Raising Faithful Children in a Changing World

 

Summary

In today's world, raising children as Christians presents unique challenges. The rapid technological, societal, and cultural changes have created an environment that can feel overwhelming for parents who desire to nurture their children in the faith. Reflecting on past generations, it's clear that every era has faced its own difficulties, but the current landscape seems particularly daunting. In the past, societal norms often aligned more closely with Christian values, providing a supportive backdrop for raising children. Today, however, parents must navigate a world where traditional values are often questioned or dismissed.

The importance of grounding children in the gospel and Scripture cannot be overstated. Parents are called to prepare their children intellectually and spiritually to face the world with a solid theological foundation and a character that commands respect. This preparation involves both defense—shielding children from harmful influences—and offense—actively teaching and modeling Christian values. It's crucial for parents to engage in meaningful conversations with their children about world events, helping them to see these through the lens of God's sovereignty and grace.

Despite the challenges, there is hope. Christian parents have the privilege of providing answers to life's big questions, answers that many in the world lack. By nurturing their children in faith, not fear, parents can instill a sense of security and hope. The peace that comes from God, as described in John 14:27 and Philippians 4:6-7, is a gift that sustains believers through life's storms. This peace is not the absence of challenges but a calmness in the midst of them.

For young parents, especially mothers, who may feel overwhelmed, the encouragement is to look to God for strength and peace. The role of a mother is incredibly special and demanding, but God provides the grace needed to navigate the complexities of parenting. By focusing on the eternal truths of the gospel and relying on God's peace, parents can raise their children with confidence and hope.

Key Takeaways:

1. Navigating Cultural Shifts: The rapid cultural changes present unique challenges for Christian parents. It's essential to ground children in Scripture and the gospel, preparing them to articulate their faith in a world that often opposes traditional values. [05:52]

2. Balancing Offense and Defense: Parenting requires a balance of shielding children from harmful influences while actively teaching them Christian values. This dual approach helps children develop a strong character and a solid theological foundation. [12:30]

3. The Power of Conversation: Engaging in conversations about world events through a Christian lens helps children understand the world and God's sovereignty. These discussions provide context and help children develop a Christian worldview. [17:34]

4. Peace in the Storm: The peace that God provides is a calmness in the midst of life's challenges. This peace, described in John 14:27 and Philippians 4:6-7, is a gift that sustains believers and is crucial for parents navigating the complexities of raising children. [25:32]

5. Hope in Parenting: Despite the challenges, Christian parents have the privilege of providing answers to life's big questions. By nurturing their children in faith, not fear, parents can instill a sense of security and hope, trusting in God's sovereignty and grace. [23:20]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:23] - Concerns for the Next Generation
- [01:12] - Cultural Transitions
- [02:42] - Social Revolution
- [03:31] - Challenges for Parents
- [05:05] - Importance of Gospel Understanding
- [06:39] - Respectful Engagement
- [08:04] - Parenting in a Digital Age
- [10:17] - Shielding Children from World Issues
- [12:30] - Offense and Defense in Parenting
- [13:17] - Christian Principles in Parenting
- [15:27] - Commanding Respect through Lifestyle
- [17:34] - Framing World Events with a Christian Lens
- [19:25] - Maintaining a Triumphant Spirit
- [23:20] - Hopeful Parenting in Faith

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. John 14:27 - "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
2. Philippians 4:6-7 - "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
3. Colossians 3:1-3 - "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God."

Observation Questions:
1. What are some of the unique challenges mentioned in the sermon that Christian parents face today compared to past generations? [01:12]
2. How does the sermon describe the balance between "offense" and "defense" in parenting? [12:30]
3. According to the sermon, what role do conversations about world events play in developing a Christian worldview in children? [17:34]
4. What does the sermon suggest is the source of peace for believers, especially for parents? [25:32]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How might the rapid cultural changes impact a child's ability to articulate their faith, and what can parents do to support them in this? [05:52]
2. In what ways can parents model the peace described in John 14:27 and Philippians 4:6-7 to their children during stressful times? [25:32]
3. How does the concept of "offense" and "defense" in parenting relate to the biblical principle of putting on and putting off, as mentioned in Colossians 3:1-3? [13:17]
4. What are some practical ways parents can engage in meaningful conversations with their children about world events through a Christian lens? [17:34]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent cultural or societal change that has challenged your family's values. How did you address it with your children, and what would you do differently next time? [01:12]
2. Identify a specific harmful influence you want to shield your children from. What steps can you take this week to protect them while also teaching them Christian values? [08:04]
3. Think of a recent world event that you discussed with your children. How did you frame it through the lens of God's sovereignty, and what was the outcome of that conversation? [17:34]
4. When was the last time you felt overwhelmed as a parent? How did you seek God's peace in that situation, and what was the result? [25:32]
5. Choose one aspect of your child's character that you want to nurture. What specific action can you take this week to encourage their growth in that area? [05:52]
6. How can you create an atmosphere in your home that reflects the peace and hope found in the gospel, especially during challenging times? [23:20]
7. Consider a time when you felt your parenting was more fear-driven than faith-driven. What changes can you make to ensure your approach is rooted in faith and hope? [23:20]

Devotional

Day 1: Grounding Children in Faith Amidst Cultural Shifts
In today's rapidly changing world, Christian parents face the challenge of raising children in an environment where traditional values are often questioned or dismissed. The importance of grounding children in the gospel and Scripture is paramount. Parents are called to prepare their children intellectually and spiritually to face the world with a solid theological foundation and a character that commands respect. This preparation involves both defense—shielding children from harmful influences—and offense—actively teaching and modeling Christian values. By doing so, parents can help their children articulate their faith in a world that often opposes it. [05:52]

"Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving." (Colossians 2:6-7, ESV)

Reflection: What specific steps can you take this week to help your children understand and articulate their faith in the face of cultural opposition?


Day 2: Balancing Protection and Instruction in Parenting
Parenting requires a delicate balance of shielding children from harmful influences while actively teaching them Christian values. This dual approach helps children develop a strong character and a solid theological foundation. Parents must engage in meaningful conversations with their children about world events, helping them to see these through the lens of God's sovereignty and grace. By doing so, they can prepare their children to navigate the complexities of the world with confidence and hope. [12:30]

"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 create opportunities for meaningful conversations with your children about current events through a Christian perspective this week?


Day 3: The Power of Conversation in Developing a Christian Worldview
Engaging in conversations about world events through a Christian lens helps children understand the world and God's sovereignty. These discussions provide context and help children develop a Christian worldview. By framing world events with a Christian perspective, parents can help their children see the bigger picture and understand how their faith intersects with the world around them. This approach not only strengthens their faith but also equips them to engage with the world in a meaningful way. [17:34]

"Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person." (Colossians 4:6, ESV)

Reflection: What is one current event you can discuss with your children this week to help them see it through the lens of God's sovereignty?


Day 4: Experiencing God's Peace Amidst Parenting Challenges
The peace that God provides is a calmness in the midst of life's challenges. This peace, described in John 14:27 and Philippians 4:6-7, is a gift that sustains believers and is crucial for parents navigating the complexities of raising children. Despite the challenges, there is hope. Christian parents have the privilege of providing answers to life's big questions, answers that many in the world lack. By nurturing their children in faith, not fear, parents can instill a sense of security and hope. [25:32]

"And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful." (Colossians 3:15, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you seek God's peace in your parenting journey this week, especially during challenging moments?


Day 5: Instilling Hope and Security Through Faith
Despite the challenges, Christian parents have the privilege of providing answers to life's big questions. By nurturing their children in faith, not fear, parents can instill a sense of security and hope, trusting in God's sovereignty and grace. The peace that comes from God is not the absence of challenges but a calmness in the midst of them. By focusing on the eternal truths of the gospel and relying on God's peace, parents can raise their children with confidence and hope. [23:20]

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11, ESV)

Reflection: How can you demonstrate and communicate the hope and security found in faith to your children this week?

Quotes


I think the Christian parents I know are much more conscious of the importance of helping their children both to understand the gospel, the Scriptures, and to be able to articulate that both to their contemporaries at school, no matter what the consequences are, and often to their teachers, who in my country, since almost all education that most children experience is either nationalized or controlled by the laws of education, there is nowhere to escape from the fact that this is the world in which we live. [00:04:51]

And so, I think the challenge for parents is that you are both. I mean, the peculiarity of an American football match or game to an outsider, this may be the last time anyone will speak to me, is there seem to be two different teams, you know, and they can be trained separately and have their separate coaches. But there is a balance in parenting that is grounded in the fact that in Scripture, there are these principles of offense and defense, of putting on and putting off. [00:12:30]

And I think, actually a reflection on those passages where Paul speaks about that, for example, in Colossians 3:1 following. You have this new identity in Christ, there are things you put off, there things you put on. Even an exploration of those things gives Christian parents principles that they can apply to each child at each stage in terms of defense and offense. And, just as in the Christian life, you don’t grow in sanctification just by saying “no” to sin, but by putting on the graces of Jesus Christ. [00:13:17]

And just as the Spirit nurtures us in these means, so, in our turn, we are called to nurture our children. Which is the challenge to us because to nurture them well, consciously, we have to understand the gospel pretty well and to exhibit it in our own lives. Because, I think it is that element of what I think of as the atmospherics of the home life that touch the affections of the children and make them feel they want to be like dad and mom. [00:14:07]

And I also think that we have to ... all of this has to be on the firm foundation of the sovereignty of God. And that they see us not collapsing and falling apart or not coming off as such a, let’s say, “hyper conservative,” that we’re just mad at the world the whole time, because that’s not a healthy attitude to be breeding in our children. I mean, there needs to be a positiveness about our confidence in God that we’re not always just in a mode of extreme overreaction to what’s going on. [00:19:25]

And some of the most powerful ones really come informally as life is unfolding. And you could be at a mall. You could be in a car. You could be after a soccer game or whatever, and something has been made known, and taking that moment and that time to give some perspective to that. And I also think that we have to ... all of this has to be on the firm foundation of the sovereignty of God. [00:18:29]

And I think we shouldn’t forget the fact that we have this amazing privilege, as Christian parents, of being able to help our children to understand the significance of things that are happening in the world. And as we do that from the beginning of their lives, then that helps put into them not only a developing Christian character, but an ability for them, as they grow in the world, where children ask each other these questions sometimes. [00:22:20]

So, I think we shouldn’t be despondent about the role that we have to play that we’re in a minority. Where I come from, we’re almost regarded as sinners. The sin now is to believe what we believe. And I think you could become extremely melancholic. And all that will eventually collapse on itself because it doesn’t have the strength to resource itself. Whereas as we bring up our children, as one of my ministers used to say, “in faith, not fear,” and I think that’s a very important principle that what we breathe out is what our children are going to breathe in, that in this world we live by faith, in security, and God has given us a framework of reference that helps us to understand everything that’s going on in the world, both good and bad. [00:23:20]

And He said to them, “My peace I give unto you. Peace not as the world gives, do I give to you. My peace I give to you.” And that’s a gift that only God can give. There’s only one source for true peace, which is a calmness and a stillness in the midst of the turmoil. And that is found in the Lord. And unbelievers have no peace, but we as believers do have peace. [00:25:32]

And that text in Philippians 4:6 and 7, you know, says that we must bring these. “Be anxious for nothing. But in everything with prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension shall guard,” and the word “guard” there is “to fortress,” like a castle, “will guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus.” [00:26:40]

But God gives us a peace that He alone can give. So, that would be my encouragement to a young mom, is as you look around and become distressed, to look up to the Lord who alone can still the raging waters inside your heart. [00:27:39]

And, you know, to have a triumphant spirit as best we can as we see the walls around us collapsing, nevertheless to be confident in the providence of God. [00:21:08]

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Transcript
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