           | | LESSONS ON THE HOME #4
THINGS EVERY CHILD HAS A RIGHT TO EXPECT FROM HIS PARENTSIntroduction:
I. One of man's greatest blessings is the blessing of
parenthood.
A. Unfortunate is the home not blessed with children.
B. The joy of seeing these helpless infants begin to
grow and shed their helplessness, of sharing their
love, of seeing them off to school in the morning,
receiving them home in the afternoon, of sharing
their hurts and disappointments, of tucking them in
at night, and then slipping back enviously on their
innocence and freedom from burdens and cares -
There's nothing like it.
II. But, though this is one of man's greatest blessings,
involved in it is one of man's most fearful
responsibilities - the responsibility of bring up his
children to fill a useful place in society and the
work of the Lord and then go to heaven when they die.
The responsibilities are fearful because:
A. You have children in their impressionable years - a
tree can be bent.
B. Children in those impressionable years have so much
faith in parents - "Let my Daddy hold the rope."
III. We are talking in this lesson of some things every
child has a right to expect from his parents.Body:
I. Love
A. Necessary to teach parents that they are to love
their children.
1. Bible speaks of those who are "without natural
affections." Romans 1:31 (King James)
a. Kubo - unloving
b. Thayer - (storge - love of kindred) without
natural affection: Romans 1:31; 2 Timothy 2:3
c. Green - devoid of natural affection (a,
negative, and storge, love of kindred,
especially of parents for children and
children for parents…
2. Titus 2:4
B. Possibly we need to add the word "impartial" to the
word "love."
1. Bible abounds in examples of problems arising
from partiality on part of parents.
a. Jacob's love for Joseph.
b. Rebekah's partiality for Jacob.
2. In each case, partiality just as unfair for the
preferred child as to the other children. II. Discipline and restraint.
A. AS we are using the terms:
1. Discipline - primarily that administered to
younger children.
2. Restraint - that administered to older, and a
form of discipline.
B. What does the Bible say about discipline?
1. Proverbs 13:24
2. Proverbs 22:15
3. Proverbs 23:13, 14
4. Proverbs 29:15
5. Hebrews 12:6-10. (chasten - denotes the training
of a child including instruction; hence,
discipline, correction.
6. But, be careful - Colossians 3:21; Ephesians 6:4
(But not child abuse)
C. Need for restraint as children grow older.
1. 1 Samuel 3:11-13
2. "But, children have to have freedom to make some
decisions for themselves," someone might say.
3. Answer: cannot can cannot
realm realm realm
of of of
forbidden decision forbiddenIII. To be taught, respect for authority.
A. This accomplished to a great extent by a faithful
acceptance of the preceding responsibility.
B. But, as one disciplines and restrains, he needs to
keep this goal in mind.
C. So important that a child learn respect for
authority early in life: This will prevent problems
in school, in Bible classes, in relationship to
God, to employer, to the government. IV. Time.
A. To listen to stories, jokes, etc.
B. To play with them.
1. Problem with preacher kids.
2. Playing ball with Daddy in Woodbury.
3. "According to Dr. Bronfenbrenner, this rat race
is particularly incompatible with fatherly
responsibilities, as illustrated by a recent
investigation which yielded startling results.
A team of researchers wanted to learn how much
time middle-class fathers spend playing and
interacting with their small children. First,
they asked a group of fathers to estimate the
time they spent with their one-year-old
youngsters each day, received an average reply
of fifteen to twenty minutes. To verify these
claims, the investigators attached microphones
to the shirts of small children for the purpose
of recording actual parental verbalization. The
results of this study are shocking: The average
amount of time spent by these middle-class
fathers with their small children was thirty-
seven seconds per day! Their direct interaction
was limited to 2.7 encounters daily, lasting ten
to fifteen seconds each! That, so it seems,
represents the contribution of fatherhood for
millions of America's children." What Wives
Wish Their Husbands Knew About Women, James
Dobson, p. 158. V. Teaching about God and His Word.
A. Worst form of child abuse there is to bring a child
into world and fail to teach him of God.
B. And it can be done - illustration: Bill Hall
teaching his children about relatives when living
in Australia.
C. Deuteronomy 29:29; 6:6-7; Ephesians 6:4.
D. Joshua 4:21-22 - They were to let their children
know.
E. What should we teach our children?
1. The stories of the Old Testament and New
Testament (Of Jesus, Peter, Paul, etc.)
2. How to pray.
3. Reverence & respect in the worship periods of
the church. John 4:24; Acts 10:33.
4. Respect of authority.
5. Doctrinal truths - Bill Hall's experience in the
fourth grade.
6. To do right when all around them are doing
wrong.
7. To say "I'm sorry" - Key words for getting along
with others.
8. Etc.
F. Here is a major key to our children's overcoming
the attacks that they will face relative to their
faith - Romans 10:17; John 20:30-31 - If we have
ground our children well in the word of God and
have maintained their love and respect for us, it
is not likely that their faith will be shaken -
tested, yes, possibly severely - but they will
likely pass the test. So frequently, a young
person's rejection of God and the Bible is just a
part of an overall rebellion to parents and all
those parents stand for - if this is the case, all
the evidence in the world cannot force that young
person to believe. Luke 16:29-31.
VI. An example of Christian behavior.
A. Children are so quick to spot those inconsistencies
between what parents say what parents do.
1. Punished for saying bad words - parents use
them.
2. Made to attend services - Parents don't.
a. see Gardner Hall's article p. 3 of Living
Oracles, Aug. '76
B. Parents, children are depending on you to lead the
way.
1. Following.
2. Fathers, are you living as you hope your son
will live?
3. Mothers, are you living as you hope your
daughter will live?
4. "Daddy, have I ever seen one?"VII. The right to have company. (the right kind)
A. Have company at home.
B. Be company.Top of the page
   
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