CHRISTIAN PARENTING: CHRISTIAN HABITUDES
Deuteronomy 6:1-25
#parenting
RESPONSIVE READING FROM DEUTERONOMY 6 (ESV)
READER: [verses 1-3]
“Now this is the commandment—the statutes and the rules—that the LORD your God commanded me to teach you, that you may do them in the land to which you are going over, to possess it, 2 that you may fear the LORD your God, you and your son and your son's son, by keeping all His statutes and His commandments, which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be long. 3 Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them, that it may go well with you, and that you may multiply greatly, as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey.”
CONGREGATION: [verses 4-7]
“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One. 5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
READER: [verses 8-12]
8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. 10 “And when the LORD your God brings you into the land that He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give you—with great and good cities that you did not build, 11 and houses full of all good things that you did not fill, and cisterns that you did not dig, and vineyards and olive trees that you did not plant—and when you eat and are full, 12 then take care lest you forget the LORD, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
CONGREGATION: [verse 13]
“It is the LORD your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve and by His Name you shall swear.”
READER: [verses 14-19]
14 You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are around you— 15 for the LORD your God in your midst is a jealous God—lest the anger of the LORD your God be kindled against you, and He destroy you from off the face of the earth. 16 “You shall not put the LORD your God to the test, as you tested Him at Massah. 17 You shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and His testimonies and His statutes, which He has commanded you. 18 And you shall do what is right and good in the sight of the LORD, that it may go well with you, and that you may go in and take possession of the good land that the LORD swore to give to your fathers 19 by thrusting out all your enemies from before you, as the LORD has promised.
CONGREGATION: [verses 20-21]
“When your son asks you in time to come, ‘What is the meaning of the testimonies and the statutes and the rules that the LORD our God has commanded you?’ 21 then you shall say to your son, ‘We were Pharaoh's slaves in Egypt. And the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand.
READER: [verses 22-25]
“And the LORD showed signs and wonders, great and grievous, against Egypt and against Pharaoh and all his household, before our eyes. 23 And He brought us out from there, that He might bring us in and give us the land that He swore to give to our fathers. 24 And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as we are this day. 25 And it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to do all this commandment before the LORD our God, as He has commanded us.’”
SERMON SERIES AND CHALLENGE
Starting today and for three weeks total we will be digging into Deuteronomy 6 as well as some other passages as we focus on the topic of parenting. Even if you are not a parent or grandparent, make sure you do not tune out because the principles and truths that we find in the Bible apply to us no matter the life stage we are in, but we are going to be applying these verses specifically for those who have children, grandchildren, or even young family members that we are raising or perhaps have a great influence over.
This week, we are talking about Christian Habitudes.
Next week, we are focusing on having Spiritual Conversations.
The third week, we will dig into parenting amidst the Chaos of Culture.
These three sermons are not the complete conversation by the way. Each week there will be a time after the sermon to follow-up and sit down and dig deeper into the topics that were discussed and think and pray how to apply these principles specifically to your family. I challenge you to make time for these times. For today (6/25), the follow-up is tomorrow at 7pm. The following two Sundays (7/2, 7/9) the follow-up will be that Sunday at 4pm. This is one of those things that every parent needs to attend because if you don’t think you need to attend… you are probably the one who needs to attend it. We are giving you the opportunity to sharpen your parenting and get some ideas on how to mature your children in Christ no matter what age they happen to be.
WHY DO WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT PARENTING?
One of the first questions we might ask is… why do we need to talk about parenting? Why dedicate some time to this particular topic?
First, the Bible talks about parenting and so if the Bible talks about it then we should talk about it. There are many passages in the Proverbs that talk about parenting and children. The Psalms has passages as well. Deuteronomy, Exodus, Joshua, Ephesians, Colossians, 2 Corinthians, Hebrews, 1 Peter, 1 Timothy, and Titus all have passages that specifically talk about parents or mothers or fathers or children or principles of the family. This is a topic that the Bible addresses so this is a topic worthy of our time.
Second, I have had conversations with some of you about some of these topics and also, I am observant. All of us need help in maturing our children along in the Christian faith in order to train them up in the best possible way so that their hearts are open to the Lord. It is no easy task to raise a child to be a Christian in a world that pushes back against Christ in school, socially, with regards to identity, sexuality, with entertainment, in music, in literature, and almost every aspect of culture. I used to think it was a “given” that a child raised in church would choose Jesus as their Lord and Savior, but that simply is not the case anymore (if that was ever true in the first place). Also, some of you are having difficulty maturing your kids into the worship service or youth group or other groups as they get older… I see you… and that is why we are talking about this. This topic is a present need in our congregation.
Third, we need to talk about parenting because there is a huge misconception at play with parenting and church and Christians. The misconception is that if you take your kid to church that they will become a Christian and will mature in faith. The misconception is that the longer a person is in church the more mature they will be in Christ. That is NOT the case. It is NOT the church’s job to raise your child to be a mature Christian. I need to say that again because most of you think I just misspoke. It is NOT the church’s job to raise your child to be a Christian. It is YOUR job as the parent. It is your job and calling and responsibility to mature your child in Christ and so we need to make sure we give you tools needed to fulfill your calling. The church can help and is an essential element, but the average student spends 2 hours a week or less at church and that is not nearly enough time or effort to mature in the faith. The church can help, but maturity in Christ starts and ends at home.
TRANSITION
So, for these reasons and many more, we are going to dig into parenting for three weeks and be encouraged and sharpen each other and give each other ideas to raise up our children and grandchildren in the way they should go so that when they are older they will not depart from it.
The passage that we read from this morning, Deuteronomy 6, is an important passage about parenting. Chapter 6 comes on the heels of chapter 5 which contains the 10 commandments and the desire that God’s people follow Him and do not turn to the right or the left, but follow Him on the narrow path for their whole lives. Chapter 6 jumps in after chapter 5 and lets us know that these commands are not just for us, but for our families and children and everyone around us. This morning we are focusing mostly on verses 1-7.
FOCUS ON DEUTERONMY 6:1-7
RE-READ DEUTERONOMY 6:1-7 (ESV)
“Now this is the commandment—the statutes and the rules—that the LORD your God commanded me to teach you, that you may do them in the land to which you are going over, to possess it, 2 that you may fear the LORD your God, you and your son and your son's son, by keeping all His statutes and His commandments, which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be long. 3 Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them, that it may go well with you, and that you may multiply greatly, as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey. Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One. 5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”
One of the first truths we notice in verse 1 is that these statutes and rules and commands and the way of life that God describes in His Word are for God’s people when they enter into the Promised Land and possess it. The phrase “possess it” in verse 1 just jumps out at me. God promised the descendants of Abraham a land marked with His Name and they were to live according to His will in that land and they would soon be there. Verse 1 shares with them that these people would possess God’s blessings, reflect His Name, and be unique on the earth because they followed after God. They would be transformed by Him and reflect Him. God is life giving and the people would reflect that life. Possessing the land was one small part of the transformation that comes from reflecting God’s glory and His will and life.
I happen to think that you and I are in a similar situation. The same command and emphasis are given to us believers in Jesus. For the people of Israel, the promises of God were wrapped up in His way and His truth and His life all symbolized by the Promised Land. For Christians, the promises of God are wrapped up in Jesus Christ Who is the way and the truth, and the life because He is the Son of God. Jesus Christ is our promise and He is our transformation and hope.
Acts 2 reminds us that when we come to know Christ that we are forgiven of our sins and the Holy Spirit of God becomes part of us and we begin to live in our great inheritance. Verse 38 points out the great promise and hope that we have and it is all because of Jesus.
READ ACTS 2:38 (ESV)
“And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Another truth that we notice in verses 1-7, and to be honest in all of chapter 6, is that everything God is talking about is not to be kept secret or privately, but the way of life that God describes is to be passed from person to person. Specifically, in this passage, we are told that faith and God’s way and the truths of the Bible are to be passed from parents to children. Verse 2 says to pass truth to your son and your son’s son. Parents and grandparents are important. Verse 7 says to pass such things on to all our children. Mothers and fathers are important. Verse 20, as the passage ends, re-emphasizes the need to pass along testimony to children about God and His faithfulness and His promises and His will and His transformational way of living.
I happen to think that you and I are in a similar situation. The same command and emphasis are given to us believers in Jesus. For the people of Israel, the promises of God were to be passed on to their children and their children’s children. Parents and grandparents had the responsibility to pass the baton to the next generation. For Christians, the promises of God are to be passed on to our children and our grandchildren. Parents and grandparents have the responsibility to pass the baton to the next generation.
Acts 2 reminds us that when we come to know Christ that we are forgiven of our sins and the Holy Spirit of God becomes part of us and we begin to live in our great inheritance. This is a promise not just for us, but verse 39 is very clear that it is for us and for our children and for anyone else we meet. I can’t help but notice that children are emphasized in verse 39.
READ ACTS 2:38-39 (ESV)
“And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to Himself.”
A third truth I noticed in Deuteronomy 6 comes in verse 7. It is the word “diligently.” The word used in this verse is a specific word that means “to sharpen.” It also means “to teach diligently” which is how and why it is used in this verse. The idea is that the teaching of God’s ways and His will is not a one-time effort, but a daily consistent on-purpose sharpening like one would do for a blade on a whet stone. There is constant sharpening and care and attention given. Parents and grandparents are to share the way of God with children and grandchildren on a regular basis sharpening their understanding and faith in God with much attention.
I happen to think that you and I are in a similar situation. The same command and emphasis are given to us believers in Jesus. The idea is that teaching about Jesus and modeling faith and talking about God is not a one-time thing, but a daily consistent on-purpose sharpening like one would do for a blade on a whet stone. It is not just sharing, but diligent sharing with a lot of attention. Parents and grandparents are to share Christ with children and grandchildren on a regular basis sharpening their understanding and faith in God.
Acts 2 reminds us that when we come to know Christ that we are forgiven of our sins and the Holy Spirit becomes part of us and we begin to live in our transformed life. This is a promise not just for us, but verse 39 is very clear that it is for us and for our children and for anyone else we meet. Verse 40 finishes this thought and shares with us that Peter does just that by bearing witness and exhorting all those he was speaking to, which in my brain have “diligence” and “strong effort” and “boldness” attached to them.
READ ACTS 2:40 (ESV)
And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.”
SUMMARY AND TRANSITION
So as Deuteronomy 6 opens, we are faced with the truth that it is our calling and responsibility as parents and grandparents to diligently share about Christ with our children and grandchildren. That is the beginning truth of Deuteronomy 6.
How do we do that?
The answer to that question comes summarized with the word
“habitude” and is explained in verses 5-6 of this same chapter in Deuteronomy.
HABITUDES
First, the answer is summarized with the word “habitude.” I’d like to say I made that word up, but it is an actual English word that somebody else made up. A “habitude” is “a habit or custom that creates a custom condition or character” (dictionary.com). I like to think of “habitude” as a habit and an attitude combined. I must admit that I don’t know a lot about “habitudes.” I don’t know who made up the word. I don’t know which comes first, the habit and then the attitude or the attitude and then the habit. I don’t know how it all works together. I DO know a “habitude” when I see it. So, there’s that. The answer to how we diligently share Christ with our children and grandchildren is summed up with the word… “habitude.”
I realize that this is not exactly helpful, so additionally (second), the answer is more specifically explained by Deuteronomy 6:5-6:
RE-READ DEUTERONOMY 6:5-6 (ESV)
“You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.”
In verses 5-6, Moses outlines for the People of Israel that they are to have an attitude of the heart that loves God with all of our being. I could split out all the ways we can love God with our heart and then our soul and then our might, but we’d be here all day and the line at Olive Garden would be too long. The reason why the verse says that we are to love God with all of our heart and all of our soul and all of our might is because all of us is being emphasized. Every part of us is to be directed towards the love of God. There is no part of us that is to love self or the world or people or money or sex or work or entertainment or anything more than God Almighty. He is to be our first and greatest love. Make no mistake, that is a serious command! Make no mistake, that is a serious command that most of us fail!
We know this command is important because Jesus Christ repeats this command in Matthew 22:37, Mark 12:30, and Luke 10:27. This is a command presented in the Old Testament and affirmed by the very words of Jesus Christ in the New Testament.
Specifically, it is the calling and responsibilities of fathers, mothers, grandpas, meemaws, poppops, pas, mas, gagas, and anyone who is in the position of authority and love in a child’s life to share with them a great love for God Almighty. Deuteronomy 6 challenges us to pass along to our children and grandchildren a love of God that consumes all their heart and all their soul and all their might because it consumes all of them.
* Our children should love God because we showed them this is the way of life.
* Our children should follow after Christ because we taught them His way is the best way.
* Our children should walk in step with the Spirit because we encouraged this in them.
CHRISTIAN HABITUDES
Being practical, what “habitudes” would be beneficial for a child as they are growing in faith? What should you encourage? Where should you focus? What “habit or custom that creates a custom condition or character” is best? This morning we will just focus on one habitude that we can see right off the top that is important in sharing God and Jesus and the Spirit.
First and most obvious is Bible study. I am not talking about just reading one verse and calling it quits, but Bible reading where thought is involved and questions are asked and time is spent and our heart and minds are stretched with interaction with other people. Cultivate in your kids the willingness to study the Bible and spend time in God’s Word as a habit in their lives. This habit creates an attitude of love for God, humbleness under His Word, and willingness to run towards the transforming life that God offers.
A specific suggestion to help with this is the ability on YouVersion to have a family Bible study among anyone with a smartphone or a tablet or a computer. You can pick the passage or the topic or rotate who chooses and each person logs in on their device when they make the time and habit and offers thoughts. It is kind of like a text thread each day about God thoughts.
Another specific suggestion is to make sure you have a custom of coming to Sunday School or D-Groups or Youth Group and then ask them what it is that God is teaching them. As most of them probably don’t drive, that means you have to bring them. Consistently. Regularly. On purpose. Not letting other activities get in the way because you are the parent and you set priority.
One of the first habitudes that we can focus on as parents is a love of God’s Word.
CONCLUSION
ILLUSTRATION… 1980s Drug PSA (for reference: youtube.com/watch?v=ifW9LIGabQM)
This passage and our overall thought today can be illustrated well by a PSA commercial that I remember seeing when I was a kid. Picture a teenager in his room listening to music on headphones and drumming on his lap. His dad comes into his room and stares at his son who is unaware of his presence. His had shuts off the music and his son sees his father standing there.
His dad shows him a box with some drugs in it and his father asks, “Is this yours? Your mother says she found it in your closet?”
The son says: “No. I don’t know. One of the guys must have left it.”
The dad is angry: “Must have what?”
The son says: “Dad its not mine!”
The dad asks: “Where did you get it? Who taught you how to do this stuff?”
And then in a statement that echoed through a generation the teenage boy looks at his father with tears in his eyes and says: “You, alright. I learned it by watching you.”
The dad looks forlorn and the announcer comes on and says: “Parents who use drugs have kids who use drugs.”
Well, for our purposes today: “Parents who love God’s Word have kids who love God’s Word.”
PRAYER
INVITATION
I want to remind you about a verse I read earlier.
RE-READ ACTS 2:38 (ESV)
“And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
I want to invite you this morning to accept the promise of Jesus given to us in His Name. Jesus offers us forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Perhaps you have never accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior or been immersed into Him… I invite you today to make that decision.
