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Mother's Day # 2
#1 · May 9, 2002, 10:25 am
Posted by: henkf <henkf@...>
=========================================
We will start an "online" Bible Study
"The book of Jude in the light of the end-times "
for information and enrollment if you are interested
=========================================
Being Parents Worthy of Honor
INTRODUCTION
1. You could hardly have escaped hearing the
names of Lyle and Eric Menendez. These brothers killed their
parents in 1989.
1. You could hardly have escaped hearing the
names of Lyle and Eric Menendez. These brothers killed their
parents in 1989.
a. Their first trial resulted in a deadlocked jury.
They were retried, convicted, and sentenced to life in
prison. It was reported that one of the brothers has
written a song condemning his mother. Maybe that's an
unfortunate way to begin a sermon on Mother's Day, but the
Menendez family is representative of everything that has gone
wrong with the American family.
(1) According to court testimony, the father abused his
sons physically and sexually. It was reported that while
teaching them to swim, he would deliberately push them
underwater and hold them until they began to choke.
(2) The mother yelled at her boys constantly
telling them that she wished they had never been born. Spending
most of her time in a drunken stupor, she ignored the sodomy
her husband was committing with her children.
(3) These were sworn accusations made in court, but
only Lyle and Eric know if they are true.
They were retried, convicted, and sentenced to life in
prison. It was reported that one of the brothers has
written a song condemning his mother. Maybe that's an
unfortunate way to begin a sermon on Mother's Day, but the
Menendez family is representative of everything that has gone
wrong with the American family.
(1) According to court testimony, the father abused his
sons physically and sexually. It was reported that while
teaching them to swim, he would deliberately push them
underwater and hold them until they began to choke.
(2) The mother yelled at her boys constantly
telling them that she wished they had never been born. Spending
most of her time in a drunken stupor, she ignored the sodomy
her husband was committing with her children.
(3) These were sworn accusations made in court, but
only Lyle and Eric know if they are true.
b. For some reason, these two sons killed their parents. Some
members of the first jury bought the defense that they were
provoked into that action by a lifetime of mistreatment by their
parents. In the second trial, the judge did not permit that
defense to be offered. Whatever the truth about what went on in
the Menendez house, we are safe in assuming that the Menendezes
offer us a good example of what we don't want our families to be
like.
members of the first jury bought the defense that they were
provoked into that action by a lifetime of mistreatment by their
parents. In the second trial, the judge did not permit that
defense to be offered. Whatever the truth about what went on in
the Menendez house, we are safe in assuming that the Menendezes
offer us a good example of what we don't want our families to be
like.
2. Children are to honor their parents [Ephesians 6:2-3
(KJV) "Honour thy father and mother; which is the first
commandment with promise; {3} That it may be well with thee, and
thou mayest live long on the earth."] Parents should live so
that they are deserving of the honor that God wants bestowed on
them.
(KJV) "Honour thy father and mother; which is the first
commandment with promise; {3} That it may be well with thee, and
thou mayest live long on the earth."] Parents should live so
that they are deserving of the honor that God wants bestowed on
them.
3. In today's study, we're looking at what parents should
provide for their children.
provide for their children.
I. PARENTS SHOULD PROVIDE FOR THE BASIC NEEDS OF THEIR
CHILDREN.
A. It is a terrible thing to go without food,
clothing, and shelter.
CHILDREN.
A. It is a terrible thing to go without food,
clothing, and shelter.
1. Some are hungry and naked due to dire poverty. Christ's
disciples must care for those needs (Matthew 25:35-36).
disciples must care for those needs (Matthew 25:35-36).
2. We should be responsible enough to provide for the needs
of our own families [1 Timothy 5:8 (KJV) "But if any provide not
for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath
denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel." ]
of our own families [1 Timothy 5:8 (KJV) "But if any provide not
for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath
denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel." ]
3. Parents who neglect their children's basic necessities
due to laziness or lack of concern are committing a crime against
God and man.
due to laziness or lack of concern are committing a crime against
God and man.
B. Parents often feel a need to go beyond the necessities
and provide some of life's "finer things" {luxuries} for their
children.
and provide some of life's "finer things" {luxuries} for their
children.
1. We want our children to have things easier and better
than we did.
than we did.
2. Better clothes ...better house ... better car ... better
education
education
3. This is not a sinful ambition, but it must be kept in
perspective. We do our children no favors if, by example, we
teach them that accumulating material things and achieving
worldly success if life's most important goal [Mark 8:36 (KJV)
"For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole
world, and lose his own soul?"]
perspective. We do our children no favors if, by example, we
teach them that accumulating material things and achieving
worldly success if life's most important goal [Mark 8:36 (KJV)
"For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole
world, and lose his own soul?"]
II. WE SHOULD PROVIDE DISCIPLINE FOR OUR CHILDREN.
A. The book of Proverbs, especially, teaches the importance
of correction and discipline for children.
of correction and discipline for children.
1. Proverbs 23:13-14 (KJV) "Withhold not correction from
the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not
die. {14} Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his
soul from hell."
the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not
die. {14} Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his
soul from hell."
2. Proverbs 13:24 (NASB) "He who spares his rod hates his
son, But he who loves him disciplines him diligently."
son, But he who loves him disciplines him diligently."
3. Proverbs 29:15, 17 (KJV) "The rod and reproof give
wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to
shame.... {17} Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea,
he shall give delight unto thy soul."
wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to
shame.... {17} Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea,
he shall give delight unto thy soul."
B. Discussion of discipline naturally involves us in the
question of whether or not to spank children.
question of whether or not to spank children.
1. No loving parent supports physically abusing children or
injuring them while punishing them.
injuring them while punishing them.
2. There was certainly authority in the Old Testament to use
corporal punishment in correcting children's behavior problems.
corporal punishment in correcting children's behavior problems.
3. Many parents still feel that it is appropriate to spank
children in a responsible, controlled way to impress upon them
the need for obedience and proper behavior.
children in a responsible, controlled way to impress upon them
the need for obedience and proper behavior.
4. Others do object to spanking. They maintain that
"spanking teaches children to use acts of aggression and violence
to solve their problems, . . . teach [ing] and perpetuat[ing]
more violence." Anti-spanking advocates maintain that children
who are spanked are "more prone to low self-esteem, depression,
and accept lower paying jobs as adults."
"spanking teaches children to use acts of aggression and violence
to solve their problems, . . . teach [ing] and perpetuat[ing]
more violence." Anti-spanking advocates maintain that children
who are spanked are "more prone to low self-esteem, depression,
and accept lower paying jobs as adults."
5. Whether or not we accept those arguments against spanking
in moderation, we do recognize the need for other discipline
strategies. Parents need training in being good
disciplinarians. The Old Testament book of Proverbs offers much
good, inspired advice on this subject.
in moderation, we do recognize the need for other discipline
strategies. Parents need training in being good
disciplinarians. The Old Testament book of Proverbs offers much
good, inspired advice on this subject.
III. WE SHOULD PROVIDE LOVE FOR OUR CHILDREN.
A. Proverbs 15:17 (NASB) "Better is a dish of vegetables
where love is, Than a fattened ox and hatred with it." A house
may be equipped with all the latest conveniences and luxuries,
but it is not a home if love does not dwell in the house.
where love is, Than a fattened ox and hatred with it." A house
may be equipped with all the latest conveniences and luxuries,
but it is not a home if love does not dwell in the house.
B. Tell your children you love them. 1,000 times a day is
not too much. It is so sad for a grown-up child to look back on
childhood and not be able to remember Dad or Mom saying "I love
you."
not too much. It is so sad for a grown-up child to look back on
childhood and not be able to remember Dad or Mom saying "I love
you."
C. Show love to your children [Titus 2:4 (KJV) "That they
may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to
love their children,"]
may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to
love their children,"]
1. Children are around their parents too much to be fooled
by hypocrisy. They know us as we really are.
by hypocrisy. They know us as we really are.
2. 1 John 3:18 (KJV) "My little children, let us not love
in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth." It is
not sufficient to just talk love; we must practice it "in deed
and in truth."
in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth." It is
not sufficient to just talk love; we must practice it "in deed
and in truth."
3. Love does not mean letting children have their way all
the time.
the time.
a. It is much easier to give in to children and do what they
want. However, parents should have more maturity and wisdom than
their children. We should know when to say "No" and be
strong-spined enough to mean it.
want. However, parents should have more maturity and wisdom than
their children. We should know when to say "No" and be
strong-spined enough to mean it.
b. When that happens, children may say, "If you loved me,
you would let me __________." When they are more mature they
will recognize that we prevented them from _________ precisely
because we did love them.
you would let me __________." When they are more mature they
will recognize that we prevented them from _________ precisely
because we did love them.
4. Love does mean letting go when the time comes. Adult
children are to "leave father and mother" [Matthew 19:5]. We
need to carefully construct a spirit of independence within our
children without making them rebellious.
children are to "leave father and mother" [Matthew 19:5]. We
need to carefully construct a spirit of independence within our
children without making them rebellious.
IV. WE SHOULD PROVIDE SPIRITUAL NOURISHMENT AND TRAINING FOR
OUR CHILDREN.
OUR CHILDREN.
A. Ephesians 6:4 (KJV) gives parents an awesome
responsibility when it commands, "And, ye fathers, provoke not
your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and
admonition of the Lord."
responsibility when it commands, "And, ye fathers, provoke not
your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and
admonition of the Lord."
B. We've succeeded as parents when we've caused our sons and
daughters to understand the importance of putting God first in
life. [Proverbs 15:16 (KJV) "Better is little with the fear of
the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith."] Fearing
God is more important than being rich and successful by human
standards.
daughters to understand the importance of putting God first in
life. [Proverbs 15:16 (KJV) "Better is little with the fear of
the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith."] Fearing
God is more important than being rich and successful by human
standards.
1. If we teach our children to fear the Lord, they will
learn the way of truth [Proverbs 1:7 (KJV) "The fear of the LORD
is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and
instruction."]
learn the way of truth [Proverbs 1:7 (KJV) "The fear of the LORD
is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and
instruction."]
2. If we teach our children to fear the Lord, they will
avoid a life of sin [Proverbs 16:6 (KJV) "By mercy and truth
iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from
evil."]
avoid a life of sin [Proverbs 16:6 (KJV) "By mercy and truth
iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from
evil."]
3. If we teach our children to fear the Lord, they are
promised a longer life [Proverbs 10:27 (KJV) "The fear of the
LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be
shortened."]
promised a longer life [Proverbs 10:27 (KJV) "The fear of the
LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be
shortened."]
4. If we teach our children to fear the Lord, they will be
truly wealthy [Proverbs 22:4 (KJV) "By humility and the fear of
the LORD are riches, and honour, and life."]
truly wealthy [Proverbs 22:4 (KJV) "By humility and the fear of
the LORD are riches, and honour, and life."]
Conclusion
1. We should always give honor wherever it is due [Romans
13:7]. It is a good thing that we set aside days to honor
mothers and fathers. However, that honor should go on throughout
the year. As children, we should always be looking for ways to
express the respect and honor we feel for our parents.
13:7]. It is a good thing that we set aside days to honor
mothers and fathers. However, that honor should go on throughout
the year. As children, we should always be looking for ways to
express the respect and honor we feel for our parents.
2. Parents should always try to be deserving of that honor.
A woman does not deserve roses on Mother's Day just for
conceiving a child. She is honored for the devotion and
sacrifice given to that child over a lifetime.
A woman does not deserve roses on Mother's Day just for
conceiving a child. She is honored for the devotion and
sacrifice given to that child over a lifetime.
3. We have two groups of people . . . parents and children.
If you have living parents or living children, there is a
challenge for you to meet. Don't neglect your responsibilities.
If you have living parents or living children, there is a
challenge for you to meet. Don't neglect your responsibilities.
=========================================
We will start an "online" Bible Study
"The book of Jude in the light of the end-times "
for information and enrollment if you are interested
=========================================
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