Ephesians 6:1-4
6 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise—3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”[a]
4 Fathers,[b] do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
Again, the most basic place of blessing in life is the home. The place where we spend the most time is home. It is the focal place of our lives.
In Genesis 2: 24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.
Two become one flesh. I view this “flesh” as a family unit. It is the basic unit of society. Why? Because human beings take an extraordinary amount of time to raise. We have incredible brains. We have incredible capacity. Listen, we don’t have any choice. If the human race is going to continue, children must be born. And once they are born, they need to be raised in a manner that leads to a better life. Because they can be raised differently and more chaos can ensue.
So, what are the goals in raising children?
- Teach Children about Authority
- Honor and obey parents
What makes honoring and obeying parents difficult? Well, we all have different wills, gifts and feelings.
Submission is necessary. Very young children don’t have to be taught to be self-willed. That comes with being emotional and having a will to begin with. But the way that we manage these issues is very important.
Proverbs 13:
24 Whoever spares the rod hates their children,
but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them.
Proverbs 22:
15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far away.
Proverbs 23:
13 Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish them with the rod, they will not die.
14 Punish them with the rod and save them from death.
Cooperation is a big deal in life. The more of us there are, the more important it is.
Do I have to hit my children? Nope. But you have to be able to threaten them. The value of painful discipline is to avoid future pain.
- Teach your children how to appeal
I think it is very important to not view yourself as one who is a rebel and who wants to overthrow authority. This will not end well.
Tell the story about Ben in the back bedroom.
An appeal is a submissive objection. It is a disciplined response.
- Authorities are for our good
Romans 13:
Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.
6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
“There is no authority except that which God has established.” Paul writes this and Nero is the emperor. And in less than ten years, Nero will have Paul killed.
In our country we have a long history of protest. Non-violent civil disobedience is different from rebellion.
So, we are to teach our children to submit to authority and it begins with disciplining them to obey us.
- Treat Children Like Children
- We are God’s children
Is God patient with you? Is God patient with others? Are you to like God? What is necessary in order for you to be patient?
We are not called to never be irritated. We are called to maintain our attitude of love and grace in the face of the irritation. Do not withhold or withdraw love. Be careful with your words. Do not speak words over people who unjustly irritate you that God does not use with you. And when you do speak out if impatience, apologize. If your children are like mine, they will share you negative qualities.
The sins of the fathers are passed down to the children to the third and fourth generation. But they also get your good qualities. Show them how to apologize.
- Bear the burden of patience
Exasperate: to cause irritation or annoyance to
Now, notice very carefully, it does not say, children do not exasperate your parents. Why do you think it omits this? Because it is impossible. Children are in process. They are growing and maturing
People will treat you poorly in life, let’s not have that be at home!
III. Teach Your Kids About God
We are gonna teach our kids what we think is important. “Training and instruction of the Lord.”
- Be honest
Do you have questions?
Why do you believe in a God you don’t see?
What difference does faith in God make in your life?
What you value and do is the main message of your life
Share “your faith” and don’t be a heretic
- The Bible is God’s Word
We have a place to go for instruction!
When do we need instruction?
Matthew 7: 24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
II Tim 3: 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of,
because you know those from whom you learned it,
15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures,
which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful
for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
- Be about personal growth
- Set the example personally
- Fight against personal hypocrisy
- We are involved in a lifetime pursuit
If you can understand and teach the Sermon on the Mount you will do well.