Topical Sermons Power Point Show
Scripture Reading: Psalm 127
Nurturing Children or Raisin' Cain?
Intro.
1. Request: Please do a lesson on raising children (scriptures) with love and discipline.
2. The question implies a link between discipline, love, & proper rearing of children. That linkage is proper (1 Ths. 2:11-12; Heb. 12:5-6, 10-11).
3. Children are our inheritance from God – Psa. 127:3 (Prov. 17:6).
4. Goal: Present our children to the Lord – Gen. 18:19; 1 Sam. 1:22; 2:11.
5. Heavenly Father knows best how to rear children. Listen to His word of wisdom, or we are liable to ‘raise Cain’ instead of rearing children!
I. COMPREHENSIVE NATURE OF DISCIPLINE – Eph. 6:4.
A. Instruction – cf. Prov. 1:8-9.
1. Teach about life; teach word of God, Deut. 4:8-10; 6:4-9; 11:18-19.
2. Training in righteousness (cf. Timothy, 2 Tim. 3:15).
B. Correction – Prov. 3:12, 13:24; 22:15; 29:17.
II. DIVINE GUIDANCE ON REARING CHILDREN.
A. Insist that Your Children Obey You – Eph. 6:1-3. (Teach & correct)
1. “The thing that impresses me the most about America is the way parents obey their children.” (King Edward VIII, 1894 - 1972)
2. “There was a time when we expected nothing of our children but obedience, as opposed to the present, when we expect everything of them but obedience.” (Anatole Broyard) cf. Prov. 30:11
3. Jesus & His parents – Lk. 2:51.
4. Eli & his sons – 1 Sam. 2:12, 22-25, 29; 3:13.
B. Praise as Well as Punish.
1. Make the punishment fit the offense (cf. Eli, 1 Sam. 2:22-24).
2. Punishment w/o praise will break a child’s spirit – Col. 3:21 (“to be disheartened, dispirited, broken in spirit”).
3. Be fair-minded & just.
C. Give Them What They Need, Not Necessarily What They Want – Matt. 7:8-11.
1. “It is not giving children more that spoils them; it is giving them more to avoid confrontation. (John Gray, “Children Are From Heaven”)
2. Say “yes” when you can & “no” when you must!
D. Be Consistent – 1 Sam. 2:12, 22; 3:13.
1. In teaching, correction (Follow through; Stay in control).
2. Practice what you preach (2 Tim. 1:5).
E. Do Not Show Favoritism – Gen. 26:28; 37:3.
-Recognize & respect individuality while remaining impartial.
F. Work Together – Lk. 2:51 (cf. Gen. 27:5).
1. Children sense conflict between parents & exploit it! (Matt. 12:25)
2. Share & help each other with the children, the home, etc.
G. Find & Develop the Child’s “Way” – Prov. 22:6.
1. Don’t try to make him/her into what you wanted to be, but weren’t.
2. Give direction & discipline fit for each – cf. Eccl. 2:3; 5:18-19; 12:1.
3. “The art of mothering is to teach the art of living to children. (Elain Heffner, O Magazine, May 2003)
H. Set Godly Examples – Isa. 39:4; Prov. 4:1-4 (2 Tim. 1:5).
1. Love God (Matt. 22:37): Obey, worship, put Him first, etc.
2. Love man (Matt. 22:39): Honesty, fairness, kindness, mercy, etc.
I. Pray for God’s Help – Judg. 13:8-9; Jas. 1:5-8 (Phil. 4:6-7).
-Rely on God’s truth to direct you – Prov. 3:5-6.
J. Be Patient.
1. Start early in life – 2 Tim. 3:15 (cf. Hannah & Samuel; Jochebed & Moses).
2. Stay the course – Prov. 19:18; 23:13-14; 29:15.
K. Confess & Repent When You Sin against Your Children – cf. Jas. 5:16.
-Parents sin against their children (Col. 3:21). Deal with it God’s way!
L. Remember: The Responsibility & Accountability is Yours.
1. Seek counsel – cf. Tit. 2:4; Prov. 11:14; 15:22.
2. Filter the well-meaning advice, suggestions, recommendations of others through the sieve of truth & wisdom.
3. Beware of intrusive meddlers & meddling – 1 Pet. 4:15.
4. Everyone is an expert: “Before I got married I had six theories bringing up children; now I have six children and no theories.” (John Wilmot)
Conclusion
1. Men are generally more careful of the breed of their horses and dogs than of their children.” (William Penn, 1644 - 1718)
2. Children deserve our careful attention (Prov. 29:15).
3. Use God’s word – not human theories & “wisdom” – to teach us to train up our children in the “training and admonition of the Lord.”