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.
6. Have them move in with you if possible.
(Each person’s circumstance is different, we should not make generalities).
III. WHO ELSE ARE WE TO HONOUR?
1. CIVIL OR GOVERNMENT LEADERS:
“1 Obey the government, for God is the one who put it there. All governments have been placed in power by God. 2 So those who refuse to obey the laws of the land are refusing to obey God, and punishment will follow. 3 For the authorities do not frighten people who are doing right, but they frighten those who do wrong. So do what they say, and you will get along well. 4 The authorities are sent by God to help you. But if you are doing something wrong, of course you should be afraid, for you will be punished. The authorities are established by God for that very purpose, to punish those who do wrong. 5 So you must obey the government for two reasons: to keep from being punished and to keep a clear conscience. 6 Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid so they can keep on doing the work God intended them to do. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and import duties, and give respect and honor to all to whom it is due.” (Romans 13:1-7).
1. All authority has been put in place by God.
2. When we refuse to obey authority, we are refusing to obey God.’
3. Two reasons to obey government: Keep from being punished, and a clear conscience.
4. Along with this we include respecting police officers.
2. EMPLOYERS AND SOCIAL LEADERS:
“Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed.” (1 Timothy 6:1).
• Along with this we include coaches & teachers.
3. CHURCH LEADERS:
“Honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and warn you against all that is wrong. Think highly of them and give them your wholehearted love because of their work.” (1 Thess. 5:12-13).
“Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.” (Heb. 13:7).
“Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.” (Heb. 13:17).
QUOTE: “Submission to authority is an aspect of true honour. To say we honour authority, yet refrain from submission and obedience to it, is to deceive ourselves.” (John Bevere).
• If we want our children to honour authority, are we modeling it to them in our homes?
• QUOTE: “The parents who reject the first commandment can expect their children to reject the fifth one. The parents who do not submit to God should not expect their children to submit to them.” (Klaus Bockmuehl, The Christian Way of Living).
IV. WHY IS HONOUR IMPORTANT?
“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.” (Ephesians 6:2-3).
• There is a blessing and a reward that comes from honour.
• God said, “He who honours you honours Me, and he who honours Me honours Him who sent Me. He who honours a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward.” (Matt. 10:40-41).
CHALLENGE:
Let’s be a generation that gives honour to whom honour is due!
Beausejour Community Church Website: www.beausejourchurch.ca
Pastor Chris Jordan’s Blog: http://thelandofpromise.blogspot.com/
