Reclaiming Family Connections Amidst Modern Distractions

 

Summary

Raising Kingdom Kids is about understanding the importance of parenting from a kingdom perspective amidst the distractions of modern life. I shared a personal story from when my family visited Disneyland, a place filled with excitement and wonder. During our visit, we lost track of my youngest son, Jonathan, amidst the crowds and attractions. The panic and urgency we felt in searching for him highlighted how easily distractions can cause us to lose sight of what truly matters. This experience serves as a metaphor for the distractions that pull families apart today.

In our current world, distractions abound, not just in amusement parks but in everyday life. Parents are often preoccupied with work, careers, and even church activities, while children face distractions from social media, peer pressure, and entertainment. These distractions can lead to a breakdown in family relationships, causing parents and children to lose connection with each other. The kingdom of this world is not designed to keep families together, and it is crucial for us to be intentional in reclaiming our children from these distractions.

The joy and relief I felt upon finding my son remind us of the importance of prioritizing our relationships with our children. We must be vigilant and proactive in guiding them through the distractions of this world, ensuring that they grow up with a strong sense of identity and purpose rooted in the kingdom of God. By doing so, we can raise children who are not only aware of the distractions around them but are also equipped to navigate them with wisdom and discernment.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Danger of Distractions: Just as I lost track of my son in Disneyland, parents today can lose sight of their children due to the myriad distractions in life. It is essential to remain vigilant and focused on nurturing our relationships with our children, ensuring that we do not let the busyness of life pull us apart. [01:50]

2. The Kingdom's Influence: The world offers a kingdom filled with distractions that can lead families astray. Parents must recognize the influence of this kingdom and actively work to counteract its effects by instilling kingdom values in their children. [02:28]

3. Intentional Parenting: Raising kingdom kids requires intentionality. Parents must prioritize their children's spiritual and emotional well-being over the distractions of work, entertainment, and even church activities that can sometimes take precedence. [02:28]

4. Equipping Children: Children face numerous distractions from social media, peer pressure, and entertainment. It is crucial to equip them with the tools and wisdom to navigate these challenges, helping them to develop a strong sense of identity and purpose. [03:08]

5. The Joy of Reconnection: The relief and joy of finding a lost child serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of maintaining strong family connections. Parents should strive to create an environment where children feel valued and understood, fostering a sense of belonging and security. [01:50]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:39] - The Magic Kingdom Experience
- [01:15] - The Panic of Losing a Child
- [01:50] - The Joy of Reconnection
- [02:28] - Distractions in Today's Kingdom
- [03:08] - The Impact of Modern Distractions

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Raising Kingdom Kids

Bible Reading:
1. Proverbs 22:6 (NIV) - "Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it."
2. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (NIV) - "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."

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Observation Questions:
1. What was the main distraction that caused the pastor to lose track of his son at Disneyland? How does this relate to the distractions families face today? [01:15]
2. According to the sermon, what are some of the modern distractions that can lead to a breakdown in family relationships? [02:28]
3. How did the pastor describe his feelings upon finding his son, and what does this illustrate about the importance of family connections? [01:50]

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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Proverbs 22:6 relate to the idea of intentional parenting discussed in the sermon? What does it mean to "start children off on the way they should go" in today's context?
2. In Deuteronomy 6:6-7, parents are instructed to impress commandments on their children. How can this be practically applied in a world full of distractions?
3. The sermon mentions the influence of a worldly kingdom filled with distractions. How can parents recognize and counteract these influences in their children's lives? [02:28]

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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you were distracted from spending quality time with your family. What steps can you take to minimize these distractions in the future? [02:28]
2. Identify one specific distraction in your life that affects your relationship with your children. How can you address this distraction to prioritize your family? [02:28]
3. How can you intentionally instill kingdom values in your children amidst the distractions of social media and entertainment? What practical steps can you take this week? [03:08]
4. Think about a recent situation where you felt disconnected from your child. What actions can you take to strengthen your connection and ensure they feel valued and understood? [01:50]
5. Consider the joy and relief the pastor felt upon finding his son. How can you create moments of joy and connection with your family regularly? [01:50]
6. What are some ways you can model a strong sense of identity and purpose rooted in the kingdom of God for your children? How can you demonstrate this in your daily life? [03:08]

Devotional

Day 1: The Peril of Losing Sight

In the hustle and bustle of life, it's easy to lose sight of what truly matters, just as one might lose a child in a crowded place. Distractions are everywhere, from work obligations to social media, and they can cause us to drift away from nurturing our most important relationships. Parents, in particular, must be vigilant in maintaining a strong connection with their children, ensuring that the busyness of life does not pull them apart. The urgency and panic of losing a child in a crowd serve as a metaphor for the need to remain focused and attentive to our family bonds. [01:50]

"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth." (Psalm 127:3-4, ESV)

Reflection: What is one distraction in your life that is pulling you away from your family, and how can you address it today?


Day 2: Recognizing the World's Influence

The world offers a kingdom filled with distractions that can lead families astray. Parents must be aware of the influence of this worldly kingdom and actively work to counteract its effects by instilling kingdom values in their children. This requires a conscious effort to prioritize spiritual growth and moral guidance over the allure of worldly success and entertainment. By recognizing the subtle ways in which the world can pull families apart, parents can take proactive steps to ensure their children are grounded in values that align with the kingdom of God. [02:28]

"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." (1 John 2:15, ESV)

Reflection: What worldly influence do you see affecting your family, and what steps can you take to counteract it with kingdom values?


Day 3: The Call to Intentional Parenting

Raising kingdom kids requires intentionality. Parents must prioritize their children's spiritual and emotional well-being over the distractions of work, entertainment, and even church activities that can sometimes take precedence. This means being deliberate in creating an environment where children feel valued and understood, fostering a sense of belonging and security. Intentional parenting involves setting aside time to engage with children, listen to their concerns, and guide them in their spiritual journey. By doing so, parents can help their children develop a strong sense of identity and purpose rooted in the kingdom of God. [02:28]

"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 be more intentional in your parenting this week, and what specific actions will you take to prioritize your child's spiritual growth?


Day 4: Equipping Children for the Journey

Children face numerous distractions from social media, peer pressure, and entertainment. It is crucial to equip them with the tools and wisdom to navigate these challenges, helping them to develop a strong sense of identity and purpose. Parents can play a vital role in guiding their children through these distractions by teaching them discernment and encouraging them to seek God's guidance in their decisions. By providing a solid foundation of faith and values, parents can help their children become resilient and wise in the face of worldly temptations. [03:08]

"My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you." (Proverbs 3:1-2, ESV)

Reflection: What is one way you can equip your child to handle the distractions they face, and how can you support them in developing discernment?


Day 5: The Joy of Reconnection

The relief and joy of finding a lost child serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of maintaining strong family connections. Parents should strive to create an environment where children feel valued and understood, fostering a sense of belonging and security. Reconnecting with our children requires effort and intentionality, but the rewards are immeasurable. By prioritizing our relationships with our children, we can experience the joy and fulfillment that come from a strong and loving family bond. [01:50]

"Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." (Ephesians 6:4, ESV)

Reflection: What is one way you can strengthen your connection with your child today, and how can you create an environment where they feel valued and understood?

Quotes

Raising Kingdom Kids. I was privileged to write this book to try to give a kingdom perspective to parenting. I remember when our kids were small, and what we did was we took them to Disneyland. We took them to the Magic Kingdom. There are all the sights and sounds and excitement of all that makes Disneyland wonderful was part of our experience. [00:00:10]

We were looking around and enjoying ourselves, but somewhere between Fantasyland and Tomorrowland, we lost track of my youngest child, Jonathan. We lost track of him. I looked up, and I couldn't find my son. Panic set in because there were thousands of people all over the property, and so we began a search, a search for our son. [00:00:39]

We looked and we looked, we fanned out, and we couldn't find him. Minutes went by that seemed like hours as our child was lost, and we didn't know where he was. We called the security to help us, and they tried to help us find Jonathan. I don't really remember exactly how long it was before we located him. [00:00:69]

He was looking in one of those windows at all of the fancy stuff and all of the prizes and all of the the glitz and the glitter. I had lost track of him. We had lost track of him because we were looking at the things around us, too. He had become distracted. I had become distracted. We had become distracted, and in the midst of that distraction, we had lost each other. [00:01:15]

And we did everything we could to locate him. When I grabbed him, I hugged him. I wanted to spank him, but I hugged him because of the joy of being able to find a child that was lost. We're in a kingdom today that has plenty of distractions, and these distractions have caused a loss in our children. [00:01:23]

It's not a fairy tale; it's not a fairyland. But there's another kingdom at work that is distracting parents from children and children from parents. This kingdom is breaking up families, and we've got to get our kids back from a kingdom that really isn't set up to keep us together. [00:01:40]

Parents have been distracted by work, career, entertainment, even sometimes church can become a distraction to what we ought to be doing as parents. In addition to that, the kids are distracted. Social media, peer group peer pressure, just the entertainment sector of our culture—all of these have added to separating families. [00:02:08]

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?