Title: Children are a blessing from God. "Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord...," wrote one of the Psalmists (Ps. 127: 3). "Happy is the man," he continues, "that hath his quiver full of them..." (vs. 5). Along with the blessing of children, though, there
1The Nurture and Admonition of the Lord
- Children are a blessing from God. "Lo, children
are an heritage of the Lord...," wrote one of the
Psalmists (Ps. 127 3). "Happy is the man," he
continues, "that hath his quiver full of them..."
(vs. 5). Along with the blessing of children,
though, there is responsibility.
2The Nurture and Admonition of the Lord
Many precious memories will be of children and
family!
3The Nurture and Admonition of the Lord
An examination of Ephesians 6 4
- 4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to
wrath but bring them up in the nurture and
admonition of the Lord.
4The Nurture and Admonition of the Lord
- "Paideia denotes 'the training of a child,
including instruction' hence, 'discipline,
correction,' 'chastening,' Eph. 6 4, RV (AV,
'nurture'), suggesting the Christian discipline
that regulates character so in Heb. 12 5,7,8
(in ver. 8, AV, 'chastisement,' the RV corrects
to 'chastening') in 2 Tim. 316, 'instruction.'
See INSTRUCTION, NURTURE" (Expository Dictionary
of New Testament Words).
5The Nurture and Admonition of the Lord
- 4 That they may teach the young women to be
sober, to love their husbands, to love their
children, 5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at
home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that
the word of God be not blasphemed (Tit. 2, cp.
Prov. 6 20-23).
6The Nurture and Admonition of the Lord
- Children taught to honor parents
- Children are to be taught to honor and respect
their parents. The scriptures teach, "Honour thy
father and mother which is the first commandment
with promise that it may be well with thee, and
thou mayest live long on the earth" (Eph. 6 2,
3).
7The Nurture and Admonition of the Lord
- Children learn obedience in the home
- It is in the home that children learn the first
lesson in obedience. Paul commands, "Children,
obey your parents in the Lord for this is right"
(Eph. 6 1). The biblical home is structured
(Eph. 5 22-6 4). The Bible teaches discipline,
both of an instructive and punitive nature (cp.
Prov. 13 24). Children must be provided guidance
and rules to be followed.
8The Nurture and Admonition of the Lord
- Children learn early
- Timothy had from an infant been taught the things
of God by his godly mother and grandmother (2
Tim. 3 15, 1 5). Jesus, his authority and
church, should be an ever present theme in the
home, both in teaching and in practice (Matt. 28
18 Eph. 1 22, 23).
9The Nurture and Admonition of the Lord
- Children taught about material things
- Children must be taught the nature and value of
material things (Luke 12 15). Respect for God
should begin in the home.
10The Nurture and Admonition of the Lord
- Childrens gender considered in teaching
- Young men should be taught the importance of
fatherhood and being a provider and leader in the
home (Eph. 5 24 ff., I Tim. 5 8). Young girls
are to be taught their role as a wife and mother
and the art of home making (Eph. 5 22 ff., Tit.
2 4, 5).
11The Nurture and Admonition of the Lord
- Children learn of marriage in the home
- They learn of the sanctity, dignity, and purpose
of marriage and home making. The children learn
all these matters not only by the verbal teaching
of their parents, but also by the good examples
their parents are to set for them (cp. Deut. 6
6-9).
12The Nurture and Admonition of the Lord
- 4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children
to wrath but bring them up in the nurture and
admonition of the Lord(Eph. 6).