Young people in the room, if you're living right now with your parents,
you're dependent on them in some way,
what happens in you when this happens?
Honey, we go clean your room.
Oh, sweetheart, that's not going to work.
Would you go change?
I think you've got to go finish your homework.
I know they want you to come go see that movie,
but that's an inappropriate movie.
You can't go.
Children in the room, here's what I want to help you see.
When your parents ask you to do something,
ask you not to do something,
I want you to see someone standing behind your parents, Jesus.
And you know what Jesus is saying to you?
Do it for me.
Obey your parents for me.
Honor them for me.
Do it for me.
So would you look at Ephesians chapter 6, 1 through 4.
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
Honor your father and your 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.
Verse 4.
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger,
but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
Children in the room, live for Jesus.
Live for Jesus.
Obey your parents.
Live for Christ by obeying your mother and your father.
Four points this morning to help you see this.
That to live for Christ is to honor your mom and your dad.
Four points.
Here's the first one.
Ready?
Point number one.
God's greenhouse of grace is the family.
And the goal of the family is for children to grow in godliness.
God's greenhouse of grace is the family.
And the goal is for children to grow in godliness.
We see that in Ephesians 6, 1 through 4.
Roles here of children and of parents.
God wants us to be fully aware of what he wants for children and parents
together in a Christian home moving forward.
So I just want to set out a vision for us as a church
in terms of what's the purpose of a family.
So parents, moms and dads, you're like the greenhouse keepers.
You've been given the responsibility of growing your kids, of raising your children.
That means providing a safe environment, loving environment for them,
making sure the temperature's right, making sure there's enough moisture in the air,
making sure you're doing weed and feed, you know, that kind of stuff around the little kids,
making sure they're growing right.
When it boils right down to it, parents,
you're the ones who are making decisions of what plant goes where, when.
You're making sure your little plants are fed with God's word.
It's like miracle grow.
You want to make sure they're in the best soil at the right time.
More on that in a couple weeks.
But what I want to point out here at the forefront of this sermon is that, parents,
your task is to create a gracious environment in your home
in which your children thrive and grow in godliness.
The family is God's greenhouse of grace where children grow in godliness.
That's the family.
We need to provide food, clothing, shelter.
Even non-Christian parents provide that.
But what sets us apart is godliness.
Children, if parents are the greenhouse keepers, you're the little plants.
Maybe not so little.
The goal of your parents, what God calls them to,
is to provide a place for you to grow
until you're ready to be planted outside the greenhouse.
Your parents are tasked with preparing you
to be able to live for Jesus on your own.
That's what they're seeking to do.
That's the goal of this greenhouse.
It's to position you for godliness.
And the timing is very important.
You know, your parents do know things that you don't know.
That's true.
And they want to be able to help you
and position you
that when you one day you leave your home,
that you will be able to thrive.
That you're ready.
Someday you're going to leave your parents' greenhouse
and start a greenhouse of your own.
One thing to note,
God, young people,
God has placed you in your parents' greenhouse.
It's no mistake.
It's no accident.
It wasn't lucky, kind of draw,
very intentional.
God wants you to grow where you're at
in the family you're in.
You know, when we're talking about the greenhouse
and we're talking about families,
it's very important, too,
to talk about the local church.
What's the relationship between a family,
a greenhouse of godliness,
and a local church?
How does that work?
Well, if you think about a local church like this way,
with this analogy, it would be like this.
A local church is then a network of greenhouses
linked together by Christ.
I mean, we're all looking to God's Word
to direct us
in how to live in a manner worthy of our holy calling,
whether that's as parents or as children.
We're all looking to the same book.
We're all looking to Jesus to help us with this.
And so there's no need to pit the family
against the church
or the church against the family.
It doesn't need to do that.
The church is a network of greenhouses
to support families,
individual greenhouses for the glory of Christ.
A church doesn't take over a family.
A church comes alongside a family,
helps them.
I mean, this is what we see
just played out in front of us
in Ephesians chapter 6.
Do you know what happens
when this arrived in Ephesus that first time?
It was read to a congregation,
a local body.
It was read out loud to them.
And so there were parents and children in the room.
And so in the context of a local church,
God's Word went out
in order to instruct them
of what their roles were in their families.
That's what's going on right here, right now.
And so the church is here
to come alongside
and support what God is doing
and families.
It's mutually beneficial.
So there's a place,
a role for parents in the greenhouse,
a role for children.
The greenhouse is kind of interconnected
in the local church.
But I just want to reiterate
the goal.
The goal of the family,
the goal of the greenhouse
is godliness.
Do you know what AKA means?
Also known as AKA?
Bruce Banner,
AKA
The Hulk.
Peter Parker,
AKA
Spider-Man.
Ben Hacker,
AKA
Man Bear.
Clark Kent,
AKA
Superman.
Godliness as an AKA.
Christ-likeness.
When we talk about
the goal of the family
being godliness,
we're talking about
the goal being Christ.
Aiming our children
at Jesus.
We want to
instruct children
about Jesus.
We want to help them
love Jesus.
We want to help them
obey Jesus.
We want to help them
become like Jesus.
And it's not limited children.
It's parents too.
We're all in this together.
Jesus is the goal.
So God's greenhouse
of grace,
the family,
the goal
is children
growing in godliness.
Christ-likeness.
And we do that
together as a church.
So that's number one.
Just understanding
of what the family is
and what the family is for.
The second thing
I want you to see
this morning is
what God requires
of children.
You see that
in Ephesians 6.1.
Children
obey your parents.
Children.
That's a rather
broad category.
Every person
in this room
is a child.
All of us
either
have parents
or have had
parents.
Specifically,
Paul is
aiming at
a particular
group of children.
children.
Even in this room
right now.
And the children
Paul has in mind
here are those
children who are
still living in the
greenhouse.
Who are still
living at home.
Who are still
dependent on their
parents.
And we see that
in Ephesians 6.4.
When fathers are
instructed,
do not provoke
your children to
anger,
but bring them up.
Nurture them
in the discipline
and instruction
of the Lord.
the children
he's talking
to are in
need of
nurture.
They're in
need of
growing up.
That's who
he's talking
to here.
Children who
are not
quite ready
to move out
of the
greenhouse.
Obviously,
the children
here must be
able to
understand
because Paul
addresses
children.
And just
to note,
these children
are in the
congregation.
Children are
welcome here.
So,
if you are
in this room
and you're
wondering,
is Paul God
talking to me
here?
The question
is,
are you still
dependent on
your parents?
Are you living
in their home?
Do you need
them for
something?
And if the
answer is yes,
this exhortation
applies to you.
Children,
obey your
parents.
That's the
children.
Now,
children,
notice who
you're to
obey.
Your
parents.
Parents is
plural.
Both parents.
And Paul's
going to call
in some
backup in
just a second
in chapter 6
verses 2
and 3.
And he quotes
Exodus chapter
20 verse 12
and he makes
it very clear.
Honor your
father and
your mother.
Both parents.
parents.
So whether
your parents
are married
or whether
they're divorced
or whether
they're remarried,
if you're a
child in the
room living
with your
parents,
you are to
obey them.
Both of
them.
And notice,
it's your
parents.
God has
entrusted you
to them.
Children,
in the room,
if you would
now look to
the parent to
your right or
left,
let me make
some introductions.
Children,
this person
next to you
is the one
that God
has given
the responsibility
to raise
you.
That's who
they are.
It's not
some lottery
draw.
God
specifically
placed this
child in
your home.
Children,
it's no
accident that
you're there.
So whether
it's
from being
naturally born
into the
family that
you're in,
or you
are adopted
into the
family that
you're in,
or that
there's some
kind of
guardianship,
that person
is someone
you must
obey.
Now,
I just want
to give you
a sneak peek
at something,
kids.
A little bit
more of what
God is going
to require
of your
parents.
We see it
stated explicitly
in verse
four.
fathers,
do not
provoke your
children.
But all
throughout the
Bible,
there's an
address to,
it includes
both mom
and dad.
Here's what
your parents
are going to
seek to do.
And here's
why there's
a call to
obey them.
Your parents
are going to
provide for you.
They're going
to protect you.
But God is
calling them
to more
than that.
They want
to be a
part of
growing you
to become
like Jesus.
And so,
way back
in your
Bible,
in the
book of
Deuteronomy,
we read
something very
important.
Deuteronomy
chapter six.
Moses has
just reiterated
the ten
commandments
in Deuteronomy
chapter five.
They're about
to enter the
promised land.
And so,
it is a
kind of
renewing of
the covenant.
And in
chapter six,
verse four,
we read the
Shema.
Hear,
O Israel,
the Lord
our God,
the Lord
is one.
You shall
love the
Lord your
God with
all your
heart,
with all
your soul,
with all
your might.
And these
words that I
command you
today shall
be on your
heart.
Words,
of course,
are the
commands,
the law.
They were
to be on
the heart
of these
adults going
into the
promised land.
They were
to control
their actions.
They were
going to
aim them.
And then
look at
verse seven.
You shall
teach them
diligently to
your children,
and you
shall talk
of them
when you
sit in
your house,
and when
you walk
by the
way,
and when
you lie
down,
and when
you rise.
Do you
know what
miracle grow
is?
Miracle
grow is
like this
super
soil,
that when
you're
planting a
plant,
you put
miracle grow
in,
and it's
like super
nutrients that
the roots of
a plant suck
up, and it
gives them
health, gives
them strength.
And so what
we're being told
here is this,
as parents,
and children,
you've got to be
aware of this,
of what God's
calling your
parents to.
They are to
get God's
word on their
heart, and
then God's
word is going
to go from
their heart
into you.
And so
essentially what
it is, is your
parents are
seeking to get
the soil around
the roots of
your heart,
they're seeking
to put the
miracle grow
of God's
word in
there, so
that you
can grow.
You can
know Jesus,
and love
Jesus, and
obey Him,
and live
for Him.
That's what
God is calling
your parents
to do.
children, you
are to obey
your parents,
and this is
the command
of this
little section
here, obey
your parents
in the Lord.
I need to
make a really
important distinction
here, because
we can miss
something here.
I'm not sure
if you were
here for when
I preached on
the role of
wives to
submit to
their husbands
to the
Lord, but
one of the
important
distinctions to
make is this,
that a husband
and wife are
made in the
image of God.
They are
image bearers of
God, therefore
they are the
same value in
God's sight.
But God calls
them to different
roles according
to their
maleness and
their femaleness.
When we look
at Ephesians
chapter 6,
1 through 4,
we've got to
make the same
distinction.
Because a
parent and a
child are both
image bearers of
God.
Therefore, they
are of equal
value in God's
sight.
So, a parent
who has authority
is not more
value to God
than a child
who's to be
playing a
submissive,
obedient role.
They are the
same value in
God's sight,
but they're
called to
different roles
based upon their
relationship according
to God's
design.
And so, they're
to exercise
those roles in
faith.
And what God
is calling a
child to hear is
to obey their
mother and their
father.
To come under
their parents'
God-given
authority to say
yes to their
mom and their
dad.
It is essentially
an act of
humility.
of coming
under your
parents.
Of trusting
God's design.
Trusting that
God has
goodness for
you.
So, to
obey means
to say yes
to your
mother and
your father.
To do what
they ask you
to do.
They have the
right to do
that based
upon God's
design of the
family.
He has good
for you.
I want to
help you kids
think rightly
about obedience.
So, here are
three little
phrases that
are designed to
help you
understand how
to obey when
your parents ask
you to do
something.
You're to
obey right
away, all
the way, with
joy.
You're to
obey right
away, all
the way, with
joy.
Not a delayed
obedience, right
away.
Not a partial
obedience,
but all the
way.
And not
resentful, but
joyful.
And that
last one, to
obey with
joy, that's
the heart-est
one.
It's the
heart-est
one.
joy.
Because it's
possible to
obey right
away, and
all the
way, and
resenting your
parents the
whole time.
Do you know
how to do
that with
joy?
Jesus.
Jesus
called you to
this.
There's a
word you're
going to find
joy.
So, when
your parents
ask you to
clean your
room, right
away, all
the way, with
joy.
When your
parents ask
you to
clean yourself,
right away, all
the way, with
joy.
Do your
homework, right
away, all
the way, with
joy.
To pick up
after your
dog in the
backyard, right
away, all
the way, with
joy.
Colossians 3.20,
Paul says it
this way,
children, obey
your parents in
everything, for
this pleases the
ruler.
This is sweet
to God when
children obey
this way.
It honors
him.
He loves
it.
But I
got to tell
you, expect
conflict.
Because we
bump heads, we
bump hearts,
don't we?
We ask our
children to do
things.
Children, you
are asked to
do things, and
you don't want
to do it, for
a variety of
reasons.
So, what do
you do?
Here's what God
would say.
You obey your
parents.
You yield to
them.
You say, yes,
okay, I'll do
it.
But is there
room to ask
why?
Yes, there
is.
If your first
response, kids, is
to your parents
when they ask
you to do
something, it's,
but mom, but
dad, take a
deep breath.
Step back.
Don't put up a
defense right
away.
Here's what you
want to ask.
Here's what you
want to say.
Mom, dad, I
want to honor
you by obeying
you, and I'm
going to do
this, but would
you help me
understand why I'm
not seeing it
adding up.
And so if
there's a dad
that's asking
his son to
iron his
underwear every
morning, you
know what?
If the son
asks dad, you
know why, why
do I have to
iron my underwear
every morning?
And the dad
says, you know
what?
It's, it's a
salvati tradition
going back
generations.
Hopefully that
dad's going to
hear himself
saying that, and
he's going to
be like, you
know what?
It's kind of
ridiculous.
Don't worry
about it.
But let's say
your teenage
daughter comes
downstairs in the
kitchen.
This is not
directed to
anybody in the
room.
But let's say
your teenage
daughter comes
down, and she's
wearing a low
cut shirt.
And you're
like, oh boy,
honey, I think
you need to
change your
shirt.
And right
away you can
see in your
daughter that she
doesn't like what
she's hearing.
There is a
place for
daughters to
say, dad, I'll
honor you, and I
will obey you, but
can you help me
understand why?
And so now
dads, moms, you
have the opportunity
to talk about
modesty.
And you're
able to say,
sweetheart, you
don't want to
bring boys'
attention to
your chest.
You don't want
to draw their
gaze there.
You want to be
known for Jesus,
honey.
And so that's a
little too
immodest.
So can you
change?
You see what's
going on there?
We want to give
explanations to
things.
So kids, it's
okay to ask why.
Just making sure
you're asking why
humbly.
By the way, there
is a place to
actually disobey
your parents.
Remember, this
is children, obey
your parents in
the Lord.
So if your
parents are
asking you,
forbidding you,
asking you to do
something that God
forbids, or
forbidding you to
do something that
God requires, you
know who your
allegiance falls to?
Jesus.
You know, Jesus
talked about that.
He's going to
divide families.
It's about as
important of a
relationship we get,
and Jesus is
saying, hey, it's
about following me.
What my experience
has been, those are
few and far between
when parents are
asking their
children to do
something that
Jesus would
forbid.
Children, I
also want to
help you understand
something as
well.
Your call to
obey your
parents in the
Lord here is
for a season.
What God, the
timeless claim on
you is to honor
your father and
your mother.
And for a
season, that
honoring is going
to look like
obedience.
Let's just say
from when you're
three to twenty, it's
going to look like
obedience.
And then from
twenty to forty, you
know what it's
going to look like?
How you honor your
mother and your
father?
Seeking advice.
Respecting them.
Being in their
lives.
Welcoming them into
your life.
And then you know
what?
From forty on, you
know what it's
going to look like?
How to honor your
mother and your
father?
Caring for them.
Being with them.
loving them.
And so all the way
through our lives, we're
going to honor our
mother and our
father.
But for this
particular season,
zero, two, through
eighteen or nineteen,
the call on you is to
obey.
To obey your mother
and your father.
You might be asking a
question here, what if
my parents are not
Christians?
Still binding.
And so you're to
obey right away, all
the way with joy for
Jesus.
You know what makes
your parents' job
really easy?
Is when you invite
them in.
Recently I had a
child of mine come to
me and say, Dad, will
you help me?
Will you help me
follow Jesus?
Will you help me
grow?
That's like a
lob.
It's like, oh yes.
Let me direct you to
your Bible.
Let me aim you at
Jesus.
Children, are you
not obeying your
parents?
Are you being slow to
obey your parents?
Are you partially
obeying your parents?
Are you resenting your
parents as you obey
them?
Are you hiding
something from your
parents?
God wants you to
obey them.
Do you know what
backup is?
Backup TV show?
This is Adam 793.
I need backup.
Stats.
39th and Main.
Whip, whip, whip,
whip, whip.
You know what I'm
talking about?
Backup?
The Apostle Paul
had just made a
statement.
Children, obey your
parents in the Lord.
And then in verses 2
and 3, he calls in
backup.
He quotes Exodus
chapter 20, verse 12.
I mean, he goes big.
He goes 10 commandments
big.
So what we see,
point 3, is a
timeless command with
a vibrant promise.
And it's backup.
The Ten Commandments.
You know, there were
613 commandments in the
Old Testament that
constituted the law.
613.
That's a lot of
commandments.
And the Ten Commandments
are those commandments
that apply to everyone
all the time.
And so those 613,
many of which were
applied to this person
in this situation.
So men with oxes,
when your ox falls down,
this is what you do.
So it's very specific.
And so the Ten Commandments
are kind of the intro
to the rest of the law.
And they are the big ones.
They are applied to
everyone all the time.
And those Ten Commandments
are actually broken
into two groups.
Commandments 1 through 4
are very much Godward
in their aim.
And Commandments 5 through 6
are very much horizontal,
dealing with relationships.
Do you know
the first commandment
that deals with
human relationships?
Do you know which one that is?
Honor your mother
and your father.
It's Commandment 5.
It's very important.
What Paul is saying here
by quoting Exodus 20
is that this
is of significance.
Children,
this is really important.
What did honor mean
to the original recipients?
Well, it was a deep,
deep respect.
It was very serious.
Can I just turn something,
turn back in your Bibles
to Exodus chapter 20.
I'm going to do this
to show you how serious
this is
to honor your father
and your mother
in God's eyes.
I'm not sure
if you know
this is in your Bible.
So,
Exodus chapter 20,
verse 12,
we read,
honor your father
and your mother
that your days
may be long in the land.
Now,
turn your page over
to Exodus chapter 21,
and we're looking
at verse 15.
whoever strikes
his father
or his mother
shall be put
to death.
Look at verse 17.
Whoever curses
his father
or his mother
shall be put
to death.
Are you picking up
on the weight of this?
It is incredibly
important to God.
The way that you
respond to your parents
speaks of your heart
towards God.
What I want
to help you
to see here
is this.
This command,
children,
to obey
your parents,
it's actually
a double command.
It's command
two times over.
You are commanded
to obey your parents
out of obedience
to God.
You obey,
you honor
your mom and dad
out of obedience
to Jesus.
So,
what this means
is this.
So,
when you disobey
your mom,
you disobey God.
Not because your mom
is God,
but because God
has commanded you
to obey your mom.
Paul here
is quoting
Exodus chapter 20
because he wants
to help children
see,
and us too
as parents,
what God
is wanting
to get done
in the family.
Children must obey
in order for there
to be godliness
in the home.
So,
why is Paul
pointing this out?
Why is Paul
calling on
the backup
of Exodus 20?
Well,
he's saying
that this is
a timeless,
unchanging,
and universally
binding command.
This is true
all the time.
So,
it was true
for Jews
back in the day,
and it's true
now for Christians.
You see,
when Christ
came on the scene,
he didn't come
to abolish the law.
He actually
came to fulfill it.
And we're going
to see in a second
how he did that
with this command.
But what I want
you to see here
is this.
Paul is quoting
Exodus chapter 20
to give weight
to his exhortation
to children.
It's very serious.
Now,
I'm guessing
some of you
in the room
are asking
a question
like this.
What happens
if I've disobeyed
my parents?
What happens
if I am
disobeying
my parents?
What happens
if I have
disobeyed
my parents?
So,
let's just
kind of
remove the tension
in the room.
Who in their life
has ever
disobeyed
their parents?
Please raise
your hand.
Right.
Randy Ryan-Earson
obviously has not.
I've been waiting
for months
to do that,
Randy.
We've all
disobeyed
our parents.
So,
do you know
what this means?
God's law
hasn't changed.
Do you know
what it means
for all of us?
Each of us
has broken
God's timeless,
unchanging,
universally
binding law.
Which means
each of us
is a transgressor.
Each of us
is a sinner.
And what is
the consequence
for sinning
against God
this way?
Well,
if Exodus 21
says anything
about that,
it's very serious.
Disobeying
your parents
results in
being condemned
by God
for the wages
of sin
is death.
we're all
there
on this
command
alone.
You raised
your hand.
So,
what do we
do?
We look
to Jesus.
In Luke 2,
there's a really
interesting story
about Jesus.
His family
was in Jerusalem.
Mary and Joseph
say,
hey,
it's time
to go back
to Bethlehem.
They think
they pack
everybody up.
Jesus is 12
years old.
They're on their
way back
to Bethlehem
and they look
around and
they're like,
hey,
where's Jesus?
They freak
out.
They head
back to,
who's ever
lost a child?
You know
what they're
experiencing.
They head
back to
Jerusalem.
And do you
know where
they find
Jesus?
In the
temple,
instructing
the instructors.
And you
remember what
Jesus says
to them?
They say,
Jesus,
where have
you been?
And you
remember what
Jesus says?
Did you not
know that it
would be in
my father's
house?
He knew.
But what I
want to point
you to in
Luke is what
happens next.
Luke 2,
verse 51.
And after
they talked
about this,
Jesus went
down with
them and
came to
Nazareth and
was submissive
to them.
Jesus was
submissive to
Mary and
Joseph.
God in
the flesh
obeyed his
earthly father
and mother.
father.
It's amazing
to think
about.
Jesus did
what we
can never
do.
He perfectly
obeyed his
parents all
the time.
Every time he
was asked to
do something,
it was right
away, all the
way with joy.
Every time.
He did
something we
could never
do.
He was the
perfect son.
And then
he made the
perfect sacrifice
for the
sons of
disobedience.
He died in
our place.
He took on
himself what
our disobedience
deserved.
He bore the
wrath for
us.
So not only
is he the
perfect child,
he's the
perfect savior.
All in
one.
And when
we put our
faith in
Jesus, not
only are we
forgiven of
all of our
disobedience,
but he grants
us all of the
obedience of
Jesus.
We are fully
accepted in
God's sight.
Isn't that
awesome?
He's the
perfect Lord.
This is a
commandment with
a promise.
it's a
timeless
command.
And it's a
command with
a promise.
This is the
first of the
Ten Commandments
that has an
explicit promise
attached to it.
In fact, it's
the first of all
of the commands
of the law
with a promise.
And the
promise is that
it may go well
with you, that
you may live
long on the
earth.
Do you know
what God is
saying here?
I've got good
for you,
children.
I've got good
for you.
Obey your
parents.
Obey my
word and I
will bless
you.
I'll take
care of
you.
I'll see to
it.
You'll
experience peace
and blessing
and trust in
your relationship
with your
parents.
You will not
have to fear
them.
It's motivating.
Rightfully so.
He's promising
blessing.
So why is
Paul emphasizing
this promise?
I mean there's
a little
parenthetical
apostolic
comment there.
It's the
first commandment
with a promise.
He wants to
motivate us by
grace and
obeying your
parents.
But I want to
point you to the
greatest of all
motivations.
This is the
last point.
The ultimate
motivation.
It's back in
6.1.
It's the three
words.
Children obey
your parents in
the Lord.
In the Lord.
In chapter
5 we already
saw at the
end wives
submit to
your own
husbands as
to the Lord.
Husbands love
your wives as
Christ loved the
church.
When we turn
to the corner
and a little
bit later here
in chapter 6
we're going to
see slaves
obeying their
masters as
unto Christ.
Masters don't
be mean to
your slaves.
Why?
Because you
have a master
in heaven.
It's all unto
Christ.
It's all unto
Christ.
Fathers raise
your children
in the fear
and instruction
of the Lord.
It's unto
Christ.
Children obey
your parents
in the Lord.
It's for
Christ.
Here's what
he's saying.
He's saying
children obey
in the Lord
your parents.
Children obey
your parents
as unto
the Lord.
The ultimate
reason to
obey your
parents kids
is to please
Christ.
Obey your
parents is
pleasing to
Jesus.
this is
about walking
in a manner
worthy of
your calling
as a
Christian.
Obeying
your parents
is a
way to
live in
a manner
pleasing of
your calling.
And it's
also cross
cultural.
No.
Counter
cultural.
If you
looked at
Romans chapter
1,
when sinners
reject God,
God hands
them over to
their sin.
And what you
read in Romans
1, 28-30 is
one of the
sins they
are handed
over to is
disobeying
their parents.
In 2 Timothy
3, verses 2
and 3, the
last times,
they're going to
be awful.
We're living in
them.
And one of
the marks of
the end times
is disobedience
to parents.
Verse 3.
Obeying
parents is
counter
cultural.
To obey
mom and dad
for Jesus'
sake is
unusual.
and it
is
right.
In God's
sight.
So,
children,
what should
you do when
your parents
ask you to
do something
but you
don't want
to do it?
Or maybe
they've been
mean when
they tell you
to do
something?
Well,
you're to
obey right
away,
all the way
with joy.
With the
Jesus joy.
What should
be going
through your
mind when
you're asked
to do
something?
Three
words.
In the
Lord.
Obey
your parents
in the
Lord.
Just a
couple other
points here
and we'll
wrap up.
Children,
what should
you do when
a friend asks
you to
disobey your
parents?
Hey,
come and
see this
movie with
me.
No,
I can't.
Well,
why not?
My parents
wouldn't want
me to.
Well,
why wouldn't
they let
you go?
That's the
moment you
can throw
your parents
under the
bus,
by the
way.
Well,
my parents
are looking
out for
me.
And I
know they
would be
uncomfortable
with this
movie.
Well,
then tell
them that
you're going
to see
another movie
and we'll
go see this
movie at
the same
time.
Well,
I can't
do that.
Well,
why not?
Well,
that would
be lying
to them.
That's not
honoring
them either.
Seriously,
what is
your deal?
Why are
you so
controlled by
your parents?
They're so
oppressive.
Well,
actually,
my parents
aren't
oppressing
me.
In fact,
I'm not
obeying
them for
them.
I'm
choosing to
obey them
out of a
desire to
please my
Lord Jesus.
So,
my friend,
if you
want me
to disobey
my Lord
who shed
his blood
for me,
then raised
from the
grave for
me,
if you
want me
to disobey
him by
disobeying
my parents,
maybe I
should think
about whether
you should
be my
friend.
Because a
real friend
would not
ask me to
do something
my Lord
forbids.
And as
my six-year-old
says,
awkward.
Following
Jesus is
full of
awkward
moments like
that.
That's
normal.
That's
normal.
There you
have it.
You know
what that
is?
That's
Ephesians
chapter 5,
7-14 being
lived out.
You're
walking as a
child of
light, not
participating in
the unfruitful
deeds of
darkness,
disobeying
your parents,
but rather you
are exposing
them.
Live for
Jesus,
obey your
parents.
Yes.
What
happens if
you're
sitting here
right now
as an
adult and
God is
convicting
you because
you disobeyed
your parents
when you
were a
child.
And you're
realizing now
that not only
were you
disobeying
your parents,
but you
were disobeying
God.
What do
you do?
You run
to your
heavenly
father.
Confess your
sin to your
heavenly father.
If we
confess our
sins, he's
faithful and
just to
forgive us
our sins
and to
cleanse us
from all
unrighteousness.
That's
promise.
Run to
him.
Go to
your heavenly
father and
confess your
disobedience to
him.
You're
disobedient to
your earthly
parents and
your disobedience
to your
heavenly father.
And then,
if your
parents are
still alive,
talk to
them and
confess your
sin to
them and
ask them to
forgive you.
I was a
freak when I
was a
teenager.
I am
sorry,
mom and
dad.
Will you
forgive me?
I disobeyed
you like
9,000
times.
Will you
forgive me?
Please.
You want to
own it.
Act on it
by faith and
seek your
parents'
forgiveness.
And if
your parents
ask you,
it's like,
who are
you?
What
happened to
you?
Seriously,
you've got my
child's name,
but you're like
someone else.
What
happened?
Do you know
what you say?
Jesus happened
to me.
I've been
changed.
And now I
want to
obey him
and own
up to
what I've
done wrong.
Now if
your parents
are dead
and therefore
you can't
talk to
them,
you can
still own
it before
your heavenly
father.
It goes
something like
this.
Oh,
father,
I wish my
parents were
still alive
so that I
could tell
them how
much I
regret the
many different
ways I
disobeyed
them.
But I
can't,
and you
know that,
so I
will trust
my confession
of my
sin to
you.
You'll
suffice.
It's as far
as I can
go.
And then
he said,
thank you,
God,
for helping
me to
see my
sin.
We've
covered a lot
of ground.
In order
to,
for children
to grow
in godliness,
they've
got to
be in
god's
greenhouse
of grace.
And in
children,
you must
obey your
parents,
because it
pleases
Christ.
So the
next time
your parents
ask you to
do something
and there's
a little
growl deep
within you,
would you
look to see
who's standing
behind your
parents?
Jesus,
saying,
do it
for me.
That's
God.