Teaching Faithfulness: Raising Godly Children

1. Proverbs 22:6 (NKJV) 6 Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.

3. Faithfulness • As the first Sunday of the month, we want to spend time together with our theme • Our theme for 2017 is simply “Faithfulness” • This morning we want to cover what is a very important subject

4. Faithfulness • Raising godly children in this day is a great challenge, but as always, is one of the most important things we can do • As we discuss this, there will be nothing ground breaking that is offered, no new way to do this

5. Faithfulness • We must also understand that this formula is not 100% guaranteed for every child • Kids become adults and ultimately make their own decisions • If we do these things, the potential for faithful children is much higher

6. Faithfulness • We will not raise faithful children by accident • We will not raise faithful children by not doing the things we speak of today • We will raise faithful children by being active in their upbringing

7. Faithfulness • 1. Teach • As parents, it is our responsibility to take the lead role in teaching our children • We cannot leave our children’s spiritual education solely to someone else • Deuteronomy 6:4-9

8. Faithfulness • 1. Teach • Ephesians 6:1-4 • Training (paideia) – tutorage, i.e. education or training (used in II Tim. 3:16 – instruction) • Admonition (nouthesia) – teaching, warning, to instruct or lecture (used inI Cor. 10:11)

9. Faithfulness • 1. Teach • Paul spoke to Timothy about his faith that was seen in his grandmother and mother (II Tim. 1:5) • How do you suppose that faith was passed on? • II Timothy 3:15

10. Faithfulness • 2. Discipline • We live in a world of order, a world where there are rules • This began with God and continues on a national, state and local level • Our children need to grow up understanding that they must submit

11. Faithfulness • 2. Discipline • Discipline is necessary if we wish to teach our children to obey (Eph. 6:1) • Hebrews 12:5-11 • Chasten (paideuo) – discipline; to punish for the purpose of improved behavior

12. Faithfulness • 2. Discipline • Notice how chastening is described in verse 11… • Not joyful (for the present), but painful • Can it be considered true discipline if it doesn’t hurt in some way? (I Cor. 9:27)

13. Faithfulness • 2. Discipline • Our children need to hear the word “no” sometimes • A child that grows up not hearing or respecting “no” is a child that will not remain faithful to God • They will in turn say “yes” to whatever desires they have (Js. 1:14-15)

14. Faithfulness • 3. Set an Example • There are 2 things our children experience with us each day • They hear what we say and they see what we do • We mentioned already what we say (teaching)

15. Faithfulness • 3. Set an Example • What we do might actually be the most important of the 2 • If we do not set the proper example before them of what we teach, then they likely will not follow through with what we instruct them to do • Matthew 5:13-16

16. Faithfulness • 3. Set an Example • Kids are smart and they will pick up on the inconsistencies • We do not want to stand before our children as hypocrites • Often times our children will learn better when they see instruction lived out