Crossing Church

Preached on 11.16.08 by Dustin Neeley
Sermon Notes

Cautions:

1. Thinking this message is not for you. – I don’t have kids. My kids are older. It’s too late to make a difference.
2. This is obviously not everything the Bible has to say about parenting.
   • The goal is to provide an overview and call your attention to particular Proverbs that could help us in parenting.
   • We hope to begin parenting seminars, mentoring, resourcing in 2009.

A Biblical View of Children:

1. Children are a blessing from the Lord (127:3-5).
2. Children are born broken (Ps. 51:5, Rom. 3:23, Rom. 5:12).
3. The most important need our children have is to know and grow in Jesus. 6 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. Prov. 22:6. Remember this is a proverb, not a promise. This is, however, what we are to be about.

Do I have my priorities in order in regard to the children in my life?

The most important thing we can do as parents is create a “Gospel Greenhouse.”

Creating a “Gospel Greenhouse“:

1. Consult the blueprint:

   4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, 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. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates”. Deuteronomy 6:4-9

   “love the Lord your God with all your heart…soul…might” All that we are. Holistic.
   “on your heart” Close to your heart. Meditate on them.
   “teach them diligently” With care, consistency, and thoroughness.
   “sit…walk…lie down…rise” Teaching should be part of the rhythm of our lives.
   “bind on your hand…frontlets between your eyes” Always before you and at hand.
   “doorposts of your house and your gates” Scripture should define the home.

   • This “culture” should include both formal and informal instruction.
   • Formal: Sunday gatherings / Family worship / teaching times. Schooling options (of all kinds).
   • Informal: “As you go” daily life opportunities—to school, to practice, as things happen in life, etc.
   • It is the father’s responsibility to lead out in this (if present). Eph. 6:4

   Am I taking advantage of all of my opportunities to teach my children about God and the Gospel? If not, what needs to change: awareness, equipping, support, etc.?

2. Build the building (not an exhaustive list, but a place to start):
   Proverbs provide both spiritual and practical instruction. GC=Gospel Connection
   • Teach your children to “fear the Lord” (1:7, 9:10, 10:27) (Compass)
     • The nature and character of God are the foundation.
     • GC: God is holy and must punish sin. His wrath was poured on Jesus so that we might become friends with God.
   • Teach your children about the heart (4:23).
     • All words & behavior flow from the heart (Mark 7:21-23).
     • GC: God doesn’t just want to change our behavior but change our hearts.
   • Teach your children to obey you (and God).
     • Discipline: “the rod” (13:24, 22:15, 23:13-14, 29:15, 29:17)
     • Includes communication & physical correction when needed.
     • The goals:
       1. Redemption/restoration not retribution.
       2. To understand disobedience always leads to pain.
       3. “Circle of Blessing” “The Umbrella of Safety”
     • GC: Help your children make all the numerous connections.
   • Teach your children to choose friends wisely (13:20, 2:10-15).
     • The alternative can be devastating.
     • GC: The Gospel creates a community. Our closest companions should be followers of Jesus.
   • Teach your children to watch their words (4:24, 12:22, 10:19)
     • GC: Jesus wants to clean our hearts and change our words.
   • Teach your children to work hard (6:6-11, 22:29)
     • GC: God’s greatest work is what He did in Jesus.
   • Teach your children to manage money (3:9-10, 15:27, 6:1-5, 23:4, 11:28, 22:16)
     • GC: Jesus gave everything for us, we give back to Him. All of our money belongs to Him.

Am I building a ‘Gospel Greenhouse’ for the children in my life?

Works Consulted : Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Life Application Bible, MacArthur Study Bible, Messages by Darrin Patrick, Tim Keller, What the Bible Says About Parenting by John MacArthur, Shepherding a Child’s Heart by Tedd Tripp