Session 8 - Raising the Next Generation

Sermon

Children are an amazing miracle and a heritage from the Lord, yet parents must realise from the beginning that they are simply stewards of the lives entrusted to their care. In this eighth and concluding Marriage Seminar, Gary explores the awesome responsibility of raising children to fulfil their divine destiny. Learn how the Word of God serves as the primary instrument for training, helping children learn to subdue their own passions so they may fulfil God’s calling for their lives. Discover why a parent’s own spiritual life is the fundamental starting point for a fruitful home, as the reality of our relationship with God is something that cannot be faked before our children.

Scriptures

Genesis 1:28

“Then God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.'”

“‘Honour your father and your mother,’ which is the first commandment with promise:”

“And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.”

“Now Eli was very old; and he heard everything his sons did to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who assembled at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. So he said to them, ‘Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all the people.’ … ‘Why do you kick at My sacrifice and My offering, which I have commanded in My dwelling place and honour your sons more than Me, to make yourselves fat with the best of all the offerings of Israel, My people?'”.

“And his father had not rebuked him at any time by saying, ‘Why have you done so?’ He was also very good-looking, and his mother had borne him after Absalom.”.

“Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. Who is the man who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit. Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it.”.

“For He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children; That the generation to come might know them, the children who would be born, that they may arise and declare them to their children, that they may set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments;”.

“Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth.”

“Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching.”

“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”

“Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of correction will drive it far from him.”

“The rod and rebuke give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.”

“Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honour your father and mother,’ which is the first commandment with promise: ‘that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.’ And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.”

“Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.”

“If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”

Marriage Seminar Summary and Prayer

Building a Christian home is a lifelong journey of application, not just a one-time event. In this final session, Brother Chris summarises the core essence of the entire Marriage Seminar series: The secret of living in unity is striving for purity. He emphasises that while material possessions and positions end at the grave, the spiritual investment you make in your family will outlive and outlast you.

As the seminar closes, join Brother Chris as he prays for God to wash away the stain of sin, release the build-up of bitterness that hardens hearts, and break generational curses affecting marriages.

Your Feedback

Please share with us some of the lessons you have learned from this eighth session, or any further questions that you have on the topic. Also please feel free to provide any final reflections on the whole Marriage Seminar series.

Congratulations!

We would like to congratulate you on completing God’s Heart TV’s Marriage Seminars. We trust these seminars have helped you to see God’s divine purpose for marriage clearly in the light of God’s Word. God bless you as you apply these principles, no matter the stage of life or circumstances surrounding your marital life. We can’t wait to hear your testimonies!

Continue to seek God’s heart to see life clearly. As you seek God’s heart, your home is set apart for His favour. God bless you! 

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