The Worlds Okayest Pastor
Faith. Life. Real Talk.
I’m a pastor with a deep passion for teaching God’s Word and helping people discover a meaningful relationship with Christ. But I’m also human—living in the same world you do, facing the same ups and downs.
This space is where faith meets everyday life. I don’t want to ignore the struggles we all face—whether spiritual, emotional, or practical. My hope is to walk alongside you, offering truth, grace, and guidance for both this life and the one to come.
Let’s grow together.
The Worlds Okayest Pastor
Heart Work Beats Homework
What happens when we prioritize obedience over transformation in our families? This raw, honest exploration of Christian parenting challenges our core assumptions about discipline, faith formation, and raising disciples.
With refreshing vulnerability, the message begins with an admission rarely heard from pulpits: "I am not the greatest parent who's ever lived. I mess up more often than I care to admit." This transparency sets the stage for a profound conversation about the difference between raising rule-followers and nurturing transformed hearts.
Drawing from Paul's powerful testimony in Philippians 3, we discover how religious performance without relationship misses the point entirely. Paul had achieved perfect religious obedience yet considered it "garbage" compared to the transformative power of knowing Christ. Similarly, our children can attend every church service and follow every rule without ever experiencing genuine transformation.
The heart of this message challenges us to see discipline differently – not as forcing compliance but as guiding young disciples toward Jesus. When we punish without explanation, demand obedience without understanding, or prioritize appearances over authenticity, we risk creating either rebellion or empty religiosity in our children's hearts.
Most powerfully, the way we parent directly shapes how our children view God. A harsh, rule-focused home creates children who see God as an angry taskmaster rather than a loving Father who offers grace even when we stumble. Your children are watching not just what you say about God, but how you reflect His character in your everyday interactions.
Ready to shift from behavior management to heart transformation in your family? This message provides practical wisdom for the challenging, holy work of raising disciples who don't just follow rules but follow Jesus with their whole hearts.
For any parent, grandparent, or influential adult in a child's life – what legacy of faith are you creating? Join us as we explore how transformation, not mere obedience, creates disciples who continue walking with Jesus long after they leave our homes.
So we're in week two of a series called Family Values, and this morning so last week we talked about the importance of a solid foundation. That's why I played Jenga, if you ever played Jenga. It's all about a good foundation. It's about you know and that's what Scripture teaches us, right? Jesus talks about this in the Sermon on the Mount that those who build their foundation on me can withstand any storm. And so we talked about one of the most important things is to have a strong foundation as a family. In order for you to have a strong, your kids have a strong foundation, you have to have a strong foundation. So I want to preface the message this morning by telling you that I am not the greatest parent who's ever lived. Surprise, right? I mess up more often than I care to admit. I've had a lot of growing moments in my life. My kids will be happy to tell you of those moments in my life. You know my story. I grew up with my mom, raised us and my two brothers, and we lived next door to my grandma and my grandpa like almost my entire life, from what I can remember, except when we were in Virginia, but I didn't really have my dad around when I was younger. Now, later in life, my dad and I amended that relationship and God's been working on that right, and so he has been around a lot more. But when I was younger, I didn't really have my dad around and listen. People make mistakes right, it's life circumstances. Things happen. But one of the things that I worried the most about growing up is what kind of dad was I going to be when I grew up? Because my mom modeled for me as perfect as I think she could have. I love my mom, but she wasn't a dad, right. There's some things my mom didn't teach me how to shave I figured that out, right. I didn't realize until my first year in college that I was doing it wrong. And a guy that I was rooming with was like a practice of being a barber and he gave me a haircut. I'm like, well, that looks amazing, I should do that more, right? But my mom didn't give me some of those things and it's not her fault. There's a reason why dads are important. There's a certain part of that that dads have to fill, and I struggled with that Because when I became a dad, I was worried that I was going to be too harsh.
Speaker 1:I think back to when I was younger, and some of my favorite sayings from when I was younger was I brought you into this world, I can take you out and listen. When you're little, you're like as you get older, you're like are you going to kill me? That's a lot, that's intense. We probably shouldn't say that to our children because that really sets the wrong tone. Or here's one do what I say because I said so. Okay, but why? I learned that with my kids. I said that to Griffin one time early on and he was like yeah, but why? And I'm like stop asking questions, you're a kid, you're not supposed to do that. Or here's something that I learned, and it's something that I'm not against spanking my kids, but it's very rare. Because one time I spanked one of my kids I hit one of my kids for hitting one of my kids, and I was like that's probably not sending the right message. Don't hit what.
Speaker 1:And we think about that as parents. Right, what do we model for our kids? What do we show them? And I think in the church we do the same thing. I think we convince ourselves that if we can just make our kids be obedient you know we sit in church and they have to sit there and be proper. They can't move. Don't move, yeah, but they're kids. Most kids can't sit still right, or you know, don't talk, shh Church. We say that. And then we turn to our neighbor and we talk about what we're about to have for lunch.
Speaker 1:Again, what are we modeling right? We have this expectation that, well, you're just going to do what I say and you're going to be okay. And we focus on that a lot of times because we are convinced that if we just teach them to do the right things all the time, that they're going to turn out and be good, solid people. But if we're being honest, that usually doesn't happen like we think it will. We teach them to behave and be obedient, but we do nothing to teach them about transformation. We don't give them the why, right? We just say do what I say, because this is what I told you to do, and don't ask questions. And then I can tell you, as someone who's worked student ministry for more than 10 years the older they get, the more questions they ask, and when you stop answering those questions, they will find answers elsewhere, and it's usually not in the church they belong to.
Speaker 1:And so this morning we're going to talk about that, the importance of transformation over obedience, because I think it's important. I think when you're dealing with kids, you have to help them understand that they are a work in progress. You have to help them understand that they are a work in progress, by the way, so are you. God is constantly bringing us to the understanding that there's things in our life that need to change. So, transformation over obedience.
Speaker 1:So Paul talks about this a little bit in Philippians, chapter 3, verses 1 through 14, and this is what Paul writes. He says further my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it's a safeguard for you. Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh, for it is we who are the circumcision, who serve God by his spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus and who put no confidence in our flesh, though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more.
Speaker 1:I was circumcised on the eighth day by the people of Israel, the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews. In regard to the law, I was a Pharisee. As for zeal, persecuting the church. As for righteousness based on the law, I was faultless. But whatever were gains to me, I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things it says. I consider them garbage. That I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness that comes from God. On the basis of faith. I want to know Christ, yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his suffering, becoming like him in his death, and so somehow attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all of this or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on and take hold of that which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it, but one thing I do forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal, to win the prize which God has called me heavenward, in Christ Jesus.
Speaker 1:So Paul starts out in the beginning of this passage and says listen, if there's anyone who followed the law, it was me. I did it. I did everything the right way. I was incredibly religious. I went to church when I was supposed to. I prayed the prayers that I was supposed to. I stood for the things, even persecuting those who I thought were false believers. I did everything I could to maintain my outside appearance of having my life put together. I did all of it. None of you could even touch me. I did all of it. None of you could even touch me. And then he continues and says but none of that makes sense. All of that is garbage. Now that I've met Jesus and understand, I don't think he's saying that that discipline was unnecessary, but I think he's looking at that discipline in light of a relationship with Jesus, because he did all the religious things and still missed God.
Speaker 1:You can go to church every single day of your life, from now until the end of the world, and still have no idea who God is. You can drag your kids kicking and screaming, to Sunday school, the Bible studies, to every event we do, and your kids can still grow up not knowing who God is, because just being in church is not enough. Just being in a Bible study is not enough. These things are important. Do not get me wrong. Listen, I stand up here telling you I believe going to church on Sunday morning is important. I believe it's necessary. But don't confuse that, because that hour and a half on Sunday morning that we're here maybe two hours depending on how long I talk for that two hours on Sunday morning does not have the same impact as what your kids see when they get home on Sunday afternoon. It doesn't have the same impact Because just following religious practices, just being obedient, is not enough. Good, yes, sufficient, no, there has to be more.
Speaker 1:Paul wrestles with this. He says, listen, I did all those things, but I look back on it and I realize now that my life didn't change until I met Jesus. He even says I have to continue to press on because of what God has done for me. I'm not quite there yet. I'm a work in progress. So, parents, let's start there. You're a work in progress. You're not perfect. I'm not a perfect dad. I mess up more often than I like to admit, but the God who created me shows me grace, shows me mercy, walks with me. If God punished me for every bad thing that I did, I wouldn't be here, but I'm a work in progress. Paul argues this. He's like I'm still learning it.
Speaker 1:Parenting isn't about perfection, but it's about pointing our kids to the same grace that you and I need every day. We correct our kids, not from a pedestal, not you know. If I brought you in this world, I can take you out of it. You'll do what I say because I'm in charge. We don't come to our kids with that approach. We come to them from a place of brokenness and say just as you have messed up today, so have I messed up before. That there's grace for me and there has to be grace for you.
Speaker 1:And I know, listen, I know that almost sounds counterproductive, because, well, we need to teach kids how to behave. I don't disagree with that. But if you're never helping them understand why it is you're establishing these behaviors, it's never going to stay. We're rebellious at our core, like sin has destroyed us. You and I are rebellious people, so are our kids Right? You know, the difference between you and your kid is your kid doesn't understand culture stuff yet and social expectations. So there are rebellions on full display. You and I, we hide it. Sometimes we hide behind it.
Speaker 1:But the point is, when we look at our kids, do you see someone who just needs to listen and obey or do you see a child uniquely created by God that needs guidance? Those are different conversations. My wife is a whole lot better at this than I am, so much so that it drives me nuts Sometimes. The other day and I think Danny talked about this before the other day I said something you guys just act like a bunch of children. And she looked at me and she's like, yeah, they are. And I'm like I know, I know right, but I'm that parent and I have that frustration when my kids are acting up in public or they're not doing what they're supposed to.
Speaker 1:By the way, let me just say this real quick as a preacher, my kids are also not perfect, so please don't hold them to that standard, because I know the expectations for preacher kids. They do all the right things, they lead all the Bible studies. Nope, they're human beings. They're still processing life. My kids will act up in church sometimes. We try really hard so that doesn't happen, but it does. My kids are going to make decisions when they get older that it's probably going to get back to me because someone saw something and they called me. And I'm telling you right now, if your hope is to tell my kids so I'll discipline them. It's not going to happen, because when I meet them, when I talk to them, my first question is going to be like hey, are you okay? What's going on? What happened?
Speaker 1:One of the things that we've been doing lately and it's not my idea, I took it from someone else but anytime we go out in public, I ask my kids two questions and they're getting annoyed by it, but I don't care because I think it's good. I ask them who they are. Well, we're clients. I'm like you're right, that's who we are. I'm like who do we represent? We represent God. I'm like that's right, that's who we represent. And it's not to try to guilt them or shame them, but it's to help them understand that the way that they live their life is a reflection of that. My kids need to understand why certain behaviors are expected. And when it comes to disciplining our kids, I think if we could see them as again, not simply this person who needs to obey us, but this person who's being transformed with our help, the approach is different.
Speaker 1:Proverbs 22.6 says this Start your children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. Should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. Romans 12 2 says do not conform to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you'll be able to test and improve what God's will is, his good, pleasing and perfect will. Paul is writing to this church and he's saying listen, I did all of the things and it still wasn't enough. And I would almost guarantee you know somebody. And listen, this is not. I'm not saying this. So you think about this person because you judge them, because you shouldn't be. But I know that you know someone who's grown up in the church and they look nothing like Jesus, because somewhere along the line they've missed it. They weren't transformed, they just followed a bunch of rules and habits. They were obedient for obedience sake. This was Paul. He said I did all the things, I listened, I followed the rules. I was a Hebrew among Hebrews. No one could match me. But when I met Christ, I realized that all of that was for nothing. It taught me how to be religious, but I forgot the fact that it's not about religion, it's about a relationship.
Speaker 1:Paul's life is transformed. He goes and becomes one of the greatest missionaries, writes more books in the New Testament and the Bible than anyone. He dies, he gives his life to the very end. He dies on behalf of the cross, because this was a man who understood and he got it. And I think about all the churches that he was like a father figure to. He oversaw them, he helped them, he guided them. All of these letters, the purpose of them, was to encourage and correct and help them refocus Because, again, when we follow Jesus, transformation is more important than obedience. So let me give you an example.
Speaker 1:If you have kids, you know for a fact that one of them has broken the other one's toy, whether on purpose or by accident and my house tends to be on purpose. So imagine two kids fighting. One broke a toy, smashed it, right, you got one kid crying, losing their mind, the other one who doesn't really care. So what's the approach? I remember when I was younger my first thought was well, I'm going to break that kid's toy, give me one of your favorite toys, I'm going to break it. That doesn't make sense. Again doing the same thing to them that I'm trying to tell them not to do doesn't make sense. Again, doing the same thing to them that I'm trying to tell them not to do doesn't work. It actually reinforces the idea that that's how punishment is right. So I could get mad, I could scream, I could paddle them, I could yell at them, I could ground them. And I'll be honest, this is probably my go to not perfect. But what if, instead, you had a conversation and said hey, listen, what happened? Why did you feel the need to break that toy? Do you understand why your sibling is upset Like you hurt them? Would you like that done to you? These conversations, I'm telling you, these conversations, are hard to have because they have to be intentional. Screaming, paddling, grounding all of those things, in my opinion, are easy to do. Well, here's a consequence you did something wrong. Now go suffer. You guys?
Speaker 1:Ever seen Malcolm in the Middle? I used to watch that show when I was younger and the mom, lois, was like the best one in the world for discipline. We started watching it again recently. And the two Lois was like the best one in the world for discipline. We started watching again recently. And the two older boys do something wrong and she makes them get down on their knees with their hands behind their head and they have to put their nose on the wall and they have to sit there for an hour. And we were watching this and I was like, can we do that? Like, is that child abuse? And Danny's like probably. And again it's funny.
Speaker 1:But a lot of times the discipline we offer, the idea behind the discipline, is obedience. It's not about transformation. It's not about helping them to necessarily understand that, hey, listen, this behavior is wrong and here's why. But all throughout Scripture we see God. That's exactly what he does with his people. Yes, he disciplines them, but he always comes back to trying to listen.
Speaker 1:It's a heart problem. They're rebellious. Sin has made them rebellious. Our kids are rebellious because sin has corrupted it. So are we seeking for children to be obedient or are we seeking for kids to be like Jesus? That's a question that you and I have to wrestle with and that's hard. And it's hard because in the moment when you're a parent and you're tired, and it's hard because in the moment when you're a parent and you're tired and you're frustrated, yelling at them just makes sense when you're overwhelmed. And for the 70th time that day they've asked you to do something you've already said you're not doing until next week. You're like doing until next week. You're like just stop talking.
Speaker 1:But then, when you pay attention as a parent, you realize that they actually model your behavior more than you think they do. And the irony is is they tend to do the actual behavior that you do more than what you tell them not to do. I've seen this in my own kids hey, don't do that, and then they see me do it, and then they do it themselves because I modeled it for them, right? So discipline is necessary. I'm not saying you let your kids go crazy, but discipline has to be rooted in love and it has to be rooted in this idea of transformation. If you don't think as a parent, unless I'm going to say as grandparents, grandparents, you're not off the hook here. I love you guys. I know some of you spoil your grandkids and then you think, oh, great, great, go home now, you're fine. But you're not off the hook If you have kids, grandkids listen, if you're an aunt, you're an uncle. Same thing applies, man. It's all across the board. The kids that are in your life, those are your little disciples. You're called to disciple them, to teach them. I'm called to model for my kids the importance of going to church, the importance of praying, the importance of showing grace and mercy and love, the importance of apologizing when they make mistakes, and so are you.
Speaker 1:Hebrews 12, 6 says because the Lord disciplines the one that he loves and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son, again, discipline's necessary. I'm not saying it's not you. Discipline your kids if you love them. I know that for a fact. Now they don't always agree with you. But then Colossians 3.21 says Fathers, don't embitter your children or they'll become discouraged. And the passage is saying listen, don't overwhelm them, don't force them just to be obedient, because I don't know about you, but the more you force kids to be obedient, the more rebellious they become. The more we try to follow after God and do what he calls us to do, the more rebellious we become. Because there's something inside of us, it's a heart issue.
Speaker 1:It says boundaries and rules are essential tools for parenting. They provide structure, promote safety and help children learn how to navigate the world. But as children grow, those boundaries must also grow with them. What's non-negotiable for a toddler, like touching a hot stove, can become a life skill for a preteen learning to cook. So the shift doesn't mean rules disappear. It means that they adapt as children mature. So understanding basic human development can help parents know when to enforce limits and when to loosen the reins. It's natural to want to protect our children from harm at every stage of life, but overprotection can hinder growth. Our role is not only to keep them safe, but also to help them become capable, resilient adults. So this perspective is especially important during the adolescent years, when development can feel unpredictable or even frustrating. Just because we stop tracking physical milestones doesn't mean growth has stopped. Emotional, social and spiritual development continues well into adulthood, and wise parenting adjusts accordingly. This is something that research has shown us, and we talked about this a little bit last week.
Speaker 1:The number one factor that influences kids in their relationship with God and their relationship with the church that they get plugged into as they get older is mom and dad. It's not your pastor, it's not the youth pastor, it's not their football coach or their baseball coach. It's not even their friends believe it or not, but their influence as far as their life goes and whether or not they choose to follow Jesus is mom and dad. That's one of the number one indicators. If mom and dad are serious and they follow Jesus the way they're supposed to, you see that reflecting their kids. Now listen, that doesn't always happen. I'm well aware of that. I know plenty of really, really good parents that have raised their kids right and their kids walked away. It happens Again. That's the hardest part, I think, about being a parent is eventually your kids have to make their own decision, but that still doesn't mean that you shouldn't try to set a foundation for them.
Speaker 1:There's so many, there's so much research that shows that even kids who wander away from their faith find their way back more often than not because mom and dad set a tone early on. That was important. My faith was important to me growing up, except to Jesus when I was 15, for like the first 10 years of my life. But my faith really became important when I had kids, because I realized that I needed to show them what it was to follow Jesus. Paul, 1 Corinthians 11, 1 says follow my example as I follow Christ. Matthew 5, 16 says says in the same way, let your light shine before others that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. It's all about modeling for your kids what it is to follow Jesus. Obedience and discipline is to follow Jesus. Obedience and discipline is part of that. There's been such a shift in the world lately about that. Again, it's funny now growing up, but the way that I was raised was different than how my parents were raised.
Speaker 1:I know that I've had conversations. You know, as a guy you were do this, be tough, be strong, you'll be fine. Just deal with it. I watched the I call him my grandfather Like biologically he wasn't, but he might as well have been because he had such a big part of my life when I was a teenager. I watched this man almost cut his finger off one time and his solution was he went to the shed, he got some duct tape and he wrapped it and he went back to work and I was like I don't think that's safe. He's like ah, my dad was a tough man and so am I. I'm like listen, I understand you're tough, but amputation of a thumb is going to be rough if you lose it. But there's this idea, and I think in parenting just do what I say, do what you're told to do, don't ask questions, and if you do that, you'll turn out fine, and then we look ahead and realize that that's not actually what happened.
Speaker 1:And so now we get to the conversations today and people say, oh, these kids are too soft. I'm like, listen, don't ever say that about my kids. First off, you don't know my kids. Each one of them individually is incredibly unique. My kids aren't soft because they're in touch with their emotions. My kids aren't soft because they can express the fact that they're angry. My kids aren't soft because they ask us questions sometimes when we discipline them. If anything, we've encouraged them because I want them to be someone who is transformed into strong godly men, not just obedient, because it makes everyone else feel comfortable.
Speaker 1:I discipline my kids that's what you're supposed to do but I care more about their heart than whether or not you think my discipline of my children is acceptable, because here's the thing I love all of you dearly. I don't really care if you think I discipline my kids the way you think they should be disciplined. Guess what? They're not your kids, not your responsibility. They're mine. They're my little disciples and I want them to follow Jesus. I want them to be strong men of faith who lead families, their wives and their children to follow Jesus and I think the best way to do that is to help them understand at this age now why that matters.
Speaker 1:So when I ask my kids who are we, I'm not doing it because I want them to behave. I want them to understand who they are. When I ask my kids, who do we follow, and they say God, it's not because I want them to be afraid of God and fear discipline. I want them to understand that they are living for the one who created them and that their life decisions matter. My hope and my prayer is, as my kids go into the world, that every situation they step into they stop and they say I'm a Klein and I represent God. I want them to think that. I want it to become so ingrained in them that that's exactly who they are, because they're human. They're not perfect. They're not always going to be obedient.
Speaker 1:Again, growing up in this role was fun because man people really like to watch what we call PK kids. People really like to go after ministers and say well, you didn't raise your kids right. Listen, they are their own people. I can set the stage, but they can still rebel. By the way, god sets the precedence and you and I still rebel. So if you say I'm a bad parent, then you must think God's not that great either, and I don't know if you want to venture down that road.
Speaker 1:God's perfect in everything that he does. I'm not, but it doesn't mean that we can't teach our kids to follow after the one who is. It doesn't mean that they won't mess up. It doesn't mean that they won't mess up. It doesn't mean that they'll be perfect. But transformation has to be more important than obedience. Obedience sake, for obedience sake only produces rebellion. I can prove it. We teach kids to follow rules. As long as they do this, this, this and this, they're going to be okay, and then, 10 years later, they're not okay. Instead, we have to teach them to look at their life and say who am I? And I think so much of this matters because I think how you discipline your kids, whether you intend to or not, affects how they see God. I believe that, and I think part of that has to do with how do you see God.
Speaker 1:I know there's a lot of people in churches today who do all the things. They say the right thing, they sing the right way, they do everything they're supposed to, and I think some of that is out of fear, because if I don't do this, god's going to discipline me. If I don't do this, in my salvation I'd be at stake. I've got to keep doing all the right things because I've got to earn what you can't earn any of it. Jesus dying on the cross wasn't because you did the right thing. It's because you did all the wrong things and he did the right thing.
Speaker 1:So our view of God, we have to get away from this idea of this overbearing father figure in the sky. What do they say when you mess up? Oh, god's going to hit me with lightning. I've never seen him hit anybody with lightning on purpose. Now, I know people have been hit with lightning. That's between him and them. But I hear people say I can't walk in that church, it'll burn down. I'm like, listen, it might, but it's not because of you. No offense, but don't think so highly of yourself. But instead, what if our view of God is God? I know that I messed up today. I'm sorry, god, I'm trying. I'm trying to do the right thing. I'm trying to say the right thing. I'm trying to be a better person. I'm going to do better tomorrow. And what if that's how our kids felt when they came home hey mom, hey dad, I'm sorry that I messed up. I know I shouldn't have done that. I'm going to do better, I'm going to try harder.
Speaker 1:It can't just be obedience for obedience sake, because if all we're trying to do is accomplish obedience, not only do I think it fosters rebellion, but it fosters deceitfulness. When a kid feels like they have to behave all the time because that's the expectation and there's no way around it, when they do mess up, they won't come talk to you about it, they'll hide from it, and the moment that starts happening, satan starts to creep in and starts to convince them that they're not worth it, that they're bad, that they're a failure. I worked in student ministry for a long time and I had one girl say to me one time she was 15 years old and she had done something and it wasn't great. She had done something and it wasn't great, and I said to her why? Why? She said well, that's what they expected of me. I'm like, who expects it of you? She said well, my family, you pay attention, right, I'm always the one messing things up. She's like I stopped trying and I just accepted it, and so I decided that I was going to live up to their expectation of me, because what does it matter anyways? And that broke me.
Speaker 1:And as I become a parent, that's the question that I have to wrestle with is what are my expectations of my kids? Do I expect them to be perfect? No, but do they think that they need to be man? I hope not, because not only is it unattainable but it's burdensome. God doesn't expect you to be perfect, he expects you to be holy. Now listen, I know that there's a difference there. I promise Perfection is you do everything right all the time, you never screw up. Holy is you're constantly seeking to be like Jesus. And along the way, you will stumble, you will fall, you will make mistakes, but, as Paul says, we press on to the goal, realizing that we have not achieved it yet. That's what we have to do with our kids. It's not about it yet. That's what we have to do with our kids. It's not about being obedient. It's about helping them realize that their goal was to be like Jesus.
Speaker 1:And we see that modeled in Scripture because of the grace and the love and the mercy that God shows us when we fail. I love this statement. It says Parenting is hard but it's also holy. It said you won't always get it right, you'll have days filled with doubt, frustration and failure, but just know that you're not alone. It said the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead is alive in you, strengthening. Just know that you're not alone, that the same spirit who raised Jesus from the dead is alive in you, strengthening you, guiding you, reminding you that God loves your children even more than you do. So keep showing up, keep loving, keep leading with grace, because every moment of faithfulness, no matter how small, is planting a seed for eternity. You're not just raising kids, you're raising disciples, and the best part is God does it with you. Being a parent is hard. It's the toughest thing I've ever done in my life.
Speaker 1:I know my kids, when they get older, will appreciate Danny and I more, and I know that because it wasn't until I was in my early 30s that I realized how incredible my mom and my grandparents were, and I know I talk about my mom a lot. They said if you don't know my mom, you should get to know her. She's a pretty awesome person. But I never really appreciated my mom when I was younger Because I'm a kid man, you don't appreciate your parents. When you're a teenager, you think they're the worst thing in the world. Listen, I'm not wrong Like Everett's at that stage now where he doesn't like hug us in public and I'm like, come on, man, we're not there yet. He's like my friends, I'm like I don't care and I get it right. He's a human being, he's getting there, he's learning and all those things.
Speaker 1:But at the end of the day, my hope for them, beyond being rich, beyond having a good job, beyond them accomplishing every dream and thing that they want to accomplish in their life, my hope for my kids is they follow Jesus first and that they raise, they marry, they leave their wife like godly men are supposed to, and that they raise their kids to follow God too, because that can be a generational thing. And here's the thing If you've never had that in your past, it doesn't mean you can't have it in your future. I didn't grow up in the church. I didn't 15 years old except to Jesus, and in the last 10, I've had the privilege of baptizing pretty much my entire family into Jesus, right, because, again, just because I didn't have it in my past doesn't mean I can't have it in my future. I want my kids to follow God. It's not about obedience, it's about transformation.
Speaker 1:Your kids are disciples. You're leading them. They're human beings with feelings and emotions and challenges, and they're all different. That's the one thing I'll never understand. You can raise three kids in the same house and they're all different. It doesn't matter. They're all different, they're all unique, they're all created by God and they all have a purpose. And for the little bit of time that you have them in this world, your one job mom and dad, grandma and grandpa, aunts and uncles your one job is to show them Jesus. That's what matters, because nothing else you will ever teach them, will ever have an eternal impact like that.
Speaker 1:Stop trying to force your kids to behave. Try to transform them. Try to focus on helping them be the little men and women that God wants them to be. Help them understand that God loves them, that he sees them, that he wants the best for them, not out of obedience, not because they need to earn his favor, because even in their rebellion, he died for them too. It's all about transformation. A strong foundation leads to transformation. They have to go together.
Speaker 1:I don't know what your home looks like. I don't. I don't know how frustrating it is. I don't know the challenges you have with your kids. I'm not even going to give you good parenting advice because I don't even think I it is. I don't know the challenges you have with your kids. I'm not even going to give you good parenting advice because I don't even think I'm a good parent sometimes. But I will tell you that if you're not really sure you're doing the right thing, go to God, trust Him, pray. Surround yourself with other people that want to raise their kids to follow Jesus, because he's the only one who knows what they're going to become anyways. Obedience is easy. Transformation is the hard part. All right, let's pray.