How to Raise Kids Today | Deuteronomy 6:1-9
Series: Revelation: The Best is Yet to Come
Title: “How to Raise Kids Today” (Mother’s Day)
Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:1-9
My Bottom line:
Obedience is an expression of faithful love.
Tie in 3 applications:
Listen - written and living word
Love - God and people (6:5)
Lead others - who? From inside out (6:6-9)
Hand impression in clay
Heart - compass that points to true north
Romans 5:8
Just like a thermometer shows the actual temperature of the room, our obedience to God shows our actual love for God and people.
When we were children, my sister and I went on a picnic with our parents. The two of us were playing on what we all assumed was a disused railway track. Suddenly my mother shouted, ‘Jump! Get off the track!’ She had seen an express train coming down the track. Thankfully, we didn’t shout back, ‘Don’t threaten us. You can’t scare us.’ If we had done that, I would not be in a position to write this now. We both jumped off the track.
The command arose out of a mother’s love for her children. God’s commands arise out of his goodness and his love for you. They are given so that “it may go well with you” and “you may enjoy long life”.
The warnings of Jesus about the coming judgment (Gospels, Rev) and how to be ready for it come out of his love for you. In all the passages for today we see that obedience is the way to experience his goodness and be a magnet for his blessing.
Nicky Gumbel
Outline:
Notes:
V. 1
God gives Israel (and all his people) “the way” to true life. It is obedience motivated by a grateful love for the Lord.
The Lord directed Moses to teach his people the commands, decrees and laws they were to obey because they love and trust him in the promise land.
“The emphasis in Deut 6:1-2 is on obedience.”
2 kinds of people: Those who love God and those who hate God. The heart attitude is seen in their obedience.
When Jesus gave his commission to Peter, he just asked one question, “Simon, do you love me?” John 21:16
VV. 2-3
Tells them why he wants them to trust and obey.
So that you, your children, and you’re grand children will fear the Lord (enough) so they’ll gladly obey the Lord all their lives. (2)
So that they will enjoy long life (2)
So that it will go well with you (3)
So that you will increase greatly (financially, intellectually, physically, relationally, and spiritually). (3)
V. 4
Listen to God early and often. Know his word (written and living) so you know what and how to obey.
Love God with all you are and have. This occurs only through obedience to his word.
Lead others to love by obeying his word too.
Start with yourself
Family
Extended family
Future family
Church family
Community/neighbors
World (include spiritual children)
When? All the time
We don’t have time to play around
Urgent
Pace matters, but urgent
Sustainable, but aware that the days are short
Where?
Live
Work/learn
Play
Locally, Globally and virtually
How?
Listen - written and living word
Love - God and people (6:5)
Lead others - who? From inside out (6:6-9)
Hand impression in clay
Heart - compass that points to true north
J Vernon McGee notes
Deuteronomy emphasizes two words: Love and obedience. (Not law and obedience)
“God’s love is actually expressed in law. The great principle of law is love.” God gives us laws (boundaries) for our benefit.
When our relationship is perfect, few laws are needed. (Think Garden of Eden with just 1 law)
When our relationship is marred by poor discipline, unwise decision making, and unloving behavior, more laws are needed.
“You and I express our love for God in our obedience.”
“If you love me, keep my commandments.” -John 14:15
“Salvation is a love affair.”
“We love him because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19
“The Lord Jesus cited this as the greatest commandment of all: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength.” Deut 6:5
“Our obedience is the manifestation of our love.”d
“But God demonstrates his love for us in this that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
“Here is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 4:10
Illustration
Wrong camper story
Why My Mom Won’t Drink Mountain Dew by Brad Ruggles
12 posted on August 12, 2008
51 Comments
POSTED IN: Childhood Memories, Completely Crazy
If you’ve known me long enough or had the chance to stay up late at night swapping stories with me, you’ll eventually hear this one. It’s probably one of the most embarrassing, stupid, least-thought-out things I did as a kid.
My parents went out for dinner and left my brother and I at home. We were boys so there was all the usual wrestling and goofing around but after an hour or so we got bored.
I went to the fridge to see what was in there and saw a half-empty bottle of Mountain Dew. As only a 10-year-old whose brain hadn’t caught up to his body could think of, I had an idea for a prank. What if I emptied the bottle and filled it back up with pee! (you can see why I stay up at night worrying about what my kids are going to do when they get older)
I put the top back on the bottle and put it back in the fridge. I heard my parents come home and ran upstairs listening over the balcony and snickering to myself. I waited for a few minutes until I heard the refrigerator door open.
The next thing I heard was my mom spitting and running to the bathroom to throw up. As with many of our pranks as kids, I hadn’t completely thought this one through. To say that I was in trouble with my dad would be a bit of an understatement.
When people hear that story they always ask me, What were you thinking? The simple answer? I wasn’t.
What was the worst thing you did to your parents as a kid?