GODLY PARENTING
We trust today’s message encouraged and guided you in your journey of following Jesus. These notes are meant to help you remember and reflect on the message, help you go deeper into study on the subject, or be used for a sermon group discussion.
Sermon Title: GODLY PARENTING
Main Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:1-9
If you’re going through this discussion with a community group this week consider taking the time to read the provided scripture to catch everyone up!
Summary:
In this sermon, Pastor Ryan begins to discuss the value of parenting and in particular the need for Godly parenting. We are reminded in this sermon that in order to pass God on to our kids we have to have God on our hearts. We can pass God on through our living examples but were also meant to speak and intentionally teach our kids. We learned that the best way to pass God on is through our day-to-day relational conversation. Pastor Ryan gave us three “presents” to help us remember how to be Godly parents, Present with God, Present with the kids, and present your faith.
Notes:
The sacred responsibility of raising children for God
Children are a gift from God and a sacred responsibility from the Lord.
Parents, your ability to love, discipline, and lead them in the ways of the Lord is crucial not only to the eternal well-being of your kids, but also to the church, the community, and the nation.
Statistics to highlight the value of both parents present and engaged in the home
Social science and studies are saying what we already know and what God intended. Children in homes where both parents are present and engaged are more likely to flourish and thrive in society. The reason is simple, Mom and Dad, offer family stability, parental attention, love, and financial security. When kids live in this environment they are more confident, more secure in themselves, less anxious, less violent, and less likely to misuse drugs.
https://ifstudies.org/blog/children-first-why-family-structure-and-stability-matter-for-children
Dads, we need you. You hold a critical role in the family.
The father deficit (absent fathers or present but not engaged) perpetuates the struggle so I am a little passionate about seeing this improve.
See printed infographics from National Fatherhood Initiative & U.S. Census
Imagine a home with dad and mom living as Godly people and Godly parents. The results are going to be even better, such as, raising families who can help other families thrive!
Passing God on to our kids - Deut. 6:1-9 NLT
V. 1-3 A call to hear or know the commands of God and to obey them. God’s guidance would work but it only works to the degree His people follow it. The promise is that if they are careful to follow the commands it will go well with them in the promised land. Prosperity and peace were conditioned upon the Israelite’s behavior.
V. 4 Hear O Lord…
This is called the “Shema” in Hebrew it means “Hear.” This expression means God is unique. There is no one like Him!
V. 5 The command in view here is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and strength.
To love the Lord means to choose Him for an intimate relationship and to obey His commands…Loving Him was to be wholehearted (with all your heart) and was to pervade every aspect of an Israelite being and life (soul and strength). Deere, J. S. (1985). Deuteronomy. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 274). Victor Books.
Love and devotion to God took precedence over everything else. There was no room for other gods and love goes to God above all other people or things.
Who we worship and love, our kids will repeat. Or what we worship and love, our kids will repeat. Be careful who or what we worship and love. Make sure it’s God first and foremost!
When God is your life it is obvious and apparent to everyone in the home.
V. 6-7 NIV “These commandments…are to be “on your hearts…impress them on your children.”
God’s people were responsible to meditate on these commandments, to keep them in their hearts. This enabled them to understand the Law and to apply it correctly. Then the parents were in a position to impress them on their children’s hearts also. The moral and biblical education of the children was accomplished best not in a formal teaching period each day but when the parents, out of concern for their own lives as well as their children’s, made God and His Word the natural topic of a conversation which might occur anywhere and anytime during the day (v. 7). Deere, J. S. (1985). Deuteronomy. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, pp. 274–275). Victor Books.
We speak from the overflow of our hearts and relationship with God.
V. 8-9
This was taken more literally in the days of Christ. The Jews bound portions of the law to their hands and suspended them between their eyes. This wasn’t necessary. God more likely intended them to take that as let the law guide your hands and your eyes.
I would say there is only good that can come from having scriptures written around your home or on 3x5 cards in your car to remind you of the Lord’s Will.
Three Presents for Being Godly Parents
Present with God.
Be with God. Your family can’t afford you missing fellowship with God.
I pray, read, and study the scriptures. I highlight, underline keywords, and write down what I need to apply. By intentionally and daily reading the scripture I am storing it in my heart for immediate impact or to use in the arena of life.
Be led by God. Be conscious and aware to live as God would want. As I live, the Holy Spirit uses the Word of God I’ve stored in my heart to remind, guide, convict, or encourage me throughout the day, especially with my family.
Know God’s love for me so I can know how to love my kids.
Present with Kids
Forming and maintaining a relational bond with our kids is vital. The context of our scripture is they lived and shared moments together that resulted in a bond where the children wanted to learn and observe from dad and mom.
Quality time is crucial to the overall health and development of our kids.
We’re not teaching and sharing faith in the absence of love but in love.
I’m not hanging out with my kids only when it’s time to teach them something about God and faith. No, I have built a relational bond of love with my kids so they’ll want to receive what I share about God and His Word.
A caring, loving, truthful, and devoted relationship makes teaching faith attractive and palatable.
I still remember that old phrase, “No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care.”
Don’t overlook this point. From the day our children are born they need our presence, affection, and loving devotion. If your relationship with your kids is distant and bleak, it’s time to reprioritize your life to have quality time where you can both can learn more about each other.
Present your Faith
Because you’ve spent quality time with God, and now with your kids, express your faith from the overflow of your relationship with God.
How you behave and love speaks volumes. Show your kids how to speak, respond, act, love, listen, etc, in a way that would be pleasing and in keeping with God’s Word.
Then there is the diligent and intentional teaching of God’s Word to our children. An example: “Kids, I know we saw that in public today but God’s Word teaches this is how we should view and handle it…” Or do a family study on a Biblical word from a concordance.
In our home:
We love spending quality time with our kids around the dinner table, playing games, sports, swimming, watching movies and shows, family day trips, or shopping trips. Supporting and watching them do what they love.
Bible time together as a family. We read, share what sticks out to us, answer some questions, then I teach what it means (I had to study beforehand).
We pass down what God has been teaching us in the Word or through life lessons as we drive, as we walk, and as we encounter people in the community who need prayer, help, or encouragement.
We serve God together at church and in our home.
Priorities are key in the home…God, our marriage, and then our kids.
My first ministry is my home. I just want you all to know that I can’t put ministry before my kids and marriage. If it gets in the way I have to scale back because I am not even supposed to be a minister if my own home is not healthy. Thank you for respecting that and allowing me to keep my marriage and kids above my duties here. I only have my kids in my home for a few more years, it's my season to invest in them and I need to improve that as well.
Close
Proverbs 20:7 The godly walk with integrity; blessed are their children who follow them.
Proverbs 14:26 NLT Those who fear the Lord are secure; he will be a refuge for their children.
Godly living creates a home and atmosphere of security, consistency, truth, peace, joy, faithfulness, love, etc. Blessed indeed are the children who live in a home where Dad and Mom live in the safety and favor of God’s Word and Will.
Are you giving your kids the three presents of Godly parenting? Where do you need to improve?
Discussion:
What did God use in this sermon to speak to your heart or situation?
In what ways did this message refine your view of Godly Parenting?
What does Godly Parenting look like in your home?
Why is having a devoted relationship with your kids so important?
How did or do you present faith to your kids?
What other notes did you highlight or write down that you would like to share?
The most important decision you will ever make!
Are you ready to experience salvation and be transformed? We encourage you to process this decision with a strong believer and when you’re ready say a simple prayer like this from your heart: Dear God, I acknowledge and admit I have sinned. I see my need for Jesus Christ. I believe in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I believe I am forgiven and cleansed of my sin by His death. I also believe I have eternal life because of His resurrection from the dead. I repent, I turn away from my old ways and I choose to live my life to worship you and follow Jesus, amen!
We would love to know if you made the decision to accept this wonderful gift from God. Let us know here.
Pray Together
We hoped you found this AFTER THE SERMON discussion helpful for your walk with Jesus. We pray you can find ways to apply it this week!