Parents & Kids of Faith

Posted by Pastor George

Friday, August 12, 2011

QUESTION OF THE WEEK:
Question: What rule has God given for our direction in prayer?
Answer: The whole Word of God is of use to direct us in prayer, but the special rule of direction is that prayer, which Christ taught His disciples, commonly called the Lord’s Prayer.
Scripture: Matthew 6:9-13; 2 Timothy 3:16, 17

WHEN I TALK TO DEB; WHAT I REALLY MEAN …

"I don't care what color you paint the kitchen."
Really means.... "As long as it's not blue, green, pink, red, yellow,
lavender, gray, mauve, black, turquoise or any other color besides white."

"It's a guy thing."
Really means.... "There is no rational thought pattern connected with it,
and you have no chance at all of making it logical."

"Can I help with dinner?"
Really means.... "Why isn't it already on the table?"

"Uh huh," "Sure, honey," or "Yes, dear."
Really mean.... Absolutely nothing. It's a conditioned response like
Pavlov's dog drooling.

"Good idea."
Really means.... "It'll never work. And I'll spend the rest of the day
gloating."

"Have you lost weight?"
Really means.... "I've just spent our last $30 on a cordless drill."

"It would take too long to explain."
Really means.... "I have no idea how it works."

"I'm getting more exercise lately."
Really means.... "The batteries in the remote are dead."

"I got a lot done."
Really means.... "I found 'Waldo' in almost every picture."

"We're going to be late."
Really means.... "Now I have a legitimate excuse to drive like a maniac."

"You cook just like my mother used to."
Really means.... "She used the smoke detector as a meal timer, too."

"Take a break, honey, you're working too hard."
Really means.... "I can't hear the game over the vacuum cleaner."

"That's interesting, dear."
Really means.... "Are you still talking?"

"Honey, we don't need material things to prove our love."
Really means.... "I forgot our anniversary again."

"You expect too much of me."
Really means.... "You want me to stay awake."

"It's a really good movie."
Really means.... "It's got guns and fast cars

GO DEEP WITH YOUR CHILDREN: EARLY AND OFTEN WITH THE GOSPEL

By Tad Thompson, Harvard Ave Baptist Church, Siloam Springs, Arkansas

One dilemma many parents face when challenged to saturate their home with the gospel is the issue of repetitiveness. As parents we often feel like we are telling our children the same thing over and over again. In one sense, this is a good problem. Our children need to hear the simple message of the gospel very clearly on a regular basis in our speech, prayers, songs, and scripture readings.

On the other hand, our lack of variety in gospel communication may be due to the fact that we are only scratching the surface of what the gospel truly has to say to us. I want to challenge you to go deep with your children. There is nothing quite as relaxing as a vacation at the beach. Sitting on the sand, soaking up the hot sun, listening to the waves crash against the shore, and gazing at the ocean is all a breathtaking experience. The ocean is beautiful on the surface, but a much different experience can be had if you strap on some SCUBA gear and go for a dive. When you dive into the depths of the Ocean there is a whole new world waiting for you. A world that is both fascinating and frightening. A world of beauty and risk. A world that is unseen, unless you dive in.

The same can be said for the gospel. On the surface, the simple message of the gospel is beautiful and life changing. But, when you dive into the Scripture you find that the gospel has tremendous depth, beauty, mystery, and wonder. When we dive into the depths of the gospel we discover the magnitude and greatness of the God we call father, His Son we call King, and His Spirit our helper. I want to challenge you with 5 ways to dive deep into the gospel with your children.

1. Teach Election
From the very beginning, teach your children that salvation belongs to the Lord. They need to know that the good news is God's work from beginning to end. Don't shy away from the doctrines of grace, teach them diligently to your children so that they will never boast in their own efforts. Help them to understand that the only way they will come or the only reason that they came to Jesus was because he chose them, drew them, and gave them the will and ability to come. Help them see that salvation is truly by grace through faith alone!

[3] Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, [4] even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love [5] he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, [6] to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. [7] In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, [8] which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight [9] making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ [10] as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
[11] In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, [12] so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. [13] In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, [14] who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
(Ephesians 1:3-14 ESV)

2. Teach Total Depravity or Inability
The first line of Calvin's Institutes wisely declares, "Our wisdom, in so far as it ought to be deemed true and solid wisdom, consists almost entirely of two parts; the knowledge of God and of ourselves." Our gospel communication at home must include the truth about ourselves. The Bible clearly teaches that we are sinners, spiritually dead, and unable to please God. Sin has touched and damaged every fiber of our being:

1. It blinds us from seeing God for who he really is.
2. It deafens our ears from hearing his voice
3. It hardens our heart so that we have no affection for him
4. It debases our mind so that we do not understand the truth
5. It corrupts our stomach so our appetite is for the very things that will eventually kill us.

The horrible result of our sin is that we are spiritually dead, physically dying, and have no hope unless we are rescued by Christ. This is a part of the depth of the gospel, just as the ocean is full of sharks, so we are full of sin.

[4:1] Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. [2] But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God. [3] And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. [4] In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. [5] For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. [6] For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shown in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
(2 Corinthians 4:1-6 ESV)

3. Teach the Role of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in the Gospel
When you communicate the gospel discuss the role of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in the word of Salvation. The Father elects, the Son came as our savior and rules as our King, the sprit draws, regenerates, and serves as our helper. I realize that this is an extremely abbreviated description, but there is much depth to be found when we discover what our trinitarian God has done for us in salvation.

[9] In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. [10] And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. [11] And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
[12] The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. [13] And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.
[14] Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, [15] and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
(Mark 1:9-15 ESV)

4. Teach Sanctification
Communicating the gospel means that you communicate the truth that God not only saves us from our sin, but he also transforms us. Do not leave sanctification out of the mix, teach it and MODEL it continually!

[15:1] Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, [2] and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
[3] For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, [4] that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, [5] and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. [6] Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. [7] Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. [8] Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. [9] For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. [10] But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. [11] Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
(1 Corinthians 15:1; 1 Corinthians 15:2-11 ESV)

5. Teach Perseverance and Preservation
If you are Southern Baptist (or been at Faith Bible Church long) I am sure you are well acquainted with the phrase, "Once saved, always saved." Which at face value is certainly true, but the problem is that it has been equated to something not so true, "Once made a decision, always saved." This changed everything. There are many people who make a decision who are not saved. This is why we ought to teach perseverance, the truth that all those who are truly born again will persevere to the end.

The flip side of this doctrine is the truth of Preservation. The only way we can persevere is by God's preserving grace in our lives. He is the only one able to keep us from falling! So press on and persevere by His preserving grace, teaching these gospel truths to your children!

[15:1] Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, [2] and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. [24] Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, [25] to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

(Jude 1:24-25 ESV)