then began to talk extensively.
Immediately, I recognized why his children were resistant. They were not
resisting Bible study. They were resisting the format.
B. Use resources.
1. Bible story books. Ex. Arch Books.
2. Use “Our Spiritual Heritage.” All done by Christians. Songs. Song
illustrations. Visual aids. Videos. And more. www.ourspiritualheritage.com.
3. Focus on the Family has magazines, clubs, CD’s, DVD’s, books.
www.focusonthefamily.com. Consider the section on “Parenting” and the one
“Get Help.” There are resources there for Dad’s, Grandparents and a
wealth of helpful information.
C. Do Bible studies regularly.
1. Two times we found helpful. Before bed at night. In the morning
before school.
2. Don’t be unnecessarily rigid. Be flexible. It’s your overall goal that is
important, not just having a study every night. It’s not the end of the
world, you are not a failure, if you miss a study.
D. Have a brief devotional, combined with singing, prayer,
discussion/questions/applications (2-3). 15-20 minutes.
E. Make it a time of connection. A quiet time. A relaxed time. Touch each
other. Talk openly. Listen. Pray together. Make it rewarding.
Conclusion:
1. “Will my children and grandchildren be Christians?”
2. It’s a critical question.
3. Getting there can be a very rewarding experience.
4. Don’t lose out on the life God wants you to have by neglecting this experience.
5. Don’t let your children and grandchildren be robbed of the life God wants them to have.
6. Let us give ourselves to the perpetuation of life and the family of God by giving ourselves to Him. Are you a Christian? Is His word in your heart?
