WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:10.419 Good morning. My name is Matthew Capone, and I'm the pastor here at Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian Church, 00:00:10.419 --> 00:00:16.440 and it's my joy to bring God's Word to you today. A special welcome if you're new or visiting with us. 00:00:16.519 --> 00:00:20.980 We're glad that you're here, and we're glad that you're here not because we're trying to fill seats, 00:00:21.400 --> 00:00:24.400 but because we're following Jesus together as one community. 00:00:25.000 --> 00:00:30.739 And as we follow Jesus together, we become convinced there's no one so good, they don't need God's grace, 00:00:31.019 --> 00:00:38.359 and no one so bad that they can't have it, which is why we come back week after week to hear what God has to say to us in His Word. 00:00:39.339 --> 00:00:46.379 Last week, we started a new series in the book of Judges, and you'll remember that the book of Judges is about many things. 00:00:46.560 --> 00:00:52.679 Some of the things the book is about is the need for constant renewal and revival among God's people. 00:00:52.679 --> 00:01:00.439 It's also about the need for a faithful and true king, a king who can do what no human king can do, 00:01:00.519 --> 00:01:07.819 which is to change the hearts of men. And it's also about the power of leadership that's enabled by the Holy Spirit. 00:01:07.819 --> 00:01:18.579 This week, as we come to the second section, we have before us what is a painful and tender topic for many of us 00:01:18.579 --> 00:01:25.459 as we look at the challenges that the nation of Israel faced as one generation remained faithful to the Lord 00:01:25.459 --> 00:01:28.879 and the next generation fell away. 00:01:29.439 --> 00:01:34.599 And I know for us in this congregation, that's a topic that is all too personal. 00:01:34.599 --> 00:01:39.039 And for many of us, very, very painful. 00:01:39.719 --> 00:01:44.699 Of course, many of you are afraid not just of your children, but the future of your grandchildren. 00:01:44.919 --> 00:01:49.199 And so this morning, we're going to try to hold kind of two truths in tension together. 00:01:49.299 --> 00:01:53.179 And the first truth is this, that you cannot save your children. 00:01:54.819 --> 00:02:00.019 That your children are 100% responsible before God about the decisions that they make 00:02:00.019 --> 00:02:03.420 and the ways that they choose to serve Him or not serve Him. 00:02:03.500 --> 00:02:06.619 The saying is true that God has no grandchildren. 00:02:07.959 --> 00:02:09.120 So that's truth one. 00:02:09.680 --> 00:02:14.599 Truth two is this, how we raise the next generation really matters. 00:02:15.759 --> 00:02:19.319 It really matters and it has real consequences for their faith. 00:02:19.819 --> 00:02:23.620 And so as we come to this passage, there's a variety of mistakes that we could make. 00:02:23.800 --> 00:02:28.620 One mistake we could make is assuming that just because someone was raised in the church 00:02:28.620 --> 00:02:31.980 and walked away from the faith, well, of course, it's their parents' fault, right? 00:02:32.620 --> 00:02:35.319 That would be an incredible mistake to assume that. 00:02:35.939 --> 00:02:38.000 Because God has no grandchildren. 00:02:38.640 --> 00:02:41.500 The other mistake we could make is to wallow in shame. 00:02:41.500 --> 00:02:46.860 As we think about this and maybe you look back and you think about mistakes that you've made as a parent, 00:02:46.960 --> 00:02:48.759 places where you've failed, 00:02:49.360 --> 00:02:52.860 it's important for us to recognize that God's forgiveness is real. 00:02:52.860 --> 00:02:57.560 And it's also important to recognize that the story isn't over. 00:02:58.380 --> 00:03:05.320 If you are alive and your child is still alive, you still have a role to play. 00:03:06.800 --> 00:03:09.100 There is still great hope. 00:03:09.240 --> 00:03:11.640 God is still, in fact, a powerful God. 00:03:12.160 --> 00:03:15.160 And He's still able to change hearts and minds. 00:03:15.820 --> 00:03:18.660 And so with that, remember that we're going to say, as I often say, 00:03:18.740 --> 00:03:20.200 we're going to say something, not everything. 00:03:20.199 --> 00:03:22.519 This is the beginning, not the end. 00:03:22.619 --> 00:03:26.639 But with all of that in mind, I'm going to invite you to turn with me to God's holy word. 00:03:27.179 --> 00:03:31.979 We are going to be in Judges 2, starting at verse 6. 00:03:32.299 --> 00:03:34.439 You can read with me in your worship guide. 00:03:34.539 --> 00:03:35.659 You can open up your phone. 00:03:35.759 --> 00:03:36.780 You can open up your Bible. 00:03:37.359 --> 00:03:40.099 No matter where you turn, remember that this is God's word. 00:03:40.519 --> 00:03:44.479 And God tells us that His word is more precious than gold, even the finest gold. 00:03:45.179 --> 00:03:48.539 And it's sweeter than honey, even honey that comes straight from the honeycomb. 00:03:48.539 --> 00:03:53.060 Which is why we read now Judges 2, starting at verse 6. 00:04:18.540 --> 00:04:21.980 Verse 9. 00:04:22.640 --> 00:04:26.920 And they buried Him within the boundaries of His inheritance in Temnath-Herez, 00:04:27.300 --> 00:04:31.000 in the hill country of Ephraim, north of the mountain of Gash. 00:04:31.700 --> 00:04:34.939 And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. 00:04:35.740 --> 00:04:38.540 And there arose another generation after them, 00:04:38.900 --> 00:04:43.160 who did not know the Lord or the work that He had done for Israel. 00:04:43.960 --> 00:04:44.820 Verse 11. 00:04:44.819 --> 00:04:49.540 And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals. 00:04:50.379 --> 00:04:52.740 And they abandoned the Lord, the God of their fathers, 00:04:52.920 --> 00:04:54.959 who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. 00:04:55.599 --> 00:05:00.060 They went after other gods from among the gods of the peoples who were around them 00:05:00.060 --> 00:05:01.459 and bowed down to them. 00:05:01.980 --> 00:05:04.039 And they provoked the Lord to anger. 00:05:04.740 --> 00:05:08.519 They abandoned the Lord and served the Baals and the Ashtaroth. 00:05:08.519 --> 00:05:12.120 So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel. 00:05:12.479 --> 00:05:15.240 And He gave them over to plunderers who plundered them. 00:05:15.959 --> 00:05:18.719 And He sold them into the hand of their surrounding enemies, 00:05:18.959 --> 00:05:21.979 so that they could no longer withstand their enemies. 00:05:22.680 --> 00:05:26.919 Whenever they marched out, the hand of the Lord was against them for harm, 00:05:27.419 --> 00:05:31.159 as the Lord had warned, and as the Lord had sworn to them. 00:05:31.160 --> 00:05:34.100 And they were in terrible distress. 00:05:35.380 --> 00:05:39.300 I invite you to pray with me as we come to this portion of God's Word. 00:05:41.460 --> 00:05:47.620 Our Father in Heaven, we thank You once again that You haven't abandoned us, 00:05:47.700 --> 00:05:48.700 You haven't forsaken us, 00:05:49.080 --> 00:05:53.440 You haven't left us to try to piece things together on our own. 00:05:53.700 --> 00:05:56.280 But instead, You've given us Your Word, 00:05:56.520 --> 00:05:59.040 and You speak clearly to us through it. 00:05:59.040 --> 00:06:01.840 You speak to us every Sunday morning, 00:06:01.840 --> 00:06:04.740 and You speak to us as we open it throughout the week. 00:06:04.980 --> 00:06:08.180 And we ask that You would continue to do that this morning, 00:06:08.340 --> 00:06:09.500 that You would help us, 00:06:10.300 --> 00:06:13.500 that we would see our great need for Your grace, 00:06:13.860 --> 00:06:17.840 and we'd see how You meet us at that very same point of need, 00:06:18.120 --> 00:06:19.879 and that You would convict us of our sin, 00:06:19.939 --> 00:06:23.020 and You would encourage us with the hope that we have in Christ. 00:06:23.439 --> 00:06:26.280 And we ask these things in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. 00:06:26.920 --> 00:06:27.200 Amen. 00:06:27.200 --> 00:06:27.340 Amen. 00:06:29.040 --> 00:06:32.500 When I was in high school, 00:06:32.640 --> 00:06:36.260 I took a class or two on U.S. government, 00:06:36.560 --> 00:06:38.379 and one of the things that we learned about 00:06:38.379 --> 00:06:41.500 was this concept of political socialization. 00:06:41.900 --> 00:06:44.140 And political socialization is just a fancy word 00:06:44.140 --> 00:06:48.379 for how people come to the political beliefs that they hold, 00:06:48.439 --> 00:06:50.060 and especially how they come to those beliefs 00:06:50.060 --> 00:06:52.000 based on the people around them. 00:06:52.060 --> 00:06:53.720 So that's why we use the word socialization. 00:06:53.720 --> 00:06:55.160 And what they found, 00:06:55.240 --> 00:06:56.660 if they do studies around these things, 00:06:56.760 --> 00:06:58.980 is that there's an incredible impact 00:06:58.980 --> 00:07:02.280 that your family of origin has on your political beliefs. 00:07:02.940 --> 00:07:04.520 You are not, as some say, 00:07:04.560 --> 00:07:08.740 as much of a free thinker as you might fancy yourself to be. 00:07:08.740 --> 00:07:13.920 When you have two parents who are both of the same political party, 00:07:14.259 --> 00:07:20.259 there is about an 80% chance that their kids are also going to hold to that party. 00:07:20.720 --> 00:07:23.400 So if mom and dad are both Democrats, 00:07:24.199 --> 00:07:27.199 80% chance the kids are likely going to be Democrats. 00:07:27.199 --> 00:07:30.139 Mom and dad are both Republicans. 00:07:31.180 --> 00:07:35.139 About an 80% chance kids are going to end up being Republicans. 00:07:35.899 --> 00:07:38.240 Mom and dad have no affiliation. 00:07:38.599 --> 00:07:39.959 This is where it gets even more interesting. 00:07:40.639 --> 00:07:42.519 It's pretty evenly split. 00:07:43.459 --> 00:07:45.599 About the same percentage Republicans, 00:07:45.839 --> 00:07:46.800 same percentage Democrats, 00:07:47.019 --> 00:07:49.379 and then you have your independents in the center. 00:07:50.339 --> 00:07:52.699 And this highlights just a basic principle 00:07:52.699 --> 00:07:53.959 that you probably know in life. 00:07:53.959 --> 00:07:58.199 God has designed the family with incredible influence. 00:07:59.439 --> 00:08:04.060 God has created families as the place where people are shaped and formed. 00:08:04.259 --> 00:08:07.659 You don't need to look at a study about politics to figure this out. 00:08:07.719 --> 00:08:11.019 You talk to any counselor who's worth their money, 00:08:11.120 --> 00:08:14.799 and they'll tell you there is no influence more powerful 00:08:14.799 --> 00:08:16.259 than someone's family of origin. 00:08:17.599 --> 00:08:21.479 And within that, there's no influence more powerful than their parents. 00:08:21.480 --> 00:08:26.480 And so that clarifies for us what is actually incredibly shocking 00:08:26.480 --> 00:08:29.960 about this passage in Judges 2. 00:08:30.160 --> 00:08:34.639 And what's shocking is that there's not just a lack of transmission to a few people. 00:08:34.639 --> 00:08:38.560 It's not like we have a few Israelite children in the next generation who walk away. 00:08:38.920 --> 00:08:42.860 No, we actually have an entire generation that just abandons things. 00:08:43.940 --> 00:08:46.039 You know, we would expect from those numbers I just told you, 00:08:46.080 --> 00:08:48.960 on average, one out of five kids are going to choose 00:08:48.960 --> 00:08:50.980 a different political affiliation than their parents. 00:08:50.980 --> 00:08:52.879 It's okay, that's to be expected. 00:08:53.200 --> 00:08:56.980 But here it looks like five out of five of the Israelites decide 00:08:57.560 --> 00:09:01.300 they are not going to hold to what their parents believe. 00:09:02.139 --> 00:09:05.940 And so that's where we pick up in verse 6 with the death of Joshua. 00:09:05.940 --> 00:09:09.220 We're actually having a second introduction to the book here in Judges. 00:09:09.700 --> 00:09:12.379 This is not saying that the death of Joshua happened 00:09:12.379 --> 00:09:16.620 after everything from chapter 1 and verses 1 through 5 of chapter 2. 00:09:16.620 --> 00:09:18.720 No, we're having a second introduction to the book. 00:09:19.060 --> 00:09:23.080 And so it's actually recapping what happened at the end of the book of Joshua, 00:09:23.159 --> 00:09:25.379 the book that came right before the book of Judges. 00:09:25.620 --> 00:09:28.580 In fact, the wording here is almost exactly the same 00:09:28.580 --> 00:09:31.279 as some wording we see in Judges chapter 24. 00:09:31.840 --> 00:09:34.759 So he's recapping the end of the book of Joshua, 00:09:35.399 --> 00:09:37.460 saying, look, this is, remember what happened. 00:09:37.580 --> 00:09:38.779 Joshua came into the land. 00:09:39.299 --> 00:09:40.560 The people settled it. 00:09:41.080 --> 00:09:41.860 Everything was great. 00:09:41.860 --> 00:09:43.019 They went to their inheritance. 00:09:43.879 --> 00:09:46.899 And then we see that there is a faithful generation 00:09:46.899 --> 00:09:49.399 and an unfaithful generation. 00:09:50.840 --> 00:09:51.960 Joshua comes in. 00:09:52.460 --> 00:09:55.039 Joshua is the leader of the faithful generation. 00:09:55.039 --> 00:09:56.560 And that's what we see in verse 7. 00:09:57.180 --> 00:09:59.899 The people served the Lord all the days of Joshua 00:09:59.899 --> 00:10:03.539 and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, 00:10:04.379 --> 00:10:08.879 who had seen all the great work that the Lord had done for Israel. 00:10:09.720 --> 00:10:10.180 So great. 00:10:10.420 --> 00:10:11.200 Got a generation. 00:10:11.200 --> 00:10:12.600 They've seen God's work. 00:10:12.800 --> 00:10:13.680 They remain faithful. 00:10:13.960 --> 00:10:14.980 They serve the Lord. 00:10:15.080 --> 00:10:16.180 They do what they're supposed to do. 00:10:16.680 --> 00:10:19.860 Then the turn happens here, verse 10. 00:10:21.360 --> 00:10:25.320 And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. 00:10:26.840 --> 00:10:31.259 Faithful generation dies, followed by an unfaithful generation. 00:10:31.920 --> 00:10:34.480 And there arose another generation after them 00:10:34.480 --> 00:10:39.840 who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel. 00:10:39.840 --> 00:10:43.019 In fact, we're told it's worse than that. 00:10:43.080 --> 00:10:45.240 It's not just that they don't know the Lord. 00:10:45.700 --> 00:10:48.780 It's, in fact, that they turn to do not what's good but what's evil. 00:10:48.960 --> 00:10:53.200 Verse 11, the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. 00:10:53.320 --> 00:10:57.340 Verse 12, they abandoned the God of their fathers. 00:10:58.180 --> 00:11:00.519 And so we get a clear picture of what's been happening here. 00:11:00.620 --> 00:11:05.000 The older generation has been restraining the younger generation. 00:11:05.000 --> 00:11:08.820 The older generation has been providing leadership. 00:11:09.899 --> 00:11:14.159 And so they've been holding at bay the influence of the younger generation. 00:11:14.159 --> 00:11:17.039 They have been keeping the nation faithful. 00:11:17.820 --> 00:11:22.759 When they walk away, there is nothing holding them back. 00:11:22.759 --> 00:11:28.620 And so this next generation goes after other gods. 00:11:28.659 --> 00:11:31.379 And we're told the exact problem here in verse 10. 00:11:31.720 --> 00:11:35.240 They did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel. 00:11:36.299 --> 00:11:39.200 Now, this is where people try to get creative with this passage and say, 00:11:39.299 --> 00:11:42.179 oh, well, we understand what the problem clearly was. 00:11:42.240 --> 00:11:45.340 The first generation, they had seen what God had done. 00:11:45.419 --> 00:11:46.539 That's what we saw in verse 7. 00:11:46.879 --> 00:11:50.139 The second generation, verse 10, had not seen what God had done. 00:11:50.139 --> 00:11:53.220 And so there's no connection between these two. 00:11:53.340 --> 00:11:54.879 It's just a function of timeline. 00:11:55.539 --> 00:11:58.639 First timeline, they just happened to live at the right time. 00:11:59.279 --> 00:12:01.539 And so because they lived at the right time, they were faithful. 00:12:01.960 --> 00:12:03.019 Oh, it's just kind of a coincidence. 00:12:03.259 --> 00:12:05.460 This next generation didn't live at the right time. 00:12:05.620 --> 00:12:08.360 So because they didn't live at the right time, they weren't faithful. 00:12:09.059 --> 00:12:12.080 That, however, gives us too easy of an explanation. 00:12:12.919 --> 00:12:15.000 Because if we look at the rest of Scripture, 00:12:15.179 --> 00:12:17.759 what we are told over and over again 00:12:17.759 --> 00:12:20.340 is that the works of the Lord are to be remembered 00:12:20.340 --> 00:12:25.399 as they're told by one generation to the next. 00:12:27.220 --> 00:12:31.939 The older generation is meant to be telling their children 00:12:31.939 --> 00:12:35.580 over and over about God's power and his faithfulness. 00:12:35.679 --> 00:12:37.340 Remember, we talked last week, 00:12:37.439 --> 00:12:40.120 what is it that they forgot when they went into the promised land? 00:12:40.120 --> 00:12:43.500 They forgot God's power that he had demonstrated in the past. 00:12:43.500 --> 00:12:47.860 They refused to believe God's promises in the present. 00:12:48.340 --> 00:12:49.620 Of course, we could look at many places. 00:12:49.820 --> 00:12:52.220 One is Psalm 145, which says this, 00:12:52.679 --> 00:12:55.720 one generation shall commend your works to another 00:12:55.720 --> 00:12:58.779 and shall declare your mighty acts. 00:13:00.539 --> 00:13:02.360 Psalm 78 says the same thing, 00:13:02.580 --> 00:13:06.279 that these things are passed down generation after generation. 00:13:06.740 --> 00:13:08.340 And of course, the most famous instruction 00:13:08.340 --> 00:13:11.139 comes in Deuteronomy 6, where it says this, 00:13:11.139 --> 00:13:13.580 you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart 00:13:13.580 --> 00:13:15.340 and with all your soul and with all your might. 00:13:15.840 --> 00:13:17.699 And these words that I command you today 00:13:17.699 --> 00:13:18.960 shall be on your heart. 00:13:19.879 --> 00:13:21.039 And, verse 7, 00:13:21.379 --> 00:13:23.840 you shall teach them diligently to your children 00:13:23.840 --> 00:13:26.659 and shall talk of them when you sit in your house 00:13:26.659 --> 00:13:28.039 and when you walk by the way 00:13:28.039 --> 00:13:30.299 and when you lie down and when you rise. 00:13:31.059 --> 00:13:33.439 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand 00:13:33.439 --> 00:13:35.740 and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 00:13:36.319 --> 00:13:38.939 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house 00:13:38.940 --> 00:13:40.400 and on your gates. 00:13:42.500 --> 00:13:45.620 And so what's the problem in Judges 2? 00:13:47.100 --> 00:13:50.480 Something was dropped between the generations. 00:13:52.380 --> 00:13:59.340 The older generation failed to sufficiently tell the next 00:13:59.340 --> 00:14:01.700 about the mighty works of the Lord. 00:14:01.700 --> 00:14:06.379 The older generation served faithfully, 00:14:07.100 --> 00:14:11.820 but they did not pass that on to the next. 00:14:13.900 --> 00:14:18.280 This generation should know the Lord, but they don't. 00:14:21.640 --> 00:14:24.379 Now, at the very beginning, I said, 00:14:24.480 --> 00:14:25.820 one of the mistakes we can make 00:14:25.820 --> 00:14:30.280 is to assume that it's the fault of the parents 00:14:30.279 --> 00:14:32.579 when a child walks away from the faith, right? 00:14:32.639 --> 00:14:35.159 The children are 100% responsible 00:14:35.159 --> 00:14:38.079 for what they choose to do before the Lord. 00:14:38.679 --> 00:14:40.679 And so did I just contradict myself? 00:14:43.039 --> 00:14:44.299 No, and here's why. 00:14:45.379 --> 00:14:49.299 What we see here is a shocking percentage. 00:14:50.259 --> 00:14:52.959 This is not 20% walking away. 00:14:53.199 --> 00:14:55.620 This is not a handful here and there. 00:14:55.620 --> 00:14:59.159 This is an entire generation. 00:15:00.360 --> 00:15:03.179 When we see an entire generation, 00:15:03.379 --> 00:15:06.560 we're able to say, okay, something went wrong. 00:15:07.659 --> 00:15:11.120 Something happened between the first and the second. 00:15:13.000 --> 00:15:14.379 And so what do we do? 00:15:17.060 --> 00:15:20.779 What is Judges 2 meant to teach us this morning? 00:15:20.779 --> 00:15:27.000 First, it is a reminder of our responsibility 00:15:27.000 --> 00:15:32.240 to train the next generation to know and love the Lord. 00:15:33.639 --> 00:15:36.899 That responsibility falls to all of us. 00:15:37.339 --> 00:15:41.059 It especially falls upon parents. 00:15:42.120 --> 00:15:44.980 You'll notice on pages seven and eight of your worship guide, 00:15:45.299 --> 00:15:48.819 there's a quote from research that was done very recently 00:15:48.820 --> 00:15:51.020 on how children's faith is formed. 00:15:51.320 --> 00:15:52.440 And it basically says this, 00:15:52.540 --> 00:15:56.200 there is no influence that is more powerful 00:15:56.200 --> 00:15:58.440 than the influence of a parent. 00:16:00.080 --> 00:16:02.740 There is nothing more effective 00:16:02.740 --> 00:16:05.379 in forming the faith of a child 00:16:05.379 --> 00:16:07.720 than for that child's mother and father 00:16:07.720 --> 00:16:09.020 to love the Lord 00:16:09.020 --> 00:16:13.160 and to talk about the Lord with that child. 00:16:14.180 --> 00:16:16.020 In fact, it doesn't say this in the quote, 00:16:16.080 --> 00:16:17.440 but it comes from this entire book. 00:16:17.440 --> 00:16:20.180 And the book talks about what is effective 00:16:20.180 --> 00:16:22.480 in passing on the faith to the next generation. 00:16:22.880 --> 00:16:24.500 And it turns out, surprise, surprise, 00:16:24.940 --> 00:16:26.420 what's incredibly effective 00:16:26.420 --> 00:16:29.040 is to do what Deuteronomy 6 talks about. 00:16:29.820 --> 00:16:33.520 The most effective way for parents to pass the faith on 00:16:33.520 --> 00:16:36.160 is to have conversations with their children 00:16:36.160 --> 00:16:37.260 about what they believe. 00:16:38.320 --> 00:16:40.580 To do what Deuteronomy 6 says, 00:16:41.060 --> 00:16:43.260 to teach them diligently to your children 00:16:43.260 --> 00:16:44.620 and to talk of them in the house 00:16:44.620 --> 00:16:45.620 when you walk by the way, 00:16:45.620 --> 00:16:46.519 when you lie down, 00:16:46.560 --> 00:16:47.340 and when you rise. 00:16:49.519 --> 00:16:52.820 Parents that talked about God's faithfulness 00:16:52.820 --> 00:16:55.100 in the day-to-day of their lives 00:16:55.100 --> 00:16:58.539 were the ones most likely to see their children 00:16:58.539 --> 00:17:02.440 grow up to continue to love and follow the Lord. 00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:06.319 By the way, the book notes, 00:17:06.359 --> 00:17:07.680 and other folks have noted this as well, 00:17:07.740 --> 00:17:10.319 when we talk about conversations with your children, 00:17:10.319 --> 00:17:13.000 we are not talking about monologues. 00:17:13.379 --> 00:17:15.079 We are talking about dialogues. 00:17:15.819 --> 00:17:16.859 The author of this book says, 00:17:16.980 --> 00:17:18.419 the most effective conversations 00:17:18.419 --> 00:17:20.480 were the ones that centered around the questions 00:17:20.480 --> 00:17:21.960 that the children themselves had 00:17:21.960 --> 00:17:23.539 that they raised in the family. 00:17:24.079 --> 00:17:25.579 That heavy-handed lectures 00:17:25.579 --> 00:17:28.240 actually have a tendency to backfire. 00:17:28.240 --> 00:17:31.839 The other thing that has a tendency to backfire 00:17:31.839 --> 00:17:33.819 is if we present ourselves to our children 00:17:33.819 --> 00:17:35.400 as if we are always right 00:17:35.400 --> 00:17:36.460 and we never make mistakes, 00:17:37.000 --> 00:17:39.299 which actually communicates the opposite 00:17:39.299 --> 00:17:40.660 of the gospel to them, right? 00:17:40.700 --> 00:17:42.819 Because the gospel is the news 00:17:42.819 --> 00:17:44.420 that I must change 00:17:44.420 --> 00:17:46.160 and I cannot change myself. 00:17:48.140 --> 00:17:51.660 And so it's clear also to be careful 00:17:51.660 --> 00:17:52.400 in what we're saying 00:17:52.400 --> 00:17:53.180 and what we're not saying. 00:17:53.180 --> 00:17:58.200 I am not saying you are able to save your children. 00:18:00.140 --> 00:18:03.539 I am not saying you are necessarily 00:18:03.539 --> 00:18:05.220 or wholly to blame 00:18:05.220 --> 00:18:08.340 if your children walk away from the faith. 00:18:09.320 --> 00:18:11.580 Again, part of why this passage is so clear 00:18:11.580 --> 00:18:14.580 is because an entire generation dropped away. 00:18:15.580 --> 00:18:17.799 What I am saying is this. 00:18:18.860 --> 00:18:21.000 God uses the family 00:18:21.000 --> 00:18:23.660 in a powerful way 00:18:23.660 --> 00:18:25.440 as his instrument 00:18:25.440 --> 00:18:27.960 in the lives of the next generation. 00:18:29.460 --> 00:18:31.019 God uses the family 00:18:31.019 --> 00:18:33.059 in a powerful way 00:18:33.059 --> 00:18:34.799 as his instrument 00:18:34.799 --> 00:18:37.000 in the lives of the next generation. 00:18:37.819 --> 00:18:39.559 I am also saying this. 00:18:40.380 --> 00:18:41.740 Do not be surprised 00:18:41.740 --> 00:18:44.900 if you take your faith casually 00:18:44.900 --> 00:18:48.940 that your children take it casually as well 00:18:48.940 --> 00:18:51.799 or not at all. 00:18:52.960 --> 00:18:54.220 Don't be surprised 00:18:54.220 --> 00:18:57.039 if you believe 00:18:57.039 --> 00:18:58.720 that it's the church's job 00:18:58.720 --> 00:19:00.740 to raise your children in the faith 00:19:00.740 --> 00:19:03.200 if it doesn't stick. 00:19:07.740 --> 00:19:09.080 Now, you might look back 00:19:09.080 --> 00:19:10.940 as we talk about these things 00:19:10.940 --> 00:19:11.680 and realize 00:19:11.680 --> 00:19:14.140 places you didn't live up 00:19:14.140 --> 00:19:16.039 to Deuteronomy chapter six. 00:19:16.920 --> 00:19:17.980 And I'll tell you the same thing 00:19:17.980 --> 00:19:18.900 that I told you at the beginning. 00:19:19.940 --> 00:19:21.640 As long as you are alive 00:19:21.640 --> 00:19:24.960 and as long as your child is alive, 00:19:25.220 --> 00:19:28.299 there is still tremendous hope. 00:19:29.920 --> 00:19:31.819 God is still able 00:19:31.819 --> 00:19:33.980 to change hearts and minds. 00:19:35.259 --> 00:19:36.720 God does not stop 00:19:36.720 --> 00:19:38.279 working in someone's life 00:19:38.279 --> 00:19:39.400 when they turn 18. 00:19:39.400 --> 00:19:44.320 You still have the opportunity now 00:19:44.320 --> 00:19:45.680 to talk about 00:19:45.680 --> 00:19:47.500 the mighty works 00:19:47.500 --> 00:19:48.360 of the Lord. 00:19:49.840 --> 00:19:51.580 You still have a chance 00:19:51.580 --> 00:19:52.780 to share 00:19:52.780 --> 00:19:54.440 what God has done 00:19:54.440 --> 00:19:55.759 in your life. 00:19:57.060 --> 00:19:57.380 And of course, 00:19:57.440 --> 00:19:58.160 those mighty works 00:19:58.160 --> 00:19:59.560 include your failures 00:19:59.560 --> 00:20:00.360 and your mistakes 00:20:00.360 --> 00:20:02.900 and the way God's met you 00:20:02.900 --> 00:20:03.820 and shown you grace 00:20:03.820 --> 00:20:04.640 in the midst of that. 00:20:04.640 --> 00:20:08.300 So I asked, 00:20:08.400 --> 00:20:09.200 what do we do with this? 00:20:09.440 --> 00:20:11.340 The responsibility is first 00:20:11.340 --> 00:20:12.840 and primarily to parents. 00:20:12.980 --> 00:20:13.220 However, 00:20:13.340 --> 00:20:15.560 it's not simply to parents. 00:20:16.220 --> 00:20:17.259 This study that's referenced 00:20:17.259 --> 00:20:18.020 in your worship guide 00:20:18.020 --> 00:20:18.780 also goes on 00:20:18.780 --> 00:20:19.600 to talk about 00:20:19.600 --> 00:20:21.160 the incredible power 00:20:21.160 --> 00:20:21.860 of grandparents. 00:20:23.860 --> 00:20:24.560 He says, 00:20:24.640 --> 00:20:25.660 grandparents can play, 00:20:25.759 --> 00:20:26.240 and I quote, 00:20:26.360 --> 00:20:27.740 a surrogate role 00:20:27.740 --> 00:20:29.800 in instilling religion. 00:20:29.799 --> 00:20:31.180 In fact, 00:20:31.299 --> 00:20:32.740 grandparents can have 00:20:32.740 --> 00:20:34.359 a powerful impact 00:20:34.359 --> 00:20:34.859 in the lives 00:20:34.859 --> 00:20:35.839 of their grandchildren 00:20:35.839 --> 00:20:38.240 even when the parents 00:20:38.240 --> 00:20:39.099 don't have faith. 00:20:41.419 --> 00:20:42.619 And I say this 00:20:42.619 --> 00:20:43.639 for many of you 00:20:43.639 --> 00:20:45.220 in this room. 00:20:46.980 --> 00:20:48.700 You are walking a road 00:20:48.700 --> 00:20:50.940 as a grandparent, 00:20:51.139 --> 00:20:51.779 but actually, 00:20:51.859 --> 00:20:52.220 many of you 00:20:52.220 --> 00:20:53.279 are functioning as parents. 00:20:55.399 --> 00:20:57.519 God is using you 00:20:57.519 --> 00:20:58.960 in a powerful way 00:20:58.960 --> 00:20:59.559 in the lives 00:20:59.559 --> 00:21:00.319 of your grandchildren. 00:21:02.299 --> 00:21:03.799 Never underestimate 00:21:03.799 --> 00:21:05.840 your ability 00:21:05.840 --> 00:21:07.039 to influence 00:21:07.039 --> 00:21:08.220 the next generation. 00:21:10.059 --> 00:21:11.299 Never underestimate 00:21:11.299 --> 00:21:12.100 the power 00:21:12.100 --> 00:21:13.240 of a grandmother 00:21:13.240 --> 00:21:14.440 or a grandfather. 00:21:16.340 --> 00:21:16.579 In fact, 00:21:16.620 --> 00:21:17.200 that's why 00:21:17.200 --> 00:21:18.660 our New Testament reading 00:21:18.660 --> 00:21:20.299 came from Timothy. 00:21:21.100 --> 00:21:21.579 Remember, 00:21:21.740 --> 00:21:22.160 Timothy, 00:21:22.840 --> 00:21:24.000 this is on page three 00:21:24.000 --> 00:21:24.640 of your worship guide, 00:21:24.740 --> 00:21:25.960 2 Timothy chapter one. 00:21:26.340 --> 00:21:27.160 Timothy's dad 00:21:27.160 --> 00:21:27.920 was not a Christian. 00:21:28.960 --> 00:21:30.640 Timothy's mom was, 00:21:30.640 --> 00:21:31.500 you know who else was? 00:21:32.039 --> 00:21:33.019 Timothy's grandmother. 00:21:33.840 --> 00:21:34.559 So what does Paul 00:21:34.559 --> 00:21:35.240 tell Timothy? 00:21:36.120 --> 00:21:36.720 I'm reminded 00:21:36.720 --> 00:21:38.019 of your sincere faith, 00:21:38.440 --> 00:21:39.680 a faith that dwelt 00:21:39.680 --> 00:21:41.120 first in your grandmother, 00:21:41.319 --> 00:21:41.740 Lois, 00:21:41.940 --> 00:21:43.079 and your mother, 00:21:43.240 --> 00:21:43.539 Eunice, 00:21:43.579 --> 00:21:44.079 and now, 00:21:44.200 --> 00:21:44.799 I am sure, 00:21:45.259 --> 00:21:46.559 dwells in you 00:21:46.559 --> 00:21:47.299 as well. 00:21:48.799 --> 00:21:49.920 Many of you 00:21:49.920 --> 00:21:52.140 still have the opportunity 00:21:52.140 --> 00:21:52.920 to be 00:21:52.920 --> 00:21:53.860 a Lois 00:21:53.860 --> 00:21:54.740 or a Eunice. 00:21:54.740 --> 00:21:57.579 God doesn't just 00:21:57.579 --> 00:21:58.500 use parents. 00:21:59.339 --> 00:22:00.339 He uses 00:22:00.339 --> 00:22:01.539 grandparents. 00:22:03.400 --> 00:22:03.880 Now, 00:22:04.000 --> 00:22:04.839 to say that parents 00:22:04.839 --> 00:22:05.839 are the most powerful 00:22:05.839 --> 00:22:07.599 and to say that 00:22:07.599 --> 00:22:07.960 grandparents 00:22:07.960 --> 00:22:09.339 are the second most powerful 00:22:09.339 --> 00:22:10.700 is not to say 00:22:10.700 --> 00:22:11.480 that the rest of us 00:22:11.480 --> 00:22:12.539 don't matter in any way. 00:22:13.960 --> 00:22:14.880 It means those 00:22:14.880 --> 00:22:16.180 are the most influential. 00:22:16.900 --> 00:22:18.240 It does not mean 00:22:18.240 --> 00:22:19.059 that the rest of us 00:22:19.059 --> 00:22:19.980 lack influence. 00:22:20.680 --> 00:22:20.920 In fact, 00:22:20.960 --> 00:22:21.779 if I said before 00:22:21.779 --> 00:22:22.859 when we baptize children, 00:22:22.859 --> 00:22:24.579 it takes a church 00:22:24.579 --> 00:22:25.859 to raise a child. 00:22:27.240 --> 00:22:28.319 You do not have 00:22:28.319 --> 00:22:29.000 to be married 00:22:29.000 --> 00:22:30.479 and you do not 00:22:30.479 --> 00:22:31.279 have to have children 00:22:31.279 --> 00:22:33.259 to tell the next generation 00:22:33.259 --> 00:22:34.619 about the mighty 00:22:34.619 --> 00:22:36.259 works of the Lord. 00:22:38.219 --> 00:22:39.000 That's our hope 00:22:39.000 --> 00:22:39.699 for this community 00:22:39.699 --> 00:22:40.439 that parents 00:22:40.439 --> 00:22:41.399 would not be 00:22:41.399 --> 00:22:42.519 the only ones 00:22:42.519 --> 00:22:43.459 telling their children 00:22:43.459 --> 00:22:44.339 but that they would 00:22:44.339 --> 00:22:45.119 be hearing it 00:22:45.119 --> 00:22:45.799 from older 00:22:45.799 --> 00:22:46.859 and younger members. 00:22:47.000 --> 00:22:47.799 They would be hearing it 00:22:47.799 --> 00:22:48.719 in Sunday school 00:22:48.719 --> 00:22:49.699 and in youth group 00:22:49.699 --> 00:22:51.039 that they would know 00:22:51.039 --> 00:22:52.419 over and over 00:22:52.420 --> 00:22:53.880 from a variety 00:22:53.880 --> 00:22:54.420 of people 00:22:54.420 --> 00:22:55.920 from an entire community 00:22:55.920 --> 00:22:57.039 about God's grace 00:22:57.039 --> 00:22:58.300 and His power. 00:22:59.320 --> 00:22:59.940 And so all of us, 00:22:59.980 --> 00:23:00.980 this entire church, 00:23:01.160 --> 00:23:02.240 we have a role 00:23:02.240 --> 00:23:03.519 to play in this. 00:23:04.680 --> 00:23:05.160 Everyone 00:23:05.160 --> 00:23:07.060 has a part 00:23:07.060 --> 00:23:07.640 to play 00:23:07.640 --> 00:23:08.960 in raising up 00:23:08.960 --> 00:23:10.259 the next generation. 00:23:15.660 --> 00:23:16.140 Now, 00:23:16.360 --> 00:23:18.060 who cares 00:23:18.060 --> 00:23:19.000 if our children 00:23:19.000 --> 00:23:19.940 grow up to follow the Lord? 00:23:19.940 --> 00:23:22.039 In fact, 00:23:22.080 --> 00:23:22.840 if you're a non-Christian, 00:23:22.960 --> 00:23:23.700 you might be thinking, 00:23:23.820 --> 00:23:23.920 man, 00:23:23.960 --> 00:23:24.299 these people 00:23:24.299 --> 00:23:25.480 are like really uptight 00:23:25.480 --> 00:23:26.299 about their children 00:23:26.299 --> 00:23:27.200 becoming Christians 00:23:27.200 --> 00:23:28.900 and don't you know 00:23:28.900 --> 00:23:30.500 that not everyone, 00:23:30.759 --> 00:23:30.860 you know, 00:23:30.920 --> 00:23:32.180 religion's not for everyone 00:23:32.180 --> 00:23:34.400 and maybe your child 00:23:34.400 --> 00:23:35.500 just makes the choice 00:23:35.500 --> 00:23:36.240 that religion's 00:23:36.240 --> 00:23:36.799 not for them 00:23:36.799 --> 00:23:37.660 and why should you 00:23:37.660 --> 00:23:38.299 worry about that? 00:23:38.340 --> 00:23:38.440 I mean, 00:23:38.480 --> 00:23:39.000 why don't you just 00:23:39.000 --> 00:23:40.200 set your child free 00:23:40.200 --> 00:23:41.799 to make their own choices 00:23:41.799 --> 00:23:42.440 about the world 00:23:42.440 --> 00:23:43.779 and not try to influence them? 00:23:44.980 --> 00:23:45.759 First of all, 00:23:46.400 --> 00:23:47.059 no one actually 00:23:47.059 --> 00:23:48.120 lives that out consistently. 00:23:48.119 --> 00:23:50.779 Anyone who says that 00:23:50.779 --> 00:23:51.519 has things 00:23:51.519 --> 00:23:52.239 that they hope 00:23:52.239 --> 00:23:52.859 are not true 00:23:52.859 --> 00:23:53.539 for their child. 00:23:54.319 --> 00:23:55.099 I remember hearing 00:23:55.099 --> 00:23:56.059 a story about someone 00:23:56.059 --> 00:23:57.259 who went off on that 00:23:57.259 --> 00:23:57.939 and the person 00:23:57.939 --> 00:23:58.500 sitting with them 00:23:58.500 --> 00:23:58.679 said, 00:23:58.779 --> 00:23:58.879 well, 00:23:58.979 --> 00:23:59.979 would you want your kids 00:23:59.979 --> 00:24:00.679 to join the Taliban? 00:24:00.879 --> 00:24:01.799 Is that an open choice 00:24:01.799 --> 00:24:02.159 for them? 00:24:03.879 --> 00:24:04.479 And that person 00:24:04.479 --> 00:24:05.179 realized in that moment, 00:24:05.279 --> 00:24:05.439 no, 00:24:05.519 --> 00:24:06.219 there are actually things 00:24:06.219 --> 00:24:07.159 I want for my children 00:24:07.159 --> 00:24:07.819 no matter what. 00:24:09.239 --> 00:24:10.099 The second answer 00:24:10.099 --> 00:24:10.599 is this, 00:24:11.459 --> 00:24:11.979 everyone 00:24:11.979 --> 00:24:13.059 is religious. 00:24:13.059 --> 00:24:16.619 you will 00:24:16.619 --> 00:24:17.399 worship 00:24:17.399 --> 00:24:18.339 something. 00:24:19.619 --> 00:24:20.539 Your children 00:24:20.539 --> 00:24:21.599 will 00:24:21.599 --> 00:24:22.379 worship 00:24:22.379 --> 00:24:23.399 something. 00:24:23.559 --> 00:24:23.799 In fact, 00:24:23.839 --> 00:24:24.500 that's what we see 00:24:24.500 --> 00:24:25.639 here in verse 12. 00:24:26.179 --> 00:24:27.500 It's not simply 00:24:27.500 --> 00:24:28.700 that Israel 00:24:28.700 --> 00:24:29.879 stopped serving 00:24:29.879 --> 00:24:30.319 the Lord 00:24:30.319 --> 00:24:30.879 and then went on 00:24:30.879 --> 00:24:31.440 with their lives. 00:24:31.980 --> 00:24:32.279 No, 00:24:32.319 --> 00:24:32.799 what did they do? 00:24:32.839 --> 00:24:33.819 They had to fill that void. 00:24:33.899 --> 00:24:34.819 They found something 00:24:34.819 --> 00:24:35.519 else to worship. 00:24:35.679 --> 00:24:36.240 Verse 12, 00:24:36.720 --> 00:24:37.619 they abandoned the Lord, 00:24:37.720 --> 00:24:38.500 the God of their fathers 00:24:38.500 --> 00:24:39.099 who brought them 00:24:39.099 --> 00:24:40.119 out of the land of Egypt. 00:24:40.119 --> 00:24:41.819 they went after 00:24:41.819 --> 00:24:43.379 other gods 00:24:43.379 --> 00:24:45.659 and bowed down 00:24:45.659 --> 00:24:46.059 to them. 00:24:47.319 --> 00:24:48.839 The next generation 00:24:48.839 --> 00:24:50.259 will worship 00:24:50.259 --> 00:24:50.799 something. 00:24:52.199 --> 00:24:53.559 The next generation 00:24:53.559 --> 00:24:54.759 will love 00:24:54.759 --> 00:24:55.359 something. 00:24:56.699 --> 00:24:58.559 The next generation 00:24:58.559 --> 00:25:00.239 will be religious 00:25:00.239 --> 00:25:01.919 in some sense. 00:25:02.939 --> 00:25:04.459 The question is 00:25:04.459 --> 00:25:05.739 whether Deuteronomy 6 00:25:05.739 --> 00:25:06.319 will be true 00:25:06.319 --> 00:25:07.099 that they will love 00:25:07.099 --> 00:25:07.879 the Lord their God 00:25:07.879 --> 00:25:08.639 with all their heart 00:25:08.639 --> 00:25:09.659 and with all their soul 00:25:09.660 --> 00:25:10.720 and with all 00:25:10.720 --> 00:25:11.779 their might. 00:25:14.600 --> 00:25:15.279 Israel 00:25:15.279 --> 00:25:16.460 went on 00:25:16.460 --> 00:25:16.980 to worship 00:25:16.980 --> 00:25:17.680 the gods 00:25:17.680 --> 00:25:18.440 of the nations 00:25:18.440 --> 00:25:19.300 around them. 00:25:22.660 --> 00:25:23.300 Christian, 00:25:24.300 --> 00:25:25.519 our nation 00:25:25.519 --> 00:25:26.720 has many gods 00:25:26.720 --> 00:25:27.360 as well. 00:25:28.920 --> 00:25:30.259 We have the God 00:25:30.259 --> 00:25:31.540 of sexual anarchy. 00:25:33.420 --> 00:25:34.640 We have the God 00:25:34.640 --> 00:25:36.660 of radical individualism. 00:25:36.660 --> 00:25:39.560 we have the God 00:25:39.560 --> 00:25:40.820 of consumerism. 00:25:42.320 --> 00:25:43.279 And then there are 00:25:43.279 --> 00:25:43.700 the gods 00:25:43.700 --> 00:25:44.660 of every age, 00:25:44.740 --> 00:25:45.240 the gods 00:25:45.240 --> 00:25:45.940 of sex 00:25:45.940 --> 00:25:46.880 and money 00:25:46.880 --> 00:25:48.160 and power. 00:25:50.040 --> 00:25:51.140 And we're reminded 00:25:51.140 --> 00:25:51.980 in this passage, 00:25:52.860 --> 00:25:54.220 all false gods 00:25:54.220 --> 00:25:54.600 do 00:25:54.600 --> 00:25:55.500 is enslave. 00:25:57.600 --> 00:25:59.140 All false gods 00:25:59.140 --> 00:25:59.720 put us 00:25:59.720 --> 00:26:00.700 in bondage. 00:26:00.779 --> 00:26:01.440 Verse 14, 00:26:01.440 --> 00:26:02.360 the anger of the Lord 00:26:02.360 --> 00:26:02.880 was kindled 00:26:02.880 --> 00:26:03.640 against Israel 00:26:03.640 --> 00:26:04.880 and he gave them 00:26:04.880 --> 00:26:06.180 over to plunderers 00:26:06.180 --> 00:26:07.600 who plundered them. 00:26:10.080 --> 00:26:11.220 Any God 00:26:11.220 --> 00:26:13.500 that you worship 00:26:13.500 --> 00:26:16.220 besides the true 00:26:16.220 --> 00:26:17.580 and living God 00:26:17.580 --> 00:26:21.220 will be a plunderer 00:26:21.220 --> 00:26:22.380 who plunders you. 00:26:22.380 --> 00:26:26.200 If you worship 00:26:26.200 --> 00:26:28.000 sexual anarchy, 00:26:28.780 --> 00:26:30.260 you will be plundered. 00:26:32.480 --> 00:26:34.200 If you worship 00:26:34.200 --> 00:26:36.800 radical individualism, 00:26:37.280 --> 00:26:38.880 you will be plundered. 00:26:39.920 --> 00:26:41.580 If you worship 00:26:41.580 --> 00:26:42.620 consumerism 00:26:42.620 --> 00:26:44.040 and experiences, 00:26:44.420 --> 00:26:45.520 you will be plundered. 00:26:46.220 --> 00:26:47.560 If you worship 00:26:47.560 --> 00:26:48.080 sex 00:26:48.080 --> 00:26:48.920 and money 00:26:48.920 --> 00:26:49.960 and power, 00:26:50.420 --> 00:26:51.280 they will plunder 00:26:51.279 --> 00:26:53.259 you as well. 00:27:00.259 --> 00:27:00.859 And so, 00:27:00.960 --> 00:27:01.839 where does this leave us? 00:27:04.500 --> 00:27:05.559 It leaves us 00:27:05.559 --> 00:27:06.799 with a reminder. 00:27:06.920 --> 00:27:07.319 It leaves us 00:27:07.319 --> 00:27:07.899 with a reminder 00:27:07.899 --> 00:27:09.180 of what matters most 00:27:09.180 --> 00:27:09.960 in this life. 00:27:11.899 --> 00:27:12.519 It leaves us 00:27:12.519 --> 00:27:13.019 with a reminder 00:27:13.019 --> 00:27:14.000 of what matters most 00:27:14.000 --> 00:27:14.940 for the next generation. 00:27:15.960 --> 00:27:17.599 It is still true 00:27:17.599 --> 00:27:19.220 that the next generation 00:27:19.220 --> 00:27:21.039 is our greatest legacy. 00:27:21.279 --> 00:27:23.920 It is still true 00:27:23.920 --> 00:27:26.119 that the hand 00:27:26.119 --> 00:27:27.799 that rocks the cradle 00:27:27.799 --> 00:27:28.960 rules the world. 00:27:28.960 --> 00:27:32.539 and it is true 00:27:32.539 --> 00:27:35.220 that we are not here 00:27:35.220 --> 00:27:35.920 at church 00:27:35.920 --> 00:27:37.819 to be good moral people. 00:27:40.539 --> 00:27:41.600 Notice that nothing 00:27:41.600 --> 00:27:43.079 in this passage says 00:27:43.079 --> 00:27:44.180 they forgot 00:27:44.180 --> 00:27:45.220 the Ten Commandments. 00:27:47.180 --> 00:27:47.779 No, 00:27:47.880 --> 00:27:49.059 what is it that they happened? 00:27:49.600 --> 00:27:52.000 They did not know 00:27:52.000 --> 00:27:52.880 the Lord 00:27:52.880 --> 00:27:54.660 or His work. 00:27:54.660 --> 00:27:58.759 Why is it that we are here 00:27:58.759 --> 00:27:59.500 gathered together? 00:27:59.640 --> 00:28:01.100 It is not primarily 00:28:01.100 --> 00:28:02.080 because we want 00:28:02.080 --> 00:28:03.420 to be good moral people. 00:28:03.800 --> 00:28:05.360 It is not primarily 00:28:05.360 --> 00:28:06.200 because we want 00:28:06.200 --> 00:28:07.360 our kids to live 00:28:07.360 --> 00:28:08.400 in a certain way. 00:28:08.759 --> 00:28:09.400 The hope 00:28:09.400 --> 00:28:11.160 of the next generation 00:28:11.160 --> 00:28:12.680 is not to live 00:28:12.680 --> 00:28:13.880 by the Ten Commandments. 00:28:14.880 --> 00:28:15.380 Although, 00:28:15.500 --> 00:28:16.100 I hope they do. 00:28:16.099 --> 00:28:18.219 the hope 00:28:18.219 --> 00:28:19.419 of the next generation 00:28:19.419 --> 00:28:20.779 is that they 00:28:20.779 --> 00:28:21.779 would know 00:28:21.779 --> 00:28:23.559 the mighty works 00:28:23.559 --> 00:28:24.439 of the Lord. 00:28:25.679 --> 00:28:26.579 The hope 00:28:26.579 --> 00:28:27.779 of the next generation 00:28:27.779 --> 00:28:30.599 is that they would know 00:28:30.599 --> 00:28:31.579 God's mighty work, 00:28:31.659 --> 00:28:32.379 that He holds 00:28:32.379 --> 00:28:33.359 the world together. 00:28:34.959 --> 00:28:36.279 That they don't live 00:28:36.279 --> 00:28:37.199 in a universe 00:28:37.199 --> 00:28:38.740 governed by chance 00:28:38.740 --> 00:28:39.480 or fate, 00:28:39.480 --> 00:28:42.259 but in fact, 00:28:42.380 --> 00:28:44.559 there is a personal God 00:28:44.559 --> 00:28:45.839 who sees 00:28:45.839 --> 00:28:47.200 and holds together 00:28:47.200 --> 00:28:47.779 everything. 00:28:49.380 --> 00:28:49.980 The hope 00:28:49.980 --> 00:28:50.799 of the next generation 00:28:50.799 --> 00:28:51.740 is that they would know 00:28:51.740 --> 00:28:52.799 the mighty works 00:28:52.799 --> 00:28:53.360 of the Lord 00:28:53.360 --> 00:28:54.220 in reigning 00:28:54.220 --> 00:28:55.120 and ruling 00:28:55.120 --> 00:28:56.440 over this earth 00:28:56.440 --> 00:28:58.039 that we do not give 00:28:58.039 --> 00:28:59.360 our ultimate allegiance 00:28:59.360 --> 00:29:00.360 or fear 00:29:00.360 --> 00:29:01.740 to politicians 00:29:01.740 --> 00:29:02.900 or influences 00:29:02.900 --> 00:29:04.000 or businessmen. 00:29:05.220 --> 00:29:06.120 The hope 00:29:06.120 --> 00:29:07.019 of the next generation 00:29:07.019 --> 00:29:08.240 is that they would know 00:29:08.240 --> 00:29:09.539 the mighty work 00:29:09.539 --> 00:29:10.400 of the Lord 00:29:10.400 --> 00:29:11.900 that He changes 00:29:11.900 --> 00:29:13.339 hearts of stone 00:29:13.339 --> 00:29:14.480 into hearts 00:29:14.480 --> 00:29:15.480 of flesh. 00:29:16.859 --> 00:29:18.079 The mighty work 00:29:18.079 --> 00:29:18.599 of the Lord 00:29:18.599 --> 00:29:19.819 in the Old Testament 00:29:19.819 --> 00:29:21.359 was delivering 00:29:21.359 --> 00:29:22.160 God's people 00:29:22.160 --> 00:29:22.759 from Egypt. 00:29:24.079 --> 00:29:25.740 The mighty work 00:29:25.740 --> 00:29:26.460 of the Lord 00:29:26.460 --> 00:29:27.920 in the New Testament 00:29:27.920 --> 00:29:30.039 is not deliverance 00:29:30.039 --> 00:29:31.059 from slavery 00:29:31.059 --> 00:29:31.599 in Egypt. 00:29:32.160 --> 00:29:33.500 It's deliverance 00:29:33.500 --> 00:29:35.220 from slavery 00:29:35.220 --> 00:29:36.380 and bondage 00:29:36.380 --> 00:29:37.079 to sin. 00:29:37.079 --> 00:29:38.759 mighty work 00:29:38.759 --> 00:29:39.199 of the Lord 00:29:39.199 --> 00:29:39.859 is no longer 00:29:39.859 --> 00:29:40.339 the parting 00:29:40.339 --> 00:29:41.220 of the Red Sea. 00:29:41.460 --> 00:29:42.139 It is Jesus 00:29:42.139 --> 00:29:43.199 in His life 00:29:43.199 --> 00:29:44.099 and His death 00:29:44.099 --> 00:29:45.299 and His resurrection. 00:29:46.399 --> 00:29:47.639 The mighty work 00:29:47.639 --> 00:29:48.399 of the Lord 00:29:48.399 --> 00:29:49.359 is not 00:29:49.359 --> 00:29:50.099 the fighting 00:29:50.099 --> 00:29:50.839 of the Egyptians 00:29:50.839 --> 00:29:51.599 or the taking 00:29:51.599 --> 00:29:52.579 of the promised land. 00:29:52.679 --> 00:29:53.619 The mighty work 00:29:53.619 --> 00:29:54.319 of the Lord 00:29:54.319 --> 00:29:55.179 is that Jesus 00:29:55.179 --> 00:29:56.000 has come 00:29:56.000 --> 00:29:57.339 and won the victory 00:29:57.339 --> 00:29:58.220 once and for all. 00:29:59.359 --> 00:30:00.379 Our hope 00:30:00.379 --> 00:30:02.139 is not 00:30:02.139 --> 00:30:02.759 that church 00:30:02.759 --> 00:30:03.819 would be a place 00:30:03.819 --> 00:30:04.619 for our children 00:30:04.619 --> 00:30:05.699 to learn good 00:30:05.699 --> 00:30:06.599 and right behavior. 00:30:07.639 --> 00:30:08.659 Our hope 00:30:08.659 --> 00:30:09.819 is that they 00:30:09.819 --> 00:30:10.859 would learn 00:30:10.859 --> 00:30:11.719 and know 00:30:11.719 --> 00:30:12.739 the Lord 00:30:12.739 --> 00:30:14.839 and His mighty works. 00:30:19.299 --> 00:30:20.099 John Newton 00:30:20.099 --> 00:30:20.679 was a man 00:30:20.679 --> 00:30:21.219 who lived 00:30:21.219 --> 00:30:22.739 mostly in the 1700s 00:30:22.739 --> 00:30:23.339 and a little bit 00:30:23.339 --> 00:30:24.439 in the 1800s 00:30:24.439 --> 00:30:25.559 and he's famous 00:30:25.559 --> 00:30:26.899 for writing the hymn 00:30:26.899 --> 00:30:27.859 Amazing Grace. 00:30:28.659 --> 00:30:29.919 He became a pastor 00:30:29.919 --> 00:30:31.179 but before he was a pastor 00:30:31.179 --> 00:30:31.859 he was actually 00:30:31.859 --> 00:30:32.819 a slave trader. 00:30:34.399 --> 00:30:35.579 After his conversion 00:30:35.579 --> 00:30:36.519 to Christianity 00:30:36.519 --> 00:30:38.479 he switched teams 00:30:38.479 --> 00:30:39.019 completely. 00:30:39.199 --> 00:30:39.919 Not only did he leave 00:30:39.919 --> 00:30:40.559 the slave trade 00:30:40.559 --> 00:30:41.319 he actually became 00:30:41.319 --> 00:30:42.179 an abolitionist. 00:30:42.279 --> 00:30:43.139 He made it his goal 00:30:43.139 --> 00:30:44.099 to eradicate it 00:30:44.099 --> 00:30:44.899 and he worked 00:30:44.899 --> 00:30:45.759 with William Wilberforce 00:30:45.759 --> 00:30:46.859 to be able to do that. 00:30:47.519 --> 00:30:48.199 By the way 00:30:48.199 --> 00:30:50.459 Newton's mother 00:30:50.459 --> 00:30:51.179 taught him 00:30:51.179 --> 00:30:51.779 about the faith 00:30:51.779 --> 00:30:52.339 growing up. 00:30:53.759 --> 00:30:54.799 So his conversion 00:30:54.799 --> 00:30:55.819 did not completely 00:30:55.819 --> 00:30:56.819 come out of left field. 00:30:57.740 --> 00:30:58.779 He abandoned it 00:30:58.779 --> 00:30:59.419 for a time 00:30:59.419 --> 00:31:00.759 and then he returned. 00:31:00.759 --> 00:31:03.099 And as Newton 00:31:03.099 --> 00:31:04.319 came to the end 00:31:04.319 --> 00:31:05.400 of his life 00:31:05.400 --> 00:31:07.500 and he was shortly 00:31:07.500 --> 00:31:08.099 to die 00:31:08.099 --> 00:31:09.119 he said this 00:31:09.119 --> 00:31:11.339 Although my memory 00:31:11.339 --> 00:31:11.859 is fading 00:31:11.859 --> 00:31:13.480 I remember two things 00:31:13.480 --> 00:31:14.339 very clearly. 00:31:16.039 --> 00:31:17.539 I am a great sinner 00:31:17.539 --> 00:31:19.099 and Christ 00:31:19.099 --> 00:31:21.480 is a great Savior. 00:31:23.640 --> 00:31:24.879 Brothers and sisters 00:31:24.879 --> 00:31:25.539 that 00:31:25.539 --> 00:31:27.920 is our testimony 00:31:27.920 --> 00:31:29.359 of the Lord's 00:31:29.359 --> 00:31:30.599 great work. 00:31:30.759 --> 00:31:33.180 it's our testimony 00:31:33.180 --> 00:31:34.279 of his great work 00:31:34.279 --> 00:31:34.940 to us 00:31:34.940 --> 00:31:36.900 and it's the testimony 00:31:36.900 --> 00:31:38.359 that we give 00:31:38.359 --> 00:31:40.299 to the next generation. 00:31:41.940 --> 00:31:43.599 I am a great sinner 00:31:43.599 --> 00:31:44.339 and Christ 00:31:44.339 --> 00:31:46.099 is a great Savior. 00:31:46.900 --> 00:31:47.740 Let's pray. 00:31:50.339 --> 00:31:51.660 Our Father in heaven 00:31:51.660 --> 00:31:52.039 we 00:31:52.039 --> 00:31:53.819 praise you 00:31:53.819 --> 00:31:54.339 and thank you 00:31:54.339 --> 00:31:55.339 that you work 00:31:55.339 --> 00:31:55.879 powerfully 00:31:55.879 --> 00:31:56.519 in families 00:31:56.519 --> 00:31:57.079 and you've also 00:31:57.079 --> 00:31:57.740 worked powerfully 00:31:57.740 --> 00:31:58.440 in our lives. 00:31:58.440 --> 00:32:00.360 we ask 00:32:00.360 --> 00:32:00.960 that as we 00:32:00.960 --> 00:32:02.120 examine 00:32:02.120 --> 00:32:02.820 our hearts 00:32:02.820 --> 00:32:03.340 that you would 00:32:03.340 --> 00:32:04.400 not just challenge us 00:32:04.400 --> 00:32:05.500 but encourage us 00:32:05.500 --> 00:32:07.120 you'd remind us 00:32:07.120 --> 00:32:07.779 of your grace 00:32:07.779 --> 00:32:08.539 and your power 00:32:08.539 --> 00:32:10.019 and that would give us 00:32:10.019 --> 00:32:10.500 courage 00:32:10.500 --> 00:32:11.840 and strength 00:32:11.840 --> 00:32:14.120 to tell the next generation 00:32:14.120 --> 00:32:15.320 about your mighty works. 00:32:15.820 --> 00:32:16.140 We ask 00:32:16.140 --> 00:32:16.740 that you would use 00:32:16.740 --> 00:32:17.360 this church 00:32:17.360 --> 00:32:19.080 in a powerful way 00:32:19.080 --> 00:32:20.320 to raise up 00:32:20.320 --> 00:32:21.140 men 00:32:21.140 --> 00:32:21.840 and women 00:32:21.840 --> 00:32:23.700 who till the very end 00:32:23.700 --> 00:32:24.420 of their lives 00:32:24.420 --> 00:32:26.180 are committed to you 00:32:26.180 --> 00:32:27.299 and are committed 00:32:27.299 --> 00:32:27.960 to your church. 00:32:28.279 --> 00:32:29.279 We ask these things 00:32:29.279 --> 00:32:30.060 in the mighty name 00:32:30.060 --> 00:32:30.960 of Jesus Christ. 00:32:31.380 --> 00:32:31.660 Amen.