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Seven Keys to Raising Godly Children. Key #2 : PLANNING. Importance of a Good Plan Everyday Life: Business must have goal Building a House must have a blueprint to follow Probe to Mars years of plans. Planning in Spiritual Matters. God planned His work:
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Key #2 : PLANNING • Importance of a Good Plan • Everyday Life: • Business must have goal • Building a House must have a blueprint to follow • Probe to Mars years of plans
Planning in Spiritual Matters • God planned His work: • Hebrews 8:5 “all things according to the pattern” • 1 Peter 1:18-20 “before the foundation of the world” • Ephesians 3:10,11 “eternal purpose” • 2 Thessalonians 2:13,14 “called…by our Gospel”
Our Service to God Requires Planning & Forethought • Proverbs 14:22 “devise good” • Luke 14:28-33 “count the cost” • Psalm 17:3 “purposed that my mouth shall not transgress” • Acts 11:23 “with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.”
How much time and effort have you and your spouse spent in determining exactly what rules and principles you will follow in raising your children?
Planning Required to Deal With Harmful Influences • Satan Battling for Control of our Children • Ephesians 6:12 “against rulers of the darkness of this age” • 1 Timothy 6:12 “Fight the good fight” • 2 Corinthians 2:10,11 “not ignorant of his devices”
What are the Greatest Influences for your Children? • Peers • 1 Corinthians 15:33 “evil company corrupts good habits” • Proverbs 13:20 “companion of fools destroyed” • Dating & Choosing a Marriage Companion • “Fall in love” and willingly compromise truth in order to please their spouse
What are the Greatest Influences for your Children? • School • Lying • Profanity {Students & Teachers} • Drinking • Violence • Immodesty, lack of dress codes • Smoking • Peer Pressure – bad crowds • Drugs • Bullying • Gossip, Slanders
What are the Greatest Influences for your Children? • School • Cheating • Stealing / Vandalism • Dancing • Disrespect for Teachers/ Parents • False Goals (popularity, wealth) • Classes advocate Evolution, abortion, etc. • Reading assignments with immorality • Sexual promiscuity • Schedule Conflicts with assemblies
Do you believe your children can face this environment 8-9 hours a day for ½ the days of the year, for 13 or more years of their lives without consequence? Can you succeed if you just send your children off with no plan for dealing with these problems?
What are the Greatest Influences for your Children? • Entertainment – TV, Movies, Music, Video Games • Suppose Your Child had 4 friends who were persuading them to accept: • Drug & Alcohol Abuse • The Occult • Oriental religions • Violence, murder, suicide • Sexual promiscuity • Profanity, cursing, obscenity • Rebellion against parents, God & Bible
Importance of Following Proper Authority • Must Not Rely on Human Theories • Bible Warnings: • Proverbs 14:12 “way that seems right” • Jeremiah 10:23 “way of man not in himself” • 1 Corinthians 1:19-21 “destroy the wisdom of the wise” • 1 Corinthians 2:4,5 “not in wisdom of man”
Importance of Following Proper Authority • Bible is God’s Guide for Raising Godly Children • 2 Timothy 3:16,17 “thoroughly equipped for every good work” • Joshua 1:8 “observe to do according to all that is written in it.” • Matthew 7:9-11 God as our Father • Hebrews 12:5-11 “do not despise the chastening of the LORD”
Observe & Learn from “Winning Parents” • Hebrews 6:12 “imitate those who …inherit the promises” • Titus 2:3-5 “older women… teach the younger women” • Evaluate what we see by God’s Standard • “Do you see evidence that their children are turning our the way you want yours to turn out?”
Father & Mother Discuss Plan & Agree • Ephesians 6:4 “bring them up” • Ephesians 6:1 “obey your parents” • Proverbs 1:8 “hear the instruction of your father…not forsake the law of your mother.” • Plan before problems arise • Continue to talk about what their rules will be & how they will handle problems
Plan Must Be Accompanied by Prayer • James 1:5 “lacks wisdom…ask of God” • Hebrews 5:14 “discern both good and evil” • 1 Chronicles 29:19 “a loyal heart” • It is our duty as parents to study God’s Word and apply it so we can know how to raise godly children
Do You Have a Plan for Raising Your Children? Is your plan based on God’s Word? How often do you discuss with your spouse the principles on which you act?
How diligent are you in your efforts to fight Satan and his evil influences on your children?