The Christian Home
Notes
Transcript
Call to worship
Welcome everyone!
LET US STAND AND WORSHIP!
“What a beautiful Name”
Words and Music by Hillsong
PRAYER OF PRAISE FOR WHO GOD IS
Lord,
“What a beautiful Name”
Words and Music by Hillsong
“What a beautiful Name”
Words and Music by Hillsong
PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION TO OPEN OUR HEARTS
Lord,
SERMON
Introduction
Thank you to everyone who stepped up and helped out over the last two weeks! Too many names to mention but I am so appreciative to you. I heard so many good reports of things people did and offered. It really blessed me
Today is a special day because it is the one day out of an entire year that our society has set aside to honor our mothers. Mother’s day is not a biblical holiday, but it certainly follows the biblical principle to honor our parents.
If you are a mother here today, we celebrate you. Mothers are very special, often taken for granted, often overlooked in our world of prominence defined by financial success and elevated positions, even looked down upon by other women who prefer to live their lives in pursuit of those things.
Where would we be without our mothers?
MY MOTHER: I remember growing up and my mom always took care of us (4 of us in total).
I remember every morning when I got for school, she would already be out the door for work. Her shift started at 6:15. Sitting in the microwave was my breakfast (handmade french toast [probably on wheat bread]. She got up early to cook it so that we would have a healthy breakfast.
I remember my laundry disappearing from my room and returning folded and ready to wear, or being hung up around the house. And this of-coarse took place without me asking.
Whenever I had a school event (which was rare because I tried to avoid any of that I could) she was there.
Whenever I took my drivers test, she was there.
Whenever I got my first loan for my vehicle she co-signed for me.
Whenever I met Ashley, she welcomed her in with open arms, and loved her like a daughter. Even while we were separated and then reconciled, she continually prayed and rejoiced when we got back together.
And from the youngest I can remember, my mother consistently pointed us to Jesus. I remember being maybe 4 or 5 years old and siting in church every Sunday and most Wednesdays. Even in my years of rebellion and foolishness, she never lost hope and kept praying for me.
Where would we be without our mothers?
THE MOTHER OF MY CHILDREN: ASHLEY
Ashley starts her day when the kids wake up around 6-6:30 7 days a week and does not stop until around 9 at night or later.
She is the foundation of our home. She even does a little mothering to me which I allow at times.
She keeps the house put up, the toys put up, the dishes washed, the laundry maintained, and kids bodies clean 7 days a week 365 days a year.
There is never a day off for her except about once every 10 years we are able to slip away for a few days alone without children.
My mother blessed us by staying with our kids last week so we could just do just that. When we got back she told Ashley, “I do not know how you do this every day”.
Ashley stays on top of the kids medications, their doctors appointments, their school events, and the constant task making sure they are eating healthy food.
She plans fun things for them often on weekends and throughout the year. She is always looking for deals on food and clothes to make things easier on me.
Ashley cooks a full hand-cooked meal ATLEAST once a day. She prepares my dad and I lunch just about every day and then a full dinner for all six of us when the kids get home from school.
One thing I really admire about her is her prayer life. Idk how many times I have looked over in the morning and see her with her eyes closed in prayer for the day. Every time something happens or we have a need she is the first one to call us to prayer.
Sometimes it can even get a bit annoying when things are frantic or stressful and she stop everything and say lets pray, and every time it brings a sense of peace to the situation.
Ashley does not only take care of the entire household, but she also manages our little business: taking care of all the legal requirements, the social media, adverting, and all the customer service she provides. She does an outstanding job and life would so much more difficult and unfulfilling without her.
Where would we be without our mothers?
Mothers are a gift from God.
They are an essential ingredient to a healthy home. You don’t believe me? Make mamma mad and see what you’ll be eating for dinner for the next six days.
And a healthy home honors God. The home is where foundations are made. We take away God’s plan and and instruction for the home and society will fall apart.
Marriage falls apart.
Parenthood falls apart
Morality falls apart
And Christianity most often falls apart. When children are raised in a godly home with godly parents, most of the time they grow up to live godly lives.
We will study just four verses today in Ephesians, but they will address every member of the family and teach us God’s design for the Christian home.
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth. Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
There is a pattern here I want to point out
The last time we were together, we talked about ChristIan marriage. And Paul began that teaching addressing the wife first (not because wives really need correction more than husbands!) BUT because she has the submissive role in the relationship.
In this section Paul moves into the relationships between parents and children. Now who does he address first? The children. Why? Because they have the responsibility to be submissive to their parents.
Let’s begin by defining who the “children” are
These children had to be old enough to understand what Paul was teaching because the imperative here is addressed directly to them, “children, obey your parents”
Paul’s letters were written to churches, and when they would receive his letter, they would read it before the entire congregation.
And sitting in that congregation were entire families of parents and children.
A child is one who is dependent upon the parent. And a child does not stop becoming a child until they move out of that home and become independent and no longer dependent.
That means when you graduate the 8th grade and go to High School, you still have to obey your parents.
That means when you get your permit and drivers licenses, you are still required to be obedient to your parents
That means when you graduate High School and still live under your parent’s roof, you are still to obey your parents.
Children are commanded in Scripture to obey their parents
Parents own the authority role in the home
If the parent says be home at 8, that child should do what the parent says
If the parent says do this or do not do that, the child has the responsibility to obey
This Command not only addresses the children, but also the parents: the mothers and the fathers
For a child to obey his parents, his parents must lay down some rules for those children to follow
If the parents are passive and allow the children to do whatever they want, wear whatever they want, hang out with whoever they want, spend their money however they want, they will never have the chance to live out this commandA
All throughout the Bible God calls parents to parent their children
Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.
Correct your son, and he will give you comfort; He will also delight your soul.
Deuteronomy 6:6–7 (NASB95)
“These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.”
He who withholds his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him diligently.
One of the most unloving things we can do for our children is to neglect to teach them the principle of obedience
Parents, we have the responsibility to set healthy boundaries for our children!
Don’t let them run around with kids who do bad things
Don’t let them have whatever they want
Don’t let them eat whatever they want
Don’t let them get their own way on a regular basis
Don’t let them disrespect other people
Don’t let them leave your home without learning the principle of obedience
The principle of obedience is first learned in the home
The first authority children ever experience is the authority of their parents
BUT if their parents never enforce any kind of rules or authority in the home then that child will grow up rejecting all authority in this world
Kids who never learn obedience often reject the laws of the land
They often end up in the jail
They do not respect authority at their jobs
They do not respect authority at church
And they often parent their children the same way
A parent must always remember they are a parent before they are a friend
That doesn’t mean that we should not be friendly towards our children, but it does mean we must not forget we are their parents
Our children need rules and authority
Our children need structure
Our children need discipline
I do not mean you have to whip them. If you do that’s your right, I certainly have spanked my children many time and I’m sure I will again.
The word discipline means “to correct by form of punishment”
sometimes it may be a spanking
sometimes it may be taking a phone away
sometimes it may be grounded
you find out what works for your child and then do it!
But don’t let your child grow up never knowing any kind of discipline
And there may be some who think, “well I would never spank my child, or I would never punish my child, I love them too much”
I’m going to tell you something, there has never been a better father than God the Father
And the Bible says, Heb 12:6
For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, And He scourges every son whom He receives.”
The worst spanking I have ever recieved in my life was not from my parents buy my heavenly Father!
And I am forever grateful for it BECAUSE IT SAVED MY LIFE!!
Do not think discipline is ungodly! It is ungodly to not discipline!
You children will thank you when they are older I promise you!
One of the best things my dad ever did for me was tell me no.
It hurt then, but it caused me to become a man and become disciplined enough to take care of a family of my own.
3 Reason why children should obey
1) Obedience to parents is obedience to God
1) Obedience to parents is obedience to God
(v 1) “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right”
Now what does Paul mean by, “in the Lord”
He is not saying that you only have to obey your parents if they are Christians
What he is saying is that your obedience to your parents is obedience to Jesus
How do we know this? Look what he says next: “for this is right!” Meaning this is what God requires! This is according to God’s will for children!
In other words, CHILDREN, when you obey your parents, you obey Jesus
But when you disobey your parents, you disobey Jesus
ILLUSTRATION:
If a child, teenager, young man or woman who still lives at home dependent upon their parents goes to church every Sunday, reads his Bible at night, prays faithfully, even shares his faith, BUT DOES NOT OBEY HIS PARENTS, He is not faithful to Jesus
It is impossible to be obedient to Jesus and disobedient to your parents
2) Those who obey their parents live longer and better lives
2) Those who obey their parents live longer and better lives
Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth.
This commandment says if you honor your parents it will be well with you and you will live long on the earth
That is a GENERAL PRINCIPLE that one’s life will be lived more abundantly and longer
Why is that?
Does God extend the lives of the children who honor their parents?
There may be some truth there, but not always
Sometimes really good kids that always honor their parents die young
The reason the child generally lives a better life and longer life is because they have learned the principle of obedience and discipline.
When they leave the nest, they will live disciplined lives if they learned that in the home
They will practice self control
They will practice restraint from making bad decisions that could cut their lives short or steal the quality of life they could have
They will have a more stable life and will function in society better and provide those things for their family when God gives them one
On the other hand, those that do not honor their parents will most likely not honor the laws of the land
Many of these children end up in court rooms, or jail cells, and live lives of instability
Their finances are often a wreck
They relationships are a wreck
Many do not hold down a regular job
Their health suffers because of unhealthy habits
And they generally do not live as long as those who learned obedience
Application:
Children, if your parents discipline you, and set boundaries for you, you may not like them now, but you will thank them when you are older
And they given to you in love because your parents want the best for you. will be principles that cultivate a good life for you and your children
3) If a child NEVER learns to obey their parents whom they CAN see, then they will never obey a God whom they CANNOT see
3) If a child NEVER learns to obey their parents whom they CAN see, then they will never obey a God whom they CANNOT see
A child’s first form of authority begins in the home
They first learn respect in the home
They first learn to fear retribution in the home
They learn that God has structured the world with people in authority and those who are to be in submission to that authority in the home
And if they leave the home never learning obedience, they will never really know how to obey God, or respect God, or fear God
They will hear the commands of God and treat Him the same way they have treated their parents
Maybe not outwardly or even publicly, but in their hearts and that’s where it counts.
TO THE FATHERS
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Explanation
This verse only addresses the fathers and not the mothers
Why is that?
Because it is the father who is head or authority figure in the home
In Judaism, fathers had absolute authority over their children.
A father could severely admonish their child, beat them, lock them up, have them thrown into prison.
If a child continued to rebel the fathers even had the right to execute their own child with the consent of the mother according to the law of Moses.
The Romans also had great authority over their children.
Roman fathers could scourge, shame and sell their son into slavery three times and even have him killed.
And the Roman authority over a son was for life.
So it makes sense here why Paul is writing directly to the fathers when it comes to raising a child. He wants to be sure that fathers are raising their children according to Christ and not according to the culture.
“Do not provoke your children to anger”
Dads, we must be careful not to treat our children in ways that will hinder them or discourage them
We must not treat our children with harshness or unfairly
Children are not a means of free labor
We must not Insulting them, ridicule them, pick on them, or
Picking on them
We are to love them and know their great value before God
Rather we are to “bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord”
We are to discipline and to instruct them
Discipline is another word for training
Training is different than just telling them something over and over
We are to show them how to follow rules
We are to demonstrate to them how we follow rules and authority in our lives
We are to motivate them, encourage them, and pray for them that they would learn to follow God’s will for the home
Instruction of the Lord
Dad’s it is primarily our responsibility to teach our kids about Jesus
It is our responsibility to teach our kids about God
Our greatest disciples will be our children, not those in the church
If a man fails with his children in this area, it disqualifies him from pastoring a church
Conclusion
This kind of family life will never happen unless we are first children of God
God is the best example of a father that we will ever have
And I have learned so much from Him, that teaches me how to raise and father my children
But we must first come to Him. Receive His love, receive His guidance, receive His salvation, AND THEN WE WILL BE ABLE TO LEAD OUR FAMILY WELL.
~PRAYER~
RESPONSE
PUBLIC INVITATION
“What a beautiful Name”
Words and Music by Hillsong
OFFERING
We will now worship the Lord through our tithes and offering.
BENEDICTION
Numbers 6:24-26 “The Lord bless you, and keep you; The Lord cause His face to shine on you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His face to you, And give you peace.’”