The Christian and His Children

Ps 127:1-5 

If someone could guarantee us ‘terrific kids’ we would all sit up and listen.

The Bible says in 3 John 1:4 “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”

It is difficult to be a good man or woman

It is more difficult to be a good husband or wife

It is most difficult to be a good parent           

I.    You must be skilled and you must be strong.  Not every good parent has good kids.  Goals for myself, desires for my children              

II.    The arrow must be shaped and sharpened. 

A.    Start early  Pro 22:6  Why daddy why?

B.     Be creative  Deu 6:6-7  Ram it down their throat, You sit still while I instill, Like castor oil a dose a day keeps the devil away

C.    Work for character – Most parents greatest concern is: sports, grades, popular, and appearance. Who is going to teach your child character? Let me give you some words: contentment, courage, courtesy, discernment, fairness, friendliness, generosity, gentleness, helpfulness, honesty, humility, kindness, obedience, orderliness, patience, persistence, self control, tactfulness, thankfulness, thriftiness, wisdom.  What course in school gives that? Where are they going to get that? Television?  MTV?  Where are they going to get it?  It is your job to teach character to your kids!

D.    Set limits – When you set limits they, push against them, if they don’t move they have security. If you don’t set some limits on them they will find someone else that will.

E.     Assign responsibility –  “I don’t want them to have to work as hard as I did.”

F.     Be fun –  Let your home be a fun place cheaper than juvenal court

G.    Let kids see God at work in the home – Pray with them             

III.   The bow needs to be strong and bent. – prayer is the bow that thrust them out.               

IV.    The aim has to be true and clear. – Desire for them is that they serve God. Kids know that we aren’t phony they know we love God 

V.      The arrow has to be released and sent. – work yourself out of a job 

God has blessed you with children. Anyone can conceive but it takes real work to be good parents. 3 John 1:4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. Mine and Jane’s pray has been that God would let us be a good momma and daddy to our girls.