Spiritual Training From the Cradle

Psalm 78:1-8

Introduction:

1. A child begins life unable to conceive that anything happened or existed before he or she was born.

2. Whatever he/she will learn about God will come from those who teach him.

3. Little children below age ten or eleven have not learned to think abstractly, but they can learn valuable lessons.

4. Godly parents will do all they can to build a solid, spiritual foundation for their children.

I. The Bible Commands that Children Be Taught in Faith

1. Ex. 12:24-27 the very ritual of passover should arouse questions in children.

2. Deut. 6:4-7

3. Prov. 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.”

a. “train” refers to a process of discipline and teaching which includes a consistent example of the way he should go.

b. there is a strong sense of right and wrong held before the child

4. Prov. 13:24 “He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him diligently.

a. this does not mean one should beat his child for every problem

b. but that a parent should be willing to use the force necessary to keep him on the straight and narrow path.

c. There are two extremes here that should be avoided:

· Neglecting to discipline a child by ignoring misbehavior (1 Sam. 3:13 Eli "For I have told him that I am about to judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knew, because his sons brought a curse on themselves and he did not rebuke them.)

· Riding a child so hard that the child loses heart (Col. 3:21 Fathers, do not exasperate your children, that they may not lose heart.)

d. Good discipline is sufficient and consistent

· It is stern enough to make a serious point to the child, making it where the child does not want to repeat bad behavior

· It is consistent; parents do not let him get by one time and discipline another—when this happens there really is no discipline

· Parents should not promise to punish a child and fail to keep their word

· Good parents do not argue when they tell their children what to do; they have already won the power struggles.

· Parents should avoid making too many rules; but they must enforce the ones they do make.

· Discipline is a means of loving a child, helping him to live within the rules and restrictions which are necessary to life.

5. Matt. 18:1-10

a. "See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you, that their angels in heaven continually behold the face of My Father who is in heaven.” (10)

· little children are valuable in the eyes of God

b. Mothers and daddies must learn to set the best example they can for their children and not set a stumbling block

c. Parents it is better for you to cut out and eye or cut off a hand or foot than provide a stumbling block for your child. Loving your child means giving up whatever might be a stumbling block in his way.

d. You announce what you want your child to be by your behavior. Faith is caught as much as it is taught.

II. What Parents Can Do to Spiritually Train Small Children:

1. When they cannot read:

a. sing spiritual songs to them (car, bedtime)

b. tell them Bible stories

c. talk about Jesus in the teachable moments

d. give answers to questions that include God

· the average child asks 500,000 questions by age 15

· half a million opportunities

e. give him/her his own Bible—God’s word

f. help them memorize short passages

g. pray with them every night

h. go with them to church and Bible school

i. do good things with them

· take flowers to a friend, food,

· make cards to send to a sick person

· help someone with a task

i. reward good behavior

2. Small children experience their faith through their parents—relationship

a. when parents love children, children trust their parents

b. when parents tell of God, children believe you because they trust you

c. their faith grows as they see your faith

d. what will your children remember about home?

3. Parents, you will never be able to train your children properly if you are not right with God yourselves.

Conclusion:

Illustration: Where are you going to?

Where are you leading your children? Help them to know the Father!!