Today, I begin a series on church and family. I will lay out several short clips over the next few weeks from my Sunday evening teaching entitled “For Church and Family.”
These should be considered for consideration only. This is not a prescription or a requirement. I believe it will be helpful in all of our homes.
In this introduction I lay out a case for parents, children and the church as a whole to begin a needed conversation about what is helpful for family and church when we gather together. These posts will include a video clip from the October 15, evening teaching with ideas, cautions, encouragements and considerations.
A primary Scripture text over the past several weeks in the series of messages on parenting has been the benefit of Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go…” The key in this text is that we should consider the way the child should go not the way the child’s will wants to go. This is in relationship to behavior primarily. It can apply to the path of life but for the use in this series it is primarily used in behavior.
It has been my prayer that this be a blessing. I respect that a family who attends Eastside Baptist Church has a hard work to do. I think it is a good work. Yes, sometimes, a good work is hard work, but in the end it is a reward.
My encouragement to all parents in this God ordained work is to not grow weary in doing good (Galations 6:9).
On any given Lord’s Day at Eastside Baptist Church we will have from 20 to 30 children under the age of 12 in our morning gathering. That is a blessing from God. Treat it as such and bless the Lord for it.
Tips for Church and Family:
- Parents:
- Consider using the term “Lord’s Day” when you speak about Sunday’s.
- Take time this week when you gather your children together and communicate what it looks like for your family when you gather at the church house with the church family.
- Age appropriately, include your children in the discussion by asking them what they think you expect from them on the Lord’s Day.
- Discuss why you expect them to behave as you instruct.
- Protect yourself from being frustrated with your children.
- Don’t grow weary in doing good.
- Church:
- Be patient with the children and their parents. It is a blessing to have them with us.
- Pray for parents as they give helpful instructions to their children.
- Pray for the children to want to heed their parents instructions.
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