Kingdom Kids!
Ephesians 6:1-4
1. Children Have Status and Responsibility in the Lord. (Vs. 1, Psa 127:3, Luke 18:15-16, Col 3:20)
a. Psalm 127:3, “Sons are indeed a heritage from the Lord, offspring, a reward.”
b. Luke 18:15-16, “People were bringing infants to him so that he might touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. Jesus, however, invited them: “Let the little children come to me, and don’t stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”
c. Colossians 3:20, “Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.”
2. Children Should Love Their Parents by Honoring Them. (Vs. 2, Heb 6:10-11)
a. 10 Commandments (Exodus 20)
b. Hebrews 6:10-11, “For God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you demonstrated for his name by serving the saints—and by continuing to serve them. Now we desire each of you to demonstrate the same diligence for the full assurance of your hope until the end.”
3. Faithful Children Gain the Rewards of Obedience. (Vs. 3, Ex 20:11, Matt 6:19-21)
a. Exodus 20:11, “Honor your father and your mother so that you may have a long life in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.”
b. Matthew 6:19-21, “Don’t store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
4. Faithful Children Are “Brought Up” in the Lord. (Vs. 4, Prov 15:1-2, Deut 11:18-19)
a. Proverbs 15:1-2, “A gentle answer turns away anger, but a harsh word stirs up wrath. The tongue of the wise makes knowledge attractive, but the mouth of fools blurts out foolishness.”
b. Deuteronomy 11:18-19, “Imprint these words of mine on your hearts and minds, bind them as a sign on your hands, and let them be a symbol on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”