Episodes
Monday Jul 15, 2019
Mythbusters-6-That's What The Church Is For
Monday Jul 15, 2019
Monday Jul 15, 2019
This morning we are pleased to have Pastor Blonnie Smith give us the Word as we continue in our Mythbusters series. She tackles the myth "That's What The Church Is For."
Pastor's Notes:
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: 3 “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”
4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.
INTRODUCTION
Good morning, everyone!
I’m so glad to be able to share this message with you today! It’s something that I’ve been passionate about for a while. You may have even heard it before. The title to this Mythbuster is “That is What the Church is For”.
Pastor Brad and I were youth pastors for several years. We have watched as students got into trouble, and parents almost got mad at us because it happened.
“Didn’t y’all teach them about porn?” “Sex before marriage?"
In other words, you should have taught them better. After all, “That’s what the church is for.”
So as I’ve prayed, I believe that God wanted me to speak on the role of the family in general, but specifically parents and children.
BACKGROUND
This letter is written by Paul to the people of Ephesus while in prison.
To give a quick summary of the entire book, he begins by sharing the foundation of what their faith is laid upon. He showed how in their different backgrounds, both Jew and Gentile, they are now equal in the eyes of God through the blood of Jesus Christ.This illustrates that unity does not equal uniformity. In other words, we are all the same in our belief, but we each build up the church with different gifts and talents. Not one person can do it alone and see a body of believers grow. A healthy church is full of believers working in different areas to spread the same message. It’s important to understand that it is different gifts, but the same gospel.
He also points out that we are all sinners before Christ, but in accepting Him as our Savior, God allowed our old self to die and became a new creation. Never get to the point where you forget this. Let me make this clear: We do not dwell in our past, but don’t forget that you have one too.
Through true repentance, we are made new and wiped clean and can share our testimony with someone who is suffering from the same sin. Always remember where you came from and see it for what it is—sin.
The greasy grace message has always been around, even in the beginning of the church.
TRANSITION
But after He lays out the framework of order on the church, He then begins to lay out some order for the family.
Look at our scriptures with me again. (Re-read)
APPLICATION1. The Challenge (vs. 1-3)
What pops out at me every time I read it is this: Honor and obey, and you will be well and live long.
Now the reason why I went back and summarized all of Ephesians is because when you just read one chapter or scripture, you miss exactly what the author is sharing. Yes, God can show you many things by just a scripture, but He desires you to look deeper. God said “My people perish because of lack of knowledge.”
Taking the time to put in a little extra work will bring so much more understanding and blessing out of what you are studying.
He first addressed the church as a whole, but then moved on to the individual. Reading one scripture will give you the impression that He is still addressing the whole, but in reality this is addressing how you should be not just in church, but in your own home.
Now, we’ve all quoted this scripture to our child or even another child, but I want to show you the challenge that I see in this passage.
You see, we’ve always just looked at this scripture and reminded them of it in Sunday school, or when they are acting a fool. But what if I was to show you that everything he speaks of in the first five chapters are all actions, and so wouldn’t it be fair to say that this challenge is not a reminder of what to say to children, but a reminder on what our actions as parents should be?
Think about it: Our children mimic us. And so, in this scripture he is saying to honor and obey your parents and this will be your reward. But is it children the wrote the letter to? No!
He was writing this to the leadership to read out-loud to the entire church.
The example we set speaks volumes. The best lesson a child could learn is to see the influence in their life model how to do things. Studies show that the foundation of a child’s mind is set by the age of 4. This doesn’t mean that it’s concrete that is already set. There is still grace and time to set a good example and influence a child.
The life we live says more than reminding them to honor and obey us. If we say that and then show a completely different side with our actions, then what we’ve done is shown that when you’re an adult you can do whatever you want.
Parents—That’s why most kids grow up to never step foot in a church again after they leave home. They see someone who can use a few scriptures (only when it’s for discipline or correction towards them, or to justify what they are doing is ok), only come when they feel like it, and show little desire to be there. When it seems like a burden to you, then why would you expect it to be a joy to them?
We are to lead by our example. Christ is the only person to ever come to this earth and be perfect, so quit trying to show your kids that you are. Trust me, they know what’s up. Be open about your flaws. They need to see you ask for forgiveness in your prayers and admit when you don’t have all the answers.
What example do you want to set?
When a child sees only perfection with zero flaws and someone who knows everything, when they don’t hit that mark it’s devastating.
A child should see the example of “I don’t know the answer, but let’s work together and find it.”
2. The Charge (vs. 4a)
Whether a parent, step parent, or guardian of a child, you are to lead a child with love. The scriptures tell us that everything we do, that if we do it without love then we did it in vain.
Let your actions and love lead them and they will follow in your ways. Are there children who grew up in a great home surrounded by love that stray off?
Yes.
Ultimately, all you can do is pray, sow the word into them, and trust them to God. They have to make their own decisions.
However, we must be solid in our influence over them.
Teach your children the word of God not by just reading it to them. Teach them!
This is where the myth “that’s what the church is for” really comes into play. It’s not just the job of the Sunday School teacher, the youth or kids pastor, or the boys and girls leaders to do it.
We “provoke our children to wrath” by living differently in front of them than what we proclaim. In other words, “Do as I say, not as I do”.
That NEVER works.
We as parents are to teach them with our words, actions, and lives. Your child is your responsibility. YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.
You should be the number one mentor in their life.
If you do not teach them, the world will.
This is a charge to the family as a whole. Model our Heavenly Father with the love and compassion He has. Parents, take back the control that the enemy has tried to take and see that it’s our responsibility and not the pastor, youth pastor, children’s pastor, or nursery workers. They are to compliment what you have already instilled at home.
3. The Counsel (vs. 4b)
Everything we do should always follow the Word of God. He has given this to help instruct us as we instruct our children.
We can’t teach our children what it means to follow Christ if we do not open this up ourselves and find out.
Pray with your child. This not only shows them praying parents, it also shows the example of a child of God ‘s real relationship with their Heavenly Father.
Does all this mean your child will act perfect. No!
There are times when you will instruct and times when you will discipline. We all have to have correction.
If you are a christian who never hears the voice of God’s guidance and correction, then you aren’t growing.
I discipline my child because I care enough to see them grow to be responsible young men who love the Lord and have their own relationship with God.
CONCLUSION
So, here it is: Paul gave us a look into our salvation, what the church is, what we are called to do, how to cut all ties with the old self, and how to address any attack to the body. All of this is addressed to the whole, not just a few.
And then he addresses the individual.
You cannot do it alone as an individual without first having the church as a family in your life. The most important role as a spouse and parent is to have the same love for your church as Christ does.
There is an order. Any imbalance throws everything off. That’s why we say it is so important to be in church. It’s not to have another number on our report each year on how big our church is. It’s to be in the order that God has placed us. How can you use your gifts He has placed in everyone if you are at home every Sunday? You can’t use them on the online church. You can’t use them on yourself sitting at home. And you certainly can’t always trust google for your answer to a scripture you don’t understand.
The church is built up of you and me. Be the church that is the influence of your child and you won’t see it as their job to solely teach your child anymore.
You will see growth happen and get so excited and hear God say “That is why I gave them to you”. There is no greater feeling than seeing growth in your child’s life and knowing you had a part in that.
What did we learn?
-The Challenge: Be the example. Allow the church leaders to compliment what you have already taught at home.
-The Counsel: Be the example by becoming the mentor your child needs. Challenge them to push past fear and discipline when needed. Instruction and discipline will prepare them for adulthood.
The Charge: Be that example using love. A loving father shows the love of the Heavenly Father.
ALTAR RESPONSE
- Pray for people who need a Heavenly Father
- Pray for parents, grandparents, etc
Version: 20241125
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