Vol. 04, No. 01

Mt. Baker Beacon - 2025

Steven J. Wallace
01/05/25 - Mt. Baker Beacon - 2025

10 RULES FOR BRINGING DOWN CHILDREN

AUTHOR UNKNOWN

The psalmist said, "Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth" (Psalm 127:3-4). We all love our children, and we want to know how to help them best spiritually. It might make a greater impact to see what will, in essence, ruin them.

Let them have plenty of money to spend as they like.
Permit them to choose their companions without restraint or guidance.
Let them spend their Sundays in worldly activities or with friends with no concern for the Lord's day.
Allow them to go out at night and return home as they please.
Teach them to expect pay for helping at home and serving others.
Let them think that good manners are a substitute for good morals.
Do not trouble to interest them in the Bible or convert them to Christ.
Do not inquire where and with whom they spend their time.
Let them see that you think attendance at services is not important.
Never let them hear you pray, especially not for their salvation.

10 RULES FOR BRINGING UP CHILDREN

Now that you know how to ruin your children, let's give some time to ten rules for bringing up children. These are the best ways to help them become righteous and faithful to God.

Make home the brightest and most attractive place you can.
Make them responsible for helping in some daily duties at home.
Never punish in anger nor to relieve your own feelings, but only in love and for disobedience.
Do not mock their ideas; talk frankly about interesting matters to them.
Encourage them to invite friends to your home.
Teach them that serving and honesty are more important than money.
Live righteously before them so that they will listen to moral teaching.
Let them see your enjoyment and profit from Bible reading and prayer.
Set an example in faithful church attendance and interest in the work.
Pray continuously for their salvation and spiritual growth.

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6). If you follow the first list of ten steps, your children will have little respect for you or God. While children will make their own choices, those choices are significantly influenced by their parents.

Raising children "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord" takes great patience and more than a little wisdom (Ephesians 6:4). If you can follow the second list of ten steps, you'll be blessed in your older age by faithful children and perhaps even faithful grandchildren. If the Lord wills, your godly habits will pay huge dividends in the future.

--Adapted

SENTENCE SERMON:

“Spoiled children are given what they want; wise parents give them what they need.”

THE SADDUCEES’ BLIND SPOT:

GOD’S POWER FROM CREATION TO RESURRECTION

Genesis 18:9-14

Is anything too hard for the Lord? (Genesis18:14)

What did Sarah do, and what does her exchange with the Lord highlight about the nature of the Lord? (Genesis 18:12-15)
Notice the interplay of the phrase, “he did not,” and what applications can we make today?
1. He did not _____________________________________________. (Romans 4:19)
2. He did not _____________________________________________. (Romans 4:20)
Was the strong faith of Abraham mentioned in Romans 4 the result of a single step, or a journey filled with challenges?
What might dominate weak faith?
When asked to offer up his son, Isaac, how did Abraham reason?
(Hebrews 11:17-19)
What things can develop our faith and hope? (Romans 5:1-5)

THOUGHT QUESTION: How does the faith Abraham displayed in receiving a son parallel the faith we are called to have in Christ’s resurrection, as described in Romans 4:23-25?

PART 2

Ephesians 1:19-21

How did Jeremiah understand “There is nothing too hard for God”? (Jeremiah 32:17)
What belongs to God? (Psalms 62:11)
What mighty power did God work in Christ? (Ephesians 1:19, 20)
Where is God’s power for salvation found? (Romans 1:16)
How do the dead in sin walk? (Ephesians 2:1-3)
“Even when we were ____________ in ____________, made us ____________ ____________ with Christ (by grace you have been saved)” (Eph. 2:5)

THOUGHT QUESTION: What are some significant things connected to the teaching that we are made to “sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus”? (Ephesians 2:6)