“Growing Healthy Children”

Deuteronomy 6:6–9; Mark 12:30–31 NIV

  1. Introduction
    1. There is a crisis in the family.
    2. The family is responsible.
      1. Actions tell what is important.
    3. Children need to be exposed to systematic training.
      1. Training is NOT optional!
  2. Training Children

    Deuteronomy 6:6–9

    6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on 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. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

    1. Parents need God’s laws in their hearts.
    2. Impress God’s laws on your children.
      1. This is intentional.
    3. Talk about them as you sit.
    4. Talk about them as you walk.
    5. Lie down and get up with His laws.
    6. Use symbols to remember them.
    7. Write them down (visible).
  3. Things We Need To Teach Our Children—Mark 12
    1. Love God

      Mark 12:30

      “… 30‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ …”

      1. They learn by the parent’s example.
      2. Love is the most powerful force in the world.
    2. Love Others

      “… 31The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

    3. Obedience

      Psalm 143:10

      Teach me to do your will,
      for you are my God;
      may your good Spirit
      lead me on level ground.

    4. Truths of God

      Ecclesiastes 12:13

      Now all has been heard;
      here is the conclusion of the matter:
      Fear God and keep his commandments,
      for this is the whole duty of man.

    5. Self-control

      Galatians 5:22–23

      22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

  4. Conclusion
    1. What are our children learning from us?