WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.280 Let's pray together as we begin. 00:00:05.280 --> 00:00:21.440 Father, we pause to acknowledge before you that we are weak and feeble and so very ignorant of so many things, Lord God, but you suffer from none of those inadequacies, none of those limitations. 00:00:21.440 --> 00:00:29.519 You are infinitely wise and all-knowing and powerful and so very gracious. 00:00:29.519 --> 00:00:34.600 And so, Lord, we look to you this morning for what only you can do. 00:00:34.600 --> 00:00:43.359 I mean, the things we're going to be talking about, we realize, Lord, can only happen in our lives and in the lives of our children as you work. 00:00:43.359 --> 00:01:04.000 And so, Lord, we focus our attention upon you and your excellencies, your majesty and might, but also, Lord, your mercy and kindness and forbearance and your logging, Lord, to come to those who look to you in their need. 00:01:04.000 --> 00:01:05.719 And that's us. 00:01:05.719 --> 00:01:08.640 We are in need and we look to you, Lord God. 00:01:08.640 --> 00:01:12.379 So even now, come and meet with us. 00:01:12.379 --> 00:01:31.159 And may we know, Lord, that you have been in our midst and that your spirit has been at work, that your word has spoken powerfully and we will give to you all the honor and glory for every good and perfect gift indeed is from above, from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. 00:01:31.159 --> 00:01:33.599 So our hearts trust in you. 00:01:33.599 --> 00:01:37.400 We commit this time now to you and pray this in Christ's name. 00:01:37.400 --> 00:01:38.400 Amen. 00:01:38.400 --> 00:01:39.560 Well, what a joy. 00:01:39.560 --> 00:01:43.640 I've had to be with you over the weekend. 00:01:43.640 --> 00:01:58.680 Actually started on Thursday with a Thursday session with the seminary faculty and it was really a joy, kind of a workshop faculty time with them. 00:01:58.680 --> 00:02:00.040 And that was really a joy. 00:02:00.040 --> 00:02:05.359 You've got a wonderful seminary, wonderful people who are servicing there. 00:02:05.359 --> 00:02:10.080 And I got to know some I'd never met before and others that I've known and it was a joy. 00:02:10.080 --> 00:02:23.199 And then, of course, on Friday and Saturday, the parenting conference, the first one that we did on Friday night was modeled after we would we should parent our children the way God is father to us. 00:02:23.199 --> 00:02:25.199 So God's the original father. 00:02:25.199 --> 00:02:29.639 We're the ones who are reflections of him. 00:02:29.639 --> 00:02:37.479 And so fathers and mothers, it includes mothers on this as well because children obey your parents, right? 00:02:37.479 --> 00:02:39.039 We should look at God as the model. 00:02:39.039 --> 00:02:40.159 So that was that first session. 00:02:40.159 --> 00:02:54.479 Then the second plenary one I entitled, it's kind of an awkward title, but it is participatory parenting, understanding that God is the primary actor in parenting and he works through us. 00:02:54.479 --> 00:02:58.120 He gives us that privilege to steward our children. 00:02:58.120 --> 00:03:00.319 So that's what that session was about. 00:03:00.319 --> 00:03:09.639 And now this one, I hope you have the handout on this one, training our children to love God by loving truths about God. 00:03:09.639 --> 00:03:17.599 Psalm 78, let me read verses six and seven. 00:03:17.599 --> 00:03:35.120 The generations to come might know even the children yet to be born, that they may arise and tell them to their children that they should put their confidence in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments. 00:03:35.120 --> 00:04:01.000 So it's one of the passages of several we could go to in the Bible that indicate that one of the roles that we have as Christian parents is to pass on the faith to our children so that they know that faith, the word of God, but also the works of God, what God has done, and that they may be shaped by that, that they may know those things so that they would obey God. 00:04:01.000 --> 00:04:05.039 So notice in that the role, I have this on the handout there. 00:04:05.039 --> 00:04:11.439 Notice the role of the head that they not forget and the heart put their confidence. 00:04:11.439 --> 00:04:14.319 The hands keep his commandments. 00:04:14.319 --> 00:04:26.079 So it's very interesting that there seems to be in this verse, and of course it's true in so much of biblical teaching, a connection between head, heart, and hands. 00:04:26.079 --> 00:04:29.439 And I'm going to add another H to that in a bit here. 00:04:29.439 --> 00:04:31.040 You'll see that. 00:04:31.040 --> 00:04:41.120 But head, heart, and hands is such an important thing that we realize that we are to, first of all, understand the truth of God. 00:04:41.120 --> 00:04:50.480 This becomes the most important first thing to have our minds saturated with truth from God's word. 00:04:50.480 --> 00:05:01.839 But as I mentioned, after I have that little thing on the order is crucial, I say that after God intends the truth that he gives us to travel. 00:05:01.839 --> 00:05:03.480 Interesting metaphor, isn't it? 00:05:03.480 --> 00:05:05.079 Traveling truth. 00:05:05.079 --> 00:05:09.439 So you meet, he intends that truth to travel first into our heads. 00:05:09.439 --> 00:05:17.220 Honestly, nothing good will come of that truth if it doesn't enter our heads first, if we don't know it. 00:05:17.220 --> 00:05:21.279 And boy, you realize how important it is to know it rightly. 00:05:21.279 --> 00:05:26.319 What if you know truth, put that in scare quotes, that isn't actually true? 00:05:26.319 --> 00:05:34.800 That is, you have ideas about God, you have ideas about theological things, but you're not right. 00:05:34.800 --> 00:05:36.240 You're not right about it. 00:05:36.240 --> 00:05:42.319 My goodness, the whole thing then goes off the rails at that point. 00:05:42.319 --> 00:06:03.839 So you have to know the truth and know it rightly and, oh my goodness, and know it as fully as you can so that the glory of continuing to study, continuing to see greater detail and greater richness and greater texture and fullness of that truth over time. 00:06:03.839 --> 00:06:06.920 I'm almost 70 years old and I can tell you something. 00:06:06.920 --> 00:06:15.560 There's a ton of stuff I don't know that I continue to grow in as a Christian. 00:06:15.560 --> 00:06:24.800 My profession is studying and teaching theology and I can just tell you, I know how much I don't know because you just keep growing in this. 00:06:24.800 --> 00:06:29.920 I think in all of heaven, we'll continue that process. 00:06:29.920 --> 00:06:42.040 So you have that knowledge in your head and correct, accurate, full understanding that then has the potential of impacting heart. 00:06:42.040 --> 00:06:56.079 So God intends His truth to travel first into our heads, but from head to heart, if we don't make that 12-inch connection, something has gone terribly wrong. 00:06:56.079 --> 00:07:01.480 It is not God's intention for truth to come to our minds and just stay there. 00:07:01.480 --> 00:07:08.360 No, it's meant to impact what Edwards, Jonathan Edwards called our affections. 00:07:08.360 --> 00:07:13.639 Emotions are not the same as emotions. 00:07:13.639 --> 00:07:22.120 They will overlap in certain ways, but emotions are fickle and circumstantially affected. 00:07:22.120 --> 00:07:25.079 So somebody says some lousy thing to you. 00:07:25.079 --> 00:07:27.639 You might have been, oh, you know, boy, what a great day this is. 00:07:27.639 --> 00:07:28.639 Well, I'm so happy. 00:07:28.639 --> 00:07:30.759 And somebody says, one little comment to you. 00:07:30.759 --> 00:07:33.040 Boy, you just plummet. 00:07:33.040 --> 00:07:34.319 You've had that experience, haven't you? 00:07:34.319 --> 00:07:35.639 Or the reverse. 00:07:35.639 --> 00:07:36.639 You won the lottery. 00:07:36.639 --> 00:07:37.800 That's probably a bad example. 00:07:37.800 --> 00:07:38.800 You get the point. 00:07:38.800 --> 00:07:49.920 You know, just one thing you say to somebody, wow, these emotions are very circumstantially affected and fickle. 00:07:49.920 --> 00:07:57.480 Affections are resilient, stable, very hard to change. 00:07:57.480 --> 00:08:00.279 So let me give you just an example so you can see the difference. 00:08:00.279 --> 00:08:07.639 Imagine a children's worker, say the toddlers, will make it really hard, the toddlers. 00:08:07.639 --> 00:08:16.660 And this children's worker, this toddler worker, came to church that Sunday and the people who were supposed to be there to help her didn't show up. 00:08:16.660 --> 00:08:20.899 So she's got 20 little toddlers in this room all to herself. 00:08:20.899 --> 00:08:22.319 And the pastor preaches long. 00:08:22.319 --> 00:08:25.199 Never happens here, right, Jeff? 00:08:25.199 --> 00:08:29.920 But anyway, you know, in this case, at another church, pastor preached long. 00:08:29.920 --> 00:08:33.120 And this poor woman is in there with all these kids. 00:08:33.120 --> 00:08:38.039 And just, you know, so you come to work at the end of it and you say, are you glad the parents are coming to get their kids? 00:08:38.039 --> 00:08:40.519 And she said, oh my, am I ever. 00:08:40.519 --> 00:08:44.000 So you really don't care about those kids, do you? 00:08:44.000 --> 00:08:45.480 What? 00:08:45.480 --> 00:08:47.360 How could you say that? 00:08:47.360 --> 00:08:50.159 I would give my life for those kids. 00:08:50.159 --> 00:08:52.120 You see the difference? 00:08:52.120 --> 00:08:57.720 Emotions are frayed, but affections, ooh, they are stubborn. 00:08:57.720 --> 00:08:59.379 They are resilient. 00:08:59.379 --> 00:09:03.879 So what God wants to do is take that truth and build affections. 00:09:03.879 --> 00:09:15.639 I don't know, in terms of other words in English that convey affection, something like convictions comes close, but it's convictions with a passion. 00:09:15.639 --> 00:09:19.600 That's what affections are, convictions with a passion, right? 00:09:19.600 --> 00:09:22.600 You really feel the weight of these things. 00:09:22.600 --> 00:09:39.679 You grow not only to know the truth head, but you grow to love the truth, to see not only the truth of the truth head, but the beauty and wisdom and grandeur and glory of the truth. 00:09:39.679 --> 00:09:41.399 That's affections. 00:09:41.399 --> 00:10:00.399 So head, heart, and then hands that make, that practice, that put into practice what your heart is committed to, the things you love and hate, the things that you cherish and despise. 00:10:00.399 --> 00:10:03.639 That then is reflected in how you live. 00:10:03.639 --> 00:10:15.840 There is a very well-known Bible teacher who went around the Pacific Northwest in particular where I grew up, when I was a boy growing up who had a conference he did at our church. 00:10:15.840 --> 00:10:22.399 I remembered very, very well, and it was entitled Right Thinking, Right Living. 00:10:22.399 --> 00:10:29.919 And I listened to that, and even as a boy, I was always kind of questioning things. 00:10:29.919 --> 00:10:32.519 And I heard this, and I thought, you know what? 00:10:32.519 --> 00:10:37.320 I know people in this church who have the right thinking side of it, but they're not living it out. 00:10:37.320 --> 00:10:43.519 I don't think this is true, that there's a necessary connection between how you think and how you live. 00:10:43.519 --> 00:10:50.460 And it wasn't until I read Edwards later that the religious affections in particular that I understood what the problem was. 00:10:50.460 --> 00:11:03.360 We don't necessarily live out what we know, but we do live out more regularly, more consistently what we love and hate, what we cherish and despise. 00:11:03.360 --> 00:11:13.039 So that connection is not directly from knowledge to living, heads to hands, it's head, heart, hands. 00:11:13.039 --> 00:11:14.639 You see it? 00:11:14.639 --> 00:11:30.960 So we've got to see that truth take up residence in hearts where we cultivate a deepened love for it, a deepened appreciation, a deepened understanding of its wisdom and its beauty. 00:11:30.960 --> 00:11:36.860 I mean, for example, many of you have come to a reformed understanding. 00:11:36.860 --> 00:11:41.840 You believe in the doctrine of election now, but how did you used to think of that? 00:11:41.840 --> 00:11:44.000 It was a horrible thing. 00:11:44.000 --> 00:11:47.200 The sovereignty of God, it was a horrible thing. 00:11:47.200 --> 00:11:49.679 You didn't like it back in those days. 00:11:49.679 --> 00:11:52.399 What happened was the truth came to your mind. 00:11:52.399 --> 00:11:55.679 You understand, yeah, that's what the Bible teaches. 00:11:55.679 --> 00:12:05.159 But then in time, God helps you see what the wisdom, the beauty, the glory of that truth. 00:12:05.159 --> 00:12:09.279 Let me give you one other illustration of this. 00:12:09.279 --> 00:12:10.279 It's a true story. 00:12:10.279 --> 00:12:19.279 Carson, if you know that name, he is a very prominent New Testament scholar, one of the greats of our age, taught at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School for many years. 00:12:19.279 --> 00:12:22.679 I taught there for a brief period of time. 00:12:22.679 --> 00:12:31.279 While I was there, Don was commuting into campus for some of that time with a colleague who held an egalitarian view on the role of women. 00:12:31.279 --> 00:12:40.240 That's the view that the egalitarian view holds that men and women are equal, not only in nature, which of course we hold as well, equally human, equally image of God and so on. 00:12:40.240 --> 00:12:49.159 But it also holds that they're equal in terms of function, that there should be no authority that a man would have over a woman in any situation. 00:12:49.159 --> 00:12:54.120 They reject headship of the man in the home and in the church. 00:12:54.120 --> 00:12:57.279 So they'd be supportive of women's ordination and so on. 00:12:57.279 --> 00:12:58.879 This fellow was an egalitarian. 00:12:58.879 --> 00:13:07.240 Don Carson decided to use the time in the car with this brother to instruct him on the better way. 00:13:07.240 --> 00:13:09.360 He commended the complementarian view to him. 00:13:09.360 --> 00:13:17.960 So 30 minutes of the car on the way to campus, 30 minutes back home, he lectured to him on the biblical teaching on complementarianism. 00:13:17.960 --> 00:13:25.600 I mean, one on one with Don Carson, if you know who that is, you realize, wow, this is quite intimidating. 00:13:25.600 --> 00:13:35.240 But anyway, so the day finally came, like two or three weeks into this, where the guy got in the car one morning and first thing he said to Don was, okay, Don, you don't need to lecture me anymore. 00:13:35.240 --> 00:13:43.720 I'm now convinced that the Bible teaches the complementarian view, but I don't like it. 00:13:43.720 --> 00:13:50.240 To which Don Carson replied, well, then we've gone halfway. 00:13:50.240 --> 00:13:54.360 I love that reply. 00:13:54.360 --> 00:13:58.200 Oh my, it just nails it. 00:13:58.200 --> 00:13:59.200 We've gone halfway. 00:13:59.200 --> 00:14:00.200 Yeah. 00:14:00.200 --> 00:14:14.679 You can see the truth of the truth, but you have not yet seen the wisdom, the beauty, the intricacy of the design and how good that is. 00:14:14.679 --> 00:14:15.679 Right. 00:14:15.679 --> 00:14:16.679 Okay. 00:14:16.679 --> 00:14:30.200 So head heart, when the heart embraces and affections are formed and there are these passionate convictions, then hands live it out more consistently. 00:14:30.200 --> 00:14:35.759 Now we never live perfectly because sin is always there to muck things up. 00:14:35.759 --> 00:14:44.960 You know, it'll work perfectly in heaven, but it won't work perfectly here, but it works more consistently when the affections are formed in the way they are. 00:14:44.960 --> 00:14:47.080 And then the last H is habitats. 00:14:47.080 --> 00:15:03.200 So then people, you know this, don't you, by watching people, people who really live according to their convictions and they, you know, they're, they're consistent in living out what they believe have greater impact on those around them. 00:15:03.200 --> 00:15:06.960 You know, you look at this guy go, wow, he really believes this. 00:15:06.960 --> 00:15:08.440 He's committed to it. 00:15:08.440 --> 00:15:09.440 Right. 00:15:09.440 --> 00:15:12.399 I remember, I remember I had a geology teacher in college. 00:15:12.399 --> 00:15:26.360 I had no interest in taking this course, but he caught me the very first day in class because he had on the front table, an example of an igneous rock and a metamorphic rock and a sedimentary rock. 00:15:26.360 --> 00:15:28.240 And he was all about these rocks. 00:15:28.240 --> 00:15:31.399 He said, you know, the history of this thing, he holds up his arm. 00:15:31.399 --> 00:15:33.200 Let me tell you where this came from. 00:15:33.200 --> 00:15:35.919 You know, he's just so excited and passionate. 00:15:35.919 --> 00:15:41.639 I tell you, I was hooked day one, hour one. 00:15:41.639 --> 00:15:52.840 So you realize people are affected more by those who have a passionate commitment to what they believe and they live it out consistently. 00:15:52.840 --> 00:15:56.019 So head, heart, hands, habitat. 00:15:56.019 --> 00:16:01.159 We have more of an impact on those around us, including parents with our children. 00:16:01.159 --> 00:16:05.320 When they see, my goodness, mom and dad, they mean it. 00:16:05.320 --> 00:16:06.320 They love this. 00:16:06.320 --> 00:16:07.840 They are committed to it. 00:16:07.840 --> 00:16:12.879 It isn't just a Sunday only thing and forget it the rest of the week. 00:16:12.879 --> 00:16:15.240 No, they are committed to it. 00:16:15.240 --> 00:16:29.360 So my friends, parenting our kids first and foremost is we need to live out our faith in ways that show head and heart have been connected. 00:16:29.360 --> 00:16:38.580 Heart embraces with joy and hands live more consistently what we believe and our kids will see that. 00:16:38.580 --> 00:16:55.720 So that's the big idea that of course affects all of us, but now I want to tailor it to our kids and think together about how we can help our children grow in these areas of head, heart, hands and habitat. 00:16:55.720 --> 00:17:05.000 So I'm now at Roman numeral two on the handout, the progression and possession of God's truth going through this order. 00:17:05.000 --> 00:17:22.640 So capital A head start with the priority of learning well, the truth of God's word, the minds understanding knowing the truth is necessary for the heart's engagement with that truth, loving the truth. 00:17:22.640 --> 00:17:28.839 That is knowing the truth provides the possibility and basis for loving the truth. 00:17:28.839 --> 00:17:34.920 Jonathan Edwards in the religious affections at one point uses the illustration of a fireplace. 00:17:34.920 --> 00:17:36.839 And I just love this illustration. 00:17:36.839 --> 00:17:41.599 He talks about how if you're going to have a raging fire, you've got to have wood in there. 00:17:41.599 --> 00:17:56.079 And so you pack that thing with wood and of course the better quality of that wood and the larger quantity of that wood will affect how much fire you get from that wood. 00:17:56.079 --> 00:18:03.680 But the thing is you can pack that wood in the fireplace and you won't have a fire. 00:18:03.680 --> 00:18:05.200 We've got wood in our fireplace right now. 00:18:05.200 --> 00:18:07.799 I hope it's not burning. 00:18:07.799 --> 00:18:10.000 I just think it looks better with wood in it. 00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:11.000 So that's why it's there. 00:18:11.000 --> 00:18:12.400 It's just aesthetic period. 00:18:12.400 --> 00:18:15.359 But anyway, you can have wood in that fireplace. 00:18:15.359 --> 00:18:16.799 It has to be ignited. 00:18:16.799 --> 00:18:25.799 There has to be something that that that that lame that takes that wood and brings the fire about. 00:18:25.799 --> 00:18:33.059 So he likens the wood in the fireplace to knowledge that is put into our heads. 00:18:33.059 --> 00:18:36.880 And true enough, the knowledge in our heads has to be ignited. 00:18:36.880 --> 00:18:38.960 Okay, we'll talk more about that in a moment. 00:18:38.960 --> 00:18:40.240 But it has to be there. 00:18:40.240 --> 00:18:44.160 I mean, you're not going to have a fire without wood in the fireplace, right? 00:18:44.160 --> 00:18:48.519 You've got to have the wood there for that to be ignited. 00:18:48.519 --> 00:18:54.019 So with kids, you just realize, you know, it probably this truth that you're putting into their heads. 00:18:54.019 --> 00:19:00.019 Don't be discouraged if they don't go, Oh, wow, mom and dad, thank you so much for teaching me this. 00:19:00.019 --> 00:19:01.180 It's just so wonderful. 00:19:01.180 --> 00:19:07.440 I mean, my life has been changed from this, you know, I mean, it really a two years old, three years old, five years old, seven years. 00:19:07.440 --> 00:19:09.640 I mean, you know, that's not going to happen. 00:19:09.640 --> 00:19:45.480 But you know what you're doing as you pack this truth into their minds is you're making it possible for the day to come when the Holy Spirit works in their hearts through regeneration and gives them a new heart that now they can take the reservoir of that truth and begin to see the beginnings of the goodness and the beauty and the wonder of that little by little by little growing in that as they come to Christ by God's grace and grow. 00:19:45.480 --> 00:19:54.559 So, so the first really the first most important role that we have as parents with young children is fill their heads with truth. 00:19:54.559 --> 00:19:56.240 You know, in different kinds of ways. 00:19:56.240 --> 00:20:00.079 So, you know, Bible memory is such a good thing to do. 00:20:00.079 --> 00:20:06.619 My goodness, kids can memorize so much better than we can write parents. 00:20:06.619 --> 00:20:14.880 So take advantage of that, you know, and really help them spend time in going through Scripture. 00:20:14.880 --> 00:20:17.480 I mean, read scripture together with them. 00:20:17.480 --> 00:20:20.839 And you know, in my view, this is just my own preference on this. 00:20:20.839 --> 00:20:23.799 I do like individual verses like fighter verses. 00:20:23.799 --> 00:20:25.960 You can get those from Truth78. 00:20:25.960 --> 00:20:30.839 By the way, Truth78 is the number, right? 00:20:30.839 --> 00:20:33.079 So the website is truth78. 00:20:33.079 --> 00:20:39.400 That's a seven and an eight dot o r g probably don't know for sure. 00:20:39.400 --> 00:20:49.559 But anyway, Truth78 is an organization that used to be called Children Desiring God, but they have lots of resources for families and for kids. 00:20:49.559 --> 00:20:55.920 And one of the things they have are these things called fighter verses that were used at Bethlehem Baptist Church years ago. 00:20:55.920 --> 00:21:11.920 But now Candace Waters, who's the one who kind of coordinates all that, has asked a bunch of people, Jody and I have participated in this, to write kind of brief little, you know, hundred word, 200 word commentaries on those verses that children can memorize. 00:21:11.920 --> 00:21:13.420 So that's a great resource. 00:21:13.420 --> 00:21:18.759 There are so many things there for both individuals and churches at that place. 00:21:18.759 --> 00:21:21.759 And so, yeah, memorizing verses is fine. 00:21:21.759 --> 00:21:22.759 But you know what? 00:21:22.759 --> 00:21:32.039 I'm a big fan of taking bigger chunks, you know, and memorizing a book of the Bible or a chapter, you know, of scripture. 00:21:32.039 --> 00:21:37.440 And really the best way to do that is just to read it over, like the whole thing. 00:21:37.440 --> 00:21:41.680 Read it over, over and over and over and over and over and over. 00:21:41.680 --> 00:21:47.279 That is the whole thing, slowly, thoughtfully, and pretty soon you'll get it memorized. 00:21:47.279 --> 00:21:52.000 But the advantage of that is you always see the whole context of it, right? 00:21:52.000 --> 00:22:03.960 You're thinking the thought of the whole of it as you do that, rather than kind of the piecemeal thing, or you might forget, now you're at verse 11, you might forget what was back there at verse 1, you know, that sort of a thing. 00:22:03.960 --> 00:22:13.440 So anyway, I commend that to you as a way of memorizing that works just because of repetition. 00:22:13.440 --> 00:22:15.440 You read it enough times and you're going to have it. 00:22:15.440 --> 00:22:17.680 So I encourage you to consider that. 00:22:17.680 --> 00:22:21.079 You know, and there are other things, catechisms that you can use. 00:22:21.079 --> 00:22:29.559 Bethlehem Baptist Church has had, anyway, a catechism that is age-graded. 00:22:29.559 --> 00:22:34.279 I think there's at least three different versions of it that starts really simple. 00:22:34.279 --> 00:22:35.279 Who created the world? 00:22:35.279 --> 00:22:36.279 God. 00:22:36.279 --> 00:22:37.980 So it starts really simple. 00:22:37.980 --> 00:22:44.079 And then as you get older, those catechisms expand a bit and have a little bit more substance to them. 00:22:44.079 --> 00:22:45.839 So I think probably your church has something. 00:22:45.839 --> 00:22:50.240 I didn't check, but you probably have something like that available here as well. 00:22:50.240 --> 00:22:52.359 But that's a great thing to do. 00:22:52.359 --> 00:22:56.559 And then, of course, teaching them the truths of the faith. 00:22:56.559 --> 00:22:59.599 Theology is so good to do when they're young. 00:22:59.599 --> 00:23:07.799 So you know, by God's grace, the Lord led me to do this with our two kids, Bethany, our daughter, and her sister Rachel. 00:23:07.799 --> 00:23:16.400 And later, they just were relentless in the impressing upon me how important it would be to write this up. 00:23:16.400 --> 00:23:27.119 So I eventually did, wrote a book entitled Big Truths for Young Hearts that is really more for parents in helping them know theology in a way that they could teach to their children. 00:23:27.119 --> 00:23:30.799 Now for older children, they could just read the book also. 00:23:30.799 --> 00:23:38.359 Maybe 10, 11, 12 years old, depending on what level of a reader your child is. 00:23:38.359 --> 00:23:39.759 But they could do that. 00:23:39.759 --> 00:23:47.660 But I think that younger children, you read it and then just talk through those things with your kids. 00:23:47.660 --> 00:23:52.000 So a variety of different things you can use. 00:23:52.000 --> 00:23:58.880 As I say here, with children, the first priority is what we can assist them with is the head, knowing the truth. 00:23:58.880 --> 00:24:03.240 When most younger children are not saved, the heart is not ready to be touched fully. 00:24:03.240 --> 00:24:08.660 And even when saved, some maturity and reflection is needed to begin to sense the weightiness of that truth. 00:24:08.660 --> 00:24:13.579 Knowing the truth is fully and accurately as one can is crucial to all else. 00:24:13.579 --> 00:24:16.599 The second bullet point I make there is an important point. 00:24:16.599 --> 00:24:20.440 Children are curious by nature and have many questions. 00:24:20.440 --> 00:24:26.519 Resist the urge to squelch this curiosity in questioning due to not knowing the answer. 00:24:26.519 --> 00:24:31.279 This happened to me as a boy growing up, I've always been curious. 00:24:31.279 --> 00:24:34.079 And as a boy, I had lots of questions. 00:24:34.079 --> 00:24:45.839 And honestly, my folks were wonderful parents, but they were kind of annoyed, to be honest with you, what I would bring questions to them of things they couldn't answer. 00:24:45.839 --> 00:24:59.720 And I just would encourage you instead of, you know, kind of dismissing your kids with questions about the faith and theological biblical things to say to them, you know what? 00:24:59.720 --> 00:25:01.640 You know, mommy doesn't know the answer to that. 00:25:01.640 --> 00:25:03.279 Daddy doesn't know the answer to that. 00:25:03.279 --> 00:25:04.279 But you know what? 00:25:04.279 --> 00:25:05.279 Let's find out. 00:25:05.279 --> 00:25:06.559 Let's work on this together. 00:25:06.559 --> 00:25:08.160 Take it on as a project. 00:25:08.160 --> 00:25:09.519 Talk to a pastor. 00:25:09.519 --> 00:25:11.440 Take a look at some books and... 00:25:11.440 --> 00:25:15.359 Excuse me. 00:25:15.359 --> 00:25:17.599 See if you can. 00:25:17.599 --> 00:25:24.119 Take that as an opportunity for you and your child to explore something and both learn something together. 00:25:24.119 --> 00:25:26.640 That's a great thing to do. 00:25:26.640 --> 00:25:39.200 And then last point here, take them to the Bible so that they learn that the authority that you have and the authority that they also should have is God's word. 00:25:39.200 --> 00:25:44.839 Resist the urge to apply your parental authority in making them believe the truth. 00:25:44.839 --> 00:25:52.119 Help them even as young children to be like the Bereans who search out the scriptures to see if these things are true. 00:25:52.119 --> 00:26:05.440 So I just am a big supporter of having the Bible open with your kids and helping them see from the scriptures themselves that this is why we believe the things that we believe. 00:26:05.440 --> 00:26:15.559 Because if they just believe it because mom and dad said so and I'm supposed to, well, the day is going to come when they're not under mom and dad's authority in the same way. 00:26:15.559 --> 00:26:16.559 Right? 00:26:16.559 --> 00:26:22.839 And so they may have more questions about whether they should continue believing these things. 00:26:22.839 --> 00:26:25.039 I mean, it's what mom and dad said, but I don't know if I should. 00:26:25.039 --> 00:26:28.920 But boy, if you start from the beginning and you help them realize this is all. 00:26:28.920 --> 00:26:34.319 The only reason I believe this is as your parent is because this is the teaching of God's word. 00:26:34.319 --> 00:26:38.000 Well, then it's far more likely they will get it. 00:26:38.000 --> 00:26:39.839 You know, that this is the word of God. 00:26:39.839 --> 00:26:45.079 If I turn away from this, I'm turning away from God's very word. 00:26:45.079 --> 00:26:46.339 That's a sober thing. 00:26:46.339 --> 00:26:49.279 So help them understand that's your authority. 00:26:49.279 --> 00:26:53.440 That's the authority they should have as well is the word of God. 00:26:53.440 --> 00:27:01.599 Okay, so starting with the head single most important thing we could do, especially in their younger years and ongoing. 00:27:01.599 --> 00:27:03.359 I mean, this is something that never ends. 00:27:03.359 --> 00:27:07.720 It's an ongoing importance for all of our lives. 00:27:07.720 --> 00:27:14.500 But then secondly is heart move eventually to the level of the heart and brace of the truth. 00:27:14.500 --> 00:27:22.759 The heart's engagement with truth, loving the truth is necessary for the hands activity in applying that truth, living the truth. 00:27:22.759 --> 00:27:28.240 So loving the truth provides the possibility in the basis for living the truth. 00:27:28.240 --> 00:27:48.640 So just a few thoughts here on this, you know, this, this transition from head to heart, so as, as truth, the truth of God gives us as meant to travel first into our heads, but then it must, if it accomplishes what God sent it to do, it must impact our hearts. 00:27:48.640 --> 00:27:50.680 And that's where real change takes place. 00:27:50.680 --> 00:27:53.920 That's where character formation takes place. 00:27:53.920 --> 00:27:57.279 This is where renewal takes place. 00:27:57.279 --> 00:28:01.559 So first bullet point there in time, the heart becomes the key issue. 00:28:01.559 --> 00:28:09.779 Not only do they know the truth, but do they feel the weight and sense the personal significance of that truth. 00:28:09.779 --> 00:28:16.839 So I think, you know, as they grow older, you can talk with them about what do you think about this truth? 00:28:16.839 --> 00:28:26.640 You know, you mean it could be gospel truth even, you know, well, what do you think about the fact that Jesus, you know, gave his life for you and shed his blood on the cross. 00:28:26.640 --> 00:28:28.740 And you could talk about gospel aspects. 00:28:28.740 --> 00:28:31.039 You could talk about different attributes of God. 00:28:31.039 --> 00:28:39.680 What do you think about this attribute of God that, that speaks of his omnipotence, you know, his power and, and his wisdom. 00:28:39.680 --> 00:28:41.079 Any thoughts you have about those things. 00:28:41.079 --> 00:28:50.480 So just see if you can draw out from them a sense that there is a, an affective response to that as well. 00:28:50.480 --> 00:28:53.799 Beyond yeah, I know what, what God's power is. 00:28:53.799 --> 00:28:55.200 Yeah, I get that. 00:28:55.200 --> 00:29:14.960 More than just in the intellectual thing, are they beginning to see something of the, the wonder, just a hint of beginning to see what is worthy of our adoration because of this, right? 00:29:14.960 --> 00:29:22.160 So you work with them at that help, help them understand really that's the goal in this is to begin to see those things. 00:29:22.160 --> 00:29:25.440 And it doesn't come easy and it doesn't come readily. 00:29:25.440 --> 00:29:29.960 And of course it has to happen only as the Holy Spirit does work in their hearts. 00:29:29.960 --> 00:29:41.519 So second point, pray fervently that God would work in their hearts and help them see not only the truthfulness of the truth, but also the glory and wonder and beauty of that truth. 00:29:41.519 --> 00:29:44.839 So of course the first thing you're praying for in them is their conversion, right? 00:29:44.839 --> 00:29:50.640 I mean, you, you realize everything depends upon regeneration. 00:29:50.640 --> 00:30:01.720 You think, for example, in first Corinthians two verse 14, the, the natural man, referring to a person who does not have the spirit of God doesn't understand the things of the spirit. 00:30:01.720 --> 00:30:07.279 Their foolishness to him, he can't, he cannot accept them because they're there of the spirit. 00:30:07.279 --> 00:30:20.259 And so you realize, boy, they really desperately need the Holy Spirit to regenerate them and awaken in their hearts the truths of the gospel that they embrace on their own. 00:30:20.259 --> 00:30:25.640 But then having believed, boy, then, then the spirit is at work in them. 00:30:25.640 --> 00:30:35.119 And there's hope of growth in becoming people whose hearts are changed as their heads are informed, right? 00:30:35.119 --> 00:30:41.319 So the hope of that happening, of that taking place. 00:30:41.319 --> 00:30:50.319 The last little bullet point there is help them learn at a young age, Thomas Chalmers' principle of the expulsive power of a new affection. 00:30:50.319 --> 00:30:51.559 I can just tell you this. 00:30:51.559 --> 00:30:54.640 I really wish I had learned this much earlier. 00:30:54.640 --> 00:30:56.200 I learned this as an adult. 00:30:56.200 --> 00:31:06.920 I don't know how long ago, it's been a long time, but, but I didn't know this when I was growing up and I so wish I had, which someone had told me this truth because it's just glorious. 00:31:06.920 --> 00:31:18.720 Thomas Chalmers was a Scottish politician who became a pastor in the 18th and 19th centuries. 00:31:18.720 --> 00:31:22.720 That is, he bridged those two and he preached many, many sermons. 00:31:22.720 --> 00:31:32.160 He has a pastor, but the one sermon that he is most famous for is a sermon entitled the Expulsive Power of a New Affection. 00:31:32.160 --> 00:31:54.160 And in this sermon, he makes the point at the beginning of it that if you want to see love of the world, expulsed, the expulsive power, if you want to see love of the world, you know, the pleasures of what the world offers you, if you want to see those expelled from your life, it will not work. 00:31:54.160 --> 00:32:03.279 It will be unsuccessful to just convince yourself how bad those things are in the world and tell yourself, oh, it'll harm me. 00:32:03.279 --> 00:32:04.279 It'll harm my family. 00:32:04.279 --> 00:32:08.920 It'll harm, you know, it'll ruin my career, whatever the case might be. 00:32:08.920 --> 00:32:14.920 It'll be really bad for me if I continue in that or continue to love those things. 00:32:14.920 --> 00:32:24.240 He said the problem is, yeah, you can push those things out at first because of the negative effects those will have on your life. 00:32:24.240 --> 00:32:27.839 But because they have left you empty, right? 00:32:27.839 --> 00:32:35.059 You push them out and you're left empty, then what you're going to want to do is be full again, right? 00:32:35.059 --> 00:32:40.759 And of course you were full before by going to those things. 00:32:40.759 --> 00:32:43.200 And so what will you do? 00:32:43.200 --> 00:32:45.440 You'll go back to them again. 00:32:45.440 --> 00:32:58.880 So the only effective way to remove love of the world from your life is to take into your life a greater love, a deepened affection, right? 00:32:58.880 --> 00:33:09.119 For something else that is greater and better and so compelling that it pushes out the love of the world. 00:33:09.119 --> 00:33:13.680 But notice it leaves you full, not empty with something better. 00:33:13.680 --> 00:33:25.839 So imagine if I had a glass up here and I have that glass full of water, you know, there's two ways you can remove water from a glass, two fundamental ways you can remove water from a glass. 00:33:25.839 --> 00:33:27.559 One is you can empty the glass. 00:33:27.559 --> 00:33:33.519 You could drink the water, you could pour it out, you could siphon it out, you could let it evaporate. 00:33:33.519 --> 00:33:42.839 I mean, there's just lots of different ways you could remove water from a glass and that glass would be empty when you're done. 00:33:42.839 --> 00:33:50.599 Now glasses, to my long time experience, do not mind being empty, right? 00:33:50.599 --> 00:33:52.880 I mean, we've got glasses at home, don't we, honey? 00:33:52.880 --> 00:34:02.880 At the top of our cabinet in the dining room there that have not seen a drop of water for probably the full 25 years we've lived in our house. 00:34:02.880 --> 00:34:10.920 And you never walk by that China cabinet and hear those glasses screaming out, fill me, fill me. 00:34:10.920 --> 00:34:12.360 You know, you just did doesn't happen. 00:34:12.360 --> 00:34:16.460 They don't mind being empty, but people do. 00:34:16.460 --> 00:34:18.519 We mind being empty. 00:34:18.519 --> 00:34:21.519 So here's the other way you could remove water from a glass. 00:34:21.519 --> 00:34:23.360 You've got a full glass of water. 00:34:23.360 --> 00:34:30.739 You can pour into that glass something heavier, weightier, richer, denser than water. 00:34:30.739 --> 00:34:39.880 And as you fill that glass with something better, richer, denser, the water gets expulsed, right? 00:34:39.880 --> 00:34:41.840 The expulsive power. 00:34:41.840 --> 00:34:43.480 So here's the difference though. 00:34:43.480 --> 00:34:47.639 In the first method, emptying the glass, you leave it empty. 00:34:47.639 --> 00:34:58.239 In the second method, when you've removed the water, you leave the glass full, full of something greater than was there before. 00:34:58.239 --> 00:35:04.639 So I just think, boy, help your children learn what they're missing out on, right? 00:35:04.639 --> 00:35:08.920 I have come that you might have life and have it. 00:35:08.920 --> 00:35:11.920 Oh, just a little bit. 00:35:11.920 --> 00:35:12.920 Is that what Jesus said? 00:35:12.920 --> 00:35:15.000 I don't want you to have too much now. 00:35:15.000 --> 00:35:16.000 Uh-uh. 00:35:16.000 --> 00:35:17.800 Not, not, not too much joy. 00:35:17.800 --> 00:35:19.099 Be careful now. 00:35:19.099 --> 00:35:20.719 Is that what Jesus said? 00:35:20.719 --> 00:35:21.920 Are you kidding? 00:35:21.920 --> 00:35:27.280 I have come that you might have life and have it abundantly. 00:35:27.280 --> 00:35:38.440 These commandments I give to you that my joy may be in you and your joy may be made full. 00:35:38.440 --> 00:35:43.519 Wow, the promise of God throughout the Bible. 00:35:43.519 --> 00:35:44.599 It's just incredible. 00:35:44.599 --> 00:35:51.239 It's just mind boggling to people who deserve none of it. 00:35:51.239 --> 00:36:02.900 Offering to them, you know, so much fullness and richness and satisfaction from Him if they will but look to Him for it, right? 00:36:02.900 --> 00:36:04.960 So indeed, this is Paul's point. 00:36:04.960 --> 00:36:11.480 I take Thomas Chalmers message seriously, the expulsive power of a new affection. 00:36:11.480 --> 00:36:17.920 I think it is expressed beautifully in Philippians chapter 3. 00:36:17.920 --> 00:36:23.039 You know, Paul says, whatever things were gained to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 00:36:23.039 --> 00:36:26.119 And for, you know, for Paul, those things that were gained to him were huge. 00:36:26.119 --> 00:36:32.079 You know, Hebrew of Hebrews, you know, as to the law of Pharisee and, you know, tribe of Benjamin. 00:36:32.079 --> 00:36:52.440 You know, I mean, these were huge things that for Paul signaled his importance, signaled his identity, you know, showed everybody else how significant it was that he had these qualifications, right? 00:36:52.440 --> 00:36:57.000 Those things that were gained to me, I consider as loss for the sake of Christ. 00:36:57.000 --> 00:37:00.039 More than that, I consider all things to be lost. 00:37:00.039 --> 00:37:18.440 But all things to be lost in view of the surpassing value, richer, denser, weightier, better, more fulfilling, more satisfying. 00:37:18.440 --> 00:37:26.400 Paul, don't you want your, don't you want to know that and live it? 00:37:26.400 --> 00:37:29.480 Don't you want your kids to get this? 00:37:29.480 --> 00:37:45.199 So they can have this ammunition, this Thomas Chalmers principle as ammunition to fight against the whole of this world for their affections. 00:37:45.199 --> 00:37:46.199 We need this. 00:37:46.199 --> 00:37:47.199 We all need this. 00:37:47.199 --> 00:37:51.199 Our kids need this because there's a battle going on out there. 00:37:51.199 --> 00:37:52.679 Yes, for their minds. 00:37:52.679 --> 00:37:53.679 That's true. 00:37:53.679 --> 00:37:55.320 So, you know, we could go back to that again. 00:37:55.320 --> 00:38:02.719 You've got to get the mind understanding the truth of God correctly, but there's a battle for their hearts too in this culture. 00:38:02.719 --> 00:38:04.039 So God help us. 00:38:04.039 --> 00:38:06.039 Okay, moving on. 00:38:06.039 --> 00:38:12.880 Hands move to the level of the truths effect on their hands and the application of God's Word. 00:38:12.880 --> 00:38:23.639 The hands applying the truth, living the truth is what makes possible the transformation of others in our cultural environment transformed by the truth. 00:38:23.639 --> 00:38:27.440 So you're affecting our habitat as it were. 00:38:27.440 --> 00:38:35.679 So help them bullet point number one, help them with hands on application of the truth that they learn and grow to love. 00:38:35.679 --> 00:38:42.199 Help them think through various areas of their lives to see what these truths mean to how they live and relate to others. 00:38:42.199 --> 00:38:44.880 Don't assume they'll just get it. 00:38:44.880 --> 00:38:51.599 You know, I mean, most of us as adults don't just get it, you know, to see how the application takes place. 00:38:51.599 --> 00:38:52.800 We've got to think about these things. 00:38:52.800 --> 00:38:59.340 What does this mean in my relationship to so and so and in this conversation I've had with someone else and the like. 00:38:59.340 --> 00:39:07.920 So don't just assume they'll get it, get them started in thinking about how the truth of God's words needs to be lived out in their lives. 00:39:07.920 --> 00:39:11.440 So you know, their relationships with their siblings. 00:39:11.440 --> 00:39:18.920 What does this mean in terms of how a brother and a sister talk to each other? 00:39:18.920 --> 00:39:21.480 How about a sister and a sister, a brother and a brother? 00:39:21.480 --> 00:39:26.559 How does this work, you know, in terms of sibling relationships? 00:39:26.559 --> 00:39:31.440 The kinds of things that siblings can say to each other to put each other down. 00:39:31.440 --> 00:39:35.920 Oh my, it's just not healthy. 00:39:35.920 --> 00:39:36.920 Just isn't. 00:39:36.920 --> 00:39:48.320 You know, our home we established, until they got old enough to know how to handle sarcasm, because sarcasm, you know, it often has a barb to it, right? 00:39:48.320 --> 00:39:51.179 It has, it's a weapon often. 00:39:51.179 --> 00:39:55.679 So we just established a rule in our home when the kids were little, no sarcasm. 00:39:55.679 --> 00:39:57.559 We're not going to tolerate it. 00:39:57.559 --> 00:40:05.099 You know, not until you're old enough to use it in a way in which it's a loving thing to tease somebody about something, right? 00:40:05.099 --> 00:40:19.480 So in any case, what is this truth that you claim to know, that you know, and that you grow to love, what does that mean in your relationships with your parents? 00:40:19.480 --> 00:40:29.239 How you talk to your mother, how you talk to your father, the chores that you're asked to do in the house and, you know, and the different responsibilities that you're given. 00:40:29.239 --> 00:40:31.079 What about with your friends? 00:40:31.079 --> 00:40:32.679 Friends at school, friends in the neighborhood. 00:40:32.679 --> 00:40:36.639 What about with people indeed? 00:40:36.639 --> 00:40:37.880 How do you respond to that? 00:40:37.880 --> 00:40:45.800 So help them think through these truths and how that applies to the different situations of their lives. 00:40:45.800 --> 00:41:02.239 Really kind of entered their life, become a second grader again, you know, in your mind and help them think, what does that mean in terms of relationships that they have and responsibilities they have, school work that they're supposed to do, and you know, all those different kinds of things. 00:41:02.239 --> 00:41:13.760 And the truths of the Christian faith are impacting, affecting how they should live that out in relation to those kinds of things. 00:41:13.760 --> 00:41:20.840 Next point, here avoid legalism and moralism by helping them see the gospel at work and how they live. 00:41:20.840 --> 00:41:23.920 Now here's what I have in mind by that point. 00:41:23.920 --> 00:41:28.760 The gospel is not the gospel of behavior modification. 00:41:28.760 --> 00:41:29.760 You get this? 00:41:29.760 --> 00:41:38.840 The gospel is not the good news of, hey, we can just force our kids to behave the right way and we've done our job. 00:41:38.840 --> 00:41:52.960 No, the gospel is the gospel of the transformation of our hearts by the work of the spirit as we put our faith in Christ who forgives us our sin and empowers us to be transformed. 00:41:52.960 --> 00:41:57.960 So that outworking of the gospel then means that we do these things. 00:41:57.960 --> 00:42:17.559 We work at the hands-on application, not as a matter of behavior modification, but as a matter of trusting God to work in us to give us new desires, new longings, transformed affections, so that we love people that we used to not even want to talk to or whatever the case might be. 00:42:17.559 --> 00:42:23.679 We realize, my goodness, God has called me to love my enemies, so I need to love this person. 00:42:23.679 --> 00:42:34.980 And so we are transformed from the inside out and show that then in changed relationships with other people. 00:42:34.980 --> 00:42:38.719 So it really is a gospel work. 00:42:38.719 --> 00:42:39.719 It all is. 00:42:39.719 --> 00:42:59.840 It has to be, if it's really of the spirit, if it really is a matter of Christian living, living out the Christian faith, it has to be then a matter of the spirit's work within us to change us, to do those things that God calls us to do. 00:42:59.840 --> 00:43:02.019 And indeed the change is necessary. 00:43:02.019 --> 00:43:08.199 I preached this past Sunday at my own church in Louisville on Titus chapter 3. 00:43:08.199 --> 00:43:20.380 Titus 3, wow! It's one of the most amazing case studies, that one chapter, in the importance of good works. 00:43:20.380 --> 00:43:23.940 But we are not saved by good works. 00:43:23.940 --> 00:43:25.760 Both of those things are in Titus 3. 00:43:25.760 --> 00:43:33.280 We are not saved by good works, but oh my, my, my, are we saved for good works. 00:43:33.280 --> 00:43:39.760 But those good works are the outworking of the inworking of the Spirit of God in our lives. 00:43:39.760 --> 00:43:44.119 That's true for you, every Christian adult out there. 00:43:44.119 --> 00:44:05.400 Pray that God would, by His Spirit, empower you to grow in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, I think I missed one, self-control, fruit of the Spirit, right, to grow in those things because that's the mark of a true Christian. 00:44:05.400 --> 00:44:22.679 What one who is trusted in Christ and by that has received the gift of the Spirit, not, so you know, the gospel is not only the good news of forgiveness of sins in Christ, it's also the good news of transformation of life in Christ. 00:44:22.679 --> 00:44:24.360 You know that, don't you? 00:44:24.360 --> 00:44:28.679 It's because sin is to us, I'm in a little bit of a tangent here, hang on. 00:44:28.679 --> 00:44:32.079 Sin is to us a two-fold problem. 00:44:32.079 --> 00:44:40.119 It is both a penalty that we cannot pay and a power we cannot overcome. 00:44:40.119 --> 00:44:47.320 So by believing in Christ, the penalty of sin is paid, but the power of sin is broken. 00:44:47.320 --> 00:44:53.000 So the Spirit comes within to enable us to change by God's grace. 00:44:53.000 --> 00:44:57.000 So indeed, we look to God. 00:44:57.000 --> 00:45:04.380 This is not a matter of behavior modification, just making myself be the right thing or making our kids do the right things. 00:45:04.380 --> 00:45:21.360 This is a matter of encouraging our kids to trust the Lord, to believe His word, to apply that word to their lives and see the Spirit move upon them to change their attitudes and want to live in ways that are more pleasing to Him. 00:45:21.360 --> 00:45:22.360 So indeed. 00:45:22.360 --> 00:45:26.360 Okay, capital letter D, habitat. 00:45:26.360 --> 00:45:41.159 So then help them see ways in which they can be used of God in transformation of their habitat, that is their environment, people around them, their relationships, through their friendships and relationships as well as in service that they can render. 00:45:41.159 --> 00:45:43.320 So two quick bullet points here. 00:45:43.320 --> 00:45:53.079 First one is this, do acts of service together, but help them see how these are the outworkings of the truths of God's word and empowered by the gospel. 00:45:53.079 --> 00:46:05.280 So it's so good for you in your acts of service when you can to have your children involved with you in part because many hands make lighter work. 00:46:05.280 --> 00:46:06.639 That's true, right? 00:46:06.639 --> 00:46:09.639 But something much more significant than that. 00:46:09.639 --> 00:46:13.400 So they can see your heart. 00:46:13.400 --> 00:46:18.880 So by the way, that does mean you don't have them join you and then you go, Oh, I hate doing this, you know, buddy. 00:46:18.880 --> 00:46:21.079 Okay, I'm here at the church doing this. 00:46:21.079 --> 00:46:22.079 Yeah. 00:46:22.079 --> 00:46:23.079 Oh, come on. 00:46:23.079 --> 00:46:24.079 Let's let's. 00:46:24.079 --> 00:46:25.079 Yeah. 00:46:25.079 --> 00:46:26.079 Wow. 00:46:26.079 --> 00:46:40.039 Don't lose this opportunity for your kids to see you embrace the opportunity that you have to serve the Lord in a way that expresses joy in doing it. 00:46:40.039 --> 00:46:41.039 Right. 00:46:41.039 --> 00:46:42.920 I'll give you an example from my childhood. 00:46:42.920 --> 00:46:50.039 My dad, every Christmas I knew the day would come when I would hear the words from the top of the stairs. 00:46:50.039 --> 00:46:56.320 I lived in a bedroom in the basement for the top of the stairs, Bruce, we're going visiting. 00:46:56.320 --> 00:46:59.480 And I go, Oh, okay. 00:46:59.480 --> 00:47:00.679 Okay. 00:47:00.679 --> 00:47:01.679 So I knew what that meant. 00:47:01.679 --> 00:47:02.880 That meant this. 00:47:02.880 --> 00:47:06.420 This was, you know, right around December 20th or thereabouts just before Christmas. 00:47:06.420 --> 00:47:08.679 My dad had taken the station wagon. 00:47:08.679 --> 00:47:10.880 You all know what that is. 00:47:10.880 --> 00:47:19.199 Taking the station wagon, gone to a florist and it picked up, you know, about 15 to 20 points that is and put him in the back of the station wagon. 00:47:19.199 --> 00:47:31.599 And we spent then the day he would take me with him and he, we would spend the day visiting shut-ins and elderly people in nursing homes and in their own apartments and homes and things like that. 00:47:31.599 --> 00:47:42.159 And you know, just 15, 20 minutes with each one, but we'd knock on the door, you know, as soon as they opened the door, you know, we wish you a Merry Christmas or joy to the world, whatever the case might be. 00:47:42.159 --> 00:47:43.280 So we sing a song. 00:47:43.280 --> 00:47:44.800 My dad was a good singer. 00:47:44.800 --> 00:47:50.920 And so, you know, and I'd sing along with him and when I got a little bit older, yeah, he'd have me bring my trumpet along. 00:47:50.920 --> 00:47:55.400 And I mean, just think of a young trumpet player. 00:47:55.400 --> 00:47:59.199 Okay, Bruce, come on, play Joy to the World for them. 00:47:59.199 --> 00:48:00.199 You know, so. 00:48:00.199 --> 00:48:11.719 Anyway, so, you know, he just, he wanted me to be involved in this, you know, but I saw in my dad such love for those people. 00:48:11.719 --> 00:48:18.800 I mean, later on, he did their taxes for them because he hated the fact that they were getting cheated out by swindlers and all that stuff. 00:48:18.800 --> 00:48:22.920 Anyway, my dad just had such a love for older people. 00:48:22.920 --> 00:48:31.199 And so I am so glad that he didn't let me off the hook and just do this himself. 00:48:31.199 --> 00:48:32.320 He took me with him. 00:48:32.320 --> 00:48:37.760 So I saw in him this compassion and this love and this kindness. 00:48:37.760 --> 00:48:43.719 And I was shaped by it, you know, and it wasn't, that's just one example of things that I could mention from my dad. 00:48:43.719 --> 00:48:49.360 But he was just, he had a generous spirit. 00:48:49.360 --> 00:48:52.920 And I just saw, I saw this in him and it impacted me. 00:48:52.920 --> 00:49:04.000 So, you know, bring your kids with you when you can on things so they can see your love and your joy and your heart in this. 00:49:04.000 --> 00:49:07.679 And they'll go, wow, that's what Christian service is, right? 00:49:07.679 --> 00:49:08.679 They'll be trained by that. 00:49:08.679 --> 00:49:11.440 But here's the second thing. 00:49:11.440 --> 00:49:17.480 Give them freedom to dream and envision how they can be used of God in service to his kingdom. 00:49:17.480 --> 00:49:21.280 They may be in ways that don't fit you. 00:49:21.280 --> 00:49:25.239 Maybe they're artistic, but you're not, right? 00:49:25.239 --> 00:49:35.360 So if you don't let them excel in what they're gifted at, but always, always do just the first point, they're always involved in your service. 00:49:35.360 --> 00:49:44.199 Well, then they don't get the opportunity to develop in ways that they're gifted and are suited to them that may not be your gifting at all, right? 00:49:44.199 --> 00:49:55.199 So look for those things in their lives and seek to promote it, not just to promote the gif, but promote ways in which this can be used in service, right? 00:49:55.199 --> 00:50:03.079 Impacting others to show love and kindness and do things that would be encouraging to other people. 00:50:03.079 --> 00:50:04.760 So think in that way as well. 00:50:04.760 --> 00:50:08.639 So final thoughts, we're almost done here. 00:50:08.639 --> 00:50:09.880 Final thoughts for parents. 00:50:09.880 --> 00:50:21.840 The principles of the progression and possession of truth, that is the head, heart, hands, habitat that we've considered are just as relevant for us as for our children. 00:50:21.840 --> 00:50:32.280 So a good thing for all of us adults to think about is, do we seek to know and love and live and transform in the ways that we ought to, you know? 00:50:32.280 --> 00:50:34.239 And so you could start at the beginning here. 00:50:34.239 --> 00:50:37.960 How am I doing in terms of truth input into my mind? 00:50:37.960 --> 00:50:39.599 Can I grow in that? 00:50:39.599 --> 00:50:45.699 Are there ways in which I can grow in understanding better the truth of God's word? 00:50:45.699 --> 00:50:47.360 Could I be a better Bible reader? 00:50:47.360 --> 00:50:51.079 Could I be a better reader of good things that would instruct me? 00:50:51.079 --> 00:50:54.119 Could I be more faithful in my attendance to church? 00:50:54.119 --> 00:51:03.039 Could I, you know, just do things that would better equip my mind in knowing the truth of God accurately, richly, fully? 00:51:03.039 --> 00:51:04.800 What about my heart? 00:51:04.800 --> 00:51:08.119 How am I doing on that 12-inch connection between head and heart? 00:51:08.119 --> 00:51:09.440 How am I doing on that? 00:51:09.440 --> 00:51:12.480 Am I seeing the beauty of the truth? 00:51:12.480 --> 00:51:21.559 You know, one thing I encourage, I've always encouraged my students that I apply in my own life is when you're doing your Bible reading in the morning, if you do that, I hope you do. 00:51:21.559 --> 00:51:35.420 If you do your Bible reading in the morning, don't close your Bible and call it quits unless, until your heart has been impacted by something, something in what you read that morning. 00:51:35.420 --> 00:51:39.599 Not just your mind, reminded and informed, but your heart impacted. 00:51:39.599 --> 00:51:53.639 So go back and say, Lord, help me see something here that challenges or inspires, convicts or encourages my heart in some way from what I'm there. 00:51:53.639 --> 00:51:58.000 And when you see that, just stop and say, oh, Lord, thank you. 00:51:58.000 --> 00:52:02.199 Thank you for touching my heart as well as informing my head. 00:52:02.199 --> 00:52:04.460 And you can move on that, right? 00:52:04.460 --> 00:52:18.119 So I just think that's such an important part because if you do devotions day by day by day by day and never have kind of this sense of wow, the impact of it on your heart, I don't think that's healthy. 00:52:18.119 --> 00:52:26.599 I think that establishes a pattern of head only and the rest of it doesn't matter. 00:52:26.599 --> 00:52:29.159 And that, again, this is not God's design. 00:52:29.159 --> 00:52:34.679 God's design is for truth that goes into our heads to travel to our hearts. 00:52:34.679 --> 00:52:36.440 So pray that God would help you do that. 00:52:36.440 --> 00:52:37.880 How am I doing on that? 00:52:37.880 --> 00:52:52.000 Well, what about, what about how am I thinking carefully about how I live this out in my, in my relationship with my wife, my husband, living out the truths of the Christian faith with my kids? 00:52:52.000 --> 00:52:53.400 How am I doing that? 00:52:53.400 --> 00:53:03.440 So just think in terms of your own life, you know, first in terms of how you're doing that and then the effect, am I really having a, are my, my kids watch me? 00:53:03.440 --> 00:53:04.960 I guess that's the next point. 00:53:04.960 --> 00:53:06.860 So let me jump to it. 00:53:06.860 --> 00:53:08.960 The second bullet point there. 00:53:08.960 --> 00:53:20.920 Do our children see in us a fervency and passion and love for the truth that they will want to emulate children often observe what is caught along with what is taught? 00:53:20.920 --> 00:53:22.980 We all know that don't we? 00:53:22.980 --> 00:53:31.119 So did your kids see in you a love for Christ? 00:53:31.119 --> 00:53:34.159 There's a question, a love for Christ. 00:53:34.159 --> 00:53:35.159 You want to honor him. 00:53:35.159 --> 00:53:43.639 You want to live in a way that pleases him and that advances his reputation. 00:53:43.639 --> 00:53:45.900 Right? 00:53:45.900 --> 00:54:01.599 Because really that kind of living that is wanting to see Christ honored, Christ exalted Christ loved Christ adored indicates the spirit is a work in you because what is the spirit come most fundamentally to do? 00:54:01.599 --> 00:54:06.360 John 1614, he will glorify me. 00:54:06.360 --> 00:54:09.579 Jesus says of the spirit concerning himself. 00:54:09.579 --> 00:54:18.039 So the spirit that the chief Mark of a spirit filled person or spirit filled community is they long to see Jesus honored. 00:54:18.039 --> 00:54:24.760 They long to see his word respected and followed. 00:54:24.760 --> 00:54:30.760 They love to see Jesus character esteemed and so on. 00:54:30.760 --> 00:54:49.519 So help your kids be drawn to Christ, be drawn to the Christian faith as they see in you alone for God, a love for Christ, a love for the truth of his word. 00:54:49.519 --> 00:54:57.480 And it may be used by God then to impact them in significant ways. 00:54:57.480 --> 00:54:59.079 Again, there's no guarantees. 00:54:59.079 --> 00:55:08.599 I know that, but in terms of what could be used by the Lord to make that happen more likely, that's an important part of it. 00:55:08.599 --> 00:55:10.639 Well, head, heart, hands, habitat, right? 00:55:10.639 --> 00:55:17.719 I mean, these, these elements of our kids growth that apply to us as well. 00:55:17.719 --> 00:55:30.840 May God help us to grow in ways that we see all of these areas impacted by the power of the spirit and the word of God so that they're growing realities for us. 00:55:30.840 --> 00:55:31.840 Let's pray together. 00:55:31.840 --> 00:55:39.719 Father, thank you for the privilege we've had this morning to look at things that really matter and how we live life before you. 00:55:39.719 --> 00:55:41.960 And Lord, we are so grateful for your word. 00:55:41.960 --> 00:55:47.360 We're so grateful for your self revelation that you have made yourself known. 00:55:47.360 --> 00:55:49.840 And we long to know you better. 00:55:49.840 --> 00:56:00.719 We long to see more of the richness and the fullness and the glory of who you are as our God and your, your work through your son, Jesus, and through the power of the spirit, we long to know more of that. 00:56:00.719 --> 00:56:07.199 But Lord, we also long to have hearts that are deeply impacted by that, that see the beauty and the glory. 00:56:07.199 --> 00:56:12.039 And you know, we, we smile because we say, wow, this is so great. 00:56:12.039 --> 00:56:15.239 God is so great is, is, is the gospel is so good. 00:56:15.239 --> 00:56:36.480 And so we're pleased to do this work that our affections are moved and, and may, may our children, Lord be, be impacted in the same kind of ways we pray, Lord, as they come to Christ and as they learn the truth and may you work in their hearts to, to see the beauty and the glory of it as well and live it out. 00:56:36.480 --> 00:56:39.440 So Lord continue this good work. 00:56:39.440 --> 00:56:51.800 We pray in our lives and in the lives of our children, and we will be quick to give to you alone all the praise and honor and glory because this is all your work. 00:56:51.800 --> 00:56:59.800 And we thank you Lord for your commitment to us and your unfailing love for us. 00:56:59.800 --> 00:57:01.840 We pray these things now in Christ's name. 00:57:01.840 --> 00:57:02.119 Amen. 00:57:02.119 --> 00:57:12.559 Would you join me in thanking Dr. Ware? 00:57:12.559 --> 00:57:22.440 We're not thanking the man per se as, as an end, we're thanking God really for working through men and helping us, lifting us up. 00:57:22.440 --> 00:57:24.679 Parenting is a serious calling. 00:57:24.679 --> 00:57:26.000 It is a serious task. 00:57:26.000 --> 00:57:27.800 Is it not? 00:57:27.800 --> 00:57:29.639 Children are a gift. 00:57:29.639 --> 00:57:36.599 Children are a blessing from the Lord, but we need God tremendously to be the fathers and mothers that God has called us to be. 00:57:36.599 --> 00:57:38.039 Praise God. 00:57:38.039 --> 00:57:40.639 God is a great God. 00:57:40.639 --> 00:57:42.079 God is a good God. 00:57:42.079 --> 00:57:44.719 We've been shored up in that and I'm thankful for that. 00:57:44.719 --> 00:57:47.760 We now have a 15 minute break as per usual. 00:57:47.760 --> 00:57:48.199 God bless you. 00:57:48.199 --> 00:58:03.880 Thank you.