PAR

Parental Authority and

Responsibility

Sierra Vista, AZ 12-31-06

Christ is the source of allAuthority

Matt 28:18-19 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Parental authority

Authority gives credibility to teaching and parenting

THOSE IN AUTHORITY MUST BE CONFIDENT AND USE THAT AUTHORITY WITH WISDOM AND LOVE

Matt 7:28-29 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

Matt 10:1 He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.

Rebellion against authority can be costly

FATHERS ARE REBELLING AGAINST GOD’S AUTHORITY IF THE DO NOT ACCEPT THE POSITION HE GIVES THEM OF LEADING THEIR FAMILY

Rom 13:2-4 Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you.

The authority structure within the Family

Eph 5:22-33 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

PARENTS HAVE AUTHORITY OVER THE CHILDREN

Col. 3:20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

With Authority comes…… Responsibility

HUSBAND AND FATHER’S RESPONSIBILITY

Eph 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless

Eph 5:28-33

28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church- 30 for we are members of his body. 31 "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." 32 This is a profound mystery-but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

If husbands want their wives to respect their authority, and parents want their children to respect their authority, they must accept the grave responsibility to lead their families and children with love, respect, and wisdom and much prayer.

We Provide in Many Ways

1 Tim 5:7-8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Parents provide them with Direction, purpose, & knowledge

Eph 6:4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Deut. 6:6-7 “And these words shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children….”’

Our Son’s Sons

Grandparents also have a responsibility: God knows that the strength and stability of a family depends on the wisdom and dedication of the grandfather (and grandmothers). Thus He gives responsibility to grandparents too. Deut. 4:9 “Teach them to thy sons and thy son’s sons.”

The Responsibility to teach and train our children is given to the PARENTS…not the Church, School Babysitters, Day-care, bible schools or school teachers

Attention All Parents

We must realize that our children and grandchildren belong to God and it it our responsibility to teach them Spiritual Principles, Godly character and Biblical convictions. How do we rise to this great task?

Parents must teach their children with authority

Deut 11:18-21 Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.

19 Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

20 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates,

21 so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land

From the heart comes obedience

Deut 6:6-7 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children

“to keep the way of the Lord”

Gen 18:18-19 Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. 19 For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him."

Teach from the Word

Children, or no one else, can grow into Godly mature Christians by only attending church services. We must be in the Word daily, and be teaching and training our children DAILY with the Bible. Memorize scripture at home, “I will write your word on my heart that I may when a problem arises, look to the scriptures for solutions. (the kids at school laugh at me. What would Jesus do?) When our children want to participate in an activity, measure that decision by “will this please and bring glory to God” or cause me to compromise Godly character?

We are preparing our childrenfor the rest of their lives

Deut 6:6-7 “teach them diligently to the children.” Godly Training of a child is a conscious decision requiring pre-planning and intentional living. If you don’t make a conscious decision to produce a Godly adult from your child, it won’t happen.

What are our priorities?

Where are our priorities? When we are in college, getting an education is our priority. If we are serious students, we say NO to things that distract us from getting an education. That was our priority at that time in our life.

When we become parents, our priority now is to raise Godly children to become Godly adults. It can’t take backseat to any other priority.

Now is the time

It’s not something that can be done “tomorrow” because we’re too tired, or too busy, or just not interested today. We weren’t too tired, busy or disinterested to go to work, or have dinner with friends, or watch a movie, or play a round of golf.

Titus 2: 11-12

11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12 It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age

Examples speak the Loudest

Titus 2:7-8 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 8 and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.

Paul Writes…….

1 Cor 11:1-2 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.

2 I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the teachings, just as I passed them on to you.

Our daily lives become an Example

2 Thess 3:7-8 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone's food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you.

Even in Young….good examples exhibit our faith

1 Tim 4:12 Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity

Especially in our elder years…be a great example

Peter 1 5:1-3 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2 Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers-not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.

What do we teach our children?

Titus 1:5-14 An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. 7 Since an overseer is entrusted with God's work, he must be blameless-not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain.

Titus 1:8-9

8 Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. 9 He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.

And for our young ladies…..

1 Tim 5:9-10 On the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, 10 and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the saints, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.

Titus 2:3-5

3 Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. 4 Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.

And for the men……

Titus 2: 1,6-8 You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine. 2 Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance

Titus 2:6-8

6 Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. 7 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 8 and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.

A continuous process

We are always training and teaching our children, whether intentionally or unintentionally, as they are watching and learning by our example.

CHILDREN VALUE WHAT THEY SEE THEIR PARENTS VALUE:

DO WE VALUE THE ASSEMBLY WITH THE CHURCH OR GIVE IT LESS IMPORTANCE IN OUR LIVES THAN OUR JOBS OR ENTERTAINMENT? Are we late?, miss services in favor of other activities? speak ill of our brothers or the church in other ways? Or do our children see that attending services is a #1 priority in our lives.

The Whole Truth

DO WE AS PARENTS VALUE THE TRUTH, OR “FUDGE” A LITTLE SOMETIMES? If our children see us being even slightly dishonest, they will learn little “white” lies are okay, and soon white turns to black lies. And they lose respect for our authority.

The value of discipline

Children will only respond to your discipline if they respect your authority over them. They will not respect you if your examples and words don’t match. Your discipline will cause frustration and anger in the child instead of the desired repentance.

Lack of discipline equalsa lack of Love and Concern

Prov 19:18-19 Discipline your son, for in that there is hope;do not be a willing party to his death.

Prov 22:15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him.

Our Heavenly Father Disciplines us…why..He loves us

Heb 12:5-11 And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,

6 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son."

Heb 12:5-11

7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8 If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.

Discipline shapes and molds our Character Heb 12:9-11

9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! 10 Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Disobedience is a major offense Deut 21:18-21

18 If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who does not obey his father and mother and will not listen to them when they discipline him, 19 his father and mother shall take hold of him and bring him to the elders at the gate of his town. 20 They shall say to the elders, "This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious. He will not obey us. He is a profligate and a drunkard." 21 Then all the men of his town shall stone him to death. You must purge the evil from among you.

Wisdom, Discipline, andUnderstanding

Prov 23:12-14 Do not withhold discipline from a child;if you punish him with the rod, he will not die. 14 Punish him with the rod and save his soul from death.

Prov 23:22-24 Listen to your father, who gave you life,and do not despise your mother when she is old. 23 Buy the truth and do not sell it;get wisdom, discipline and understanding. 24 The father of a righteous man has great joy;he who has a wise son delights in him.