How To Raise Kids In Today's X-Rated World

To raise children we need love, patience and wisdom.  The Bible has a great deal to say about the way we can successfully raise our children to be men and women of God.  We must first teach them the truth about God’s Word.  Biblical truth should be the foundation of our home.  They learn a lot through direct teaching, but they learn much more by watching us.  It is important to involve them in the church family when they are young.  We should set an example of going to church and making it a priority each week.  Allow them to see you studying the Word.

Prov. 24:3 – “By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established.”  There are no perfect mothers, fathers or children.  So don’t expect your children to be perfect.  Just simply prepare your kids for life and trust God to do the rest.  Luke 2:52 – “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.”  We need to raise PG kids in an X-rated world.  The world is a mess!  How do you raise kids in a world like that?  We need to build spiritual filters to filter out all the junk in the world.

A parent’s job description – Deu. 6:7 – “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.”  Wisdom starts with God.  We’re teaching all the time whether we realize it or not.  We need to teach them about Jesus and who He is.  This is your job not the church or Sunday the school teacher.  This goes for grandparents, too.

There are 3 things you learn from your family:
 

1.       Relationships – how to handle situations.  They need to learn to forgive and how to resolve conflicts.  Your happiness is determined by your relationships.  Your children need to learn to choose their friends wisely.  They will be influenced by their friends.

2.      Character – is what you are when you think no one is watching.  Good habits develop good character.

3.      Values – is what is important to you.  Teach your children right from wrong so they won’t be blindsided when they are away from you and go out into the world.

Protect your kids in the storms of life – make the home a safe place, a place of protection. Prov. 14:26 – “He who fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge.”  They need a safe and loving place to retreat when storms come.

There are 3 types of storms in life: 

1. Change – The world is constantly changing.  Our lives are constantly changing – our health, our jobs, our friends.  Teach them that Jesus doesn’t change.  He is the same today, yesterday, and tomorrow.
2. Failure – Failure is a part of life.  Teach them no one wins all the time.
3. Rejection – Rejection is a part of life and parents need to help them learn how to deal with setbacks.  Have you ever been the last chosen on the team when you were on the playground?  It hurts.

There are 4 ways to protect your family during these storms:

1.       Hear them– Listen to your children and to your spouse.  The media sure listens to them.  They call it marketing.

2.      Hug them –Express affection and let them know you love them.

3.      Give them Hope – Build them up and let them know things will get better.  Prov. 13:12 – “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.”

4.      Get Help – Do not be afraid to get help from a Christian counselor, if you need it.

Play with your kids for fun.  God has a sense of humor.  Next time you go to the mall just look at those around you.  1 out of 3 people are considered abnormal.  We need to laugh at ourselves sometimes.  God wants us to have fun.  Christians don’t need to be so serious and up tight.  Lighten up!  You have heard that the family that prays together stays together.  The family that plays together stays together.  “Children are a gift from the Lord.” – Ps. 127:3.  Gifts are meant to be enjoyed.

Point your kids to Jesus Christ.  Eph. 6:4 – “Father, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”  God loves your children more than you do.  God has given us the responsibilities to teach very important lessons - to teach our children about Him and to have faith.  Role modeling is the best way.  They need to see us trusting Christ in all situations.  They need to see that you have a personal relationship with Christ.

What will your kids say is the most important thing to you?  Does your check book and your calendar reveal who you really are?  Parents, it’s not too late to change.  First commit yourself to the Lord and kids will imitate you.  You have heard it said that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

Time is the best gift you can give your kids.  The most important lesson that we teach our kids is to know God and love God with all their heart!  Phil. 3:8 – “What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.  I consider them rubbish that I may gain Christ.” 

How are you doing teaching your kids?  The best thing for you to do is have a relationship with Christ.  Some say “I want my kids to decide for themselves what they believe.”  There is a French word for that – Bologna!  As parents we teach our children many things that matter in life, like how to have good health, safety, education, etc.  So we should teach them the most important thing which is who God is and to worship Him.  “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” – Prov. 22:6.

The Bible is our instruction book on how to be good parents.  It tells us how to teach, train and discipline them.  Here are a few scriptures on parenting.

“Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.” – Col. 3:21

“Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” – Eph. 6:4

“Pleasant words promote instruction.” – Prov. 16:21

“A wise man's heart guides his mouth, and his lips promote instruction.” – Prov. 16:23

“To show partiality in judging is not good.” – Prov. 24:23

“He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge.” – Prov, 14:26

“Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him.” – Prov. 22:15

“He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.” – Prov. 13:24

“The rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother.” – Prov. 29:15

“Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to his death.” – Prov. 19:18

“Discipline your son, and he will give you peace, he will bring delight to your soul.” – Prov. 29:17

“Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish him with the rod, he will not die.  Punish him with the rod and save his soul from death.” – Prov. 23:13-14

“Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him.” – Ps.127:3

“The father of a righteous man has great joy; he who has a wise son delights in him.” – Prov. 23:24

“Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth.  Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.” – Ps. 27:4-5

“May the LORD make you increase, both you and your children.  May you be blessed by the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” – Ps. 115:14-15

 
How are you doing in your parenting?
Do you pray for wisdom?
Do you pray for your kids?
Is your family fun?
Are you too busy to play with your kids?
What will your kids say is the most important thing to you? 

Let your life be found in this verse.  “But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” - Jos. 24:15
 

(This was taken from a message given by Mike James)