Matthew 7:9-11

Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him

a serpent? If you then, who are 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!

Honour is accurately acknowledging who people are and to position myself to give them what they deserve and to receive from them the gift of who they

are.

1. God is interested in generations

Exodus 3:15God also said to Moses, "Say this to the people of Israel, 'The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.' This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.

1. God is interested in generations

Deuteronomy 7:9-10Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations......... and repays to their face those who hate him, by destroying them. He will not be slack with one who hates him. He will repay him to his face.

1. God is interested in generations

Psalm 78:6He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children.

1. God is interested in generations

Psalm 78:6He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children.

Judges 2:8-10And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died at the age of 110 years. And they buried him within the boundaries of his inheritance in Timnath-heres, in the hill country of Ephraim, north of the mountain of Gaash. And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD or the work that he had done for Israel.

2. 2 Key Questions

3. What should we consider when blessing:1. Bless marriage first“We want the next generation to know that marriage is a covenantal relationship established by God and that the vows made are to God (first of all). We desire to be intentional in teaching the next generation that of all human relationships, marriage is the primary one that God designated and ordained to preach the Gospel. The next generation will absorb a perspective of how Christ loves the church by the testimony of the sacrificial love of Christian husbands for their wives. The next generation will absorb a perspective of the church’s submission to Christ by the testimony of the submissive respect of Christian wives for their husbands.”

Your place a Home of Grace - Susan Hunt (Crossway Books 2000)

3. What should we consider when blessing:1. Bless marriage first2. Relationship before blessing3. HIT Honesty, Integrity, Transparency4. Don’t bless when angry5. Separate identity & behaviour

6. Bless often7. Kneel and make eye contact8. Use their name Power in someone’s name!9. Pray person specific10. Use written/formula prayers

B ody (health, strength, rest)

L ife (school life, future life, work)

E motional (feelings, difficulties, stress, peace, fruit of the Spirit)

S piritual (relationship with God, quiet time, prayer life)

S ocial (friendship, social responsibility, marriage)