June 10 2012 Healing For Hurting Parents

Healing For Hurting Parents

Luke 15:11-24

Jesus' beautiful story of the Prodigal Son is more than a lesson about God's love. It also illustrates some powerful principles for parenting. We see 3 stages in this parent-child conflict.

STAGE ONE: REBELLION (verses 11-16)

"... give me..."

What to do:

1. Let them go.
"... the younger son... set off for a distant country..."

2. Let them make their own mistakes.
"... and there squandered his wealth in wild living..."

3. Let them suffer the consequences of their choices.
"... after he spent everything... he began to be in need"

STAGE TWO: RE-EVALUATION & REGRET
(vs. 17-19)

"When he came to his senses... I will go back..."

What to do:

* You Pray.

* Commit them to God.

* Wait Patiently.

STAGE THREE: THE RETURN (vs. 20-24)

What to do: 

1. Love them faithfully
"... his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him..." 

2. Accept them unconditionally.
"... he threw his arms around him and kissed him."

THE SON'S CONFESSION: (Vs 21)

3. Forgive them completely.
"Bring the best robe... put a ring on his finger... and sandals on his feet."

"For this son of mine was dead, and is alive again; he was lost and is found!

May 27 2012 How To Pray For Your Family

How To Pray For Your Family

Children may go beyond our reach, but never beyond the reach of God.

I. Three things that make up a parent of prayer:

1. They understand the power of prayer.
James 5:17 - Elijah was a man just like us.

2. They provide an atmosphere that backs up what they pray for.

3. They pray continually.
Colossians 1:9 - Since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you.

II. Seven things we should pray for:

1. That they know God’s Will.

Colossians 1:9 - We are asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will.
II Peter 3:9 - The Lord is not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
I Timothy 3:15 - Paul said, “I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and I am persuaded, now lives in you also.”
Romans 12:1-2

2. Their life style.
Colossians 1:10 - We pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord.
Proverbs 1:10 - My Son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them.

3. The productivity of our children.
Colossians 1:10 - Bearing fruit in every good work.

4. Grow in their walk with God.
Colossians 1:10 - Growing in the knowledge of God.

5. Power to overcome difficult situations.
Colossians 1:11 - Being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience.

6. They would have a right attitude.
Colossians 1:11-12 - Joyfully, giving thanks to the Father.


7. A good self image.
Colossians 1:12 - Who qualified you to share in the inheritance of the Saints.

May 13 2012 Three Things Mothers Can Build In The Home

Three Things Mothers Can Build In The Home

I. First Mothers need to build the foundation of Faith.

Examples:

1. Timothy’s Mother and Grandmother.

2 Timothy 1:5 - I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first live in your Grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

2. Moses’ Mother.

Hebrews 11:25 - He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasure of sin for a short time.

3. Samuel’s Mother.

I Samuel 1:28 -2:1 - So now I give him to the Lord, my heart rejoices in the Lord.

II. Secondly you need to build a closet of prayer.

A place where you can get alone with God.

I Samuel 1:27 - I prayed for this child.

III. Thirdly build a room for improvement.

Mothers are the molders of men and women.

Examples:

1. Nancy Hanks, Mother of Abraham Lincoln

2. Winston Churchill’s Mother

3. Suzanne Wesley, Mother of John & Charles Wesley

4. Sarah Edwards, Mother of Jonathan Edwards

I believe that Mothers set the tone for the family. Therefore, get a vision for your child and pour your life I nto them.

I Samuel 2:26 - And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the Lord and with men.

April 29 2012 Bringing Out The Best In Your Kids

Bringing Out The Best In Your Kids

Matthew 5:48 - Be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect.

1. I must understand my children.

Psalm 103:13 - As a Father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him. For he knows how we are formed.

Proverbs 24:3 - Homes are built on the foundation of wisdom and understanding.

Proverbs 22:6 - Train a child in the way he should go, and then when he is old he will not turn from it.

Proverbs 14:29 - A patient man has great understanding.

2. I must accept my children.

Psalm 145:8 - The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.

Romans 15:7 - Accept one another.

Psalm 127:3 - Children are a gift from God, they are His reward.

3. I must discipline my children.

Hebrews 12:6 - The Lord disciplines those whom He loves.

Proverbs 13:24 - If you refuse to discipline your son, it proves you don’t love him.

Proverbs 19:18 - Discipline your children while they are young enough to learn. If you don’t you are helping them destroy themselves.


HOW TO DISCIPLINE

Discipline calmly.

Proverbs 29:11 - A fool gives full vent to his anger.

Don’t be a nagger.

Ephesians 6:4 - Don’t keep scolding and nagging your children, making them angry and resentful, use loving discipline.

Discipline quickly.

Discipline sparingly.

Col. 3:2 - Fathers don’t discourage your children so much that they become discouraged and quit trying.

Discipline by age level.

• The Age Of Regulation (Age 1-7)

Must learn to obey.

• The Age Of Imitation (Age 8-12)

Learn by watching you.

• The Age Of Inspiration (Age 13 & Up)

They will be like who they run with.

4. I must express love to my children.

Psalm 145:9 - The Lord is good and has compassion on all He has made.

Psalm 145:14 - The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.

Psalm 145:18 - The Lord is near to all who call on Him.

Psalm 101:2 - I will try to walk a blameless path, but how I need Your help especially in my own home where I long to act as I should.

April 15 2012 Six Ways To Grow A Healthy Family

Six Ways To Grow A Healthy Family

1. (F) Fun

Ecclesiastes 9:9 - Enjoy life with your wife.

Proverbs 5:13 - Be happy with your wife and find joy with the girl you married.

Psalm 127:3 - Children are a gift from God.

2. (A) Attention

Philippians 2:2-4 - When you do things, do not let selfishness or pride be your guide.  Be humble and give more honor to     others than yourselves. Do not be interested only in your own life, but be interested in the lives of others.

Philippians 2:5-7 - Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus…did not consider equality with God something to be grasped but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant.

Romans 12:10 - Love one another, out do one another in     showing honor.

3. (M) Ministry


1 Corinthians 16:15 - Stephanas and his family were the first to become Christians in Greece, and they are spending their lives helping and serving Christians everywhere.

Acts 16:33 - The whole family was filled with joy because they had come to believe God.

Romans 12:13 - When God’s children are in need, help them out.  Get into the habit of inviting guests home for dinner, of if they need lodging for the night.

4. (I) Insulate the members from the storms of life

Proverbs 14:26 - Reverencefor the Lord gives a man deep strength, his children have a place of refuge and security.

3 Kinds Of Storms

1. Change.

2. Failure.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 - Two are better than one, if one of them falls down the other can help him up, but if someone is alone and falls, it’s just too bad because there is no one to help him

3. Rejection

5. (L) Learning Center

Psalm 14:12 - May our sons, in their youth, be like plants that grow.

Ephesians 6:4 - Fathers, don’t exasperate your children, instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the     Lord.

Luke 2:52 - Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and with man.

Isaiah 38:19 - One generation makes known your faithfulness to the next.

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 - These commandments impress them upon your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

6. (Y) Yield to God

Joshua 24:25 - Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods of your forefathers or the gods of the Amorites, but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.

Philippians 4:8 - Fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and dwell on the fine, good things in others.