Generational Christians

Introduction:

1. There are many families and family connections in this room. Does your family measure up?
2. Is every parent present committed to training and keeping their children in the fear of God?
3. Children are the Lord’s, and all parents have a holy duty to form and keep a Christian family.
4. The soul and body of a child are on loan from God to you, and He expects a holy return.
5. There is no reason to have a child, if you are not going to train them to be great Christians.
6. The potential of a godly family for God’s glory and the service of Christ’s kingdom is great.
7. The judgment for neglecting a family for whatever reason is horrific. Think Eli. Think David.
8. It would be terrible, if the next generation left the truth and wisdom God has kindly shown us.
9. If you do not have children, you are a child, a grandparent … or father or mother in the Lord!
10. There is always a child or young parent to exhort in the Lord to be faithful to God and truth.
11. Do you grasp why (by scriptural duty) we require our youth to date and marry in the Lord?
12. Do you grasp why we may from time to time call a young boy in this church, “Grandpa”?

The Fear

1. Lot compromised with the world and fully lost his family and wasted his knowledge of God, though he had been very privileged by his friendship with the friend of God (Abraham).
2. The generation after Joshua is a horrible example of failure, when in one generation the greatest works of God with any nation were forgotten (Judges 2:6-17 cp Josh 24:19,31).
3. Eli had his family tree wiped out due to weak fathering, involving the violent deaths of most of them, and the remaining token souls were reduced to begging (I Sam 2:27-36; 3:11-14).
4. But even Samuel, who knew Eli’s case firsthand and saw the severity of God’s judgment on Eli’s family, did not do much better, for he coddled and neglected his sons (I Samuel 8:1-3).
5. Jehoshaphat corrupted his family by allowing marriage with Ahab’s daughter, though they were cousins and citizens of God’s nation of Israel (II Chron 18:1; 19:1-2; 21:1-6).
6. When you consider Corinth, the churches of Galatia, and the churches of Asia, there was much backsliding that occurred while the apostles were still living!

The Hope

1. Happy families serving God together was the goal of an inspired psalmist (Psalm 144:11-15).
2. A godly family was God’s intention for monogamous marriage of believers (Malachi 2:15).
3. The virtues of Boaz and Ruth were perpetuated several generations to David (Ruth 4:17).
4. Samuel was the specific result of holy and specific ambitions by Hannah (I Sam 1:26-28).
5. The offspring of the righteous will be blessed along with their parents (Isaiah 58:12; 65:23).
6. Jonadab has the legacy of a father with faithful children for 250 years (Jeremiah 35:1-19).
7. Election runs in families, but do not force God to end the run with your family (Deut 6:16).
8. Cornelius, Lydia, and the jailor saw their households converted (Acts 10:2; 16:14,32-34).
9. Observe how the faith of Lois came through Eunice to Timothy (II Timothy 1:5; 3:15).

The Duty

1. Train up a child in the way he should go … all of life should be focused on God and Jesus Christ and a Bible worldview … and it requires training to avoid defaults (Pr 22:6,15; 29:15).
   1. Fathers are the main teachers of children (Gen 18:19; Exodus 13:8-9; Deut 4:9; 6:7; 11:19; 29:29; Josh 4:6-7; 24:15; Psalm 34:11; 78:1-8; Isaiah 38:19; Joel 1:1-3; Eph 6:4).
   2. Grasp the personal meaning of the words, “God of thy father” (Gen 46:1-3; I Chr 28:9).
   3. Mothers can also have a role (Judges 14:3; I Sam 1:28; Prov 1:8; 6:20; 31:1; II Tim 1:5).
   4. The Bible must be the foundation for all thoughts, answers, opinions, and standards.
2. Righteousness brings blessing upon your children and grandchildren (Ps 25:12-13; 112:1-2).
   1. Repentance should be a family thing, uniting hearts of parents and children (Luke 1:17).
   2. Noah saved his family by his righteousness, for we are told little of the others (Heb 11:7).
   3. Your example will do more for your child’s perseverance in the faith than your words.
3. Children must remember their parents and grandparents and their trust in the Lord God.
   1. Recall David’s appeal to Solomon above to remember and obey the God of his father.
   2. The family you were born into with the parents you have was by God’s sovereign choice.
   3. You are obligated to honor the God of scripture and the parents who taught you of Him.
   4. It is a great honor, mercy, and privilege for you to have Christian parents who fear God.

Conclusion:

1. There are many families and family connections in this room. Does your family measure up?
2. Children are the Lord’s, and all parents have a holy duty to form and keep a Christian family.
3. There is no reason to have a child, if you are not going to train them to be great Christians.
4. The potential of a godly family for God’s glory and the service of Christ’s kingdom is great.
5. The judgment for neglecting a family for whatever reason is horrific. Think Eli. Think David.
6. It would be terrible, if the next generation left the truth and wisdom God has kindly shown us.
7. If you do not have children, you are a child, a grandparent … or father or mother in the Lord!
8. There is always a young parent or child to exhort in the Lord to be faithful to God and truth.
9. Do you grasp why (by scriptural duty) we require our youth to date and marry in the Lord?
10. Do you grasp why we may from time to time call a young boy in this church, “Grandpa”?
11. Parents and grandparents, are you investing in future generations by diligent and wise efforts?
12. Children and grandchildren, are you careful to consider the God and truth of your parents?

For Further Study:

1. Sermon Outline: Family Planning.
2. Sermon: Righteous Relationships (see also).
3. Sermon: Marriage in the Lord.
4. Sermon Outline: Child Training.
5. Sermon: Goals of Child Training.