SAFEGUARDING YOUR FAMILY
EPH 6:1-4 7 MAY 17 DR. M POPE
INTRO: In their 1977 work The Criminal Personality, they concluded that the answer to crime is a "conversion of the wrong-doer to a more responsible lifestyle." In 1987, two Harvard professors came to similar conclusions in their book Crime and Human Nature. They determined that the cause of crime is a lack of proper moral training among young people during the morally formative years, particularly ages one to six.
1. THE RELATIONSHIP OF CHILDREN TO THEIR PARENTS
a. Obey (those in the Lord) – Mt 10:34-39
Signs of the times: Rm 1:30 “backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, ‘disobedient to parents.’
b. Honor (Respect)
Lev 20:9 “For everyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death. He has cursed his father or his mother. His blood shall be upon him.”
2. REARING GODLY CHILDREN IN AN UNGODLY WORLD
Amazing how we as parents take great steps to safeguard our children, I would hazard to guess most responsible parents will have special locks on doors so little ones can’t get outside on their own, they have safety locks on cabinets to keep their little hands off dangerous chemicals. Child-proof caps on drug bottles. Parents today are careful about those they allow their children to be around.
BUT what about the protection they need against the wiles of the devil, how do you teach those things? Do you protect them from the many ungodly things that come on the TV? Do allow them to watch those cute, little shows and cartoons that promote magic and witchcraft?
(Do you not know the bible says that ‘rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft’ 1 Sam 15:23)
Pv 15:20 “A wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish man despises his mother
a. To Honor the Lord (In the Lord)
b. To Hearken to Wisdom (teaching the Word)
Pv 13:13 “He who despises the word will be destroyed…”)
c. To Heed Parental Instruction (Pv
3. HOW TO DISCIPLINE DISRESPECT
a. Set the Boundaries for Discipline (Tenderness)(Do Not Provoke)
1) No Sassing
2) Do Not Speak in Disrespectful Tones
3) Do Not Be Sarcastic
4) Do Not be in Rebellion to Authority
b. Standards for Parental Discipline (Training)
Pv 22:6 “Train UP a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”
The Hebrew means “dedicated to the path to which they are called.” How God has created them to walk to glorify Him.
1) Do Not Say What You Will Not Enforce (Learn not to say same thing more than once)
“You are being trained by your children when you hear yourself telling them the same thing more than once.”
2) Immediately Correct the Offense
3) The Same Punishment Does Not Fit All Children
4) Love the Child, Correct the Problem – (Never use demeaning or disrespectful terms to your Children)
5) When you are Wrong – it’s OK to Apologize
4. SAFEGUARD YOUR CHILDREN WITH:
a. Unconditional Love (Do not Condone – Correct)
b. Give Attention to Their Needs AND Yours
c. Spend Quality Time with Them
d. Cultivate a Safe Atmosphere in the Home
e. When Parents ‘Disagree’, try to do so away from the children (causes anxiety)
CLOSE: Deut: 6:4-9 (Read)
