Show Them The Way Series

Introduction

Video Ill.: Parenting - A Holy Stewardship

Parenting is not easy!

Parents Have It Rough

Source: John Maxwell, "What Children Owe Their Parents (and Themselves)," Preaching Today, Tape 140.

https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/1997/july/737.html

Copied from Preaching Today

Jack Moore wrote a story about two teenagers. One teenager was talking to another, "I'm really worried. Dad slaves away at his job so I'll never want for anything, so I can go to college. And Mom spends every day washing and ironing and cleaning up after me. She takes care of me when I'm sick."

The other kid says, "So what are you worried about?"

The first teenager says, "I'm afraid they might try to escape."

I’ve thought about trying to escape a few times. Haven’t you?

Parenting, I have come to learn, is not for the faint of heart or the weak.

New Research on Parent’s Priorities and Challenges

Source: Rachel Minkin and Juliana Menasche Horowits, “Parenting in America Today,” PEW Research Center (1-24-23)

https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2023/august/new-research-on-parents-priorities-and-challenges.html

Copied from Preaching Today

The Pew Research Center released a new survey on parenting in America today (2023). Here are some highlights:

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and amid reports of a growing youth mental health crisis, four-in-ten U.S. parents with children younger than 18 say they are extremely or very worried that their children might struggle with anxiety or depression at some point. In fact, mental health concerns top the list of parental worries, followed by 35% who are similarly concerned about their children being bullied.

When asked about their aspirations for their children when they reach adulthood, parents prioritize financial independence and career satisfaction. Roughly nine-in-ten parents say it’s extremely or very important to them that their children be financially independent when they are adults, and the same group says it’s equally important that their children have jobs or careers they enjoy. About four-in-ten (41%) say it’s extremely or very important to them that their children earn a college degree, while smaller groups place a lot of importance on their children eventually becoming parents (20%) and getting married (21%).

While being concerned about all of those things is fine and dandy, even more importantly, though, we should be concerned about our children’s souls, especially in this world we live in today.

We are continuing our study about Jesus coming soon. We’ve looked at some of the things Jesus Himself had to say about His own return. He taught us that we do not know when He will be coming. Not even He knows when God will be sending Him back to take His bride home.

We do know that He will be coming. There are many signs in the world today that show that it cannot be such a long way off. But even if it is beyond our lifetime, we still must be ready to meet our Maker. One day, we will all pass away, at which time, we must be ready to leave this world.

We are to be ready, Jesus said, so that we are not surprised or caught off guard when He does return.

We have to make sure that we are living in such a way that we are truly ready — living a life of truly expectant hope, a life that is set apart, a life that is a powerful witness to the love God has for us.

This morning, we are taking those thoughts a bit deeper, thinking about our families.

Parents: today I want to think just for a few moments about how we make sure that our families are also ready. As important as our own salvation is, we must also be preparing our children’s souls for the day of Jesus’ return — laying the groundwork of faith that will grow in them and that will lead them into a personal relationship with Jesus.

In Scripture, there are two great examples of parents showing their children the way — the way that will set them up to be ready when that time comes for them to make the decision of following Jesus themselves.

So as we begin, I want to first look at fathers and husbands.

In Acts 16, Luke tells the story of Paul and Silas being jailed in Philippi because of the message of the gospel.

Maybe you remember how that went. Paul and Silas meet a slave girl in Philippi who had the ability to foretell the future. She made her slave owners lots of money with her “gift”.

She kept saying over and over that Paul and Silas were men of God, and that they were bringing a message of salvation for the people. It became frustrating to Paul, so much so that he looked at this girl and commanded the evil spirit to leave her.

Out went the spirit. Out went her ability to tell the future. Away went the money that she would earn for her owners.