Parenting as a Spiritual Battle: Embracing Our Roles
Summary
The sermon begins with the pastor discussing the roles and responsibilities we have in life, drawing inspiration from the historical example of the 300 hoplites who defeated 20,000 Persian soldiers in just three days. He introduces the concept of three roles, with each role serving as the foundation for the next. The first role he discusses is that of a child, specifically a child of God. The responsibility of a child of God is to pursue Jesus. The pastor emphasizes that every role comes with its own responsibility, and it is crucial for individuals to understand and fulfill these responsibilities.
The pastor then moves on to discuss the challenges of parenting and the need for support from Jesus and others. He acknowledges that parenting is like entering a war and that it requires everything one can gather to navigate it wisely. The pastor also highlights that parenting does not necessarily have to be limited to biological children, but can extend to discipling and pouring into the lives of others. He admits to making mistakes in not protecting and teaching their own children as warriors, and acknowledges that the church has not done enough to prepare families for the challenges of parenting.
The pastor emphasizes the importance of pursuing Jesus in our lives. He highlights how many people in the church have become selfish monsters because they prioritize going to heaven over pursuing a relationship with Jesus. The pastor also discusses the significance of meeting Jesus before getting married, as marriage reveals weaknesses and character flaws. However, even if one meets Jesus after marriage, they should start where they are and continue to pursue Him together.
The pastor then discusses two ways in which parents can sharpen their children as warriors. Firstly, parents are encouraged to engage in Bible reading plans with their children, creating a space for them to sit down together and learn from God's word. Secondly, the pastor addresses the struggle of parents trying to mold their children into their own image, rather than allowing them to discover and embrace their unique God-given talents and interests.
The sermon concludes with the pastor emphasizing the importance of recognizing that Christians are in a spiritual war. He criticizes the tendency of Christians to complain about the state of the world without taking action, attributing this to their lack of warrior mentality. He asserts that Christians should prioritize their role as warriors and be willing to engage in the spiritual battle rather than focusing on materialistic pursuits. The pastor also draws a parallel between warriors and parents, stating that just as warriors see their arrows as blessings, parents should view their children as crucial to their existence.
Key Takeaways:
- The pastor emphasizes that every role in life comes with its own responsibility, and it is crucial for individuals to understand and fulfill these responsibilities. He introduces the concept of three roles, with each role serving as the foundation for the next. The first role he discusses is that of a child, specifically a child of God. The responsibility of a child of God is to pursue Jesus. [12:45]
- The pastor acknowledges that parenting is like entering a war and that it requires everything one can gather to navigate it wisely. He also highlights that parenting does not necessarily have to be limited to biological children, but can extend to discipling and pouring into the lives of others. [24:30]
- The pastor emphasizes the importance of pursuing Jesus in our lives. He highlights how many people in the church have become selfish monsters because they prioritize going to heaven over pursuing a relationship with Jesus. The pastor also discusses the significance of meeting Jesus before getting married, as marriage reveals weaknesses and character flaws. [36:15]
- The pastor discusses two ways in which parents can sharpen their children as warriors. Firstly, parents are encouraged to engage in Bible reading plans with their children, creating a space for them to sit down together and learn from God's word. Secondly, the pastor addresses the struggle of parents trying to mold their children into their own image, rather than allowing them to discover and embrace their unique God-given talents and interests. [48:00]
- The pastor emphasizes the importance of recognizing that Christians are in a spiritual war. He criticizes the tendency of Christians to complain about the state of the world without taking action, attributing this to their lack of warrior mentality. He asserts that Christians should prioritize their role as warriors and be willing to engage in the spiritual battle rather than focusing on materialistic pursuits. [59:30]
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. 1 Timothy 2:4 - "who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth."
2. Ezekiel 18:23 - "Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign Lord. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?"
3. Proverbs 22:6 - "Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it."
Observation Questions:
1. What does 1 Timothy 2:4 suggest about God's desire for all people?
2. In Ezekiel 18:23, what does the Sovereign Lord declare about His feelings towards the wicked?
3. According to Proverbs 22:6, what is the expected outcome when children are started off on the right path?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does 1 Timothy 2:4 relate to the responsibility of a child of God to pursue Jesus?
2. How does Ezekiel 18:23 reflect the importance of turning away from wickedness and living a righteous life?
3. How can Proverbs 22:6 be interpreted in the context of parenting and the role of parents in guiding their children?
Application Questions:
1. Reflecting on 1 Timothy 2:4, what are some specific ways you can actively pursue Jesus in your daily life?
2. Considering Ezekiel 18:23, can you identify any wicked ways in your life that you need to turn away from? What steps can you take to do so?
3. In light of Proverbs 22:6, if you are a parent, how can you better guide your children in the way they should go? If you are not a parent, how can you apply this principle in your interactions with younger individuals in your life?
4. What is one specific action you can take this week to engage in the spiritual battle as a Christian warrior?
5. Can you think of a person or a group of people in your life who you can disciple or pour into, extending the concept of parenting beyond biological children?
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing Our Role as Children of God
As children of God, our primary responsibility is to pursue Jesus. This pursuit is not a passive act, but an active engagement that requires us to understand and fulfill our responsibilities. It is the foundation upon which all other roles in life are built. [12:45]
Bible Passage: 1 John 3:1 - "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him."
Reflection: How can you actively pursue Jesus in your daily life? Can you identify one specific action you can take today to fulfill your role as a child of God?
Day 2: Parenting as Spiritual Warfare
Parenting is akin to entering a war, requiring everything one can gather to navigate it wisely. It extends beyond biological children to discipling and pouring into the lives of others. [24:30]
Bible Passage: 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."
Reflection: How can you equip yourself for the spiritual warfare of parenting? What resources or support do you need to disciple and pour into the lives of others?
Day 3: Pursuing Jesus Over Heaven
Many prioritize the destination of heaven over the journey of pursuing a relationship with Jesus. This pursuit is crucial before and after marriage, as it reveals weaknesses and character flaws. [36:15]
Bible Passage: Matthew 6:33 - "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
Reflection: How can you shift your focus from the destination of heaven to the journey of pursuing Jesus? What steps can you take today to deepen your relationship with Him?
Day 4: Sharpening Children as Warriors
Parents are encouraged to engage in Bible reading plans with their children and allow them to discover and embrace their unique God-given talents and interests. [48:00]
Bible Passage: Proverbs 22:6 - "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it."
Reflection: How can you create a space for your children to learn from God's word? What steps can you take to help them discover and embrace their unique God-given talents and interests?
Day 5: Engaging in Spiritual Warfare
Christians are in a spiritual war and should prioritize their role as warriors, engaging in the spiritual battle rather than focusing on materialistic pursuits. [59:30]
Bible Passage: Ephesians 6:12 - "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."
Reflection: How can you cultivate a warrior mentality in your spiritual life? What specific actions can you take today to engage in the spiritual battle?
Quotes
"When you enter the world of parenting, it's not only going to take you and Jesus, it's going to take you, Jesus, and somebody else to survive." #!!17:59!!#
"You don't have to be a biological parent to disciple and parent others. You can be pouring into lives even if you didn't give life. That's how God's plan works." #!!18:31!!#
"Parenting is like being in a war for your kids. You're preparing your children to be warriors, and if you don't, they'll lose. The church has a responsibility to prepare families for this battle." #!!20:34!!#
"Our job is to discover what God created our children to be. God gave your child specific talents, interests, and skills. Our job is to sharpen them, not remake them." #!!28:18!!#
"You know what the church has created? A bunch of selfish monsters. Everybody wants to go to heaven, nobody wants to pursue Jesus." #!!15:29!!#
"The Bible clearly teaches that God ordained and instituted the family, that He created us to pursue each other. These build on each other. You don't meet somebody and quit pursuing Jesus, you pursue Jesus, you meet somebody, and then you pursue them and Jesus. That's how it works." #!!16:07!!#
"If we had met Jesus and followed Jesus before getting married, Jesus would have dealt with our character flaws and weaknesses. We would have been maturing spiritually, so that by the time we got married, we would be miles ahead in life. But even if we didn't, we start where we are and pursue Jesus together." #!!17:21!!#
"The war rages... arrows are a blessing to the warrior... a warrior looks in that quiver and if that quiver is full... he goes 'I'm in a good spot, I have a blessed life cuz my quiver is full'... when you see yourself as a warrior then your children become crucial to your existence." (source: #!!22:31!!#)
"We've gotten so comfortable and so prosperous that we didn't even believe we were in a war until this happens... Christians realize they're in a war and this is what we do... we got concerned about making more money and doing more fun things rather than going to war and this is where we are." (source: #!!21:52!!#)
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