Parents & Grandparents: TELL THE NEXT GENERATION Ps. 71:17-18 [By Ron Halbrook]

Parents & Grandparents: TELL THE NEXT GENERATION Introduction: 1. Ps. 71:17-18 David determined to tell the next generation God’s great works

1. Ps. 71:17-18 David determined to tell the next generation God’s great works 17 O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works. 18 Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.

Parents & Grandparents: TELL THE NEXT GENERATION Introduction: 2. Serving Christ creates spiritual heritage for our offspring 3. We have duty & privilege to teach, lead, & guide our children & grandchildren

Parents & Grandparents: TELL THE NEXT GENERATION 4. Every generation must teach the next: God blesses future generations through His steadfast servants God blesses families & nations through His steadfast servants God calls us to be steadfast stewards of our children & grandchildren Be steadfast as parents & grandparents

Parents & Grandparents: TELL THE NEXT GENERATION I. God Blesses Children’s Children through His Steadfast Servants A. Ps. 103:15-18 God Blesses His People Generation after Generation Vv. 15-16 Each generation passes

Vv. 15-16 Each generation passes 15 As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. 16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.

Parents & Grandparents: TELL THE NEXT GENERATION I. God Blesses Children’s Children through His Steadfast Servants A. Ps. 103:15-18 God Blesses His People Generation after Generation Vv. 17-18 God’s extends His blessings to every generation who serves Him

Vv. 17-18 God’s extends His blessings to every generation who serves Him 17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children; 18 To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.

Parents & Grandparents: TELL THE NEXT GENERATION I. God Blesses Children’s Children through His Steadfast Servants B. Parents & Grandparents Who Steadfastly Serve God Bless Future Generations!

Parents & Grandparents: TELL THE NEXT GENERATION II. God Blesses Families & Nations through His Steadfast Servants A. Ps. 127 Families & Nations Find Peace & Security in God Vv. 1-2 Nations & families find stability & peace only by trusting in God

Vv. 1-2 Nations & families find stability & peace only by trusting in God 1 Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. 2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

Parents & Grandparents: TELL THE NEXT GENERATION II. God Blesses Families & Nations through His Steadfast Servants A. Ps. 127 Families & Nations Find Peace & Security in God Vv. 3-5 Children raised in godly homes strengthen the family— enhance parents’ reputation

Vv. 3-5 Children raised in godly homes strengthen the family— enhance parents’ reputation 3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. 4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. 5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

Parents & Grandparents: TELL THE NEXT GENERATION B. Godly Character Passed to a New Generation Is the Hope of a Nation Nations slowly die as parents & grandparents turn from God Young Christians who marry are new hope Older couples must redouble our commitment to be steadfast examples

Parents & Grandparents: TELL THE NEXT GENERATION III. God Calls Us to Be Steadfast Stewards of Our Children A. Ps. 78:1-8 God Made Us Stewards to Teach His Word & Works to Our Children Vs. 1 We need open hearts to hear God. 1 Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

Parents & Grandparents: TELL THE NEXT GENERATION III. God Calls Us to Be Steadfast Stewards of Our Children A. Ps. 78:1-8 God Made Us Stewards to Teach His Word & Works to Our Children Vv. 2-3 Israel’s history is a parable on the need to be steadfast—learn, teach!

2 I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: Vv. 2-3 Israel’s history is a parable on the need to be steadfast—learn, teach! 2 I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: 3 Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.

Parents & Grandparents: TELL THE NEXT GENERATION III. God Calls Us to Be Steadfast Stewards of Our Children A. Ps. 78:1-8 God Made Us Stewards to Teach His Word & Works to Our Children Vv. 4-6 Teach about God, His law, & His works generation after generation

Vv. 4-6 Teach about God, His law, & His works generation after generation 4 We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. 5 For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: 6 That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:

Parents & Grandparents: TELL THE NEXT GENERATION III. God Calls Us to Be Steadfast Stewards of Our Children A. Ps. 78:1-8 God Made Us Stewards to Teach His Word & Works to Our Children Vv. 7-8 Teach about God & His law, & the need to be steadfast to serve Him

Vv. 7-8 Teach about God & His law, & the need to be steadfast to serve Him 7 That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments: 8 And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.

Parents & Grandparents: TELL THE NEXT GENERATION III. God Calls Us to Be Steadfast Stewards of Our Children B. If Such Teaching Needed Under Old Law, How Much More So Under the New Law!

Parents & Grandparents: TELL THE NEXT GENERATION IV. Be Steadfast as Parents & Grandparents A. Be Steadfast in Purpose to Serve God Faith in Christ, repentance, confessing him, & baptism mean a lifetime commitment! Rom. 6:4 Baptism commits us to live as a new man in Christ

Rom. 6:4 Baptism commits us to live as a new man in Christ 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Parents & Grandparents: TELL THE NEXT GENERATION IV. Be Steadfast as Parents & Grandparents B. Be Steadfast in Commitment to Marriage Eph. 5:22-31 United as one in love & service, not 2 angry cats tied together

Eph. 5:22-31 United as one in love & service, not 2 angry cats tied together 22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

Eph. 5:22-31 United as one in love & service, not 2 angry cats tied together 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Eph. 5:22-31 United as one in love & service, not 2 angry cats tied together 28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

Parents & Grandparents: TELL THE NEXT GENERATION IV. Be Steadfast as Parents & Grandparents C. Be Steadfast in Godly Character 2 Cor. 13:5 Daily examine faith & life 5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you-- unless, of course, you fail the test? [NIV]

Parents & Grandparents: TELL THE NEXT GENERATION IV. Be Steadfast as Parents & Grandparents C. Be Steadfast in Godly Character 1 Pet. 1:14-16 Be holy like God — not conform to world, conceal sin

1 Pet. 1:14-16 Be holy like God — not conform to world, conceal sin 14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

Parents & Grandparents: TELL THE NEXT GENERATION IV. Be Steadfast as Parents & Grandparents D. Be Steadfast in Teaching Children & Grandchildren Godly Character 2 Tim. 1:5 Exemplify sincere faith 5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.

Parents & Grandparents: TELL THE NEXT GENERATION IV. Be Steadfast as Parents & Grandparents D. Be Steadfast in Teaching Children & Grandchildren Godly Character 2 Tim. 3:15 Teach from youth up 15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Parents & Grandparents: TELL THE NEXT GENERATION IV. Be Steadfast as Parents & Grandparents D. Be Steadfast in Teaching Children & Grandchildren Godly Character Comments of young man & bride on wedding day show it can be done today: “With both my parents & grandparents, there was time in the evenings to read & pray.” She can still hear a grandmother singing spiritual hymns as she moved about the house

Parents & Grandparents: TELL THE NEXT GENERATION Invitation: 1. Ps. 71:17-18 David determined to tell the next generation God’s great works

1. Ps. 71:17-18 David determined to tell the next generation God’s great works 17 O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works. 18 Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.

Parents & Grandparents: TELL THE NEXT GENERATION 2. Every generation must teach the next: God blesses future generations through His steadfast servants God blesses families & nations through His steadfast servants God calls us to be steadfast stewards of our children & grandchildren Be steadfast as parents & grandparents

Parents & Grandparents: TELL THE NEXT GENERATION Invitation: 3. Acts 2:38 Save our own souls before teach & lead others to salvation 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.