Sermon Archives
The Mission of Parenting
Deuteronomy 6Extending Eden
Rickey Primrose
July 26, 2015
Description:
Parenting can be hard. Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a blessing we would not trade for the world, but there is nothing unspiritual about admitting that there are times when parenting becomes exhausting, confusing, and downright frustrating. As we engage in the mission of parenting, it is incredibly important that we continually retreat back to God’s word, which is the sufficient resource God has given us for every good work, including parenting. Sure, avail yourself of other quality resources that are out there, but first and foremost, lean on the word of God. In Deuteronomy 6, parents are given FIVE foundational truths about parenting.
First, the PRIORITY for parents is to love God with all their hearts. The first command God gives parents has nothing to do with what to do or teach, but is for them to love God completely (6:5). The most important thing you can do for your children is love God with all your hearts. Generally speaking, we reproduce who we are. Your child is much more likely to become the person you are rather than the person you want them to be. Any idol they see in your life they will likely imitate. The Great Commandment is your greatest priority.
Second, the CALL to parents is to be the primary discipler of their children. The command to teach the children was not given to the church, the pastors, or the state but was given directly to the parents (6:7). Parents must be careful not to outsource to the church their responsibility of leading their child to trust and follow Christ. Pastors are here to equip parents to disciple their children. God has not called the church to do the parents’ job; God has called the church to equip the parents for their job.
Third, the GOAL for parents is to shepherd their children to love God. Our goal is not merely to raise children who are well-rounded and get a good career. Neither is our goal merely to raise children who are moral and stay in church. When these become our goals, the result will be children who love the world or who love rules and religion more than they love God. This has important implications for the way you discipline your children. When you only address your child’s bad behavior, it demonstrates that your ultimate goal is mere behavior modification. But if your goal is to shepherd their hearts, then you will lead them to see the heart behind the behavior. Embrace the freedom that comes with this goal in parenting. Moms, do not feel like a failure when you don’t get all the laundry put away, the house cleaned, or if your child isn’t reading at the level the state says they should be reading. God is not most concerned with these things. A successful mom can have a messy house and children who have not mastered algebra if in the midst of it all she is impressing the love of God on her children’s hearts.
The METHOD for parents is daily instruction. Verse 7 calls parents to engrave the word of God on the hearts of their children. This instruction occurs during both scheduled and unscheduled times. There should be scheduled times in your family’s week that you open God’s word and discuss it. But the focus in verses 7-9 is the unscheduled teaching moments you get as you live life with your children. When they hurt themselves, become afraid, don’t make the team, see something in a movie, or were made fun of at school are all opportunities to impress God’s word on their hearts. This means parents must know God’s word and must be available for their children.
Finally, the DANGER for parents is failing to protect their children from the world. The last half of Deuteronomy 6 makes it clear that Israel’s greatest danger when living in the land would be failing to guard the holiness of the nation, the tribes, and the families. Because they polluted themselves with the ways of the world around them, the next generation was led astray and destroyed. Just like He did with Adam, God has called parents to wield the sword to protect the hearts and minds of their children. The lie of the enemy says that you must expose your children to the world in order for them to know how to live in the world. This idea that exposure to sin leads to wisdom is not only foreign to the Bible but goes directly against the warning of Deuteronomy 6. What destroyed the Israelite children was not being too sheltered but being too exposed.
Please remember, parents, we are all sinners and we will all make mistakes. Do not allow your shortcomings to defeat you. God is powerful enough to overcome our mistakes. So, hope in God, and rely on the power of the Gospel. You cannot be the parent God has called you to be apart from the power of God. Trust in Him, rely upon Him, and stand on these foundational truths of parenting. We don’t want just to engage in parenting, but distinctly Christian parenting. We don’t just want homes full of achievement, recreation, and niceness; we want families on mission with God!
Keywords:
Discipleship, Family, Leadership, Parenting