Tri-Annual Singing!
October 17, 2026
7:00pm - 8:30pm
Category: Children
Subject: Children
“And you shall tell your son”
In Exodus 13 we read of the institution of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Moses gave the instructions regarding the time and regulations of the feast, and also the reason, “It shall be as a sign to you on your hand as a memorial between your eyes, that the Lord’s law may be in your mouth; for with a strong hand the Lord has brought you out of Egypt” (9). God did not establish the feast to be merely a day off from work! It was a memorial! Unfortunately throughout Jewish history, during times of rebellion against God, the purpose of much of God’s instructions were lost to the minds of the people. Continue reading ““And you shall tell your son””
The Crown of Old Men
Q: What has an outside that you cook and eat, and an inside that you throw away? A: An ear of corn! Maybe kind of lame, but just one of the riddles we read and tried to answer with our grandkids early this week. We had a lot of fun! There was laughter and ribbing, and a good time had by all. I asked my grandson what was his favorite riddle, and he said the one that his sister had challenged us with. Q: What has hair but is not human? A: MY GRANDSON!
I am often reminded of Proverbs 17:6, “Children’s children are the crown of old men, And the glory of children is their father.” Those of us who have grandchildren, whether one or a dozen, are truly blessed by our God. They bring us so much joy with their vitality, purity and loving nature.
We are also to consider their vulnerability, and the importance of being a godly influence to all who are young. The Psalmist wrote, “But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children’s children, to such as keep His covenant, and to those who remember His commandments to do them” (Psalms 103:17-18).
May all who read this be on guard for the spiritual welfare of our children and grandchildren! They are the next generation of soldiers in the army of the Lord!
The Treatment of a Child
Paul expressed an interesting principle about child rearing in Galatians 4. The purpose of the text was to show that in the fulness of time the Father sent Jesus to us to redeem us. We were as children, in bondage (slaves) to the elements of the world, until we became the heirs of God through Jesus. Here is the passage: “Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father” (Galatians 4:1).
The reason the illustration is valid is that it in some way equates how earthly fathers deal with their children, to how God deals with us. So, let’s quickly examine a few points to be made from this one verse. Continue reading “The Treatment of a Child”
Three Needs for the Family
We have long shown that the preponderance of God’s teaching on Christian living has application to the relationships we find in the home. Not much is written or said in the Bible about the husband/wife or parent/child relationships. There are some passages, one of which we appeal to today, but understand that the teaching of Christ to love God and love your neighbor bears many truths that will help us to know how families are to treat one another.
When the Holy Spirit does reveal truth about the family relationship, three main points are seen. The husband must LOVE, the wife must SUBMIT, and the child must OBEY. Continue reading “Three Needs for the Family”
Sermon: 7 Keys to Raising Godly Children
Every Christian parent wants to raise their children to be faithful disciples of the Lord. Here are 7 things we can implement that will help to ensure that eventuality.
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The Home as God Would Have It
When we talk about the home as God would have it be, there are numerous admonitions given: to the husband/father, to the wife/mother, and to the children. Let’s look at a few passages, and make a few observations about each. Continue reading “The Home as God Would Have It”
Sermon Minute: Protecting Children From An Immoral World
As parents and a society, do we protect our children from evil, or do we instead let them wallow and be harmed by immorality?
Lessons for the Young
The following points can be instructive to all of us, regardless of our ages, but were written by a wise man to his son, and is especially beneficial to the young.
- “My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands; for length of days and long life and peace they will add to you” (Proverbs 3:1-2). Listening and obeying the rules of your parents is always a good idea. They have lived longer, are aware of pitfalls, and have your best interests at heart. (This is especially true of Christian parents). This is sometimes hard for a young person to understand, as no one likes a limit on their liberty. But as the wise man writes, keeping your parent’s law will help you to live a long and peaceful life.
- “Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, and so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man” (Proverbs 3:3-4). Mercy and truth, two of the most godly characteristics that men can have. A close familiarity with both will bring favor from men. Everyone likes you if you are honest and kind. And, since it is God’s desire for you, it pleases Him as well!
- “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6). Trust God. If your parents have more experience and knowledge than you, how much more so the omniscient, eternal Being that made you! It is our responsibility to know who we are, and who God is. He is our maker, He is our Lord, He is our guide. If we let Him, He will direct our paths. He will show us the best way to go — the way that will eventually aware us with eternity in His presence!
- “Honor the LORD with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase; so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine” (Proverbs 3:9-10 ). Materialism and covetousness are worldly, sinful and will lead you down the wrong path. But if you put God first He promises you that you will have enough (cf. Matthew 6:33), and you will have riches beyond this world! (cf. Matthew 16:26).
- “My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, nor detest His correction; for whom the LORD loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights” (Proverbs 3:11-12). When admonished or corrected consider the words, and make the change. Don’t pout because of hurt feelings. Admonitions happen, (whether your parents, others, or God Himself), out of love for your soul!
A few good words of advice for all! Please consider!
Sermon: Stones and Serpents
An application of Matthew 7:7-12, as it applies to mistakes we can make as parents in raising our children. All Christian parents need to take heed!
Sermon Powerpoint View and Download:
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Having His Children in Submission
Having discussed the question, “Does one child constitute children” in Paul’s list of qualifications, we now turn our attention to the qualification itself, listed in 1 Timothy 3:4-5.
“One who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?)”
Is a Single Child … Children?
In our study of the qualifications of elders we have researched all of the qualifications other than the two that deal with a man’s children. These two qualifications, listed in 1 Timothy 3:4, (“one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence”), and Titus 1:6, (“having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination”), are the most difficult for Christians to understand.
We have already mentioned the importance of avoiding speculation. It is a mistake to try to determine the “Why?” of a qualification, unless that “Why?” is stated in the text itself. Of course, there is an indication of this in 1 Timothy 3:5, “for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?”
Sermon: Destabilizing Marriage
Our American culture has in the last several decades destabilized the institution of marriage, changing the morals of our nation, and causing great destruction. The Bible calls for the protection and respect for the permanency of Marriage, God’s first institution.
The Patternists: Parental Responsibility
The Virginia gubernatorial election became national news a couple of weeks ago, as the two candidates expressed sharp disagreement on the part that parents should play in the education of their children. The Republican candidate, Glenn Youngkin said, “I believe parents should be in charge of their kids’ education.” The Democrat candidate, Terry McAuliffe said, “I don’t think parents should be telling schools what they should teach.”
Sermon: True Value
We need to be careful, and recognize the true value of things in life. Whether it be of a child (including the unborn), our sacrificial gifts, or the preaching of the gospel. True value is not found in monetary cost.
