Passing The Torch Series

Introduction

Part 3- Fearless (adapted from a series by Pastor Larry Osborne/Chris Brown from North Coast Church).

How do we live the Christian life in the middle of situations that would cause others to buckle.

How do we master our fears/respond properly to life?

Review

1st week-Daniel living in the dark Babylonian culture.

We asked ourselves the question-

How do we survive and even thrive in a culture that is accelerating towards darkness?

2nd week, talked about Facing Our Fears.

Looked at the fears Joshua faced after Moses died.

We learned that-

Strength and courage come from the choices we make, more than the feelings we have.

Last week-looked at the fear of death-and determined-

Man was designed for life not death.

This week we want to look at-

Passing the Torch

Today many are concerned about the safety of their families- what will happen to the next generation?

How will our children succeed in a world with-

the loss of economic opportunities,

great moral decline,

increase in violence- crime/terrorism,

what will happen to the next generation?

As we talk about passing the torch we will deal w/parenting issues, but the bigger reality is that

each of us are/can be, people of influence.

It does not matter if you are a …

parent, grandparent, plan to have children,

we all have opportunities to influence others.

We are all called to be salt/light, to impact/change the world that we live in.

If you are a parent, your number one responsibility is to pass the torch of life onto your children.

I want to approach this topic with humility.

When I was younger, and looked at parents w/children I could tell you everything they were doing wrong.

If I had done a sermon on parenting it might be titled-

10 Rules for Raising Godly Children.

After raising children and living w/teenagers, my sermon might be titled- 3 Tips for Survival.

When I look at my role as a parent it is only by God’s grace that my wife/I had any measure of success.

What made the difference for Bonnie/I was our desire to apply Biblical principles to everyday life.

Our role as parents was-

far from perfect,

our Biblical knowledge was limited, and

our own carnality often got in the way.

However, as we pursued God He began to take our polluted waters and produce a fresh spring.

God had to change us before we could be an effective influence in our children’s lives.

Parenting and Influence

Look at what the Bible says about influencing others-

(NOTES) THREE VERSES: Two Sides of the Coin

Two sides of the coin when it comes to parenting-

we are responsible for how children turn-out,

they are totally responsible for how they live.

On one side there are verses that indicate-

if you succeed in parenting it is good,

if you do not succeed it is your fault.

On the other side are verses that indicate-

no matter what my family life was like-good or bad- I will stand before God alone-

unable to blame anyone else for my life.

(NOTES) Prov 22:6, Ezek 18:20, Eph 6:4

Pr 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it. NASU

This side of the coin is that of responsibility.

Ezek 18:20 "The person who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son’s iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself. NASU

This verse represents the other side of the coin.

Everyone must stand before God for their own sin.

Ezek 18:1-4 (Ex 20:5-6)

This proverb came to mean that-

the younger generation was not responsible for their actions because of the sins of their father.

They could blame their parents for how they lived.

In many ways we have come full circle today.

Have you noticed- there are no bad children today.

If a child is bad it is either genetics or environment.

A child comes home from school with all F’s on his report card and he goes to his dad and says-

Dad, what’s the problem, DNA/bad home life?

Bible is clear- no matter how bad my family life was, when I stand before God there is no one to blame.

We see two sides of the coin in the Bible-this leads to-

(NOTES) A COMMON MYTH AND A HARD TRUTH

The Myth: A godly home guarantees godly kids.

This idea has been used to-

heap guilt on parents whose children go astray,

cause pride in parents w/compliant children.

The Bible does NOT say that a godly home guarantees godly children.

The myth says that if a-