Giving Your Children Back to God
Introduction
1.
The days of the Judges were dark days in Israel’s history. Jg. 2:7-19; 21:25
2. When Israel needed a man to lead, God first raised up a
woman – a mother – two actually.
a. Ruth the Moabitess who was King
David’s great-grandmother (cf. Ru. 4:13-22)
b. Hannah the mother of Samuel, the
last judge and first of the prophetic era 1Sa. 1:1-28
3. Our task as parents is to give our children back to God,
and mothers play a critical role in doing so.
a. In most families, the mother will
spend a greater amount of time with the children than the father does.
b. A godly mother’s guidance has been
the catalyst for spiritual growth in the lives of many young people.
Teach Your Children…
I. To Be
Aware of God Every Day
A. By Speaking of Him Often
1. The Lord should never be far removed from our daily discussions and
activities. De. 6:6-9
2. We shouldn’t restrict conversations about God to times of assembly or
discussing a Bible lesson.
a) Each day can begin and end with family prayer; each meal is a time to offer
God gratitude.
b) Treats, chores, bad behavior, good behavior – all offer opportunities for
spiritual discussion.
3. The Lord needs to be a real person to our children; they need to consider His
awareness of them.
a) When children begin connecting behavior with God’s will, the parent is making
progress.
b) This connection ought to motivate both positively and negatively.
(1) God is displeased with bad conduct, but good behavior makes the Lord happy.
(2) Teach kids to associate God with love and obedience, not anger, sadness, or
fear.
B. By Speaking of Their Spiritual Heritage
1. Kids need to see themselves as part of a larger spiritual family and history.
a) The LORD established memorials in Israel to aid such teaching. Jos.
4:21-24
b) Parents today can use similar spiritual memorials. (e.g. Lord’s Supper,
rainbows, death)
2. Use spiritual forefathers as role models for your children to emulate.
* E.g. Praising courage like David or Esther, or kindness like Barzillai or
Dorcas
3. These role models need not only be Bible characters; cultivate respect for
their brethren too.
II. To Know the Word of God
A.
By Teaching them the Bible
1. Knowledge of the Bible is the most important academic subject our kids will
ever study.
a) It’s important because it is more than academic; Bible study is a
life-changing education.
b) Unfortunately, too many parents are teaching kids to value the secular over
the spiritual.
(1) E.g. By spending too much time at work instead of at home nurturing their
children
(2) E.g. By emphasizing academic or athletic pursuits over spiritual endeavors
2. Whose job is it to teach my children the Bible? God says it is my job.
Eph. 6:4; Pr. 22:6
a) Consequently, I must consider Bible classes in the church to be incidental.
b) Whether my child benefits from them or not, I must fulfill my role as their
primary teacher.
3. How seriously are we pursuing our child’s spiritual education?
a) Are we challenging them to learn more about the Bible? Are we encouraging
them to grow?
b) Do I have a plan for their growth or is their instruction haphazard? 2Ti.
3:14-17
B.
By Teaching them God’s Will
1. Children need to see their involvement and responsibility in the plan of God.
a) Certain passages are addressed specifically to them. Eph. 6:1-3; Co. 3:20
b) It is the parents’ job to teach their children these verses and what they
mean.
2. Our kids need to not only know about the Bible, they need to know what it
means for them.
a) They must hear so that they can learn to fear and obey the Lord. De.
31:12-13
b) If we teach our children about the Bible but don’t teach them to obey it, we
have failed.
III. To Seek and Be Able to Find Answers
A.
By Teaching them to Love the Truth
1. As parents, we must teach our children what to believe and why they should
believe it.
a) Somehow children must learn the importance and value of seeking answers.
Mt. 7:7-11
b) We shouldn’t discourage our children’s questions asking ‘why’ about spiritual
truths.
(1) That doesn’t mean these questions are always easy to answer – e.g. Godhead.
(2) Discouraging such questions undermines the basis of faith – revelation.
(cf. Ro. 10:17)
2. Our objective must be to instill within our kids a love for truth that will
guide their spiritual life.
a) I don’t want my kids to believe something just because I believe it – I may
be wrong!
b) Convictions that are based on a love for truth are a firm foundation for
building a life.
B.
By Teaching them How to Discover Truth
1. Parents should hope that their children will learn far more about the Bible
than they teach them.
a) I credit my parents for the Bible knowledge I have, but much of it I acquired
on my own.
b) What my parents gave me was a solid foundation and the desire and tools to
learn more.
2. We need to equip our children to be able to find the answers to the questions
they will have.
a) Don’t discourage them from asking questions; encourage them to find the
answers.
b) We need to cultivate a Berean spirit in our children to enable learning and
growth. Ac. 17:11
3. Equipping our kids to study and learn for themselves is our best safeguard
against their apostasy.
IV. To Love God
A.
By Helping them Acquire a Personal Faith
1. Unless we learn to truly love God, all our study of Him becomes a simple,
intellectual pursuit.
a) We must teach our children to know about God. (cf. 2Ti. 3:14-15)
b) But we must also teach our children to know God. 2Ti. 1:5
2. How do we instill a genuine, personal faith in our kids?
a) By teaching them to be constantly aware of God’s presence
b) By teaching them the word of God and what it means for their lives
c) By teaching them to love truth and how to discover it in the Bible
B. By
Helping them See the Value of Serving God Now
1. So many young people don’t see the value in serving God at this point in
their lives.
a) Serving the Lord may be something that they take for granted will be part of
their future.
b) But they don’t see the vital role they ought to play in the plan of God right
now.
2. The Bible gives great examples of how real spirituality can benefit young
people in their youth.
a) Josiah began seeking the LORD at sixteen and began great reforms in Israel.
(2Chr 34:3)
b) Faith equipped Joseph, Daniel, Hananiah and his friends to say ‘No’ to sin.
(Ge. 39; Da. 1; 3)
c) Fasting enabled Esther to muster the courage to go before the king. (Est.
4)
d) Wise men praised the value of spiritual service in one’s youth. Ps. 119:9;
Pr. 1:4; Ecc. 12:1
Conclusion
1. Children are not for parents. Children are a heritage
of the LORD. Ps. 127
a. Children are given to
parents for a brief time so that we may prepare them to return to Him.
b. We need the LORD’s
participation and blessing in equipping our children for that purpose.
2. Children are compared to arrows by the Psalmist.
a. Children are meant to
be launched; we are responsible for sending them on their way, straight and
true.
b. Our children may be
our greatest influence on the spiritual battle we are engaged in. (e.g. Hannah,
Mary)
3. We’re not just giving God to our children; we’re
giving our children back to God.
a. We need to pray that
our children will excel us in their service to the LORD.
b. We will likely be the
greatest influence on their spiritual course. God help us to be equal to our
great task!