Frank Jamerson

Introduction:

A. The physical family and the spiritual family are co-workers in the goal of raising children for faithfulness to God.

1. Some homes neglect their role and blame the church for the failure of children to obey.

2. Some churches do not teach and challenge young people to learn God’s word.

3. It is difficult for a church to be evangelistic when the home is not teaching its own.

B. It is the responsibility of the church to teach; it is the responsibility of the home to teach and exemplify by applying the teaching.

Body:

A. Getting our priorities in order:

1. The church teaches people what God said about priorities (Mt. 6:33)

2. The home teaches and applies what is taught.

a. Jewish parents taught their children (Dt. 6:4-9).

b. When we say one thing and practice another, what do our children learn? When we teach “seek first the kingdom of heaven” then, in practice, make other things our primary concern, which lesson will they learn?

c. What happens when children hear the truth at church and then hear and see different teaching at home?

d. Parents should teach their children to pray, and to study God’s word by doing those things together.

B. Our attitude toward authority:

1. The church teaches respect for the authority of Christ (Col. 3:17) and of parents (Eph. 6:1-4).

a. Disobedience to parents is found in bad company (Rom. 1:29-32).

b. The individual is ultimately responsible for his own choices (Ezek. 18:4,20; Jer. 31:29,30).

2. The home teaches and applies this teaching.

a. Children learn to respect the authority of God by first learning to respect the authority of their parents.

b. If children do not understand home discipline, how will they understand church discipline?

c. When the home defends the transgressing child and attacks the person in authority, what does this teach young people?

d. Some will defend the family member and defy the authority of Christ when the church has to disfellowship a relative.

C. Our attitude toward family members:

1. The church teaches parents to train their children (Eph. 6:4; Col. 3:21), and children to obey and honor their parents (Eph. 6:1-3; Col. 3:20; Mt. 15:6).

2. The home teaches and applies the Biblical principles.

a. The home is to show love (Rom. 1:31; 2 Tim. 3:3).

b. The Greek word astorgos (without natural affection) means “without natural affection, especially of parents for children and children for parents” (W.E. Vine).

c. It is sad when a family does not practice the love that God’s word teaches.

3. Quote from a letter written by a 16 year old girl: “This family cannot keep going the way it is going. We really need help badly. Mom and Dad fuss and bicker constantly - I mean from daylight till dark, if they are around each other...The thing is no one knows what really goes on in this family. If they knew, they would be shocked. This family is always at church, but I don’t guess it is doing us any good, because if this family doesn’t change, we are never going to make it to heaven. If a stranger walked up to our house and heard Mom and Dad fussing, they would never believe they had been in a church before. I am not exaggerating...Again, please help us, as we are in desperate need of it.”

4. Isaiah asked king Hezekiah: “what have they seen in your house?” (2 Kgs. 20:14,15).

D. Our attitude toward morality:

1. The church teaches individuals to dress modestly and keep themselves pure (1 Tim. 2:9,10;

1 Cor. 6:15-20; 7:1-5; Rom. 7:1-3).

2. The home teaches and applies the principles.

a. Modest - Is it appropriate for the occasion?

b. Propriety (shamefacedness, KJV) - What spirit does it reveal in you? (1 Pet. 3:4)

c. Moderation (sobriety, KJV) - What effect does it have on others?

d. Flee sexual immorality - avoid compromising situations? (Gen. 39:12)

e. The husband is possessed by his wife; the wife by her husband.

Conclusion:

A. Young people - neither the church nor your parents can learn the truth, nor live it for you. God holds the church and parents responsible for what they can do - teach His word, but he holds each individual responsible for his application of that teaching (Ezek. 18:5,10,14,20; Prov. 22:6; 10:27; 18:22)..

B. There are no perfect parents, nor perfect children - but we can be faithful.

C.  The family and the church should work together to prepare souls for heaven.