Empowering Parents: Nurturing Children's Spiritual Growth
Summary
Today, I began by addressing the spiritual responsibility parents hold in shaping their children's faith. I emphasized that the church's role is to support what parents are already teaching at home. We act as highlighters, reinforcing the spiritual truths you impart daily. This partnership is crucial because spiritual formation isn't just about Sunday school; it's about daily nurturing at home.
I then moved into discussing the importance of parents being the primary influence in their children's spiritual lives. I shared insights on how a child's faith can be more profoundly affected by the authenticity and consistency of their parent's faith than by their participation in church activities alone. This led to a discussion on the potential negative impact of a lukewarm, inconsistent faith exhibited by parents. I stressed that for our children to have a dynamic relationship with God, it starts with us as parents having a dynamic relationship with God ourselves.
Next, I explored the practical aspects of nurturing faith at home, drawing from Deuteronomy 6. I outlined daily opportunities for spiritual conversations during routine activities such as meal times, drives, and bedtime. These moments are strategic opportunities to discuss faith and to integrate spiritual truths into everyday life.
I also touched on the broader implications of our faith expressions within the family. I discussed how our actions and decisions reflect and shape our children's understanding of God's character. Every interaction is a chance to demonstrate the nature of God—whether He is seen as loving, authoritative, or distant.
In the latter part of the sermon, I addressed the practical steps parents can take to assess and advance their child's spiritual journey. This includes understanding where they are in their faith and determining the next steps to deepen that faith. I introduced resources like the ParentQ app and other tools that provide guidance on what might be appropriate spiritual milestones for different ages.
Finally, I concluded with a call to action for parents to prioritize their child's spiritual growth above all else. I encouraged parents to reflect on their own faith journey, to ensure it is vibrant and growing, as this is the foundation upon which their children's faith will be built.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Role of Parental Influence in Spiritual Formation
Parents are the most significant spiritual influence in a child's life. The church supports and reinforces the teachings from home, but the primary responsibility lies with the parents. This influence is not limited to direct religious instruction but is evident in every interaction within the family. [41:42]
2. Authentic Faith at Home
A child's faith is greatly impacted by the authenticity of their parent's faith. If faith is only a Sunday display and not a daily lived experience, children notice and it affects their spiritual development. Parents need to live out a genuine, vibrant faith to effectively lead their children spiritually. [43:42]
3. Daily Deuteronomy 6 Moments
Utilizing everyday moments for spiritual education is crucial. As outlined in Deuteronomy 6, parents should seize opportunities throughout the day—meal times, drives, bedtime—to discuss faith and impart spiritual wisdom. These consistent, small discussions build a strong spiritual foundation. [37:18]
4. Assessing Spiritual Stages
Understanding where your child is in their spiritual journey is essential for knowing how to guide them. Parents should assess their child's spiritual maturity and readiness for various faith milestones, adjusting their approach as their child grows and develops. [57:23]
5. Prioritizing Spiritual Development Over Temporal Concerns
Parents must prioritize their children's spiritual development over less eternal concerns, such as extracurricular activities or academic achievements. This prioritization will have long-lasting impacts on their child's faith and character. [34:14]
### Chapters
0:00 - Welcome
13:43 - The Importance of Giving and Faith
21:44 - Common Parental Experiences
30:54 - Spiritual Responsibility in Parenting
37:18 - Implementing Deuteronomy 6 in Daily Life
41:42 - Observing and Influencing Children's Faith
47:18 - Encouraging Parental Spiritual Growth
51:48 - Trust and Heart: Key Components of Faith
56:18 - Discussing God's Plan and Purpose
01:02:50 - Assessing and Advancing Your Child's Faith Journey
01:07:05 - Closing Prayer and Call to Action
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Deuteronomy 6:4-9 (ESV)
> Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 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. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
#### Observation Questions
1. According to Deuteronomy 6:4-9, what are the specific times and activities during which parents are instructed to teach their children about God?
2. In the sermon, what analogy did the pastor use to describe the church's role in a child's spiritual development? ([46:02])
3. What are the four daily moments mentioned in the sermon that can be used for spiritual conversations with children? ([37:18])
4. How does the pastor describe the impact of a parent's authentic faith on their child's spiritual development? ([43:42])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Deuteronomy 6 emphasize the importance of parents teaching their children about God during everyday activities?
2. How might the analogy of the church as a "highlighter" influence the way parents view their role in their child's spiritual education? ([46:02])
3. What are the potential consequences of parents exhibiting a lukewarm or inconsistent faith, according to the sermon? ([43:42])
4. How can parents assess where their child is in their spiritual journey and determine the next steps for growth? ([57:23])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your daily routine. How can you incorporate spiritual conversations during meal times, drives, bedtime, and morning routines? ([37:18])
2. Think about your own faith journey. How can you ensure that your faith is vibrant and growing, so it positively influences your child's faith? ([43:42])
3. Identify one specific action you can take this week to demonstrate God's character to your children through your interactions. ([40:43])
4. How can you use the ParentQ app or other resources to help guide your child's spiritual milestones? ([01:00:37])
5. What steps can you take to prioritize your child's spiritual development over other less eternal concerns, such as extracurricular activities or academic achievements? ([34:14])
6. Discuss with your spouse or a fellow parent how you can support each other in nurturing your children's faith at home. What practical steps can you take together?
7. Reflect on a recent interaction with your child. How did it reflect or fail to reflect God's character? What can you do differently next time to better demonstrate God's love and authority? ([40:43])
Devotional
Day 1: Parental Influence Shapes Spiritual Foundations
Parents are the primary shapers of their children's spiritual lives, a role that extends beyond the walls of the church and into the home. This influence is not confined to explicit teachings about faith but is demonstrated through everyday interactions and the modeling of genuine faith. Children are perceptive and can discern the authenticity of their parents' faith, which significantly impacts their own spiritual development. It is crucial for parents to embody a faith that is alive and active, not just during church services but consistently throughout daily life. This responsibility underscores the importance of parents' spiritual health as the foundation for their children's faith journey. [41:42](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNEMX1jrwxg&t=2487s)
"Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children's children—" Deuteronomy 4:9 ESV
Reflection: How does your daily life reflect your faith to your children? What changes might you need to make to better model a vibrant faith?
Day 2: Authentic Faith Begins at Home
The impact of a parent's authentic faith on their children cannot be overstated. When faith is lived out genuinely every day, it forms a strong spiritual impression on children. This authenticity in faith practices at home teaches children that faith is not just for Sundays but is a vital part of everyday life. Conversely, a faith that is only displayed in public or during church activities can lead to a shallow spiritual foundation in children. Parents need to consistently demonstrate their faith through actions, decisions, and words, showing their children that their relationship with God is real and dynamic. [43:42](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNEMX1jrwxg&t=2607s)
"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: In what ways can you more authentically demonstrate your faith to your children during routine parts of your day?
Day 3: Seizing Everyday Moments for Spiritual Education
Utilizing daily routines as opportunities for spiritual conversations is essential for nurturing a child's faith. These moments, whether during meals, drives, or bedtime, are not just routine; they are ripe with potential for imparting spiritual wisdom and insights. By integrating discussions about faith into these everyday activities, parents can create a continuous spiritual environment that encourages children to see God in all aspects of life. This practice helps to lay a solid spiritual foundation, making faith a natural part of their daily existence. [37:18](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNEMX1jrwxg&t=2223s)
"As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good." 2 Thessalonians 3:13 ESV
Reflection: What are some specific moments from today that you could use to discuss faith with your children?
Day 4: Understanding and Guiding Your Child's Spiritual Journey
It is crucial for parents to understand where their child is in their spiritual journey to effectively guide them. This understanding helps in providing appropriate spiritual guidance and in setting realistic and relevant faith milestones. As children grow, their spiritual needs and understandings evolve, requiring parents to continually assess and adjust their approach to spiritual parenting. This tailored guidance helps in fostering a deeper and more personal faith in children, which can guide them throughout their lives. [57:23](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNEMX1jrwxg&t=3428s)
"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: How can you assess your child's current spiritual stage, and what steps can you take to foster their growth?
Day 5: Prioritizing Spiritual Growth Over Worldly Achievements
In a world that often values material success and achievements, it is vital for parents to prioritize their children's spiritual growth. This prioritization is not about neglecting other aspects of development but about ensuring that spiritual education holds a primary place. By focusing on spiritual development, parents can help their children build a strong moral and ethical foundation, influencing their character and decisions throughout life. This focus ensures that children grow up with a clear understanding of what truly matters. [34:14](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNEMX1jrwxg&t=2039s)
"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Matthew 6:33 ESV
Reflection: What are some practical ways you can prioritize your child's spiritual growth over other concerns this week?
Quotes
"Maybe your child. Having to sit on the bench on their sports team. Some have and some will experience your child, your children, your kids that you love not getting invited to the birthday party. You have experienced or will experience your kids at the center of some teenage drama. Someday, you'll experience your kids probably struggling with something. Some doubts about their own faith or maybe having to walk with your kids through some other struggle, physical struggle or mental health struggle. Someday, you will experience, if you haven't already, many of those scenarios, just to name a few." [23:29]
"And in those days, when your kids face difficulty. And they will. Some of them already have. It won't matter how many points they have scored. It won't matter how often they have sat in the first chair. How popular they are. How many times they've visited the Magic Kingdom. It really won't matter if they have all of the name brand fashions and have all of the latest really cool high tech. See, when your kids, when they face a hard, fallen, often cruel world, the one thing that they will want to know is the one thing that will matter most in those moments in their life. And that's simply this. How to have a personal faith in a living God. A God who loves them." [24:37]
"A God who created them. And a God who loves them. A God who has a purpose for their lives. They will want to know about this God who in the most significant ways throughout their lives is being displayed to them on a daily basis by you, mom, and dad." [25:56]
"Because at the end of the day, as parents, we are responsible for their spiritual well-being. Full stop. We are responsible for their spiritual well-being." [27:23]
"And you embrace her. You hug her. The fear turns to joy. And you pause to say, prayer, thanking God for your daughter's safety. Now, why would you be concerned in that moment? And the answer is obvious, right? She is your daughter. And physically, physically, her life was in jeopardy. And you knew that you were responsible, right, for her physical well-being. Imagine what we would think of a parent who, in that same, scenario, responded by saying something like this. She'll figure it out on her own and find her way home sooner or later. Or they would say something like this. Well, I've never looked for a lost child before. And I have no skills in that area. So I'll just wait for the experts to show up so they can find her. Or, well, she is a free person. She needs a free person. She needs a free person. She needs a free person. She needs a free person. She needs to understand responsibility in life. So I'm just going to let her sort it all out on her own. We would call that parent crazy in that instance. And they would be. And they would be. See, the bottom line is, we understand that I am responsible. And I will do whatever it takes to keep her safe. We will do whatever it takes to keep our kids safe." [30:54]
"It's the same logic and reasoning that I want, I beg, I plead with you this morning to use. As you think not about their physical well-being, but about their spiritual well-being and their spiritual formation and how you go about discipling your own children. I mean, what would it look like in your home if you use the same emotion? Energy and effort that we know we would exert as something jeopardize them physically if we use that same approach when it comes to their spiritual formation. That same passion, that same intensity, that same focus." [32:42]
"This morning, I want to, I want to challenge you. Again, I want to beg with you. I want to plead with you. If I could, I would get down on my knees and beg you to get to a new place as parents. Far beyond saying that it doesn't matter, or that it's a good thing, or that it should be a priority. I want you to get to the point as a parent where you believe that when it comes to your relationship, your kids' relationship with God, that it is the most important thing. It is the most important thing. We all have to be convinced of that, parents, that nothing is more important. And that you come to this place in your life where you say, if I don't get anything else right as a parent, I'm not going to miss this one. I may not give them all of the things that they want. I may not get them to every experience that they desire. I might miss the mark when it comes to helping them with their homework. But I am not, I am not going to under-prioritize, under-value their relationship with God. I'm not going to do it. Because we have to remember, and we've said this, and we'll keep saying this, there is nobody with more potential to influence our kids toward God than you. Nobody has more potential to move them toward God than you two. Than you do as a parent." [34:14]
"I want us to read a familiar passage, Deuteronomy chapter 6. This is my go-to passage on parenting because I think this is the Bible's go-to passage. This reaches way back in the Old Testament when God was giving parents in Israel instructions for how to raise their children to know and follow Yahweh, to know and follow God. And if you've been at Zion any number of years, you've heard this. I'm not going to preach through this, but I want us to read this together. Deuteronomy chapter 6, God's instructions to parents was this, Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. Again, it starts with parents. We'll get to that a little bit later. And these words, the scriptures, these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. Again, starts with the parents. You have to model it. 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. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. God was saying to parents back then, and he says the same thing to us today, you must prioritize teaching your children. And inside of that, I think that there are four things that we need to do. One is to have strategic times in each and every day that you can utilize to help build faith into your kids. Did you see it? He says, when you, when he says in verse, verse seven, right? You shall teach them diligently to your children and shall talk of them when you sit in your house. When's a good time to sit in your house? What do we call that often? Dinner time, right? Dinner time. And when you walk by the way, we don't walk by the way anymore. We do something else. We drive. So there's dinner time. There's drive time. And then when you rise up, morning time. And when you lie down, bedtime. And if you're a parent, one of the first things that you can begin to do is you can look at those moments each and every day when they wake up, when you drive in the car with them, when you have dinner with them, and when you put them to bed as strategic opportunities to build faith into their life. And we can talk about that at another time, and hopefully we'll get a chance to do that, because there are different hats that you wear at each of those different points of the day that differ from others. In the morning time, you're much more of an encourager than you are a counselor, right? Versus bedtime, you can kind of take on that role of counselor. How was your day? What was going on, right? Drive time, it can be more of a coach. Right? And again, well, we can get into that another time. But again, that's where we have to understand that nobody has the potential to influence how our kids see God than we do. And that is both frightening and exciting. Because your kids will have a picture of who God is based on their relationship with you. So that's why we have to turn up the God dial. But turning up the God dial happens as we turn up the us dial. You can't separate the two. That's why, again, in these instructions from Deuteronomy, it's when you sit down, you're with them. When they rise up, you're with them. When you walk along the way, when you're in your car, you're with them. When you lie down, you're with them. You have to dial you up in their life if you're going to dial God up in their life. You will be a spiritual influence, parents. Parents, one way or another. The truth is, they're going to develop their view of God based on what they see in you. And I think that if we boil it down, I think there are two things that every day that parents show their kids. And they can show them this in a positive way or in a negative way. We can do this proactively or reactively. We can do this on purpose or we can do this on accident. And there are two things that we show our kids. Number one is this, the nature and character of God. Every single day, in some small but very real way, you are showing your kids what God is like. You're showing them and answering the question that we all have about God. Is he loving or is he distant by how you interact with him? You're answering the question, is God authoritative? Or is he an authoritarian, a dictator? You show that by how you parent, by how you engage them each and every day. Every day, they're getting a little bit more of a picture of who they perceive God to be based on how you interact with them. That's scary and it's also exciting because you have a part to play. They learn about the nature and character of God through you. And then they also... They also learn every day how to live out their faith. How to live out their faith. Again, scary or exciting, that's up to you. So you can't put anything, get anything by kids. Kids see and observe everything. When my kids were younger, they would point out discrepancies in my life. They still don't let me forget about the first time they heard me say a bad word when coffee spilled on my lap while we were traveling. They don't miss a thing, right? You've heard the old saying, right? You can con a con, you can fool a fool, but you can't kid a kid. They are truth detectors. They are hypocrite detectors. They see it all. And so the fact that they're watching you to learn how to live out their faith is something that... You and I, as parents, must take very seriously. Because the statistics say... And this is... [41:42]
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