Message Notes

The Kingdom of God

Today: Raising Children who will become Champions

July 25, 2004

 

Proverbs 22:6 Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.

 

1) I need to help them love God by having a real, growing relationship with Christ myself

Colossians 2:6-7 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, ⁷rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

 

Matthew 22:37-40 Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' ³⁸This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' ⁴⁰All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

 

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

John 1:12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—

 

Dear Jesus.  I don’t understand it all but I want a relationship with you.  I want to thank you for loving me.  I want to thank you for coming to earth for me.  I want to thank you for giving your life for me so I could go to heaven.  I ask for forgiveness for what I have done wrong. I accept your free gift of forgiveness and salvation.  I want you to be the Savior and Leader of my life.  You call the shots from here on out.  I want to learn to trust you and to love you and to fulfill your purpose for my life.  Amen. 

 

2) I have to take the responsibility to teach my kids about God

Psalm 78:4-7 [God’s commands…] We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done. ⁵ He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children, ⁶ so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. ⁷ Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.

 

Deuteronomy 6: 6-7 “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  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."

 

3) I need to pray for my children continuously

1 Thessalonians 5:17 …pray continually…

 

Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

 

4) I have to love them enough to discipline them

Proverbs 3:11-12 My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline and do not resent his rebuke, ¹² because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.

 

Ephesians 6:4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

 

5) I need to treat them like Christ would

Mark 10:13-16 People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. ¹⁴When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. ¹⁵I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." ¹⁶And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.

 

Luke 6:31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.