Embracing the Divine Role of Parenthood

Devotional

Day 1: Intentional Parenting During Formative Years

Description: The period between the ages of 3 and 15 is crucial for a child's development. During this time, parents have the unique opportunity to instill values, faith, and wisdom that will shape their children's futures. Neglecting this responsibility can have long-term consequences, not only for the child but for future generations. Parents must be intentional in guiding and nurturing their children during this formative period, ensuring that they grow up with a strong foundation of faith and moral integrity. This intentionality requires daily effort, prayer, and a commitment to being present in their children's lives. [42:09]

Bible Passage: "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6, ESV)

Reflection: Think about one specific value or aspect of faith you want to instill in your child this week. How can you intentionally incorporate this into your daily interactions and routines?

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Day 2: The Consequences of Foolishness

Description: Proverbs 11:29 warns that a foolish man who stirs up trouble in his home will inherit nothing of substance. This serves as a stark reminder that neglect and selfishness can lead to the destruction of family unity and the loss of a meaningful legacy. Parents must prioritize their family's well-being and lead with integrity and wisdom. Foolishness in parenting can manifest in various ways, such as neglecting emotional needs, failing to provide spiritual guidance, or creating a chaotic home environment. By contrast, a wise and righteous approach to parenting fosters a nurturing and stable home where children can thrive. [43:09]

Bible Passage: "Whoever troubles his own household will inherit the wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart." (Proverbs 11:29, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a recent decision or action that may have caused tension or trouble in your home. How can you address this issue and work towards restoring peace and unity in your family?

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Day 3: Generational Impact of Faithfulness

Description: Our actions today can influence countless descendants. By raising our children in the fear and knowledge of the Lord, we can ensure a legacy of faith and righteousness that extends far beyond our own lifetimes. This generational impact underscores the importance of our roles as parents and the need for intentional discipleship. Faithfulness in parenting involves more than just teaching biblical principles; it requires living out those principles daily and modeling a life of faith, integrity, and love. The choices we make and the values we uphold can set a positive example for future generations, creating a ripple effect of faithfulness and righteousness. [46:58]

Bible Passage: "But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments." (Psalm 103:17-18, ESV)

Reflection: Consider the legacy you are building for your children and future generations. What specific actions can you take today to ensure that your faith and values are passed down?

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Day 4: The Role of Fathers and Mothers

Description: Fathers are called to lead their families with wisdom and integrity, while mothers provide essential support, love, and nurturing care. Both roles are vital for the health and success of the family. Society may undermine these roles, but Scripture affirms their importance and the blessings that come from fulfilling them faithfully. Fathers and mothers must work together, supporting each other in their unique roles, to create a balanced and loving home environment. This partnership is crucial for the spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being of their children, and it reflects the complementary nature of their God-given responsibilities. [48:28]

Bible Passage: "Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." (Ephesians 6:4, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on how you and your spouse can better support each other in your respective roles. What practical steps can you take to strengthen your partnership in parenting?

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Day 5: Spiritual Leadership Begins at Home

Description: Discipleship starts within the family. Parents are the first line of defense in teaching their children about the gospel and its saving power. This responsibility should not be left solely to church leaders or teachers. By actively engaging in their children's spiritual education, parents can ensure that their children grow up with a strong foundation of faith. This involves regular family devotions, prayer, and open discussions about faith and life. Parents must be proactive in creating an environment where spiritual growth is encouraged and nurtured, setting the stage for their children to develop a personal and lasting relationship with God. [57:01]

Bible Passage: "And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise." (Deuteronomy 6:6-7, ESV)

Reflection: Identify one specific way you can incorporate spiritual teaching into your daily family routine. How can you make this a consistent and meaningful practice in your home?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we reflected on the profound responsibilities and blessings of parenthood, particularly focusing on the role of fathers in guiding their families. We began by reading from Micah 7:18-20, which highlights God's steadfast love and forgiveness. This passage served as a reminder of the divine attributes we should emulate in our own lives, especially in our roles as parents. We also celebrated the tradition of praying blessings over our children, a practice rooted in Jewish culture, and discussed the importance of raising children in the fear and knowledge of the Lord.

We then transitioned to Proverbs 11:29-30, which contrasts the consequences of foolishness with the fruit of righteousness. The foolish man, who neglects his family and stirs up trouble, will inherit nothing of substance. This serves as a warning to all parents about the dangers of neglect and selfishness. Conversely, the righteous man, who leads his family with wisdom and integrity, will produce fruit that brings life and blessings to future generations.

A personal story about farming illustrated the importance of vision, hard work, and stewardship. Just as a neglected field requires diligent care to become fruitful, so too do our children need intentional guidance and nurturing. The most influential period in a child's life is between the ages of 3 and 15, a critical window for instilling values and faith.

We also discussed the societal challenges that seek to undermine the biblical family structure, emphasizing the need for men to rise as leaders in their homes. The devil's strategies to alienate husbands from wives and fathers from sons were highlighted, urging men to be intentional in their relationships and responsibilities.

Finally, we explored the generational impact of our actions, noting that our faithfulness today can influence countless descendants. The sermon concluded with a call to both fathers and mothers to embrace their God-given roles, support each other, and raise their children in the fear of the Lord, ensuring a legacy of faith and righteousness.

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Key Takeaways

1. term consequences, not just for the child but for future generations. Parents must be intentional in guiding and nurturing their children during this formative period. [42:09]
2. The Consequences of Foolishness: Proverbs 11:29 warns that a foolish man who stirs up trouble in his home will inherit nothing of substance. This serves as a stark reminder that neglect and selfishness can lead to the destruction of family unity and the loss of meaningful legacy. Parents must prioritize their family's well-being and lead with integrity and wisdom.

3. Generational Impact of Faithfulness: Our actions today can influence countless descendants. By raising our children in the fear and knowledge of the Lord, we can ensure a legacy of faith and righteousness that extends far beyond our own lifetimes. This generational impact underscores the importance of our roles as parents and the need for intentional discipleship.

4. The Role of Fathers and Mothers: Fathers are called to lead their families with wisdom and integrity, while mothers provide essential support, love, and nurturing care. Both roles are vital for the health and success of the family. Society may undermine these roles, but Scripture affirms their importance and the blessings that come from fulfilling them faithfully.

5. Spiritual Leadership Begins at Home: Discipleship starts within the family. Parents are the first line of defense in teaching their children about the gospel and its saving power. This responsibility should not be left solely to church leaders or teachers. By actively engaging in their children's spiritual education, parents can ensure that their children grow up with a strong foundation of faith.

### [42:09]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[29:59] - Reading from Micah 7:18-20
[35:04] - Opening Prayer
[36:59] - Presenting Children and Praying Blessings
[37:26] - Conclusion of Bible Study on Biblical Manhood
[38:49] - Introduction to Proverbs 11:29-30
[39:43] - Story of Farming and Stewardship
[41:36] - The Critical Period in a Child's Life
[42:36] - Consequences of Foolishness
[45:46] - The Importance of Leading and Discipling Children
[48:28] - Role of Fathers and Mothers
[50:39] - Societal Challenges and the Need for Spiritual Leadership
[52:52] - The Fruit of Righteousness
[54:43] - Generational Impact of Faithfulness
[56:25] - Psalm 1 and the Blessings of Walking with the Lord
[57:52] - Call to Action for Parents
[58:28] - Vision for Future Generations
[59:48] - Role of Mothers in Supporting Fathers
[62:06] - Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Micah 7:18-20 — 2. Proverbs 11:29-30
3. Ephesians 6:4

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Observation Questions

What attributes of God are highlighted in Micah 7:18-20, and how do they relate to the responsibilities of parents? [29:59]
According to Proverbs 11:29-30, what are the consequences of foolishness and the rewards of righteousness? [38:49]
How does Ephesians 6:4 instruct fathers to treat their children, and what is the intended outcome of this instruction? [47:57]

Interpretation Questions

How can the steadfast love and forgiveness of God, as described in Micah 7:18-20, serve as a model for parents in their relationship with their children? [29:59]
In what ways does the story of the neglected field illustrate the importance of intentional parenting and stewardship? [39:43]
How does the societal challenge of alienating fathers from their sons, as mentioned in the sermon, impact the family structure and the spiritual growth of children? [37:56]

Application Questions

Reflect on the period between ages 3 and 15 in your child's life. What specific steps can you take to be more intentional in guiding and nurturing them during this critical window? [42:09]
Proverbs 11:29 warns about the consequences of foolishness. Are there areas in your family life where you might be neglecting your responsibilities? How can you address these areas to prevent long-term negative impacts? [42:36]
The sermon emphasized the generational impact of faithfulness. What are some practical ways you can ensure that your actions today positively influence your descendants? [46:58]
Discuss the roles of fathers and mothers as described in the sermon. How can you and your spouse support each other in fulfilling these roles effectively? [48:28]
Spiritual leadership begins at home. What are some specific practices you can implement to actively engage in your children's spiritual education? [57:01]
The sermon mentioned the importance of reconciliation in strained parent-child relationships. If you have experienced such strain, what steps can you take to seek reconciliation and restore your relationship? [46:28]
How can you as a parent or grandparent create a family tradition that emphasizes the importance of faith and righteousness, similar to the practice of praying blessings over children mentioned in the sermon? [36:59]

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "We have a short period in time which we can have an influence on their lives. Time after time, history goes to prove that the most influential time on their lives is this time between 3 and 15 is a time where their ideas will start to form and we have an opportunity to guide them on a path where as they grow into teens and adults and end up moving off and getting married they will be able to act using the guidance and the training that we have provided." [42:09] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "We are called to shine as lights in this dark, dark world. And it's also our job to invite our children and to guide our children to shine as lights with us. So men, as leaders in your home, it's time today to stand up for truth both in the world and at home. We need to be focused on raising this next generation in the knowledge and in the fear of the Lord." [57:52] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "We cannot leave teaching and instructing to society or culture today. I asked one of the older guys in the group if before he had been given the talk by his father if his father had to reiterate to him what he was as a man and what his job was. And while that was a silly question, we can't even take this for granted anymore. We need to cover all our bases. We need to start from the beginning and we need to lead from the beginning." [50:11] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "We need to be active and we need to be intentional in the lives of our children. We need to guide them carefully. Provoking them will only drive a wedge between them and you and will distance them from the Lord. If you find yourself in this situation or your kids are being driven from you by your own doing, for lack of better words, you need to man up. You need to be the bigger man, put aside your selfishness and your pride, and you need to seek reconciliation with them." [48:28] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "We must not be like the wicked. We're useful. We must be useful and we must teach our children to do the same. Verse 30 goes on to tell us what the opposite action would look like. Here we see in our second point that there is a fruit that is seen when one walks in righteousness. Proverbs 11 verse 30 says the fruit of the righteous is a tree of life and he who wins souls is wise." [52:22] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "The issue here that is at play is very plainly selfishness or pride. When a parent becomes so focused on themselves, they fail to acknowledge the needs of their children. And the children will grow up in resent, in hurt, in pain. Their child will have to become self-sufficient from an early age. And when trouble comes on later in their life, who will they turn to? Mom? Dad? No, they haven't been around. They haven't been a help in the past. Why should I turn to them now?" [46:28] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "We see this fact laid out in this past week in our men's study group. We were talking about giving the talk to our kids. You know, the birds and the bees. This is just one example of where we all need to get to our kids and we need to give them a proper education before society. We need to explain to them that God has created sex and he's created it good and well and as Steve Farrar mentioned, fun in the specific bounds of marriage." [49:15] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "We cannot stop, must continue. Let's read the first few verses of Psalm 1 again. Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers, but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on it he meditates day and night. He is like a tree that is planted by streams of water and it yields fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers." [56:25] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "We need to be intentional with our wives and our children so that our families might grow and flourish in the ways that the Lord has intended. So with these two things in mind, we're going to jump into our text today. So I invite you to open up to your Bibles to Proverbs 11 verse 29 and 30 if you brought your Bibles along or on your phones. We're continuing this Sunday. Again, Wes gave me a text to preach on, so I'm going to continue in his study." [38:24] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "We are raising the next generation. This week in the Point Man group, I'm going to go back to it again. We're going to talk about raising a nation. For those who aren't part of this group, I just want to give you a snapshot of what this week may look like. If you look into the future, think 90 years ahead. Think about how big your nation might be. Lindsay and I right now we have four kids. In 30 years, if all of our four kids have four more kids, there'll be 16 grandkids." [58:28] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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