Introduction

Welcome, my dear family in Christ. I am so glad to see each and every one of you here today. I see familiar faces, and I see new ones too. Each of you is a testament to the grace of God in our lives. We are gathered here today to celebrate, to learn, to grow, and to become more like Christ in our everyday lives.

As we gather in this sacred space, we turn our hearts and minds to a topic of profound significance, a topic that is close to the heart of God Himself: our children. Yes, friends, our children, the little ones who bring so much joy and, yes, chaos into our lives.

Our theme today is grounded in the words of Deuteronomy 6:6-7: "These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."

These words are not just an instruction, but a sacred trust given to us by God. The great preacher Charles Spurgeon once said, "Train up a child in the way he should go — but be sure you go that way yourself." Our children are watching us, learning from us, and it is our responsibility to guide them in the ways of the Lord.

Let us bow our heads in prayer.

Heavenly Father, we thank You for this day, for the opportunity to gather in Your name and learn from Your Word. We thank You for the gift of children, for the joy, the love, and the lessons they bring into our lives. As we discuss this topic today, we ask for Your guidance. Open our hearts and minds to Your Word, and help us to apply it in our lives. In Jesus' name, we pray, Amen.

Let us now turn our attention to the Word of God as we seek to understand His heart for our children and for us as parents, teachers, and mentors.

Children in God's Eyes

The Bible is filled with stories and teachings that highlight the value and significance of children in the eyes of God. The Lord's affection for children is evident in His words and actions throughout the scriptures. This is a truth that we must not only understand but also embrace and reflect in our own lives.

Consider the words of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 19, verse 14. Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." These words were spoken by Jesus when His disciples tried to stop people from bringing their children to Him. Jesus, however, welcomed them. He didn't see them as a distraction or a nuisance. Instead, He saw them as individuals worthy of His time and attention.

This incident in the Bible is not just a story. It's a powerful message about the value that God places on children. It's a reminder that children are not just the future of the church, but they are the church of today. They are not just potential believers, but they are believers who have the capacity to experience and express faith in ways that can inspire and challenge even the most mature among us.

In the Old Testament, we see another example of God's love for children in the story of Hannah and Samuel. Hannah was a woman who was deeply distressed because she was unable to have children. She prayed fervently to God, and He answered her prayers by giving her a son, Samuel. Samuel grew up to be one of the most influential prophets in Israel's history. This story reminds us that children are a blessing from God.

The Bible also teaches us that children are a heritage from the Lord. In Psalm 127:3, we read, "Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him." This verse reminds us that children are not just biological offspring. They are a divine inheritance, a precious treasure entrusted to us by God. As parents, teachers, and mentors, we have a responsibility to care for this inheritance, to guide and nurture it in a way that honors God.

Finally, we must remember that children are not just passive recipients of our teaching and guidance. They are active participants in the kingdom of God. In Matthew 21:16, when the chief priests and teachers of the law expressed their indignation about children shouting praises in the temple, Jesus responded by saying, "Have you never read, 'From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise'?" This verse reminds us that children have a role to play in God's kingdom. They are not just future worshippers, but they are worshippers here and now. They have a voice that can praise and glorify God.

Teaching

Having established the importance of children in God's eyes, we now turn our attention to the task at hand: the teaching of our children ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO