The Responsibilities Of Children In The Family Setting Series

THE BIBLICAL FAMILY: The Responsibilities of Children

Ephesians 6:1-3 & Colossians 3:20

INTRODUCTION

A. You know, God pretty well has this old world figured out.

1. The Bible says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

2. If we were to continue to read through the remainder of Genesis 1 we would find that God created the planets, the stars, the dry ground, the plants and animals and everything else that goes into making the world as we know it.

3. Now, when God made all of this stuff, He didn’t just let it go and do whatever it wanted to. He didn’t just create the world and then let it be.

4. No, God established some rules, some guidelines, some laws of nature to make things work.

a. For instance, it’s God who invented this whole gravity thing. Can you imagine what the world would be like without gravity?

- Can you imagine what it would be like trying to drink without gravity? You go to take a drink and your milk goes up your nose.

b. And tell me, what would we do without evaporation and condensation?

- Man, you think the drought we’ve been experiencing in some places is tough, it’s nothing compared to what the place would be like if God hadn’t figured out all of that watering the earth stuff.

5. No, God knew how the place was supposed to work so He made laws to make the place operate like He wanted it to.

B. Well, the world is not the only thing God created.

1. He also created marriage, the family and the home.

2. Just as God created the world and then put laws into place to make it all operate correctly, He also put in place certain laws for how people in a family are to function.

3. Over the past couple of weeks we have examined what God said about marriage and parenting.

C. This morning I want to look at what God says about children – how they should act within the context of the family as a whole.

1. Open your Bibles this morning and turn with me please to Eph 6:1-3 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. [2] Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) [3] That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

2. In these 3 verses, we find the basic responsibilities of children to their parents and we will look at them right after we have

PRAYER

Now, we could look at many different things that go into being a good child, but it all boils down to the two commands given in these verses; the two commands that will allow us to deal with our parents regardless of our age in a godly manner. Number one, God says to children:

I. OBEY YOUR PARENTS: Ephes. 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.

A. Now, before we progress any further, let’s think for a moment about who we are talking about

1. When we say Children - The word translated here as “children” does not mean infant. There are other words which mean the same as infant.

a. No, the word “children” here is a general word for off spring.

b. It’s just talking about children in general, no age is in view.

c. From birth to young people, as long as they are under parental care and control, you are their child - Children equals off spring.

2. Equally, we need to think about what the word “parents” means.

- Parents refers to birth parents, it means adopted parents, it means legal guardians

3. One final definition, and that is for the word “obey.”

a. To obey means not only to “listen to” your parents, but it means to “listen to as realizing you are under their authority and then follow their directions, without challenge, excuse or delay.”

b. In other words, children, if you are at home, under the watch care of parents, step parents, adopted parents, guardians or whatever, you are to do what your parents tell you to do. You are to be obedient.

B. You are to obey in all things, Col 3:20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.

1. If you are home, under their authority; if they are responsible for you, providing for you, and watching over you, you are to obey them in all things.

2. And biblical obedience means doing what you are told to do without challenge, excuse or delay.

3. That includes the way you dress, the places you go, the people you hang out with, the things you watch on TV.