Deuteronomy 6:4-9 4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

Deuteronomy 6:4-9 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:4-9

When You Sit at Home and When You Walk Along the Road

Deuteronomy 6:4-9 Hear, O Israel: The L ORD our God, the L ORD is one. Love the L ORD 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 and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

The Greatest Commandment Jesus gave this command priority when he called it the greatest commandment Matthew 22: “An expert of the law tested him with this question: Teacher, which is the greatest commandment of the law? Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.”

Hear, O Israel: The L ORD our God, the L ORD 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 and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

Upon Your Hearts This is about a way of life - an entire way of looking at the world This is about a way of life - an entire way of looking at the world There is no part of life in which God does not have priority There is no part of life in which God does not have priority Being God’s person Being God’s person Being God’s family Being God’s family

Hear, O Israel: The L ORD our God, the L ORD is one. Love the L ORD 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 and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

Impress Them On Your Children When and Where? When and Where? Sit at home Sit at home Walk on the road Walk on the road Lie down Lie down Get up Get up Do things that will remind you during the day Do things that will remind you during the day

Judges 2:10-12 After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who knew neither the L ORD, nor what he had done for Israel. Then Israel did evil in the eyes of the L ORD and served the Baals. They forsook the L ORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed and worshipped various Gods.

Disciples also Forget the Importance of Children Jesus had to rebuke His disciples to let children come to Him. Jesus had to rebuke His disciples to let children come to Him. Matthew 19:14 Matthew 19:14 Mark 10:13-16 Mark 10:13-16

Raising Children by Men of God Moses Moses Samuel Samuel Eli Eli David David

Raising Children by Men of God Consistency in Lifestyle Consistency in Lifestyle

Raising Children by Men of God Quantity Time is Quality Time Quantity Time is Quality Time

Raising Children by Men of God Consistent and Untiring Discipline Consistent and Untiring Discipline

Child Timeline Age 9 – values and world view set Age 9 – values and world view set Age 13 – Spiritual priorities set Age 13 – Spiritual priorities set Age – Spiritual tweaking Age – Spiritual tweaking Age 21+ – values in maintenance mode. It takes a major disruption in a person’s life to make value or world view changes. Age 21+ – values in maintenance mode. It takes a major disruption in a person’s life to make value or world view changes.

Some Findings From Recent Surveys Once the Worldview of children has been shaped and embraced, they unconsciously strive to make choices that are consistent with their perspective. Once the Worldview of children has been shaped and embraced, they unconsciously strive to make choices that are consistent with their perspective. Fewer than 10 percent of parents who regularly attend church with their kids read the Bible together or participate in an act of service as a family unit. Fewer than 10 percent of parents who regularly attend church with their kids read the Bible together or participate in an act of service as a family unit.

More Findings The longer you wait to pursue influencing your children, the more difficult it is to counteract the influence of other parties that have been imprinting their values upon your children. The longer you wait to pursue influencing your children, the more difficult it is to counteract the influence of other parties that have been imprinting their values upon your children. Effective children’s ministries insist on the regular participation of parents. Effective children’s ministries insist on the regular participation of parents.

Instilling a Christian worldview when a child is young is critical Talk about God and what He and His Son has done for us Talk about God and what He and His Son has done for us Talk about God’s ethical and moral commands for our lives Talk about God’s ethical and moral commands for our lives Tell and show that there is a spiritual part in everything we do Tell and show that there is a spiritual part in everything we do Consistently demonstrate in our life what we say Consistently demonstrate in our life what we say

Parents Are Not Alone Parents are primary, but we all play a part Parents are primary, but we all play a part Training for children comes from all of us Training for children comes from all of us Children with multiple older Christian role models actively involved in their lives stay faithful throughout their lives more often Children with multiple older Christian role models actively involved in their lives stay faithful throughout their lives more often

So What Can We Do? Mentor, teach, coach, tutor Mentor, teach, coach, tutor Men work with younger children Men work with younger children Older Christians interact with youth Older Christians interact with youth Teach and model leadership Teach and model leadership Model Jesus in Everything Model Jesus in Everything

The Bottom Line Act like you believe it

The Bottom Line Talk about God with the children (yours and others)

The Bottom Line See the World Through God’s Corrective Lenses

And Above All… PRAY