Faith and Values: Nurturing Generations at the Table

 

Summary

Gathering around the kitchen table with family is a cherished memory that holds profound significance. It is not merely a place for meals but a sacred space for imparting faith and values to the next generation. As parents, Lois and I found that the dinner table was an ideal setting for family devotions, where we could bring spiritual principles to the forefront. This practice is crucial for ensuring that our faith is carried forward by our children and grandchildren. Recognizing the importance of this, we at The River Alternative have developed resources to support parents and families in nurturing their children with divine perspectives. These resources are designed to counteract the negative cultural influences that often lead young minds astray.

The joy of witnessing my children and grandchildren continue this tradition is immeasurable. They, too, use the table as a platform for spiritual growth and guidance, ensuring that the legacy of faith is passed down through generations. Our resources, such as "The Names of God," "The Power of Words," "The Armor of God," and the "Kingdom Family Devotional" co-authored with my son Jonathan, are crafted to assist parents in this journey. These tools aim to guide families in aligning their lives with God's will, fostering a future that reflects His perspective.

The table, when used intentionally, becomes a powerful instrument for instilling God's thoughts, mind, and will in families. It is a place where generational faith is nurtured and strengthened, enabling families to carry these values forward into the world. This practice not only shapes individual lives but also influences the broader community, creating a ripple effect of faith and unity.

Key Takeaways:

- The kitchen table serves as a sacred space for imparting faith and values to the next generation. It is not just for meals but a place for spiritual growth and guidance, ensuring that our faith is carried forward by our children and grandchildren. [00:12]

- Regular and purposeful investment in our children's spiritual development is crucial for countering negative cultural influences. By instilling divine perspectives, we equip them to navigate the world with faith and integrity. [00:41]

- Resources like "The Names of God" and "The Power of Words" are designed to support parents in nurturing their children's spiritual growth. These tools help align family life with God's will, fostering a future that reflects His perspective. [01:39]

- Witnessing the continuation of faith traditions by our children and grandchildren brings immense joy. It ensures that the legacy of faith is passed down through generations, strengthening families and communities. [01:23]

- The table, when used intentionally, becomes a powerful instrument for instilling God's thoughts, mind, and will in families. This practice shapes individual lives and influences the broader community, creating a ripple effect of faith and unity. [01:52]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:12] - The Table as a Sacred Space
- [00:27] - Importance of Family Devotions
- [00:41] - Investing in the Next Generation
- [00:58] - Resources for Parents and Families
- [01:11] - Counteracting Cultural Influences
- [01:23] - Joy of Generational Faith
- [01:39] - Tools for Spiritual Growth
- [01:52] - The Power of the Table
- [02:08] - Closing Remarks

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 - "These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 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."
2. Proverbs 22:6 - "Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it."
3. Psalm 78:4-7 - "We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done."

Observation Questions:
1. What role did the kitchen table play in the speaker's family life, according to the sermon? [00:12]
2. How did the speaker and his wife use the dinner table to influence their children's spiritual growth? [00:27]
3. What resources did the speaker mention that are designed to help parents nurture their children's faith? [01:39]
4. How does the speaker describe the impact of using the table intentionally for spiritual growth? [01:52]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Deuteronomy 6:6-7 relate to the speaker's practice of using the dinner table for family devotions?
2. In what ways might Proverbs 22:6 be reflected in the speaker's desire to see his children and grandchildren continue the tradition of faith?
3. How does the speaker's approach to counteracting negative cultural influences align with the message in Psalm 78:4-7? [00:58]
4. What might be the significance of the speaker's joy in seeing his grandchildren continue the tradition of faith at the table? [01:23]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own family traditions. How can you incorporate spiritual discussions into your daily routine, similar to the speaker's use of the dinner table? [00:12]
2. What are some negative cultural influences that you or your family face today? How can you actively work against these influences with your children? [00:58]
3. Consider the resources mentioned by the speaker, such as "The Names of God" and "The Power of Words." How might these tools be useful in your family's spiritual journey? [01:39]
4. How can you create a sacred space in your home that encourages open discussions about faith and values?
5. Think about the legacy of faith you want to leave for future generations. What steps can you take now to ensure that this legacy is passed down?
6. How can you intentionally use mealtime or other family gatherings to instill God's thoughts, mind, and will in your family? [01:52]
7. What specific actions can you take this week to align your family's life with God's will, as suggested by the speaker? [01:39]

Devotional

Day 1: The Kitchen Table as a Sacred Space
The kitchen table is more than just a place for meals; it is a sacred space where faith and values are imparted to the next generation. This setting provides an opportunity for spiritual growth and guidance, ensuring that faith is carried forward by children and grandchildren. By intentionally using the table for family devotions, parents can bring spiritual principles to the forefront, creating a legacy of faith that endures through generations. This practice is crucial for nurturing a family environment that aligns with divine perspectives and counters negative cultural influences. [00:12]

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (ESV): "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."

Reflection: How can you transform your mealtime into a sacred space for spiritual conversations with your family today?


Day 2: Investing in the Next Generation
Regular and purposeful investment in children's spiritual development is essential for countering negative cultural influences. By instilling divine perspectives, parents equip their children to navigate the world with faith and integrity. This investment involves more than just teaching; it requires living out faith in everyday actions and conversations. By modeling a life aligned with God's will, parents provide a strong foundation for their children to build upon, ensuring that they are prepared to face the challenges of the world with a steadfast faith. [00:41]

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

Reflection: What specific steps can you take this week to invest in the spiritual growth of the young people in your life?


Day 3: Resources for Spiritual Growth
Resources like "The Names of God" and "The Power of Words" are designed to support parents in nurturing their children's spiritual growth. These tools help align family life with God's will, fostering a future that reflects His perspective. By utilizing these resources, families can engage in meaningful discussions and activities that reinforce spiritual principles. This intentional approach to spiritual education helps children develop a strong, personal faith that can withstand the pressures of the world. [01:39]

Colossians 3:16 (ESV): "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God."

Reflection: What resource can you introduce to your family this week to enhance your spiritual discussions and growth?


Day 4: Joy of Generational Faith
Witnessing the continuation of faith traditions by children and grandchildren brings immense joy. It ensures that the legacy of faith is passed down through generations, strengthening families and communities. This generational faith creates a ripple effect, influencing not only individual lives but also the broader community. By nurturing a strong faith foundation, families contribute to a culture of faith and unity that extends beyond their immediate circle. [01:23]

Psalm 78:4 (ESV): "We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done."

Reflection: How can you celebrate and encourage the faith traditions in your family today to ensure they continue for future generations?


Day 5: The Power of the Table
The table, when used intentionally, becomes a powerful instrument for instilling God's thoughts, mind, and will in families. This practice shapes individual lives and influences the broader community, creating a ripple effect of faith and unity. By dedicating time at the table for spiritual discussions and devotions, families can strengthen their faith and create a lasting impact on the world around them. This intentional use of the table fosters a sense of unity and purpose, aligning family life with God's will. [01:52]

Acts 2:46-47 (ESV): "And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved."

Reflection: What changes can you make to your family mealtime to ensure it becomes a powerful tool for spiritual growth and community impact?

Quotes

The kitchen table wasn't just for eating; it was for leading and guiding and inputting our faith into our family, our children, for the next generation. So we would have devotions typically around dinner time where we would bring a spiritual principle to the forefront. I know how important it is if we're going to see the next generation carry on our faith. [00:12:71]

To regularly and purposefully invest in them, that's why we at the River Alternative have developed resources to come alongside of parents and families to instill in those children and grandchildren what God has planned for them from a divine perspective to work against the negative cultural influences that are trying to steer them in the wrong direction. [00:38:64]

It's just exciting for me to see my children use the table for their children, and then to see my grandchildren now use the table for my great-grandchildren. So these resources like the Names of God or the Power of Words or the Armor of God or resources like Racial Unity or what my son Jonathan and I wrote, a Kingdom Family Devotional, all of these are designed to walk with parents as they walk with their offspring. [01:11:04]

There’s nothing like the table when it’s used to instill in families generationally the thoughts, minds, and will of God for them to carry it in their families and beyond. [01:52:08]

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Transcript
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