The Tender Commandments #3: Honor Your Father And Mother Series

THE TENDER COMMANDMENTS #3: HONOUR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER

INTRO TO TOPIC:

• Talk about my three dads: My biological father, my step-dad and Heavenly Father.

• Father’s day can be challenging day – for people who have lost their father, have never had a father, or don’t have a good father.

REVIEW THE TEN COMMANDMENTS & HAND MOTIONS:

TOP 10 THINGS YOU’LL NEVER HEAR A DAD SAY:

10. Well, how ‘bout that? I’m lost! Looks like we’ll have to stop and ask for directions.

9. You know Pumpkin, now that you’re thirteen, you’ll be ready for unchaperoned car dates.

8. I noticed that all your friends have a certain hostile attitude. I like that.

7. Here’s a credit card and the keys to my new car. GO CRAZY!

6. What do you mean you wanna play football? Figure skating’s not good enough for you, son?

5. Your Mother and I are going away for the weekend. You might want to throw a party.

4. I don’t know what’s wrong with your car. Probably one of those doo-hickey thingies that makes it run or something. Just have it towed to a mechanic and pay whatever he asks.

3. No son of mine is going to live under this roof without an earring. Now quit you belly-aching, and let’s go to the mall.

2. What do you wanna go and get a job for? I make plenty of money for you to spend.

1. What do I want for my birthday? Aahh—don’t worry about that. It’s no big deal. (Okay, they might say it. But they don’t mean it)

KEY TEXT: “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.” (Exodus 20:12).

• When we honour our parents, God blesses us.

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise: that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth. And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:1-4).

• God tells us to both honour and obey our parents.

• Notice too that fathers are not to provoke their children to wrath.

“Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.” (Col. 3:20-21).

• When we obey our parents, it pleases the Lord.

THE BIG IDEA: God wants us to give honour to whom honour is due. When we honour those God has placed in authority over our lives, we attract God’s favour and blessing.

This is a needed commandment in today’s culture where there is such little honour and respect.

“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” (2 Tim. 3:1-5).

• In God’s eyes, disobeying parents is seen as a bad sin we must avoid!

I. WHAT IS HONOUR?

• Honour is defined as: “value, appreciate, esteem, respect, regard favourably. To value, to see as weighty and precious.” (John Bevere, Honor’s Reward).

• We are living in day and age when authority is no longer honoured. (media influence)

• God’s Word, however, commands us to give honour where honour is due (Rom. 13:7).

II. HOW ARE WE TO HONOUR OUR PARENTS? (Ron Mehl).

1. By loving them. Love, someone said, it best spelled T-I-M-E. You love someone when you spend time with that person. There are other ways to show love and affection.

a. Give them a handwritten note or card, even when it’s not a birthday or a holiday.

b. Pick up the phone in the middle of the day and call them.

c. Let your parents know when they do something you like.

d. Be with them. Say, “Mom & Dad, I want to stay home with you tonight.”

e. Initiate conversation and affection. Chat with them on Facebook! 

f. Talk to your parents.

2. By forgiving them. We all make mistakes. (Parents) – don’t be afraid to admit it.

a. There have been times where I have made mistakes as a parent.

HOW DO ADULT CHILREN HONOUR THEIR PARENTS?

1. Treat them as important. They have a lot of wisdom.

2. Support them financially.

3. Take trips with them or go and visit them.

4. Invite them to your home.

5. Do odd jobs for them.