Sermon INTRODUCTION Home Grown Resolutions Parenting By Grace

What does it mean to be a Christian parent? What makes Christian Parenting DISTINCTLY Christian? Being a Christian parent is no guarantee that my parenting is ESSENTIALLY Christian.

Barnhouse said, “All of the bars and pool halls would be closed, pornography banished, pristine streets and sidewalks would be occupied by tidy pedestrians who smiled at each other. There would be no swearing…

…The kids would answer “Yes, sir,” “No, ma’am,” and the churches would be full on Sunday … where Christ is not preached”

God wants us and our kids to understand the transforming power of the gospel in our lives. …the children who actually end up performing better are those who understand that their relationship with God doesn’t depend on their performance for Jesus but on Jesus’s performance for them..

“How do I live out of the grace of the gospel while seeking to manage, nurture, train, correct, and proclaim promises to my kids?”

[1] Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. [2] “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), [3] “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”

[4] Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:1-4 ESV)

[20] Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. [21] Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. (Colossians 3:20-21 ESV)

Both verses touch on what issue? Anger = Danger There is enough inherent anger in the parent / child relationship, so don’t add to it needlessly.

A two year old or a teen can be a terrible tyrant Anger dominates all other emotions – it cannibalizes the others and nothing can be done for good until it is neutralized

Putting away anger is an often repeated by product of believing the gospel The key connection to GRACE is in the phrase OF THE LORD.

How does The Lord “child train/ teach / discipline” Us? BY GRACE

[11] For the GRACE of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, [12] TRAINING us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self- controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,

Since God “grace trains” us then we should “grace train” our children It means that we relate to our kids in a way that points them to Jesus and shows them that our love for them is NOT BASED ON PERFORMANCE.

We must learn the simple difference between God’s job and ours Our job: depend on the enabling power of the Holy Spirit to grow personally and to serve and equip our kids.

God’s job: to fix and change hearts from the inside Having bold thoughts about gospel truth should IMPACT our lives, our marriages, and our families