| Getting Caught |
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Zeroing in on One – Deuteronomy 6:1-9 Today, I would like to speak with you regarding what may be the greatest passion and most important truth in my life. Most of my time in seminary was concentrated on developing Christian education for young children; I believe that God placed upon me a unexplainable passion for encouraging parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles – everyone who has a young child in their life – to come along side those young children and model spiritual excellence. The power and importance of this spiritual truth is not dependent on whether or not you have young children right now, today’s truth should spark a hidden passion within you to model spiritual excellence for the young children in your life now and the future. When it comes to developing believing faith in children, consider the significance certain people have in a child’s life.: “The parents’ idea of God, and the weakness or strength of that conception as a motivating power in their lives, forms the greatest single determining [the #1] factor in the child’s developing ideas of God.” The power of being the #1 human factor is primarily for parents; however, that does not eliminate non-parental roles. This author said parents because that is who spends time with the child; but, if you spend significant time with a young child, then you could have huge impact in a child’s life. “Parents are far more influential in a child’s faith development than most realize. Parents, to an incredible extent, are the number one defining factor in a child’s ability to embrace God. Parents and children are so intimately linked spiritually that you cannot talk about a child’s faith without also talking about the faith of the parent. We are continually amazed at how much faith formation in children is actually a group experience;” Life Principle: Why are parents the #1 factor in determining a child’s spiritual direction? Because young children spend the most time with their parents. For most parents, this time is not filled with spiritual lessons and training, so then how could parents have such an impact on the spiritual development of their children? There is a universal truth that transcends all formal training, and this truth will impact every relationship you have. The universal truth is: More is caught than taught. What you do as a parent speaks louder than what you say. The most important thing is not what you teach, but what your actions and words and life teach. The child or student learns more from catching your life than learning your lessons. Today, we begin a 3 part series entitled Zeroing in on One. Deuteronomy 6:1-3 “These are the commands, decrees and laws the LORD your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, 2 so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. 3 Hear, O Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, promised you.” Transition: We do not have a spiritual gene in our DNA makeup that is inheritable. The home is the primary center for sharing God’s truth. Moses understood that the greatness of the nation of Israel depended upon spiritual obedience from one generation to the next generation. Moses recognized that God uses parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles to train up children in God’s ways. We find the Israelites in the wilderness after leaving the slavery of Egypt. The people must have greatly anticipated crossing the Jordan River and entering Canaan (God’s Promised Land). Before they were to go into their wonderful new homeland that flowed with milk and honey, Moses reaffirmed that the people were commanded by God to live by God’s standards. Moses connects the blessing of God in the Promised Land to the peoples’ obedience to God’s ways. But even more, Moses connected the peoples’ enjoyment of the land to not only their obedience but the inter-generational obedience of the grandparents, parents and children. Three generations of obedience to God are connected. One truth that is common among all of us is that we desire God’s favor, His blessings. We all want an intimate closeness with our God because we trust His promises to protect us and provide for us. In Deuteronomy 6, Moses teaches us that God’s favor and blessings are conditioned upon inter-generational obedience. Our ability to draw close to God and experience all that God has for me depends on my participation in modeling and teaching spiritual excellence to younger generations. The text identifies three blessings of inter-generational obedience: Blessing #1 - If the parents and grandparents obey God’s ways, verse 2 says their children and grandchildren will FEAR THE LORD YOUR GOD. The blessing connects modeling spiritual excellence and the salvation of your children. Blessing #2 - If the parents and grandparents obey God’s ways, verse 2 says they may ENJOY LONG LIFE. Blessing #3 - If the parents and grandparents observe God’s law, verse 3 says IT MAY GO WELL WITH THEM, AND THEY WILL INCREASE GREATLY IN THE LAND. All three blessings are conditioned on one thing – “YOU” must obey all the commands God has given us. If “YOU’ embrace God’s ways and live them out, then you will model them and teach them to your children, and grandchildren. This is not limited to parents, but every person can be a spiritual influencer for younger generations – you simply must make time to spend with the young children in your life. Life Principle: When it comes to spiritual influencing younger children…more is caught than taught. What you do as a parent speaks louder than what you say. The most important thing is not what you teach, but what your actions and words and life say. The child learns more from catching your life than learning your lessons. God is all about inter-generational legacies. A legacy begins with one person; a godly legacy begins with one man, one woman sold out for Jesus Christ. Your family’s legacy begins with you. This is a call for shared spiritual experiences. Be spiritually visible to your kids – let them see you pray, worship, and read the bible. We aren’t capable of truly teaching until we are first following, hearing, obeying, loving and being occupied by the Lord ourselves. We must model the Word before we can truly teach it. Each of us has a God-given desire for significance. We want to play an important role in this life, maybe as a mother, or a successful business man/woman, or leader. God’s desire is for you to play a massively significant role in being a spiritual influencer to develop a spiritual legacy. How do we take that desire and cultivate inter-generational obedience? Deuteronomy 6:6-9 “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” 1st God’s standards and commandments are to be upon our hearts. It is not enough for our brains to be filled with great doctrine and theology; the knowledge must move from our heads to our hearts. This is the difference between a mean Christian and a compassionate believer. This is the difference between a Sunday Christian who shows up for church and a believer who puts his/her faith into action by living God’s ways 7 days a week rather than 1 day for 1 hour. Just telling your children to believe, obey God, and go to church not only has no positive impact but it proves that person to be a hypocrite. More is caught than taught. Children listen to your actions rather than your words. 2nd We are commanded to IMPRESS God’s ways on our children We make an impression on everyone we meet. It takes just a quick glance, maybe three seconds, for someone to evaluate you when you meet for the first time. In this short time, the other person forms an opinion about you based on your appearance, your body language, your demeanor, your mannerisms, and how you are dressed. Just imagine how much greater of an impression you make when you spend a significant amount of time with that child you want to influence. But, how do we make a spiritual impression on children: • Talk about God and your relationship with Jesus all of the time – God’s ways were to be the subject of conversation inside and outside the home from morning to evening. Jesus said in Matthew, what comes out of your mouth reveals your heart. Whatever we talk about all the time reveals what is impressed upon our hearts. • Go public with Jesus – make God and His ways visible on you and in your home. Some people like to wear a cross necklace, some like religious tattoos, some wear Christian ball caps; don’t be shy about your relationship with God. Many homes are decorated with Christian pictures and verses. The point is make God and His standards visible to kids. Does it really matter what goes on in the home? Some people think that as long as they take their child to church that is all that matters; some think that the home life can be neutral or negligent to God as long as they go to church. The people who think that are wrong. “A child begins to learn biblical truth the moment he is born, but mainly at the nonverbal and emotional (affective) level…The environment in which a child lives is the Christian message itself. And if the environment radiates love and security, he immediately picks up these ‘signals’ – though mainly at the subconscious level. His personality is being formed. The foundations are being laid for an acceptance of the biblical message at the conscious level. Conversely, if the environment reflects hostility, uncertainty, and insecurity, the foundations are being laid for a rejection of the biblical message at the conscious level.” Socrates asked, “Fellow citizens, why do you turn and scrape every stone to gather wealth and take so little care of your children?” Wanting a great spiritual life for your children is not enough, praying for your children is not enough, reading to your children is not enough. You must fully embrace a relationship with Jesus Christ as the Lord of your life, and God’s ways must be your heart’s desire. Yet it takes more than that, you must spend significant time with your children, you must be their primary influence. Consider your competition: your child wakes up, goes to school where their teacher spends 8 hours with them, they do homework, they play sports, they spend time with friends, watch tv, listen to their ipods, and play video games. Parents where is our time to be the spiritual influence for our children? We are letting our kids be directed and influenced by everyone and everything but us. Life Principle: When it comes to spiritual influencing younger children…more is caught than taught. What you do as a parent speaks louder than what you say. The most important thing is not what you teach, but what your actions and words and life say. The child learns more from catching your life than learning your lessons. But, you have little to no spiritual impact if your time is nominal and what you do has nothing to do with God. Practical Suggestions • Family Bible reading – Picture Bible • Family spiritual discussion • Family prayer • Prioritize Sunday and prepare their hearts on the way • Christian music and books and DVDs • Christian toys – toys are the first textbooks for children • Evaluate your time with child – does the time you spend with your child evidence your relationship and faithfulness to God? |
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Students
Students are vital to many aspects of Romeo's ministry. We invite middle and high school students to join a small group, get connected, and experience life change.
Students are vital to many aspects of Romeo's ministry. We invite middle and high school students to join a small group, get connected, and experience life change.
