Passing on the Baton of Faith

Never forget these commands that I am giving you today. Teach them to your children. Repeat them when you are at home and when you are away, when you are resting and when you are working. (Deuteronomy 6:6-7 GNB)

“O God, You have taught me from my youth; and until now I have declared Your wonders. And even when I am old and gray-headed, O God, do not leave me until I declare Your arm to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come.” “O God, You have taught me from my youth; and until now I have declared Your wonders. And even when I am old and gray-headed, O God, do not leave me until I declare Your arm to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come.” (Psalms 71:17-18 LITV) “We will not hide them from their sons; to declare to the coming generation the praises of Jehovah; yea, His strength and His wonderful works that He has done.” (Psalms 78:4 LITV)

1.Parents shape the value system of their children Orthodox Jewish home: 0-7: Baby, mothers’ authority 7-12: Child of learning – mother’s role 12-30: Man in training – father’s role 30-33: Man of rights – Can ask questions Age 33: Man absolute – still under mother’s authority

2. Parents must OWN the spiritual development of their children “Listen, my people, to my teaching, and pay attention to what I say. I am going to use wise sayings and explain mysteries from the past, things we have heard and known, things that our ancestors told us. We will not keep them from our children; we will tell the next generation about the Lord’s power and his great deeds and the wonderful things he has done. He gave laws to the people of Israel and commandments to the descendants of Jacob. He instructed our ancestors to teach his laws to their children, so that the next generation might learn them and in turn should tell their children.” (Psalms 78:1-6 GNB)

3. Beautiful things happen when the church and family UNITE together Conclusion “Choose for yourselves today who you will serve…… but as for me and my house we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 25:15) “Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods” (Joshua 24:16) “……………. and another generation arose after them who had not known Jehovah, nor yet the works which He had done for Israel. (Judges 2:7-10 LITV)