WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.480 You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama. 00:00:06.980 --> 00:00:10.620 Our passion is to experience and express grace. Join us. 00:00:12.900 --> 00:00:15.980 We've made it to Ephesians chapter 6 this morning. 00:00:17.500 --> 00:00:22.219 This is especially for kids, the passage that we're looking at today. 00:00:22.719 --> 00:00:26.100 If you have Bibles, kids, you can turn to the book of Ephesians. 00:00:26.679 --> 00:00:28.519 It's kind of towards the back. 00:00:29.120 --> 00:00:35.320 So if you're flipping around, it's Galatians and then Ephesians and Philippians and Colossians. 00:00:35.840 --> 00:00:36.820 Those are hard to remember. 00:00:36.960 --> 00:00:43.119 When I was a kid, we learned General Electric Power Company, G-E-P-C. 00:00:43.539 --> 00:00:47.019 So it's after Galatians and before Philippians. 00:00:47.179 --> 00:00:47.960 You'll find it in there. 00:00:48.079 --> 00:00:53.679 Or if you want to get a Bible out of the pew in front of you, you can just turn to page 979. 00:00:54.379 --> 00:00:55.439 And that's a little bit easier. 00:00:55.439 --> 00:00:58.659 You don't even have to remember the whole order. 00:01:00.239 --> 00:01:08.179 Listen, kids, every time we worship, every time we open God's Word together, there's something special there for all of us. 00:01:08.560 --> 00:01:16.099 It's one of the reasons why we have these children's bulletins for you every week that have a spot there for you to write what you're learning from the sermon. 00:01:16.099 --> 00:01:23.479 Because every time God's Word speaks to us, it speaks helpful things that we need to hear and we need to learn. 00:01:23.959 --> 00:01:28.219 This morning in particular, you may want one of these blue bulletins. 00:01:28.419 --> 00:01:31.479 If you didn't get one, you may want to get one of those. 00:01:31.480 --> 00:01:37.600 In fact, if you hold your hand up really high right now, if you want one of these, there's some ushers who will give you one. 00:01:37.840 --> 00:01:42.840 There's an outline on the back that you might be able to fill out as we follow along. 00:01:43.620 --> 00:01:46.600 I need you to pay close attention this morning, kids. 00:01:46.700 --> 00:01:51.600 It's especially written to you and I need your help during the sermon. 00:01:51.599 --> 00:01:59.299 So this is God's Word, so we need to listen closely to what He has to say to us. 00:01:59.379 --> 00:02:01.119 Ephesians 6 at verse 1. 00:02:02.319 --> 00:02:07.280 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 00:02:08.519 --> 00:02:12.219 Honor your father and mother, this is the first commandment with a promise, 00:02:12.539 --> 00:02:16.639 that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land. 00:02:16.639 --> 00:02:25.799 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. 00:02:27.219 --> 00:02:31.359 Kids, you know why we almost always pray right now in the service? 00:02:32.239 --> 00:02:33.199 We do it. 00:02:33.279 --> 00:02:38.079 We pray right now when we start the sermon because we really need God's help. 00:02:38.819 --> 00:02:43.619 God's Word is holy and perfect, but we're not. 00:02:43.620 --> 00:02:46.340 The preacher is not perfect. 00:02:47.039 --> 00:02:49.420 The people who are listening are not perfect. 00:02:49.599 --> 00:02:53.939 And so we need God's help to understand His perfect Word better 00:02:53.939 --> 00:02:57.020 so that we would know Him more and love Him more. 00:02:57.159 --> 00:02:59.620 So will you pray with me now and ask Him to help us? 00:03:01.680 --> 00:03:05.099 God, we do thank You for Your Word. 00:03:05.879 --> 00:03:08.439 We thank You that it speaks to all of us. 00:03:08.439 --> 00:03:13.439 I pray this morning as we look at it that You would help us, 00:03:13.719 --> 00:03:16.379 that You would help us to know Your love more, 00:03:16.659 --> 00:03:19.800 and that You would help each of us to love You more. 00:03:20.699 --> 00:03:22.840 Having looked at Your Word together, 00:03:23.340 --> 00:03:25.759 we ask that You would help us in Jesus' name. 00:03:26.740 --> 00:03:27.099 Amen. 00:03:29.300 --> 00:03:32.419 Jesus seemed to like children a lot, didn't He? 00:03:32.419 --> 00:03:38.359 Do you remember the story where parents are trying to bring their little kids to Jesus? 00:03:39.079 --> 00:03:41.099 And what did His disciples say to them? 00:03:41.939 --> 00:03:42.739 No, no, no. 00:03:43.139 --> 00:03:44.299 Keep your kids away. 00:03:44.439 --> 00:03:45.560 Jesus is too busy. 00:03:46.639 --> 00:03:49.759 Jesus is too important to spend time with kids. 00:03:51.139 --> 00:03:52.339 You remember what Jesus said? 00:03:53.019 --> 00:03:55.219 His disciples were saying no, but Jesus said what? 00:03:56.060 --> 00:03:57.859 Let the children come to Me. 00:03:57.939 --> 00:03:59.699 Don't stop them from coming. 00:04:00.119 --> 00:04:01.839 I want to be with them. 00:04:01.840 --> 00:04:05.340 He picked them up and held them and blessed them. 00:04:06.219 --> 00:04:11.379 And there are a lot of stories about Jesus in the Bible where He's especially thoughtful to kids. 00:04:12.319 --> 00:04:15.800 We see that same thing in the book of Ephesians this morning. 00:04:16.360 --> 00:04:19.680 Our first point, the first thing we want to talk about, 00:04:19.959 --> 00:04:24.319 is the special position that kids have in God's family. 00:04:24.660 --> 00:04:26.459 Kids, this is something that makes you special. 00:04:26.560 --> 00:04:28.079 I want you to write this down, okay? 00:04:28.079 --> 00:04:32.079 God loves me. 00:04:32.719 --> 00:04:33.719 Can you write that down? 00:04:34.819 --> 00:04:36.579 God loves me. 00:04:36.599 --> 00:04:37.859 I want you to say that with me. 00:04:37.939 --> 00:04:39.120 Can you help me with that? 00:04:39.519 --> 00:04:41.159 One, two, three. 00:04:42.079 --> 00:04:43.979 God loves me. 00:04:44.139 --> 00:04:46.319 Not you older people, just the kids. 00:04:46.879 --> 00:04:47.860 Kids, are you paying attention? 00:04:48.079 --> 00:04:48.719 On three. 00:04:48.879 --> 00:04:50.000 One, two, three. 00:04:51.000 --> 00:04:52.939 God loves me. 00:04:53.319 --> 00:04:53.959 Yes, awesome. 00:04:54.040 --> 00:04:54.959 We'll get to you all in a minute. 00:04:55.240 --> 00:04:55.939 You'll get your turn. 00:04:57.439 --> 00:04:59.579 That's God's attitude towards children. 00:04:59.939 --> 00:05:01.060 That's how He feels about it. 00:05:01.120 --> 00:05:02.819 You're precious to Him. 00:05:03.219 --> 00:05:05.939 He loves you and values you. 00:05:06.860 --> 00:05:11.959 All the way in this passage, you see that He's actually talking to children. 00:05:12.060 --> 00:05:13.160 That's the first word, isn't it? 00:05:13.480 --> 00:05:13.920 Children. 00:05:14.759 --> 00:05:19.639 It's as though you're right there with your parents and your grandparents when God's Word 00:05:19.639 --> 00:05:23.639 is being read to the church, that you would be right there, that He would expect you would 00:05:23.639 --> 00:05:25.439 be listening and be a part of that group. 00:05:25.519 --> 00:05:26.659 That's interesting, isn't it? 00:05:27.959 --> 00:05:29.899 God loves children. 00:05:29.899 --> 00:05:36.399 And as you read this passage, what you learn, kids, is that God is looking out for your good. 00:05:37.019 --> 00:05:38.979 He wants what's best for you. 00:05:39.259 --> 00:05:43.139 He's telling you how He's designed it so it will be for your best. 00:05:43.239 --> 00:05:48.719 In fact, He's even given you parents to care for you because He loves you so much. 00:05:49.599 --> 00:05:52.419 Now, I know that sometimes parents can be embarrassing. 00:05:53.439 --> 00:05:55.439 Just imagine if I was your dad. 00:05:55.879 --> 00:05:57.579 I mean, how embarrassing would that be? 00:05:57.579 --> 00:06:04.279 But what they actually are is a reminder to you of how much God loves you, that He's 00:06:04.279 --> 00:06:09.039 given you parents and others who care about you to take care of you and to show His love 00:06:09.039 --> 00:06:09.479 to you. 00:06:10.180 --> 00:06:12.939 That's part of what this passage is reminding you. 00:06:13.240 --> 00:06:18.659 But God doesn't just speak to children when the passage says children like this one. 00:06:19.259 --> 00:06:22.379 I said earlier, all of the Bible is for you. 00:06:22.579 --> 00:06:25.919 All of God's Word because you're a part of His church, right? 00:06:25.920 --> 00:06:28.620 All of God's Word is written to you. 00:06:28.879 --> 00:06:33.480 In fact, this passage this morning is part of a passage that starts this way. 00:06:33.860 --> 00:06:34.199 It says, 00:06:34.439 --> 00:06:38.879 Be imitators of God as dearly loved children. 00:06:39.759 --> 00:06:44.280 As beloved children that God loves so much, we're to imitate Him. 00:06:44.340 --> 00:06:45.700 That's Ephesians 5.1. 00:06:45.699 --> 00:06:47.719 All of us. 00:06:48.659 --> 00:06:52.839 All of God's Word for all of us, especially for you kids. 00:06:53.319 --> 00:06:54.339 So He loves you. 00:06:54.680 --> 00:06:55.659 God loves you. 00:06:55.740 --> 00:06:58.039 But you know who else is a part of that group? 00:06:58.860 --> 00:07:01.019 Those beloved children in chapter 5? 00:07:01.099 --> 00:07:01.839 It's not just you. 00:07:01.899 --> 00:07:03.199 Who else is included in that? 00:07:04.360 --> 00:07:05.860 Your parents, right? 00:07:06.519 --> 00:07:09.699 They're part of that group addressed as beloved children. 00:07:10.419 --> 00:07:12.419 Parents, you have a special position too. 00:07:12.420 --> 00:07:16.860 You're called to care for those loved by God. 00:07:17.140 --> 00:07:22.000 You've been entrusted with the responsibility to care for something precious to Him. 00:07:22.600 --> 00:07:23.980 That's a high calling, right? 00:07:24.600 --> 00:07:26.500 God loves children. 00:07:26.700 --> 00:07:32.080 And if He does love children, it should make us marvel that He decides to make us, 00:07:32.160 --> 00:07:35.600 at a human level, primarily responsible for them. 00:07:35.600 --> 00:07:43.680 We may do that as parents through decisions we make about church or school or other activities 00:07:43.680 --> 00:07:48.960 our kids are involved in, where others care for them and where they learn from others. 00:07:50.140 --> 00:07:56.140 But don't miss that parents are the ones here given primary responsibility for the kids. 00:07:56.220 --> 00:08:01.360 They have a special charge to care for those that God has entrusted to their care. 00:08:03.100 --> 00:08:05.280 Okay, kids, I'm talking to you again, all right? 00:08:05.600 --> 00:08:05.939 You listening? 00:08:06.439 --> 00:08:07.879 You have a special position. 00:08:07.980 --> 00:08:08.920 What's your special position? 00:08:10.060 --> 00:08:11.000 God loves me. 00:08:11.640 --> 00:08:14.000 But you also have a hard job. 00:08:14.600 --> 00:08:15.520 A hard job. 00:08:15.580 --> 00:08:16.660 Look at this passage with me. 00:08:16.740 --> 00:08:19.060 Let's see what God says your job is. 00:08:19.160 --> 00:08:20.400 It's at the very beginning. 00:08:20.700 --> 00:08:21.400 Verse 1. 00:08:21.980 --> 00:08:27.620 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 00:08:28.360 --> 00:08:29.340 What's your job? 00:08:29.340 --> 00:08:33.019 What's the hard job that God has given you? 00:08:33.019 --> 00:08:36.539 God tells me to obey. 00:08:37.480 --> 00:08:38.720 Can you say that with me? 00:08:38.840 --> 00:08:39.720 Kids, you listening? 00:08:40.019 --> 00:08:41.379 One, two, three. 00:08:42.159 --> 00:08:45.139 God tells me to obey. 00:08:46.519 --> 00:08:49.179 Have your parents ever told you to obey before? 00:08:49.299 --> 00:08:52.419 Has anybody's mom or dad ever said you need to obey them? 00:08:53.919 --> 00:08:54.960 Anybody else? 00:08:55.460 --> 00:08:56.639 Oh, they have. 00:08:56.779 --> 00:08:57.100 Okay. 00:08:57.100 --> 00:09:01.139 You know, they're not just being mean when they say that, are they? 00:09:01.340 --> 00:09:04.620 They're not just making it up that it's important for you to obey them. 00:09:05.060 --> 00:09:08.040 God says that's your job as children. 00:09:08.420 --> 00:09:13.379 That's the special job that He's given you is to obey your parents. 00:09:13.379 --> 00:09:17.899 So it's really important that we act the way our parents tell us to. 00:09:18.340 --> 00:09:19.919 That we do what they say. 00:09:20.000 --> 00:09:22.080 That's the first part of obeying. 00:09:22.340 --> 00:09:25.519 That we do the things that they ask us to do. 00:09:25.879 --> 00:09:31.659 All the way back to the Old Testament, when God talks to His people about obeying their parents, 00:09:32.059 --> 00:09:35.720 it's so important because it's part of obeying Him. 00:09:35.720 --> 00:09:44.399 He says that the best way to show that you want to do what God says is to start by doing what your parents say. 00:09:44.620 --> 00:09:49.200 That's how important it is to God that we obey our parents. 00:09:50.500 --> 00:09:52.160 Now, I said it's a hard job. 00:09:52.500 --> 00:09:54.240 It doesn't sound very hard, does it? 00:09:55.279 --> 00:09:59.519 Is that hard to understand what it means to obey your parents? 00:10:00.580 --> 00:10:02.540 No, it sounds pretty easy. 00:10:02.700 --> 00:10:04.639 Why is that such a hard job? 00:10:04.639 --> 00:10:05.939 Why do you think? 00:10:06.539 --> 00:10:08.559 We all have trouble obeying, don't we? 00:10:08.740 --> 00:10:09.299 You know why? 00:10:10.019 --> 00:10:12.139 Because we like to do things our own way. 00:10:12.220 --> 00:10:14.000 Do you like to do things what you want to do? 00:10:14.519 --> 00:10:16.439 I like to do what I want to do. 00:10:16.779 --> 00:10:22.840 And so telling me that I have to obey and I don't always get what I want to do, that's hard. 00:10:23.220 --> 00:10:26.580 Sometimes we really, really want to do something and our parents say what? 00:10:27.840 --> 00:10:28.240 No. 00:10:28.779 --> 00:10:29.659 How did you know that? 00:10:30.100 --> 00:10:31.419 They don't sometimes say yes? 00:10:32.059 --> 00:10:33.299 Okay, well sometimes you're right. 00:10:33.299 --> 00:10:34.259 They say no. 00:10:34.639 --> 00:10:37.279 And you really, really wanted to do it. 00:10:38.279 --> 00:10:40.319 And what does God tell us when that happens? 00:10:40.399 --> 00:10:42.439 I mean, maybe you wanted to eat that piece of candy. 00:10:43.159 --> 00:10:47.939 Or maybe you wanted to watch this movie or go to that party. 00:10:49.259 --> 00:10:54.019 And you know what's really hard is sometimes you don't understand why your parents are telling you no, do you? 00:10:54.759 --> 00:10:57.039 It just doesn't seem to make any sense. 00:10:57.199 --> 00:10:58.559 I know that feeling. 00:10:58.939 --> 00:11:00.220 Sometimes it doesn't make sense. 00:11:00.220 --> 00:11:02.720 And so you just want to do the thing that you want to do, right? 00:11:04.420 --> 00:11:05.639 And what does God say? 00:11:06.480 --> 00:11:08.360 What does the Bible tell us about that? 00:11:08.720 --> 00:11:11.800 He says, obey your parents. 00:11:12.019 --> 00:11:14.360 He says, you can trust them. 00:11:14.540 --> 00:11:15.980 That's your job. 00:11:15.980 --> 00:11:20.120 Trust your parents even when you really, really want to do something different. 00:11:20.480 --> 00:11:21.879 Trust them because it's right. 00:11:22.360 --> 00:11:23.560 That's the way He made it. 00:11:23.860 --> 00:11:28.480 And because He's the one who made it that way and because God's the one who gave you your parents, 00:11:28.759 --> 00:11:32.100 when you trust them and obey them, you're really trusting Him. 00:11:32.100 --> 00:11:40.540 Sometimes, because we love to do things our own way, we do obey. 00:11:40.840 --> 00:11:42.800 We do what we're asked to do, right? 00:11:43.080 --> 00:11:45.180 But we might do it like this. 00:11:47.060 --> 00:11:48.220 All right. 00:11:48.879 --> 00:11:50.600 I'll clean my room. 00:11:51.000 --> 00:11:53.279 And we're sad and we're moping. 00:11:54.159 --> 00:11:56.519 Or sometimes some of us do it this way. 00:11:56.519 --> 00:11:58.100 All right. 00:11:58.660 --> 00:12:00.500 I'll clean my room. 00:12:00.820 --> 00:12:01.779 But I'm angry. 00:12:02.100 --> 00:12:04.940 Have you ever done that? 00:12:05.639 --> 00:12:06.960 Have you ever felt like that? 00:12:07.740 --> 00:12:09.139 I mean, you're going to obey. 00:12:09.560 --> 00:12:11.200 You're going to do the right actions. 00:12:11.500 --> 00:12:14.620 But your heart's not very happy, is it? 00:12:16.240 --> 00:12:19.759 This passage reminds us that obeying is not just about our actions, 00:12:19.980 --> 00:12:22.639 but it's actually about our attitudes, our hearts. 00:12:23.180 --> 00:12:25.200 Look at verse 2, the next verse. 00:12:25.200 --> 00:12:25.840 What does it say? 00:12:26.759 --> 00:12:29.139 Honor your father and mother. 00:12:29.200 --> 00:12:30.740 That's one of the Ten Commandments, isn't it? 00:12:30.740 --> 00:12:33.159 Honor your father and mother. 00:12:33.340 --> 00:12:36.220 That's talking about your attitude towards them. 00:12:36.379 --> 00:12:38.120 What's going on in your heart? 00:12:38.460 --> 00:12:42.720 Your attitude should show honor and respect for your parents. 00:12:43.539 --> 00:12:47.879 At our house, we say obeying means the first time and with a good attitude. 00:12:47.879 --> 00:12:50.240 It doesn't mean that's how it happens. 00:12:50.240 --> 00:12:52.820 That means that's how we talk about it. 00:12:53.340 --> 00:12:55.279 Do you say something like that at your house? 00:12:56.059 --> 00:12:56.639 Anybody else? 00:12:56.700 --> 00:12:59.960 Do you say something about obeying is not just what we do, 00:13:00.059 --> 00:13:02.580 but it's the attitude that we have when we do it? 00:13:02.580 --> 00:13:08.560 God says that's really important because, you see, God's always concerned about our hearts, isn't he? 00:13:09.160 --> 00:13:12.460 God's not just concerned that we do all of the right things. 00:13:12.800 --> 00:13:17.980 He wants us to love him, to respect and honor him in our hearts. 00:13:18.379 --> 00:13:21.160 That's what God is really concerned about. 00:13:21.159 --> 00:13:26.299 So our job as children is to obey our parents in our actions, 00:13:27.259 --> 00:13:29.579 to honor them in our attitudes. 00:13:31.819 --> 00:13:33.959 Sometimes that doesn't seem fair, does it, kids? 00:13:34.419 --> 00:13:35.759 Have you ever thought that was not fair? 00:13:36.240 --> 00:13:37.120 Have you ever said, 00:13:37.579 --> 00:13:41.259 I want to be an adult so that I don't have to be the one who obeys all the time, 00:13:41.519 --> 00:13:43.399 so that I can tell everybody else? 00:13:43.480 --> 00:13:44.219 Well, yes, some of you have. 00:13:44.299 --> 00:13:46.039 Yeah, you've really said that a lot, huh? 00:13:47.019 --> 00:13:48.779 It doesn't seem fair sometimes. 00:13:48.779 --> 00:13:50.100 Let me tell you something. 00:13:51.399 --> 00:13:53.759 God gives parents a hard job too, okay? 00:13:53.799 --> 00:13:56.899 You can listen to this part and see what your parents' job is. 00:13:57.720 --> 00:14:00.899 I'll say their job is to nurture obeyers. 00:14:01.699 --> 00:14:06.860 That's in quotation marks because that refers, again, to action and attitude. 00:14:07.079 --> 00:14:08.139 Look at verse 4. 00:14:09.279 --> 00:14:12.439 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, 00:14:13.059 --> 00:14:17.539 but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. 00:14:17.539 --> 00:14:21.879 This is addressing fathers here, not to the exclusion of mothers. 00:14:22.079 --> 00:14:24.819 Clearly, both parents are in mind in this passage, 00:14:24.959 --> 00:14:28.759 but there's a particular responsibility for fathers to their children. 00:14:30.019 --> 00:14:31.899 And in the Roman world, Paul's writing to, 00:14:32.039 --> 00:14:35.240 fathers would have had unlimited power over their kids 00:14:35.240 --> 00:14:38.099 to do whatever they wanted to with them, even horrible things. 00:14:38.539 --> 00:14:41.120 Paul says, no, no, no, that's not the case. 00:14:41.860 --> 00:14:44.719 Fathers, you're under authority too. 00:14:44.720 --> 00:14:47.460 Not just the kids under your authority. 00:14:47.879 --> 00:14:51.060 Fathers, you too are to do this in a particular way. 00:14:51.620 --> 00:14:54.060 Don't provoke them to anger. 00:14:55.279 --> 00:14:59.120 You see how immediately he's telling parents to be concerned with the heart? 00:14:59.960 --> 00:15:02.580 Not to crush their spirits? 00:15:03.000 --> 00:15:05.700 When he says this, he's talking about not discouraging them 00:15:05.700 --> 00:15:07.759 in their obedience and maturity. 00:15:08.259 --> 00:15:10.660 The word means don't exasperate them. 00:15:10.659 --> 00:15:14.600 In other words, don't give them just cause for anger. 00:15:15.579 --> 00:15:16.860 How would you do that as a parent? 00:15:16.959 --> 00:15:19.500 How would you give them just cause to be angry? 00:15:19.819 --> 00:15:22.819 There would be an inconsistency between what you say 00:15:22.819 --> 00:15:25.259 and how you treat them. 00:15:26.459 --> 00:15:30.360 For example, I've had to apologize to my girls occasionally 00:15:30.360 --> 00:15:33.000 for saying, stop yelling! 00:15:33.000 --> 00:15:37.779 That doesn't make much sense, does it? 00:15:39.539 --> 00:15:41.500 But parents are sinners too, aren't we? 00:15:42.899 --> 00:15:47.539 You can exasperate your children by requiring them to submit to your authority 00:15:47.539 --> 00:15:52.080 while you submit to no one and nothing else outside yourself. 00:15:53.399 --> 00:15:54.639 It's exasperating. 00:15:55.639 --> 00:15:57.620 You can ask for their respect, 00:15:57.620 --> 00:16:02.720 but you can use shame to get them to obey. 00:16:03.899 --> 00:16:06.679 Those things that we do as parents so that we look good 00:16:06.679 --> 00:16:09.879 even if it embarrasses or humiliates our children. 00:16:10.399 --> 00:16:12.000 Instead of that, Paul says what? 00:16:12.580 --> 00:16:16.960 Bring your children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. 00:16:18.620 --> 00:16:19.700 Parenting is hard. 00:16:20.440 --> 00:16:20.639 Amen? 00:16:21.820 --> 00:16:22.960 Thought I could get one on that. 00:16:22.960 --> 00:16:29.800 God doesn't give a long list here of what age to use which discipline technique, 00:16:30.080 --> 00:16:32.600 how to parent with social media, 00:16:33.320 --> 00:16:36.620 how to handle each hard situation that you come across. 00:16:36.720 --> 00:16:38.540 There's a lot of freedom for parents 00:16:38.540 --> 00:16:43.019 in deciding how to parent their children individually. 00:16:43.980 --> 00:16:45.759 But he is clear about one thing. 00:16:46.460 --> 00:16:49.040 He says the priority is bringing them up 00:16:49.040 --> 00:16:51.580 in the discipline and instruction of the Lord, 00:16:51.580 --> 00:16:53.500 the teaching and the correction, 00:16:54.080 --> 00:16:58.440 the nurture and admonition we heard in our baptism vows. 00:16:58.440 --> 00:17:00.259 In other words, parents, 00:17:00.700 --> 00:17:04.740 mold and shape children to love and obey God 00:17:04.740 --> 00:17:08.240 through loving and obeying you. 00:17:09.400 --> 00:17:12.079 Nothing else is more important than that. 00:17:12.500 --> 00:17:17.180 Than their hearts being shaped towards loving and obeying God. 00:17:17.180 --> 00:17:19.420 Heart and life. 00:17:19.779 --> 00:17:21.700 Attitude and action. 00:17:23.539 --> 00:17:26.700 Parents, what do we value most for our kids? 00:17:28.000 --> 00:17:31.740 There's one verse in this whole book of Ephesians about parenting. 00:17:32.299 --> 00:17:33.140 God says what? 00:17:33.560 --> 00:17:37.200 Help them learn to love and obey me. 00:17:38.220 --> 00:17:39.200 That's the thing. 00:17:39.640 --> 00:17:40.860 You got lots of priorities. 00:17:40.960 --> 00:17:42.320 Let me tell you the important one. 00:17:42.620 --> 00:17:44.880 Help them learn to love and obey me. 00:17:44.880 --> 00:17:46.280 And we care about what? 00:17:48.180 --> 00:17:49.840 Their academic prowess. 00:17:51.440 --> 00:17:53.120 Their social connectivity. 00:17:54.660 --> 00:17:56.140 Their college acceptance. 00:17:57.140 --> 00:17:58.460 Their future viability. 00:17:59.840 --> 00:18:05.040 And we have absolutely lost our sense of what's important, haven't we? 00:18:06.660 --> 00:18:07.400 Me too. 00:18:08.680 --> 00:18:09.800 It's so easy. 00:18:10.360 --> 00:18:12.940 There's so much going on and it moves so fast. 00:18:12.940 --> 00:18:17.120 God says let me make it a little bit easier for you. 00:18:17.380 --> 00:18:18.600 Not a how-to list. 00:18:18.840 --> 00:18:19.559 A priority. 00:18:20.640 --> 00:18:22.680 What's most important for your kids? 00:18:23.299 --> 00:18:25.900 That they would learn to love and obey Him. 00:18:26.900 --> 00:18:28.640 Attitude and action. 00:18:30.840 --> 00:18:35.360 Parents and children, we all fail, don't we? 00:18:35.359 --> 00:18:37.919 We all mess up sometimes. 00:18:38.439 --> 00:18:43.859 We have these really special positions because God loves us. 00:18:44.059 --> 00:18:46.279 And we have these really hard jobs. 00:18:46.859 --> 00:18:51.879 And when you have a hard job and it's really, really important that you do your job, 00:18:53.000 --> 00:18:56.279 sometimes you need to know there's some hope because you don't always do it right. 00:18:57.639 --> 00:18:58.319 Isn't that true? 00:18:58.619 --> 00:19:00.339 You don't always obey. 00:19:00.339 --> 00:19:05.019 So the last thing this morning is that there's hope for all of us. 00:19:05.339 --> 00:19:06.019 Are you ready, kids? 00:19:06.059 --> 00:19:07.539 You got any guesses on the hope? 00:19:08.579 --> 00:19:09.720 Three blanks. 00:19:10.059 --> 00:19:10.720 I'll give you a hint. 00:19:10.779 --> 00:19:11.579 You've seen it before. 00:19:14.000 --> 00:19:15.939 God loves me. 00:19:18.539 --> 00:19:20.099 Can you say that with me one more time? 00:19:21.439 --> 00:19:23.279 God loves me. 00:19:25.119 --> 00:19:25.899 That's the hope. 00:19:25.900 --> 00:19:29.960 Look at why God tells you to honor and obey your parents in verse 3. 00:19:30.560 --> 00:19:34.740 That it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land. 00:19:35.519 --> 00:19:39.240 That's why God wants you to honor and obey your parents. 00:19:39.300 --> 00:19:42.280 Because He loves you and He wants what's best for you. 00:19:42.540 --> 00:19:45.420 He created you and He designed the world. 00:19:46.000 --> 00:19:49.680 So He knows that obeying your parents leads to blessing for you. 00:19:49.860 --> 00:19:51.620 That there's life there. 00:19:52.140 --> 00:19:53.880 Even when it doesn't feel like it. 00:19:53.880 --> 00:19:57.160 I was taking Caitlin to school this week. 00:19:57.360 --> 00:20:00.960 And we were driving, turned into the road in front of the school. 00:20:01.100 --> 00:20:03.640 And I just wanted to drive down that road and drop her off. 00:20:03.840 --> 00:20:05.840 And I got lost in my own little world. 00:20:05.980 --> 00:20:08.140 And all of a sudden I had to slam on the brakes. 00:20:08.520 --> 00:20:13.100 And when I slammed the brakes on, there was this white hand with a glove on it right in front of my windshield. 00:20:13.580 --> 00:20:14.380 Saying, stop. 00:20:15.360 --> 00:20:18.120 It was a crossing guard that I hadn't even noticed. 00:20:18.119 --> 00:20:24.359 And she was telling me to stop because if I didn't, I was about to slam the car that was turning right in front of me. 00:20:24.599 --> 00:20:25.659 And I didn't even notice it. 00:20:26.879 --> 00:20:28.979 Was that crossing guard just being mean? 00:20:29.659 --> 00:20:32.679 I mean, I wanted to drive down the road and she told me to stop. 00:20:33.279 --> 00:20:37.039 Was she just trying to be mean and make me miserable and sad all day? 00:20:38.319 --> 00:20:39.459 No, she wasn't. 00:20:39.819 --> 00:20:41.859 She was trying to protect me. 00:20:41.859 --> 00:20:45.819 She did protect me from running into that other car. 00:20:46.199 --> 00:20:50.519 She knew what was best for me and that I really needed to obey her. 00:20:51.119 --> 00:20:52.539 And so she told me to stop. 00:20:52.939 --> 00:20:57.819 That's what God is doing when He tells you to obey Him and obey your parents. 00:20:59.439 --> 00:21:03.979 Teenagers with your bodies and your relationships. 00:21:05.240 --> 00:21:07.219 Younger kids with your friends. 00:21:07.939 --> 00:21:09.119 With your toys. 00:21:09.119 --> 00:21:10.119 Infants. 00:21:11.000 --> 00:21:11.419 Infants. 00:21:11.679 --> 00:21:12.379 I know you're listening. 00:21:13.459 --> 00:21:15.839 With electrical outlets and stairways. 00:21:18.259 --> 00:21:19.599 He's telling you. 00:21:19.979 --> 00:21:22.739 It actually helps us to think about those things. 00:21:22.859 --> 00:21:25.419 He's telling you that obeying Him is what's best for you. 00:21:25.779 --> 00:21:28.179 And it's easier to see it when it's an electrical outlet. 00:21:29.179 --> 00:21:32.319 He's telling you that even when it doesn't feel like it, 00:21:32.659 --> 00:21:35.919 obeying is what's best for you because He loves you. 00:21:35.920 --> 00:21:39.200 So what about when you don't obey? 00:21:39.340 --> 00:21:41.740 Have any of you ever disobeyed your parents? 00:21:42.360 --> 00:21:43.259 Come on. 00:21:43.460 --> 00:21:46.000 There are lots of adults' hands going up right now. 00:21:46.100 --> 00:21:46.200 Yeah. 00:21:46.600 --> 00:21:48.340 Kids, have you ever disobeyed? 00:21:48.580 --> 00:21:51.880 Have you ever done something that they told you not to do 00:21:51.880 --> 00:21:53.740 or didn't do something they asked you to do? 00:21:55.039 --> 00:21:56.300 Is there still hope then? 00:21:56.580 --> 00:22:00.279 Does God still love you or does that go away then? 00:22:00.920 --> 00:22:02.100 Let me ask you something. 00:22:02.099 --> 00:22:05.839 Which came first in Ephesians this morning? 00:22:06.399 --> 00:22:08.699 God loves me or God tells me to obey? 00:22:09.399 --> 00:22:10.319 This is a hard question. 00:22:10.859 --> 00:22:12.019 You may need to look at your notes. 00:22:13.219 --> 00:22:14.240 Which one came first? 00:22:14.359 --> 00:22:16.319 God loves me or God tells me to obey? 00:22:18.039 --> 00:22:20.159 God loves me came first, didn't it? 00:22:20.379 --> 00:22:23.079 You know, that is always true in the Bible. 00:22:23.559 --> 00:22:25.619 Whenever God talks about obedience, 00:22:25.619 --> 00:22:29.779 it's in the context of a loving relationship 00:22:29.779 --> 00:22:34.459 that the love comes first and then we obey. 00:22:36.099 --> 00:22:39.000 God doesn't love you because you obey. 00:22:39.779 --> 00:22:43.299 He wants you to obey because He loves you. 00:22:43.559 --> 00:22:45.319 Kids, I want to make sure you hear that. 00:22:45.500 --> 00:22:45.919 Are you listening? 00:22:46.139 --> 00:22:47.000 Look at me for a second. 00:22:48.000 --> 00:22:51.239 God doesn't love you because you obey. 00:22:51.240 --> 00:22:57.700 He wants you to obey because He loves you so much already. 00:22:58.880 --> 00:23:00.259 So when you don't obey, 00:23:01.120 --> 00:23:02.819 His love is called forgiveness. 00:23:04.220 --> 00:23:08.380 Because Jesus was the perfect Son and always obeyed 00:23:08.380 --> 00:23:12.140 and because Jesus died for your sins 00:23:12.140 --> 00:23:15.200 all of the times that you're not a perfect child 00:23:15.200 --> 00:23:16.759 and you don't obey, 00:23:17.140 --> 00:23:19.460 God can forgive you and still love you 00:23:19.460 --> 00:23:20.519 even when you disobey. 00:23:20.519 --> 00:23:21.440 Isn't that awesome? 00:23:22.200 --> 00:23:23.599 Even when you disobey, 00:23:24.099 --> 00:23:25.039 guess what, parents? 00:23:27.299 --> 00:23:28.279 You too. 00:23:29.440 --> 00:23:31.920 There's hope for you too. 00:23:32.480 --> 00:23:35.980 God is your loving Heavenly Father too. 00:23:36.559 --> 00:23:39.619 You are His children before your parents. 00:23:40.519 --> 00:23:44.180 You remain His children after you become parents. 00:23:44.740 --> 00:23:46.500 And yes, because God loves you, 00:23:46.599 --> 00:23:49.799 there's blessing of parenting children to follow God 00:23:49.799 --> 00:23:52.099 that when we train up a child in the way He should go, 00:23:52.180 --> 00:23:52.960 when He is old, 00:23:53.019 --> 00:23:54.319 He will not depart from it. 00:23:55.539 --> 00:23:56.859 But none of us is perfect. 00:23:58.019 --> 00:24:01.619 So that verse is no formula for guaranteeing godly children. 00:24:03.099 --> 00:24:04.180 When we fail, 00:24:05.299 --> 00:24:07.180 God still loves us. 00:24:07.480 --> 00:24:09.159 I want the parents to say it now. 00:24:09.819 --> 00:24:10.659 Now it's your turn. 00:24:10.659 --> 00:24:12.879 Say God loves me on three. 00:24:13.019 --> 00:24:14.139 One, two, three. 00:24:14.140 --> 00:24:16.160 God loves me. 00:24:18.460 --> 00:24:22.020 You who were too harsh on your child last night, 00:24:23.080 --> 00:24:24.380 God loves you. 00:24:25.060 --> 00:24:26.860 You who were too easy, 00:24:26.980 --> 00:24:29.100 too lenient on them this morning, 00:24:29.680 --> 00:24:30.860 God loves you. 00:24:31.780 --> 00:24:35.020 And parents need to hear that as much as kids do. 00:24:35.720 --> 00:24:38.240 Because you have a Heavenly Father who loves you, 00:24:38.240 --> 00:24:41.660 you're not doomed to repeat your earthly parents' failures 00:24:41.660 --> 00:24:44.240 like you sometimes feel you are. 00:24:44.480 --> 00:24:48.519 Your parenting can reflect His fathering of you. 00:24:49.640 --> 00:24:50.819 And when it doesn't, 00:24:51.240 --> 00:24:53.500 when you fail and you beat yourself up 00:24:53.500 --> 00:24:54.819 because you love your kids 00:24:54.819 --> 00:24:56.460 and you don't want to mess them up, 00:24:57.120 --> 00:24:58.140 He forgives you. 00:24:59.000 --> 00:25:00.180 He loves you. 00:25:01.279 --> 00:25:02.160 And that's your hope. 00:25:02.160 --> 00:25:06.300 One of our favorite kids' Christmas CDs 00:25:06.300 --> 00:25:07.420 has a song on it 00:25:07.420 --> 00:25:09.279 that rewrites an old song 00:25:09.279 --> 00:25:10.640 that you all know and love. 00:25:10.740 --> 00:25:12.880 Randall Goodgame put some new lyrics to it. 00:25:13.759 --> 00:25:14.720 Look at it up here. 00:25:14.880 --> 00:25:15.600 It goes like this. 00:25:16.180 --> 00:25:18.560 Jesus loves me when I'm good, 00:25:18.720 --> 00:25:21.100 when I act just like I should, 00:25:21.460 --> 00:25:24.080 when I say thank you and please, 00:25:24.259 --> 00:25:26.840 brush my teeth and wash my knees. 00:25:27.600 --> 00:25:30.080 Jesus loves me then. 00:25:30.840 --> 00:25:31.860 There's another verse. 00:25:32.160 --> 00:25:34.279 And it's not quite so expected. 00:25:34.420 --> 00:25:35.060 You know what it says? 00:25:36.420 --> 00:25:38.640 Jesus loves me when I'm bad, 00:25:38.860 --> 00:25:41.180 when I talk back to my dad, 00:25:41.440 --> 00:25:43.779 when I stomp and whine and pout 00:25:43.779 --> 00:25:46.500 and poke my bottom lip right out. 00:25:47.759 --> 00:25:49.200 That's a funny song, 00:25:49.400 --> 00:25:51.880 but there's something really important there. 00:25:52.440 --> 00:25:53.360 Because you see, 00:25:53.460 --> 00:25:55.240 it's not that obedience doesn't matter. 00:25:56.240 --> 00:25:58.040 It's very important to God. 00:25:58.140 --> 00:26:00.240 It's just that obedience or disobedience 00:26:00.240 --> 00:26:02.120 doesn't change God's love. 00:26:02.160 --> 00:26:06.560 It never changes your special position in His family. 00:26:06.800 --> 00:26:08.019 That came first, right? 00:26:08.360 --> 00:26:11.380 Your special position that God loves me. 00:26:12.340 --> 00:26:14.100 You're His child, 00:26:14.480 --> 00:26:16.100 and that never changes. 00:26:18.180 --> 00:26:19.840 Parents, this is for you too, 00:26:19.839 --> 00:26:22.259 so I wrote up some words. 00:26:24.059 --> 00:26:25.899 Jesus loves me when I'm good, 00:26:26.139 --> 00:26:28.039 when I parent like I should, 00:26:28.480 --> 00:26:30.720 when I show my kids His grace, 00:26:30.939 --> 00:26:32.959 firm and kind at the right pace. 00:26:34.079 --> 00:26:35.059 And another one. 00:26:36.339 --> 00:26:38.379 Jesus loves me when I'm bad, 00:26:38.579 --> 00:26:40.699 when I make my children mad, 00:26:40.980 --> 00:26:43.119 when I shout and scream and yell, 00:26:43.119 --> 00:26:46.119 don't show God's love very well. 00:26:48.519 --> 00:26:49.399 Even then, 00:26:50.199 --> 00:26:52.000 He loves you. 00:26:52.639 --> 00:26:55.399 It doesn't change your special position 00:26:55.399 --> 00:26:56.639 as His child 00:26:56.639 --> 00:26:58.919 and as one that He's put in charge 00:26:58.919 --> 00:27:01.159 of those that He loves. 00:27:02.019 --> 00:27:04.080 I'll finish with one story from my family. 00:27:04.220 --> 00:27:05.600 Y'all have been great kids. 00:27:05.759 --> 00:27:07.140 Thank you for hanging in there 00:27:07.140 --> 00:27:07.920 and paying attention. 00:27:08.340 --> 00:27:09.620 I was longer than I meant to be. 00:27:10.519 --> 00:27:11.200 And I'm not finished, 00:27:11.259 --> 00:27:12.540 which is even worse, right? 00:27:12.759 --> 00:27:13.700 One more story. 00:27:13.800 --> 00:27:14.540 Hang with me, okay? 00:27:15.300 --> 00:27:16.340 I've told you before 00:27:16.340 --> 00:27:18.120 that I like to take my girls 00:27:18.120 --> 00:27:20.019 and sit down with them on my lap 00:27:20.019 --> 00:27:21.540 and tell them how much I love them. 00:27:22.240 --> 00:27:22.700 And tell them, 00:27:22.800 --> 00:27:24.000 I love you so much. 00:27:24.340 --> 00:27:26.440 And nothing will ever change that. 00:27:27.019 --> 00:27:28.019 That I love you 00:27:28.019 --> 00:27:29.400 because you're my daughter. 00:27:29.779 --> 00:27:31.160 So no matter what you do, 00:27:31.220 --> 00:27:32.500 you'll always be my daughter 00:27:32.500 --> 00:27:34.059 and I will always love you. 00:27:35.200 --> 00:27:35.779 And I'll tell them, 00:27:35.859 --> 00:27:37.259 don't you ever forget that. 00:27:38.440 --> 00:27:39.339 Here's what that means. 00:27:40.619 --> 00:27:42.639 Sometimes my two-year-old disobeys. 00:27:44.279 --> 00:27:46.160 It happened this summer at the pool 00:27:46.160 --> 00:27:48.139 and she was running at the pool. 00:27:48.259 --> 00:27:50.420 You all know that you don't run at the pool, right? 00:27:51.119 --> 00:27:52.500 She was running at the pool 00:27:52.500 --> 00:27:53.900 and I told her to stop 00:27:53.900 --> 00:27:56.079 and she kept running. 00:27:56.200 --> 00:27:56.960 And you know what happened? 00:27:56.960 --> 00:27:58.819 What happens sometimes 00:27:58.819 --> 00:27:59.600 when you run at the pool 00:27:59.600 --> 00:28:00.519 and you're two years old? 00:28:01.220 --> 00:28:03.920 She fell smack on the concrete 00:28:03.920 --> 00:28:05.500 and got hurt. 00:28:05.920 --> 00:28:07.720 Now what do you think I did, kids? 00:28:08.319 --> 00:28:09.860 Did I run over there to her 00:28:09.860 --> 00:28:11.500 and stare down at her and say, 00:28:11.740 --> 00:28:13.980 ha, I'm glad you got hurt. 00:28:14.120 --> 00:28:15.019 You're so foolish. 00:28:15.140 --> 00:28:16.360 I will never love you again. 00:28:16.460 --> 00:28:17.180 And walk away. 00:28:18.640 --> 00:28:19.680 Is that what I did? 00:28:21.000 --> 00:28:22.079 What do you think I did? 00:28:22.380 --> 00:28:23.840 I ran over to her 00:28:23.839 --> 00:28:25.559 and scooped her up 00:28:25.559 --> 00:28:27.259 and snuggled her tight 00:28:27.259 --> 00:28:27.659 and said, 00:28:27.799 --> 00:28:30.379 I'm so sorry that you got hurt. 00:28:30.599 --> 00:28:32.639 I love you so much. 00:28:33.639 --> 00:28:34.939 Why do you think I did that? 00:28:35.000 --> 00:28:36.299 She just disobeyed. 00:28:37.339 --> 00:28:38.879 Because I don't love her 00:28:38.879 --> 00:28:40.379 because she obeys me. 00:28:41.099 --> 00:28:42.480 I want her to obey 00:28:42.480 --> 00:28:44.240 because I love her. 00:28:45.539 --> 00:28:46.240 Listen to me. 00:28:46.240 --> 00:28:47.980 Jesus loves you so much 00:28:47.980 --> 00:28:49.759 he doesn't want you 00:28:49.759 --> 00:28:51.880 to get hurt or die. 00:28:53.160 --> 00:28:54.960 He loves you so much 00:28:54.960 --> 00:28:56.299 that he would rather 00:28:56.299 --> 00:28:58.120 get hurt and die 00:28:58.120 --> 00:28:59.920 than to see it happen to you. 00:29:00.420 --> 00:29:02.680 And so he died for you. 00:29:03.240 --> 00:29:04.740 In your place, 00:29:04.819 --> 00:29:05.759 on the cross, 00:29:05.900 --> 00:29:07.940 Jesus died for you. 00:29:08.200 --> 00:29:09.859 That's how much he loves you. 00:29:10.900 --> 00:29:11.339 Children, 00:29:13.160 --> 00:29:13.759 parents, 00:29:13.759 --> 00:29:15.940 God loves you 00:29:15.940 --> 00:29:18.059 and he tells you to obey 00:29:18.059 --> 00:29:20.019 and to nurture obeyers 00:29:20.019 --> 00:29:20.960 in your home 00:29:20.960 --> 00:29:22.319 because he loves you 00:29:22.319 --> 00:29:23.779 so much. 00:29:24.200 --> 00:29:25.420 Don't ever forget 00:29:25.420 --> 00:29:27.460 how much Jesus loves you. 00:29:27.599 --> 00:29:27.779 Okay? 00:29:28.619 --> 00:29:29.220 Let's pray. 00:29:32.559 --> 00:29:33.279 Father, 00:29:33.400 --> 00:29:34.440 we forget things 00:29:34.440 --> 00:29:35.400 very easily. 00:29:38.579 --> 00:29:40.039 Would you remind us 00:29:40.039 --> 00:29:41.059 of your love this morning? 00:29:42.019 --> 00:29:43.000 Would you write it 00:29:43.000 --> 00:29:43.640 on our hearts 00:29:43.640 --> 00:29:44.540 from your word 00:29:44.540 --> 00:29:45.700 by your spirit 00:29:45.700 --> 00:29:47.700 in a way 00:29:47.700 --> 00:29:48.540 that we will remember 00:29:48.540 --> 00:29:49.780 the rest of our lives? 00:29:51.020 --> 00:29:52.500 That you love us 00:29:52.500 --> 00:29:54.660 because we're your children. 00:29:55.540 --> 00:29:57.020 That Jesus loves us 00:29:57.020 --> 00:29:57.940 so much 00:29:57.940 --> 00:29:59.100 that he would die 00:29:59.100 --> 00:30:01.140 rather than see us 00:30:01.140 --> 00:30:01.920 be hurt. 00:30:02.780 --> 00:30:03.580 Thank you 00:30:03.580 --> 00:30:04.420 for your love. 00:30:06.080 --> 00:30:07.200 We ask that you 00:30:07.200 --> 00:30:07.720 would help us 00:30:07.720 --> 00:30:08.560 to remember it 00:30:08.560 --> 00:30:09.880 today and tomorrow 00:30:09.880 --> 00:30:10.640 and every day. 00:30:10.960 --> 00:30:11.640 And we ask it 00:30:11.640 --> 00:30:12.480 in Jesus' name. 00:30:13.160 --> 00:30:13.400 Amen. 00:30:13.640 --> 00:30:17.680 For more information, 00:30:18.040 --> 00:30:18.960 visit us online 00:30:18.960 --> 00:30:20.259 at southwood.org. 00:30:20.700 --> 00:30:21.700 For more information, 00:30:21.700 --> 00:30:22.700 visit us online 00:30:22.700 --> 00:30:23.540 at southwood.org. 00:30:23.540 --> 00:30:24.540 For more information, 00:30:24.540 --> 00:30:26.700 visit us online 00:30:26.700 --> 00:30:27.640 for more information, 00:30:27.960 --> 00:30:36.180 on can definitely 00:30:36.380 --> 00:30:37.819 pour more information, 00:30:37.880 --> 00:30:38.759 to heaven communications, 00:30:38.759 --> 00:30:43.980 please 주 inni with us.