The Team: Mom and Dad Unite!
Review and Intro:
Psalm 146:9 - The Lord protects the strangers; He supports the fatherless and the widow.
James 1:27 - This is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father, to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
Deuteronomy 10:18 - He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing.
- A Message for Married Couples:
Genesis 2:24 - Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
- A Word for Fathers: Do not provoke your kids, bring them up.
Ephesians 6:4 - Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
How to provoke...
- Discipline in anger
James 1:20 - for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
- Compare your children to siblings or others (favoritism)
2 Corinthians 10:12 - Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.
- Chastise your child in front of others
Matthew 18:15 - If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.
- Make fun of the child / call him names
Ephesians 4:32 - Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
- Have unrealistic expectations
2 Peter 3:18 - But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
...how to bring them up.
- Make time to talk / Interact
Ephesians 5:16 - making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.
- Be consistent with discipline
Proverbs 13:24 - Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.
- Admit when you are wrong
Proverbs 28:13 - Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
- Look for ways to praise the child
Romans 13:7 - Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.
- Keep your promises
Matthew 5:33 - Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.'
- Discipline in anger
- A Word for Mothers: Make your home ordered and holy.
Titus 2:4-5 - train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.
Make your home ordered...
...and make your home holy.
Romans 12:2 - Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Moms: Embrace two areas of responsibility for a holy home:
- Guard the home environment.
- Teach them how to filter everything through the Word of God.
Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
Hint: Highlight blanks above for answers!
Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Ephesians 6:4, Genesis 2:24, Titus 2:4-5
How would you define the role of the father, biblically? Where do you see this failing in our culture? In your home? (only answer last question if YOU are the father)
How would you define the role of the mother, biblically? Where do you see this failing in our culture? In your home? (only answer last question if YOU are the mother)
What does it mean to provoke your children to anger (Ephesians 6:4)? Why is this directed towards fathers, specifically? What happens when a child IS provoked to anger? How can you prevent this?
List the right priorities for mom (discussed in the message, and see Genesis 2:24 & Titus 2:4-5). What happens when these are out of order, ex., children are put above husband?
Breakout Questions:
Pray for struggling families you know - for dads to be dads and moms to be moms, biblically.
Examine your own home - is it a "holy place", ie, set aside for God? Are there any sinful or worldly things in your home that can be giving your child(ren) mixed messages? What needs to be eliminated?