Empowering Faith: Nurturing Our Children in God's Love
Summary
Today, we gathered to affirm a profound truth: God is for us, not against us. This truth is not contingent on our actions or past mistakes but is rooted in the sacrificial love demonstrated through Jesus Christ. As we dedicate our children, we echo the commitment of Hannah, who dedicated her son Samuel to the Lord. This act of dedication is not just a ceremonial tradition but a declaration of our intent to raise our children in the knowledge and love of God, ensuring they recognize and follow His voice throughout their lives.
We emphasized the importance of consistently praying over our children, not just during dedications but throughout their lives. This involves confessing God's promises over them, regardless of their current circumstances. Faith, as described in Hebrews, is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. Therefore, we must speak life and God's truth over our children, even when reality seems contrary.
Moreover, we are reminded that our children are not merely the future of the church; they are the church today. Our role is to nurture their faith and encourage them to be active participants in God's kingdom. This involves creating an environment where they feel loved, supported, and encouraged to pursue God's plans for their lives.
As a community, we are called to stir one another towards love and good works, avoiding the temptation to stir up drama or negativity. This involves being intentional about our interactions, ensuring they are filled with encouragement and positivity. We must also recognize the importance of assembling together, not out of obligation, but as a means to encourage and equip one another for the work God has called us to.
Finally, we are challenged to be the spark that ignites a passion for God in our communities. This requires us to live authentically, allowing God to change us and using our lives as a testimony of His transformative power. As we do so, we create a legacy of faith that impacts not just our immediate surroundings but generations to come.
Key Takeaways:
- God's Unwavering Support: God's love and support for us are unwavering, regardless of our past actions. His love was demonstrated through Jesus Christ, who died for us while we were still sinners. This truth should be the foundation of our faith and the message we pass on to our children. [00:00]
- The Power of Dedication and Prayer: Dedicating our children to God is a powerful act of faith, echoing Hannah's commitment in the Bible. However, this dedication should be accompanied by a lifelong commitment to pray and speak God's promises over our children, ensuring they grow in faith and purpose. [40:12]
- Children as the Present Church: Our children are not just the future of the church; they are the church today. We must nurture their faith and encourage them to actively participate in God's kingdom, creating an environment where they feel loved and supported. [55:50]
- Stirring Up Love and Good Works: As a community, we are called to encourage one another towards love and good works, avoiding negativity and drama. This involves being intentional about our interactions and ensuring they are filled with encouragement and positivity. [01:12:46]
- Being the Spark for Change: We are challenged to be the spark that ignites a passion for God in our communities. This requires living authentically, allowing God to change us, and using our lives as a testimony of His transformative power, impacting generations to come. [01:26:05]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:30] - God's Love and Support
- [02:00] - Dedication of Children
- [05:00] - The Story of Hannah
- [08:00] - Family Prayers and Blessings
- [12:00] - The Importance of Prayer
- [15:00] - Children as the Present Church
- [20:00] - Confessing God's Promises
- [25:00] - Faith and Speaking Life
- [30:00] - Encouragement and Community
- [35:00] - Stirring Up Love and Good Works
- [40:00] - The Role of Parents and Community
- [45:00] - Being the Spark for Change
- [50:00] - Living Authentically for God
- [55:00] - Closing Prayer and Commitment
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Romans 5:8 - "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
2. 1 Samuel 1:26-28 - "And she said, 'Pardon me, my lord. As surely as you live, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the Lord. I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.' And he worshiped the Lord there."
3. Hebrews 11:1 - "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."
Observation Questions:
1. According to Romans 5:8, how does God demonstrate His love for us? How is this love foundational to the sermon’s message that "God is for us, not against us"? [00:00]
2. In 1 Samuel 1:26-28, what was Hannah’s response after God granted her request for a child? How does this relate to the act of dedicating children to God? [40:12]
3. How does Hebrews 11:1 define faith, and how does this definition relate to the sermon’s emphasis on speaking God’s promises over our children? [55:50]
4. What role does the community play in stirring up love and good works according to the sermon? [01:12:46]
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the understanding that "God is for us" change the way believers might approach their relationship with God, especially in times of personal failure or doubt? [00:00]
2. What significance does the act of child dedication hold in the life of a believer, and how does it reflect a commitment to raise children in the knowledge and love of God? [40:12]
3. How can the concept of faith as described in Hebrews 11:1 be applied to the practice of praying over children and speaking God’s promises into their lives? [55:50]
4. In what ways can a community effectively stir up love and good works, and why is this important for the health of the church? [01:12:46]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt that God was against you. How does the sermon’s message that "God is for us" challenge or affirm your understanding of God’s nature? [00:00]
2. If you have children, how can you incorporate the practice of praying and speaking God’s promises over them into your daily routine? If you don’t have children, how can you support parents in your community in this practice? [40:12]
3. Consider the environments you create for children in your life. How can you ensure these environments encourage them to recognize and follow God’s voice? [55:50]
4. Think about your interactions within your community. How can you be more intentional about stirring up love and good works rather than drama or negativity? [01:12:46]
5. Identify one way you can be a spark for change in your community. What specific action can you take this week to live authentically and allow God’s transformative power to be evident in your life? [01:26:05]
6. How can you encourage the children in your life to see themselves as active participants in the church today, not just the future? [55:50]
7. Reflect on your personal faith journey. How can you live more authentically, allowing God to change you and using your life as a testimony to impact those around you? [01:26:05]
Devotional
Day 1: God's Love is Unconditional and Unwavering
God's love for us is not dependent on our actions or past mistakes. It is a constant, unwavering force that was demonstrated through the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ. This truth serves as the foundation of our faith, reminding us that God is always for us, not against us. As we embrace this love, we are called to pass it on to our children, ensuring they grow up with the understanding that they are deeply loved and supported by God. This knowledge empowers them to live confidently and purposefully, knowing they are never alone. [00:00]
"For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39, ESV)
Reflection: How can you demonstrate God's unconditional love to someone in your life today, especially someone who may feel unworthy or distant from God?
Day 2: The Power of Dedication and Prayer
Dedicating our children to God is a profound act of faith, echoing the commitment of Hannah in the Bible. This dedication is not merely a ceremonial tradition but a lifelong commitment to pray and speak God's promises over our children. By doing so, we ensure they grow in faith and purpose, recognizing and following God's voice throughout their lives. Our prayers and confessions of God's promises are powerful tools that shape their spiritual journey, regardless of their current circumstances. [40:12]
"And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him." (1 John 5:14-15, ESV)
Reflection: What specific promise from God can you pray over your children or loved ones today, and how can you incorporate this into your daily prayer routine?
Day 3: Children as the Present Church
Our children are not just the future of the church; they are the church today. It is our responsibility to nurture their faith and encourage them to actively participate in God's kingdom. By creating an environment where they feel loved, supported, and encouraged, we empower them to pursue God's plans for their lives. This involves recognizing their potential and providing opportunities for them to serve and grow within the church community. [55:50]
"Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity." (1 Timothy 4:12, ESV)
Reflection: How can you actively involve the children in your life in the church community today, and what steps can you take to nurture their faith journey?
Day 4: Stirring Up Love and Good Works
As a community, we are called to encourage one another towards love and good works, avoiding negativity and drama. This requires intentionality in our interactions, ensuring they are filled with encouragement and positivity. By assembling together, not out of obligation but as a means to equip and support one another, we create a community that reflects God's love and purpose. This collective effort strengthens our faith and inspires us to live out our calling. [01:12:46]
"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your community can you reach out to today with words of encouragement or support, and how can you make this a regular practice?
Day 5: Being the Spark for Change
We are challenged to be the spark that ignites a passion for God in our communities. This requires living authentically, allowing God to change us, and using our lives as a testimony of His transformative power. By doing so, we create a legacy of faith that impacts not just our immediate surroundings but generations to come. Our authentic lives serve as a beacon of hope and inspiration, drawing others to the love and grace of God. [01:26:05]
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house." (Matthew 5:14-15, ESV)
Reflection: What specific action can you take today to live more authentically for God, and how can your life be a testimony to those around you?
Quotes
"We declare over our families today, over our children today, that the Lord goes before them, makes the crooked place straight, makes the valleys rise up, the mountains bow low. The plans and the purposes of God are laid out before them, and that not only are they laid out before them, but they'll recognize that and they'll go that way. They know the voice of their God and the voice of another, they will not follow." [00:34:05] (36 seconds)
"And, of course, we do this because we're reading the Bible where Hannah believed God for a child. She was barren, believed God for a male child. And she said, Lord, if you will grant me this, if you'll give me a male child, I promise you, I will give him back to you. I will dedicate his life to you. I'll dedicate to raise him in the house of God. I'll dedicate to make sure that he follows the will of God." [00:35:44] (27 seconds)
"You've got to speak those things over your children's lives in the face of it not looking like what you're speaking out. Amen? Because that's faith. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Now, a lot of times people take the word faith and they'll say, so I can just say whatever I want to say. No, you say what the Word of God says." [00:57:01] (19 seconds)
"Lord, help us to pass along faith to our children. Lord, help us. And Lord, open these children's ears to hear your truth. Protect them, Lord, everywhere that they go and all that they do. Keep them safe from harm. We declare, Father, that no weapon formed against them shall prosper. That they hear the voice of the Holy Spirit and follow him into goodness and blessing and righteousness." [01:00:59] (32 seconds)
"Joshua stepped out, and you guys will probably remember this, but Joshua stepped out one time, and he challenged a whole generation of fathers to choose who their family was going to serve. And I think he was tired, or maybe God was tired of seeing it, and God spoke through him, but I think he was tired of watching families go through the religious motions that they knew they had to do to serve God or to be a part of the Jewish culture." [01:05:47] (26 seconds)
"And then he makes this statement, he said, I'm not just putting some things on you, I'm not just putting pressure on you, he's saying that the Lord has confronted me with this, and I have made a decision, so I'm passing that on to you, and I'm saying, listen, if it seems like a bad thing to serve God today, then make a decision today who you're going to serve." [01:07:21] (19 seconds)
"Let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works. Watch this. It's not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another in so much more as you see the day approaching. We can see the day approaching. A lot of pastors will bring the Scripture out when the church services are low or is low that day." [01:14:58] (22 seconds)
"Nothing's going to change your family. Like you taking a step up and allowing God to change you. And I said, change you. Not trying to change them. God has to change them. But I don't think anything encourages another person to want to let God change them than watching somebody that they love and respect allow God to change them." [01:20:19] (26 seconds)
"Nothing will change our kids like our fathers stepping up as the spiritual leaders in our home. Nothing's going to change our homes quite like our mothers stepping up as spiritual leaders in our homes. Nothing would change our communities quite like our kids getting on fire for God and bringing the very presence of God into their schools and into their community." [01:22:16] (20 seconds)
"It's not going to be until somebody decides, I'll be the spark. I'll be the spark. I'll be the person that stops being ashamed of who I am in Christianity in public because everybody has known me since I was a kid and they just expect me to act this certain way. Listen, you may have been in the same body since you were a kid, and people may recognize your face, and they may attach you to a personality and attach you to a family and attach you to good things and bad things." [01:25:17] (36 seconds)
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