Sermon Central
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Aiming The Arrows
Contributed by Rick Pendleton on May 22, 2008 (message contributor)
Summary: Children, like arrows, must be carefully aimed if they are to hit the target.
Aim the Arrows!
What is a child?
Someone defined a child as an angel whose wings grow shorter as their legs grow longer.
Remember our Theme Scripture:
As arrows in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.
As I said last week: Arrows are weapons of accomplishment, intended for a purpose
But their success depended on the aim of the archer.
So are your children.
I remember a poem from grade school, “I shot an arrow into the air. It fell to earth I know not where.
My challenge today: Where will you aim your child?
Many Possible targets
Some Best target
There are only three ways to teach a child; the first is by example, the second is by example, the third is by example. Albert Schweitzer
Point your kids in the right direction - when they’re old they won’t be lost. Proverbs 22:6 (The Message)
To aim your children you must say:
1. I Will Give Meaningful TOUCH
The people brought children to Jesus, hoping he might touch them. The disciples shooed them off. But Jesus was irate and let them know it: “Don’t push these children away. Don’t ever get between them and me. These children are at the very center of life in the kingdom. Mark this: Unless you accept God’s kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you’ll never get in.” Then, gathering the children up in his arms, he laid his hands of blessing on them. Mark 10:13-16 (TMNT)
A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. "If you want to, you can make me well again," he said. Moved with pity, Jesus touched him. "I want to," he said. "Be healed!" Instantly the leprosy disappeared - the man was healed. Mark 1:40-42 (NLT)
How important is touch?
It would be impossible to overstate.
We live in an e-mail, bulk mail, voice mail, fax society where business is carried on without any direct contact between parties.
We go to self-serve gas pumps, wait on ourselves at restaurants, and can even use self-check-out registers at K-Mart.
The personal touch seems to be a thing of the past.
In fact, much of business is carried out without any touch at all.
I know that money drives the thing and it has become a financial necessity
But doesn’t it feel great to go to a place and have a real person give you personal attention. And isn’t it nice if they can shake your hand and introduce theirself?
Touch is important.
University studies have proven that patients who received touch as part of their care improved faster and much better than those who did not receive touch… just the same medical treatments or drugs.
I had a neighbor who stuttered. My Mama found out that just by laying a hand on his shoulder when he talked… he did not stutter!
Too often we parents have taken on the ways of the world in dealing with each other.
We call on cell phones, leave voice mails and communicate through non-personal means.
PEOPLE NEED TOUCH!!!
Your kids NEED touch.
Sure, they out-grow time in the lap. They get too big to carry. Eventually they avoid any show of affection.
But they still NEED touch…. From loved ones.
I really believe that is one of the great needs that drives young teens to get into heavy petting and sex.
They still need meaningful touch, affirming touch, loving touch… and they are not getting it at home.
We’ve got to stop worrying about societies paranoia about “inappropriate touch.”
We’ve got to take back what is rightfully ours and what our kids need… personal, meaningful, affirming, loving TOUCH.
2. I Will Share Spoken WORDS
Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them. Proverbs 3:27
Jesus modeled expressing high value
Jesus replied, "You are blessed, Simon son of John… Now I say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it." Matthew 16:17, 18 (NLT)
Isaac modeled picturing a special future
Then Isaac said, "Come here and kiss me, my son." So Jacob went over and kissed him. And when Isaac caught the smell of his clothes … he blessed his son. He said, "The smell of my son is the good smell of the open fields that the LORD has blessed. May God always give you plenty of dew for healthy crops and good harvests of grain and wine. May many nations become your servants. May you be the master of your brothers. May all your mother’s sons bow low before you. All who curse you are cursed, and all who bless you are blessed." Genesis 27:26-29 (NLT)
