Raising Children Who Have Faith In God Psalm 78:1-8 An grandkids, cousins and family

God is a God of families “May the God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day, the Angel who has delivered me from all harm —may he bless these boys.” (Gen 48:15-16) The Bible – story of families Genesis! Families that get it right Families that are really messed up Families that

God is a God who is faithful “Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.” (Dt 7:9) In families God wants His faithfulness to be known That is Psalm 78 In a world – 70% of hs graduates stop attending church The answer is not in our church programming but in our home practice It’s not in our perfection – its in His presence You want your kids to know a faithful God – Psalm 78 tells us what to do

“And God passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, ‘The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.” (Ex 34:6-7)

1. Tell them how God has been faithful to you “We will not hide them from their children but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and His might, and the wonders that He has done.” (Ps 78:4) The God of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob – he is a god of families who uses families Don’t tell them what they are doing wrong – tell them what good God has done Tell them it requires faith My Bible FB Monday-Friday/ twitter/text/talk

1. Tell them how God has been faithful to you “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home . . .” (Dt 6:4-7) The God of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob – he is a god of families who uses families Don’t tell them what they are doing wrong – tell them what good God has done Tell them it requires faith My Bible FB Monday-Friday/ twitter/text/talk

2. Feed their faith through the Word of God. “He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children” (Ps 78:5) Faith comes by hearing Here is the key Sharing word of God – then a moment to show its true Kaleb – proverbs – multitude of words - “chatter”

2. Feed their faith through the Word of God. “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Ro 10:17) My mom – gave me one scripture - Proverbs 3:5-6 Kept my faith up through earning my way through college – worry about a job – Give them your word Text scriptures to them By following its call to forgiveness Melody – friends / homosexuality

3. Lead them in family steps of faith “to teach to their children that the next generation might know them [and Him]” (Ps 78:5-6) Goal is for our kids to have the right problems Goal is for them to see they need Jesus There is a tension – there is a need How will they ever know God is great and more than able – if we never allow him to be that for us Lead as a family – how are we trusting God together Worship service over sports –we need Him Tithing / Offering Serving Saying yes to public or home school Missions trips Doing the same with our church family Right problems – diversity in country that can’t get along Church plant – in Ethiopia Church plant – south Richmond What is your family doing that requires God to show up No such thing as prayer when the family doesn’t need anything

3. Lead them in family steps of faith “For in it [the Gospel] the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” (Ro 1:17) This is how we live

4. Identify for them steps of faith in their lives “so that they should set THEIR hope in God” (Ps 78:7) Most important role as a parent – God is going to be good This is faith This is knowing God in a broken world Help them see – God is with you. God is good. God is faithful. Faith or fear – your choice. Jesus did this in – John 9:1-3 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.

4. Identify for them steps of faith in their lives “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Heb 11:6 What is before us now? What’s the step of faith because God is good God is good right now