(8/1) So much today is uncertain, leaving many of us feeling unsettled, longing for the way it was back in February, back when things were ‘normal’. Even though we’re having so much more family time as the summer is coming to an end, many are looking ahead to the school year and considering the very real possibility of home education. For some this thought can be challenging and cause quite a bit of anxiety, but there is a lot of joy in homeschooling, it’s very gratifying, and educating your children can greatly enrich their lives.

Now, for those of you who are a parent or you know someone who is a parent or even if you had a parent, you would probably agree that parenting can be very challenging. Some of you are wondering how you are going to do this because there’s conflict and so much pain when our children don’t get things right and do things their own way? And so, I want to share with you one of the greatest teachings on parenting in all of the Bible, because I believe that it will minister to you as it has to me. Whether you are a parent or not yet a parent I want to encourage you and share with you about a parent’s priority.

You see, when our children are little, they depend on us for everything, and so what we want to do as mom and/or dad, is to help them to transfer their dependence from us to God. It’s important that we understand that our responsibility as parents is to teach them to depend on God, because he is the only one who will always be completely faithful.

In Deuteronomy chapter 6, Moses had just reminded the parents of the Commandments that God had challenged his people to live by and he tells them, "These are the commands, decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live…" (Deuteronomy 6:1-2). In other words, as you teach your children to fear God and live according to his commands, training them not to depend on you or themselves or even what they see, but to depend on the God who created everything, then he says generations after them will be blessed. And so, God has placed within our grasp as parents, the ability to empower our children and their children after them.

As Moses continues, he is going to describe two important principles to live out in our own lives that have the power to change generations. He says in verse four, "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength" (Deuteronomy 6:4-5). I want you to notice the emphasis on "all", he doesn’t say with some, or little bit, but to love God with all your heart. The difficulty with parenting in the world that we live in is that there are a lot of things that can distract us from loving God with all of our hearts. Because we want to provide for our kids, we pour ourselves into our careers trying to get more things, and neglect to give our children what they really need, which is a deeper relationship with the only One they really need to know.

And so, if we’re not careful, we become child-centered parents rather than God-centered parents because we want to provide them with the best opportunities. We get them involved in soccer, gymnastics, basketball or whatever, and all of a sudden our lives begin revolving around our children rather than revolving around God. Before long you don’t have time to go to church, worshiping with God’s people, loving the Lord your God with all of your heart, participating and being involved in relationships with others in Biblical community. And yet, God has declared that the most important thing we can do for ourselves and for our children is to demonstrate in our words and in our actions that we love the Lord our God with all of our hearts.

This is incredibly important, but Moses gives us a second principle to help make application of the first. He says, "These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates" (Deuteronomy 6:6-9). In other words, as mom and dad, when you’re doing life together, you must intentionally lead your family spiritually, because you are the divine authority.

As parents it is our responsibility to set the tone in our household, and so seven days a week we’re creating a spiritual environment in which to lead our children in activities and devotions, redirecting their attention to Jesus. What the Bible describes is a lifestyle that is countercultural, it’s not just on the way to church, because if your heart is wholly surrendered to Jesus you will want to lead your children in pursuit of God every single day. In fact, the Bible encourages us to direct our children onto the right path so that when they’re older they will not leave it (Proverbs 22:6). And so, as we dedicate our children, raising them in the way they should go, creating a desire for that which is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable, we are intentionally teaching them to no longer depend on us but to depend on God (Philippians 4:8). However, if we just let life happen it will, and we will have missed every opportunity to lead our children to become fully devoted followers of Christ.

At Christ’s Community Church we are very serious about partnering with you and helping you to expose your kids to the great truths of God, teaching them about his power and his goodness. However, because of the dangers of COVID-19 our children’s ministry has moved completely online, you can find us on Facebook, but what we want to do is offer you access to our extensive video library called RightNow Media. It is a huge library of faith-based videos that you can access whenever and wherever you want on your phone, iPad, computer, or on your TV. You just need to simply sign up for your free account at www.cccaog.org and begin sharing the truth of God’s Word with your loved ones.

I want to encourage you to be intentional as you lead your children to the One who gave his life for them, because when they know who they are in Christ, they will be ready to make a difference in the world, and you will not only affect your children but their children after them. God bless you.

Read past sermons by Pastor John Talcott