Home: The Foundation of Faith for Children
Summary
### Summary
Today, we explored the profound impact of what happens at home compared to what happens at church. The central theme is that the home environment is far more influential in shaping our children and their faith than the church environment. We wear many hats in life—parent, spouse, friend, and pastor—but the most influential hat is that of a parent. The story of a young girl who lost her faith due to turmoil at home underscores this point. Despite the church's best efforts, the influence of her home life overpowered the church's influence.
We delved into the idea that children are like sheep; they follow the example set before them. If we want our children to grow in faith, we must lead by example. This means living out our faith authentically at home. The scripture from Deuteronomy 6 emphasizes loving God with all our heart, soul, and strength and impressing these commandments on our children through everyday activities—sitting, walking, lying down, and getting up. These routine moments are where faith is genuinely passed on.
Parenting involves repetition and consistency. Just as a child learns through repetitive actions, they also learn faith through the consistent example set by their parents. The home is a place where forgiveness, humility, and service are learned and practiced. We are encouraged to take actionable steps today, not dwelling on past regrets but focusing on what we can do now to lead our families in faith.
Joshua's charge to the Israelites serves as a powerful call to action for us: "Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness." This involves throwing away false gods and choosing to serve the Lord wholeheartedly. The commitment to serve God as a family is a decision that requires action and movement, symbolizing our dedication to this cause.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Home's Influence: The home environment is far more influential than the church in shaping a child's faith. Despite the church's best efforts, the influence of what happens at home can overpower it. This underscores the importance of creating a faith-filled home environment where children can see and experience the love of God daily. [38:10]
2. Leading by Example: Children are like sheep; they follow the example set before them. If we want our children to grow in faith, we must lead by example. This means living out our faith authentically at home, demonstrating love, forgiveness, and humility in our daily actions. [43:25]
3. Routine Moments Matter: Faith is passed on through everyday activities—sitting, walking, lying down, and getting up. These routine moments are where children learn about God and faith. Consistency and repetition in these moments are crucial for instilling faith in our children. [47:59]
4. Addressing Regrets: It's natural to have regrets about our past actions as parents, but we must not let these regrets hinder our present and future efforts. The gospel calls us to lay our regrets at the foot of the cross and focus on what we can do today to lead our families in faith. [53:00]
5. Commitment to Serve: Joshua's charge to the Israelites is a powerful call to action for us: "Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness." This involves throwing away false gods and choosing to serve the Lord wholeheartedly. Making this commitment requires action and movement, symbolizing our dedication to this cause. [54:23]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[34:46] - The Hats We Wear
[36:25] - Walking My Daughter Down the Aisle
[38:10] - The Influence of Home
[40:01] - Church's Strategy for Families
[41:47] - The Nature of Sheep
[43:25] - Leading by Example
[44:55] - Parenting Advice
[46:31] - Love God with All Your Heart
[47:59] - Routine Moments Matter
[49:37] - Personal Reflections on Parenting
[51:22] - Living at Peace with One Another
[53:00] - Addressing Regrets
[54:23] - Joshua's Charge: Serve the Lord
[57:37] - Commitment to Serve
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Deuteronomy 6:4-7 (NIV)
> "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 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. Joshua 24:14-15 (NIV)
> "Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."
### Observation Questions
1. According to Deuteronomy 6:4-7, what are the specific actions parents are instructed to take to impress God's commandments on their children?
2. In Joshua 24:14-15, what two actions does Joshua call the Israelites to take in their commitment to serve the Lord?
3. What example did the pastor give to illustrate the influence of home life on a child's faith? ([38:10])
4. How did the pastor describe the nature of sheep and its relevance to parenting? ([41:47])
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Deuteronomy 6 emphasize the importance of routine moments (sitting, walking, lying down, and getting up) in passing on faith to children?
2. How does Joshua's charge to "throw away false gods" relate to modern-day distractions or priorities that might hinder a family's faith journey? ([54:23])
3. What does the pastor mean when he says, "What happens at home is far more influential than what happens at church"? How does this statement challenge traditional views of church and family roles? ([36:25])
4. How can the concept of children being like sheep, who follow by example, impact the way parents live out their faith at home? ([43:25])
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your daily routines. How can you incorporate faith-based conversations and actions into these moments with your family? ([47:59])
2. Identify any "false gods" or distractions in your life that might be taking priority over your commitment to serve the Lord. What steps can you take to "throw them away" this week? ([54:23])
3. Think about a recent situation at home where you could have demonstrated forgiveness, humility, or service. How can you approach similar situations differently in the future? ([53:00])
4. The pastor mentioned the importance of addressing regrets and focusing on present actions. Is there a specific regret you need to lay at the foot of the cross? How can you take actionable steps today to lead your family in faith? ([53:00])
5. Joshua's declaration, "As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord," requires a commitment. What specific actions can you take this week to lead your household in serving the Lord? ([54:23])
6. How can you create an environment at home where your children see and experience the love of God daily? What changes might be necessary to achieve this? ([38:10])
7. Reflect on the pastor's story about walking his daughter down the aisle. How does this illustrate the importance of the parental role over other roles? How can you prioritize your role as a parent in your daily life? ([36:25])
Devotional
Day 1: The Home's Influence
The home environment is far more influential than the church in shaping a child's faith. Despite the church's best efforts, the influence of what happens at home can overpower it. This underscores the importance of creating a faith-filled home environment where children can see and experience the love of God daily. The story of a young girl who lost her faith due to turmoil at home highlights this point. If we want our children to grow in faith, we must ensure that our homes are places where God's love and teachings are evident in our daily lives. [38:10]
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 make your home a more faith-filled environment today? What specific actions can you take to ensure that God's love is evident in your daily interactions with your family?
Day 2: Leading by Example
Children are like sheep; they follow the example set before them. If we want our children to grow in faith, we must lead by example. This means living out our faith authentically at home, demonstrating love, forgiveness, and humility in our daily actions. Our children learn more from what they see us do than from what they hear us say. By consistently modeling a Christ-like life, we provide a powerful example for our children to follow. [43:25]
1 Peter 5:2-3 (ESV): "Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock."
Reflection: In what ways can you better model Christ-like behavior to your children or those around you? What specific actions can you take today to demonstrate love, forgiveness, and humility?
Day 3: Routine Moments Matter
Faith is passed on through everyday activities—sitting, walking, lying down, and getting up. These routine moments are where children learn about God and faith. Consistency and repetition in these moments are crucial for instilling faith in our children. By integrating faith into our daily routines, we create a natural and continuous environment for spiritual growth. These small, consistent actions can have a profound impact on our children's faith journey. [47:59]
Deuteronomy 11:19 (ESV): "You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise."
Reflection: How can you incorporate faith into your daily routines with your family? What are some specific moments in your day where you can intentionally talk about or demonstrate your faith?
Day 4: Addressing Regrets
It's natural to have regrets about our past actions as parents, but we must not let these regrets hinder our present and future efforts. The gospel calls us to lay our regrets at the foot of the cross and focus on what we can do today to lead our families in faith. By acknowledging our past mistakes and seeking God's forgiveness, we can move forward with a renewed commitment to guide our families in faith. [53:00]
Philippians 3:13-14 (ESV): "Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
Reflection: What past regrets are you holding onto that may be hindering your ability to lead your family in faith? How can you lay these regrets at the foot of the cross and focus on what you can do today?
Day 5: Commitment to Serve
Joshua's charge to the Israelites is a powerful call to action for us: "Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness." This involves throwing away false gods and choosing to serve the Lord wholeheartedly. Making this commitment requires action and movement, symbolizing our dedication to this cause. By committing to serve God as a family, we demonstrate our dedication to living out our faith in every aspect of our lives. [54:23]
Joshua 24:14-15 (ESV): "Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
Reflection: What false gods or distractions are preventing you from serving the Lord wholeheartedly? How can you take actionable steps today to commit to serving God as a family?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "What happens at home is far more influential than what happens at church. What happens at home is far, far, far more influential than what happens at church. What happens in church and it didn't take me long as a pastor to figure that out." [36:25] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "If you want them to do something, you do it and they will do it. That's the best parenting advice I can possibly give in life. If you want them to do it, then you just do it. If you want them to say it, then you say it. Don't ever say hey don't talk like me they will talk just like you they will act just like you." [43:25] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "There is no place better to learn forgiveness than the home. There's no place better to learn humility than the home. There's no place to depend on one another. There's no place to give to one another. There's no place to serve that's better than the home, that's more powerful than the home, and so today it's our day to decide not what we've done in the past, but what we want to do today." [53:00] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. That last phrase is it. At some point, you have to say, I'm tired of following other gods. I'm tired of the regrets. I'm tired of the enemy coming in and ravaging my family. It's time for me to choose where we're going, what we're doing. And he just says, as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." [55:53] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Our anchor point that I want dearly for us to catch and understand in our life is simply this: what happens at home is far more influential than what happens at church. What happens at home is far, far, far more influential than what happens at church." [36:25] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "If we believe that and we still care for kids, what would be our strategy? Our strategy would be to change at home. Our strategy would be to change parents' lives and change the commitment level that parents have towards the faith because if we can do that, then we reach our goal of reaching children." [40:01] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "What you are at home is what you really are. So you see this, um, so impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home, when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. That is so simple. Anybody ever sit down? Anybody walk? Anybody lay down and get up? Like those are the most simple things that you could possibly do, the most routine things that you could do and you as you're doing those kinds of routine things, that's where Christianity is passed on." [46:31] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "If there's a regret, put it at the foot of the cross. If there's something to apologize for, if there's something to forgive, speak it out, do it, but today is the day of salvation. Today is the new day. Today is the day that we put something at the foot of the cross, and today is the only day that you can choose to follow him." [54:23] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. I love that it starts with now. It's not about some other time. It's not about the regrets. Now. What are you going to do now? Fear the Lord. Fear him. Serve him. Be faithful. Fear him. Serve him. Be faithful. That's our, that's what we want to do. It's the opposite side of the love God coin. The love God and fear him and serve him and be faithful are all the same exact same." [54:23] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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