Sermon Tone Analysis

“GODLY PARENTING”

(Selected Scriptures)

 

 

Christian parents, do you realize that your happiness and joy is dependent upon your children?

Listen to the testimony of Scripture:

·         Proverbs 10:1--A wise son makes a father glad, But a foolish son is a grief to his mother.

·         Proverbs 15:20--A wise son makes a father glad, But a foolish man despises his mother.

·         Proverbs 17:21--He who sires a fool does so to his sorrow, And the father of a fool has no joy.

·         Proverbs 17:25--A foolish son is a grief to his father And bitterness to her who bore him.

·         Luke 15:20-23--“So he got up and came to his father.

But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

“And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate.”

·         2 John 4--I was very glad to find some of your children walking in truth, just as we have received commandment to do from the Father.

How many parents spend days of sorrow and nights sleepless in consequence of the conduct of their children?

How many have their hearts broken with sorrow because of neglect to train up their children in the nurture and admonition in the Lord?

To a large degree, whether you think so or not, is dependent on the outcome of your children.

Children can throw gloom over all your plans, embitter your holidays, and make you so miserable that your only prospect of relief will be death.

Do you think I am exaggerating?

Listen to the mourning of David in 2 Samuel 18:33,

“The king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept.

And thus he said as he walked, ‘O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom!

Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!’”

I believe that few parents think of this as they should.

Most parents are unaware of the tremendous consequences that result from faulty parenting.

Thousands of parents stand as stark reminders to us of the disappointment and heartache that can come with neglectful parenting.

Yet, thousands upon thousands of others go on in the same way preparing themselves to experience the same suffering!

So, I shall endeavor to answer the question,

How can we govern our children so as to properly discharge our duties and secure for them and us joy and happiness in glorifying God?  Four keys are vital in godly parenting!

I.

GODLY PARENTING REQUIRES EXEMPLIFICATION.

(Romans 2:17-24; 1 Kings 22:52)

 

“But if you bear the name “Jew” and rely upon the Law and boast in God, and know His will and approve the things that are essential, being instructed out of the Law, and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of the immature, having in the Law the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth, you, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself?

You who preach that one shall not steal, do you steal?

You who say that one should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery?

You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?

You who boast in the Law, through your breaking the Law, do you dishonor God?

For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” just as it is written” (Romans 2:17-24).

He did evil in the sight of the Lord and walked in the way of his father and in the way of his mother and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin” (1 Kings 22:52).

If we would be skillful in governing our children, we must learn to govern ourselves!

No one is fit to rule his or her family in the fear of God and a holy life who is unholy and does not fear God themselves.

It is ludicrous to think that we can keep our children from sensuality or drunkenness or gluttony or lust when we cannot keep ourselves from it.

Many of you may recall the popular song “Cat’s in the Cradle” sung by Harry Chapin.

The words always bring a tear to my eye because I am a father, and over the years I have had to travel so much.

The song unfolds as follows:

My child arrived just the other day, \\ He came to the world in the usual way, \\ But there were planes to catch, and bills to pay, \\ He learned to walk while I was away.

\\ And he was talkin’ ‘fore I knew it and as he grew, \\ He’d say, “I’m gonna be like you, Dad.

\\ You know I’m gonna be like you.”

And the cat’s in the cradle and the silver spoon, \\ Little Boy Blue and the man in the moon.

\\ “When you comin’ home, Dad?” \\ “I don’t know when, but we’ll get together then; \\ You know we’ll have a good time then.”

My son turned ten just the other day.

\\ He said, “Thanks for the ball, Dad, come on, let’s play.

\\ Can you teach me to throw?” \\ I said, “No, not today, \\ I got a lot to do.” \\ He said, “That’s okay.”

\\ And he walked away but his smile never dimmed.

\\ It said, “I’m gonna be like him, yeah, \\ You know I’m gonna be like him….”

And he came from college just the other day; \\ So much like a man I just had to say, \\ “Son, I’m proud of you, can you sit for a while?” \\ He shook his head and he said with a smile, \\ “What I’d really like, Dad, is to borrow the car keys.

\\ See you later, can I have them please?”

I’ve long since retired, my son’s moved away.

\\ I called him up just the other day.

\\ I said, “I’d like to see you, if you don’t mind.”

\\ He said, “I’d love to, Dad, if I can find the time.

\\ You see, my new job’s a hassle, and the kids have the flu, \\ But it’s sure nice talkin’ to you, Dad, \\ It’s been nice talkin’ to you.”

And as I hung up the phone \\ It occurred to me, \\ He’d grown up just like me.

\\ My boy was just like me.

And the cat’s in the cradle and the silver spoon, \\ Little Boy Blue and the man in the moon, \\ “When you comin’ home, Son?” \\ “I don’t know when, but we’ll get together then, Dad.

\\ We’re gonna have a good time then.”

The melodrama of this song was played out in Chapin’s own life almost like a self-fulfilling prophecy.

I have been told that his wife, who wrote the words of the song, asked him one day when he was going to slow down the torrid pace of his life and give some time to their children.

His answer was, “At the end of this busy summer, I’ll take some time to be with them.”

That summer, ironically and tragically,  Harry Chapin was killed in a car accident.

*It is not possible to read that postscript of Chapin’s death and miss the larger point—that something was known, believed, and even “preached,” but never lived.

*

If you desire a son or daughter who is in control of their passions and has a gently submissive spirit, then you must exemplify it!

In Genesis 2:16 God first outlines the perimeters within which there is freedom.

Then he specifies the restriction.

Finally he states the consequence of disobedience.

* If a child lives with criticism, he learns to condemn.

* If a child lives with hostility, he learns to fight.

* If a child lives with fear, he learns to be apprehensive.

* If a child lives with pity, he learns to feel sorry for himself.

* If a child lives with jealousy, he learns to feel guilty.

* If a child lives with encouragement, he learn to be self-confident.

* If a child lives with tolerance, he learn to be patient.

* If a child lives with praise, he learns to be appreciative.

* If a child lives with acceptance, he learns to love.

* If a child lives with approval, he learns to like himself.

* If a child lives with recognition, he learns to have a goal.

* If a child lives with fairness, he learns what justice is.

* If a child lives with honesty, he learns what truth is.

* If a child lives with sincerity, he learns to have faith in himself and those around him.

* If a child lives with love, he learns that the world is a wonderful place to live in.

Source unknown

            But this is not all!

We must keep them from bad examples (Psalm 101; 1 Cor.

15:33; 2 John 10).

II.

GODLY PARENTING REQUIRES CORRECTION.

(Proverbs 29:17)

 

There are two broad headings that need to be considered in this regard.

A.

Correction Involves the Right Manner.

(Ephesians 6:4)

 

We must exercise discipline in such a manner that we do not provoke resentment in our children.