Planting God's Word in the Hearts of Families

When we went to Convention we came across this great ministry that helps strengthen families. Here is what their hearts desire is for this ministry: Planting God's Word in the Hearts of Families Here is their monthly newsletter and check out their website for more ideas! Click Here for Website January 2012

Children, obey your parents  in the Lord, for this is right.  “Honor your father and mother”  (this is the first commandment  with a promise),“that it may go  well with you and that you may  live long in the land.” Fathers,  do not provoke your children  to anger, but bring them up  in the discipline and  instruction of the Lord.                           Ephesians 6:1-4 READ IT Read Ephesians 6:1-4 as a family. Earlier in the book of Ephesians (5:21), Paul lets his readers know they are to submit to one another “out of reverence for Christ.”  So, no one is confused what that means, Paul goes on to outline how God intends us to obey the authority He gives here on earth.  God provides people in authority over us to care for us.  In Ephesians 6:1-4, Paul outlines the authority parents have over their children.  He references the fifth commandment (“Honor your father and mother. . .” Exodus 20:12), but says that more than simply honoring our parents, we should “obey” them.  Are honoring and obeying different, or are they the same?  Honoring something means that we value it.  Obeying means that we listen and do what we are told.  So, honoring our parents is what God tells us first to do in the Ten Commandments.  By honoring them, we will be motivated to obey the instructions our parents give. These verses also talk to moms and dads about how to guide children.  Paul instructs fathers to not anger their children.  As Pastor D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones said in the 1960s when preaching on these verses, “When you are disciplining a child, you should have first controlled yourself. If you try to discipline your child when you are in a temper, it is certain that you will do more harm than good.”  Rather than bark angry orders at children, a parent is to “bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord."  This actually means to provide very tender guidance or nourishment to a child. TRY IT Let’s have some fun practicing what it means to listen and obey.  Play a game similar to Simon Says with a twist—call it Mom and Dad Say, or something of your choosing.  Parents, make a list of “instructions” to give your children.  Mix silly instructions with more serious ones (examples:  walk like a duck, pat your head, quote your favorite verse, sing a song, tell me about your day, etc).    Only say “Mom and Dad Say” before instructions you really desire for your children--be sure to include fun options in this mix.  You want obedience to also be joyful. Talk with your family about how there are many instructions and voices each of them hear during the day.  Tell your children that God has chosen to protect and equip them by providing parents.  They don’t have to listen to the voices that would ask them to do destructive or disrespectful things—God has instructed them to listen to and obey you as their parents.  Talk about things people who aren’t their parents might ask them to do that might not be good for them. LIVE IT In London 50 years ago, D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones preached  through the book of Ephesians for Sunday after Sunday-- eventually filling 8 volumes of books.  His sermons on  Ephesians 6:1-4 are now an excellent parenting book,  Raising Children God’s Way.  Those sermons emphasized  how God intends all other structures of society to begin  with the family.  “The home is the fundamental unit of  society, and children are born into a home, into a family.  There you have the circle that is to be the chief influence  in their lives. There is no question about that. It is  the biblical teaching everywhere; and it is always in  so-called civilizations where ideas concerning the  home begin to deteriorate that society ultimately  disintegrates."   These are heavy concepts for a  young family, but it is interesting to get everyone  in your family to think on the circles of influence  mentioned by Dr. Lloyd-Jones.  Take a large sheet of paper and draw a circle  on it.  Write “Our Family” in the center.  Have  everyone write words or draw pictures in the  circle to describe how the family influences  (directs, teaches, encourages, helps) them.   Then draw circles around the family (like the rings  of a tree) and talk about the other structures that  influence them (church, school, country/government,  world).  Discuss how important it is for your family  to study the Bible together so you don’t obey those  who would lead you away from what God desires.   JOIN THE SEEDS SOWER CLUB Do you know about our Seeds Sower Club? It's a great  way to tell your friends about Seeds, offer friends a discount,  AND earn free CDs for your family.  Email Michelle to  learn more - (michelle@seedsfamilyworship.com).