Family Month Message 1: A Stark Reminder For Parents

Introduction:

* The dynamics between the parent and child relationship has changed so much in the past few decades.

* Worldly psychology is not helping.

* Psychology may recognize symptoms but it offers no solutions.

* Be it our children’s condition, the Bible has given us instruction on how to bring them up.

* Dun read too much into categorization.

* The more solutions worldly psychology is offering, it only shows the more helpless we are.

* Yet, true psychology is the “study of the Soul”.

* The true Christian psychologist must be doing “soul work” in the realm of the deep things of the Word and the Spirit—not fooling around in the shallows of behavior modification.

* If we want to benefit from a Christian sermon on parenting, we must first pledge our full allegiance to the Bible.

* PAP notes: 13.4% of Singaporeans suffer from poor mental health. 1 in 5 youths reported poor or very poor mental well-being.

* Where does “Juvenile Delinquency” comes from?

* From breach of parents’ responsibility.

* “Every child has the potential to grow up to be a monster” ~ John MacArthur.

* Yet, God has also set up safeguards for children through the teaching and discipline by the parents.

* Parental teachings may fall on deaf ears, but we can trust the Holy Spirit to intervene in the life of the child in the best possible way.

Read <Ge 25:27-28>

27 When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents. 28 Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.

* Esau and Jacob’s personality.

* Isaac and Rebekah favoritism.

Read <Ge 26:34-35>

34 When Esau was forty years old, he took Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite to be his wife, and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite, 35 and they made life bitter for (were a source of grief to) Isaac and Rebekah.

* Esau – unrestrained, ungodly adult, someone who does as he pleases.

* Parenting – “free range parenting”, i.e. hands off approach, probably because of his carefree, independent and stubborn nature.

* “No parenting” is the worst kind of parenting.

Read <Ge 27:1-17>

When Isaac was old and his eyes were dim so that he could not see, he called Esau his older son and said to him, “My son”; and he answered, “Here I am.” 2 He said, “Behold, I am old; I do not know the day of my death. 3 Now then, take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me, 4 and prepare for me delicious food, such as I love, and bring it to me so that I may eat, that my soul may bless you before I die.”

5 Now Rebekah was listening when Isaac spoke to his son Esau. So when Esau went to the field to hunt for game and bring it, 6 Rebekah said to her son Jacob, “I heard your father speak to your brother Esau, 7 ‘Bring me game and prepare for me delicious food, that I may eat it and bless you before the Lord before I die.’ 8 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice as I command you. 9 Go to the flock and bring me two good young goats, so that I may prepare from them delicious food for your father, such as he loves. 10 And you shall bring it to your father to eat, so that he may bless you before he dies.” 11 But Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, “Behold, my brother Esau is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man. 12 Perhaps my father will feel me, and I shall seem to be mocking him and bring a curse upon myself and not a blessing.” 13 His mother said to him, “Let your curse be on me, my son; only obey my voice, and go, bring them to me.”

14 So he went and took them and brought them to his mother, and his mother prepared delicious food, such as his father loved. 15 Then Rebekah took the best garments of Esau her older son, which were with her in the house, and put them on Jacob her younger son. 16 And the skins of the young goats she put on his hands and on the smooth part of his neck. 17 And she put the delicious food and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.

Reprehensive Parenting Philosophy

1) Isaac’s Parenting – Transactional. Carnal blessing.

2) Rebekah’s Parenting – Yearn for God’s Blessing, yet neglect Holiness of God

* And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose <Ro 8:28>.

* What does it mean to have children in a fallen world?

– Children are a heritage from the Lord…<Ps 127:3>.

– Raise them up to be disciples of Christ, a witness for the gospel.

* God is one who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations <Deu 7:9>.