Title: Rite of Passage
Theme: To help the church to understand the importance of having rites of passage in a family’s life.
Text: Luke 2:21 - 49
Introduction
Last Sunday
12 Stones of Heritage. Joshua crosses the Jordan. Told to place stones on the shore so that the next generations could see them.
God is always looking out for the next generation. He understands that if we can’t do it right we can raise up another generation to do it.
These stones were an opportunity to share with the children about what happened.
I mentioned last week that we are expected to follow Proverbs
Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.
- Original: חנך - Transliteration: Chanak - Phonetic: khaw-nak'
- Definition: 1. to train, dedicate, inaugurate a. (Qal) 1. to train, train up 2. to dedicate
How?
In the values and beliefs that God has given you
Helping them to understand the giftings and callings that the Lord has for them
How?
1. Time
2. Taking interests in their interests
Third Generation God
Exodus_3:16 Go and gather the elders of Israel together, and say to them, 'The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared to me, saying, "I have surely visited you and seen what is done to you in Egypt;
The Lord is interested in all the generations. He does not want us to focus just on our times and help the next generation.
Rites of Passage
Rites of passage. First day of school. 13th/16th/21st birthdays. It’s one’s graduation from high school, perhaps college. It’s that 50th wedding anniversary. First prom, first driver’s license, first car, first ticket, first accident. Perhaps boot camp.
And of course there also was the church: baptisms, confirmations, ordinations.
Defined: (from the Internet) Rites of passage, formal or not, are life’s markers, life’s road signs for helping us to find our place and our time in the cycle of life events to help establish or formulate our identity and all the different venues and experiences of our living. Because of rites of passage we learn to celebrate as well as to accept the end of things, including life. Rites of passage become the experiential and even organic phases for us where we learn how to wait our turn, how to find our part.
Marriage as a Rite of Passage Genesis 2:22 – 25, Matthew 19:5, Mark 10:7
Genesis 2:22-25 Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. (23) And Adam said: "This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man." (24) Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. (25) And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
Jesus: Rite of Passage
As an infant - Circumcise (Initiation and Family connection)
After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child. He was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. And when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, ‘Every first- born male shall be designated as holy to the Lord’) and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, ‘a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.’—Luke 2:21-24
Making Jesus a part of the covenant, a relationship that connected him to his past. Here also he is named. This is an important rite of passage as many times this sets the destiny of the child. By this time the parents had been praying and seeking God about what to name their child.
As a young boy (Introducing to Manhood, life)
Luke 2:39-43 So when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. (40) And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, [15] filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him. (41) His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. (42) And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. (43) When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother [16] did not know it;
Connecting them to God
Psalms_127:1 A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon. Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain.
Baptism
Mat 3:13-17 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. (14) And John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?" (15) But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed Him. (16) When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He [11] saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. (17) And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
This is a time in Jesus' life where he affirms his relationship with the Lord.
Illustration:
Most of my children got saved at a young age. I noticed later on in life that each one had a time where they came a clearer revelation of God. Meeting him at an altar again or just reaffirming their commitment. It was awesome to see.
Death Bed Advice
1 Kings 2:1-4 Now the days of David drew near that he should die, and he charged Solomon his son, saying: (2) "I go the way of all the earth; be strong, therefore, and prove yourself a man. (3) And keep the charge of the Lord your God: to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His judgments, and His testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn; (4) that the Lord may fulfill His word which He spoke concerning me, saying, 'If your sons take heed to their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul,' He said, 'you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.'
You might not be able to give advice to your children on you death bed but you are teaching your children everyday.
What will your children remember most about their relationship with you?
Who is really educating our children?
We send our kids to school to get an education. We expect them to teach them about science, math, English and health. But we also expect them to teach them about life. About morals.
We send them to church and expect the church to teach them about God and religion. Hoping that in church or in Sunday school they get saved.
We leave the education up to life and to others. Surely each has its place. But mainly as a place to learn. It is in the home where they see the pratical application that is made. It is in the home where they see it lived out. It is the home where they see mom and dad praying and seeking God.
It is in the home where the parents step up to the plate and let God come out of their life.
Conclusion
We must get involved in our children's lives on purpose. We must guide them through the Rite of Passages in their lives.
