A Foundation for the Future
Ephesians 6:1-4
Introduction:
• Every 8 seconds of every school day a child drops out of school
• Every 26 seconds a child runs away from home
• Every 47 seconds a child is either abused or neglected
• Every 7 minutes a child is arrested for a drug offense
• Every 36 minutes a child is either hurt or killed by a gun
• 66% of teenagers spend less than 30 minutes per week talking to parent about what matters most to them
• ¼ of all alcohol consumed in USA is consumed by those 18 and under
I. A Foundation of Obedience (v. 1)
A. Obedience is Action
1. It is an Action that is Taught
2. It is an Action that is Expected
B. Obedience Reflects Our View of God
C. Obedience Is Right
1. It Promotes Peace
2. It Promotes Success
3. It Provides a Witness
II. A Foundation of Honor (v. 2-3)
A. There Are Different Ways to Honor Parents
1. In the Home Our Attitude in Obeying
2. After Leaving Home the Life We Live
B. Our Degree of Honor Places Value
C. The Promise of Honoring
III. A Foundation of Proper Parenting (v. 4)
A. We Must Not Provoke Our Children
10 Ways We Provoke Our Children
#1 Smother them. Never giving them a chance to take chances.
#2 Favoritism. Favoring one kid over the other.
#3 – Comparing your kids with one another.
#4 – Pushing their achievement beyond reasonable bounds.
#5 – Discouraging them.
#6 – Failing to make the child feel wanted. Always treating them like they are intruding on your life.
#7 – Using love as a tool for reward and punishment.
#8 – Failing to let them grow up in a normal life.
#9 – Physical and verbal abuse.
#10 – Teasing and taunting them.
B. We Must Dare to Discipline
1. Discipline is more than physical punishment
2. Discipline is an act of love
3. Discipline is Teaching Love and Respect of God
Closing
“When a kid turns thirteen, stick him in a barrel, nail the lid on top, and feed him through the knot hole. When he turns sixteen -- plug up the knot hole.” – Mark Twain
“Children will invariably talk, eat, walk, think, respond, and act like their parents. Give them a target to shoot at. Give them a goal to work toward. Give them a pattern that they can see clearly, and you give them something that gold and silver cannot buy.” – Billy Graham
“If a child lives with criticism, He learns to condemn.
If a child lives with hostility, He learns to fight.
If a child lives with ridicule, He learns to be shy.
If a child lives with shame, He learns to feel guilty.
If a child lives with tolerance, He learns to be patient.
If a child lives with encouragement, He learns confidence.
If a child lives with praise, He learns to appreciate.
If a child lives with fairness, He learns justice.
If a child lives with security, He learns to have faith.
If a child lives with approval, He learns to like himself.
If a child lives with acceptance and friendship,
He learns to find love in the world.” - Dorothy Law Nolte
