Search The Scriptures: September 16, 2001
RAISING SPIRITUAL CHILDREN
INTRODUCTION:
A. Good morning ladies and gentlemen. I am delighted to be able to welcome to another edition
of Search the Scriptures. I am J.R. Bronger and on behalf of the Danville church of Christ
that brings you this program, I gladly urge you to join with us as we engage in a diligent study of
the bible. Search the Scriptures, as you probably know, is undertaking the work of restoring
original Christianity in the hearts and minds of men and women. Our only goal is to direct
people to the bible as the sole source of all religious authority. Paul wrote in Col. 3:17 and
whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus. The idea of doing all in
the name of Christ is doing things according to his authority. Most of what is being done today
in the field of so-called Christianity is non-biblical, unscriptural and without the approval of
Christ. Therefore, the Danville church of Christ brings you this radio program in an effort to
restore original Christianity, the way it is revealed in the New Testament of Christ.
B. If you have any questions or comments, or if you would just like to browse our web site, you
can do so at www.danvillechurchofchrist.org. Please let us hear from you, especially if you
have a subject or a text you would like to hear discussed on Search the Scriptures. Also, if you
hear a sermon on Search the Scriptures that you would like to have, either on cassette tape or
CD, just let us know because we will be happy to give it to you absolutely free of charge. Just
write to us or call us and let us know which sermon you would like. If you order a lesson, please
do so by the date the study aired.
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C. Also, my friends, please remember the special series of gospel meetings we will be having at
the Danville church of Christ the week of Sept. 23-28. This special series of studies begins
next Sunday morning. As I told you last week, it is my distinct privilege to be the speaker for
that series of studies. I hope you will make plans to be in attendance. We will not embarrass you
in any way, nor will we ask you to make a donation. We just would love for you to come as our
guest. If you are a regular listener to Search the Scriptures, but we haven’t met, then this will
provide us an excellent opportunity to do so. So, mark your calendars for Sept. 23-28 a gospel
meeting with the Danville church of Christ. Our regular times of worship will be observed next
Sunday morning. We will have s special 2:30 PM singing and our afternoon worship will
immediately follow at 3:30 PM. And 7:00 P.M. Monday through Friday.
D. This morning I want to discuss a subject that, I believe, should be of critical interest to every
bible believing parent or grandparent. And that is, how can we raise spiritual children in a carnal
society such as this one in which we live? And you know as well as I do that modern American
culture is growing more and more base. Therefore, if you have children or grandchildren about
whom you are concerned, then spend the next few minutes with us as we examine this subject
from the pages of scripture. We begin by noting what the Psalmist said in Psa. 127:3-5. Behold,
children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the
hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver
full of them. Children are intended by God to become blessings to their parents. However, we
know that all too often they become burdens - not financially, but spiritually. Many parents live
to see the children they brought to bible study and to worship, renounce the God they were
taught to love. Far too many parents have experienced the grief associated with seeing their
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children bolt from home and from the Lord at the first opportunity afforded them. Perhaps some
things we will be saying today may just help you avoid the anguish experienced by others who
have lost their children to sin. Also, I might point out in the beginning that some young people
have rebelled against God and their parents have not even realized it. These parents are more
interested in symbolism than in substance. That is, they are more interested in appearances than
they are in actual spirituality. So - if these children seem to show marginal interest in church
services, then tragically telltale signs of worldliness and ungodliness are ignored. Parents, are
you tuned in to your kids? Do you really know what’s going on in their lives? One thing that all
parents - especially parents of small children - need to understand is, our children are only with
us for a short time. Therefore, the work of parenting set before us is monumental - if not
overwhelming. This is due - in part - to the fact that the bible has relatively few commands and
principals addressed exclusively to parents. One such passage, however, is Eph. 6:1-4. It says,
children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother, which
is the first commandment with promise: that it may be well with you and you may live long on
the earth. And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the
training and admonition of the Lord. In order to be successful parents [which I believed is
defined as raising spiritual children in a carnal society] we must have a complete and
unwavering respect for this passage. Also, we must be willing to obey its precepts without
vacillating or hesitating one bit. However, my friends, in order to help us accomplish the task
before us - of raising spiritual children in a carnal society - we will be forced to consult several
other passages in addition to Eph. 6 and make some relevant applications. So - let us begin.
I. Parents, if you ever hope to raise your children to be spiritual in this carnal society then - you
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must begin early teaching them that they are spiritual beings - and not merely physical
creatures. This is because the bible teaches us that members of the human family are special
among all of God’s creation. Consider the statement in Gen. 1:26. Then God said, let us make
man in our image, according to our likeness; let them [that is, human beings] have dominion
over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over
every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. This verse reminds us that people are
preeminently greater than any other living being put on this earth. People are of more value than
the highest form of animal life. This is because, unlike the animal kingdom - man (I say this
without reference to gender) is created in the image of God. In the New Testament book of
James we are told in Jas. 3:9, with [the tongue we] bless our God and Father, and with it we
curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. James is saying the same thing said
by Moses in the book of Genesis, and that is, the human race is made in the likeness of almighty
God. Heb. 12:9 says, furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid
them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and
live? The likeness to God that each human being bears is the eternal spirit. Every human being
has an endless soul capable of existing with God in eternity forever. And, this wonderful and
essential truth must be instilled into the minds of every child as early as possible. Every child
needs to know that he or she is more than just flesh. They need to know that each one of them
has an eternal spirit that has been given to them by God. Then, this needs to be built upon as
soon as possible. When children learn they are spiritual beings then they can understand that life
is more than just gratifying the cravings and urges of the flesh. After all, it was Jesus who said in
Matt. 4:4, it is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from
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the mouth of God. My friends, there is a longing within every human being (including your
children) to commune with God. This is a spiritual longing that cannot be satisfied with anything
physical. Psa. 42:1-2 expresses it this way. As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my
soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. And, then as parents, we must
move beyond just teaching this truth. This means that nothing physical should ever be placed
above the spiritual in matters of importance. Too often children are encouraged to put secular
school work above any efforts to study and know the bible. I’ve seen children left at home
during midweek bible study in order to prepare for an exam at school - or to write a paper for a
class at school. Some parents seem to have no misgivings about letting a child forsake an
assembly of the church in order to attend a band function or a sporting event. Parents - let me say
to you that when you show your children that the physical may - and often does - take first place,
don’t act surprised when your child begins to behave as though they are merely physical beings -
pursuing the things that tend to gratify the hunger of the flesh. Paul wrote in Col. 3:1-2, if then
you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the
right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. This ought to be
the principle governing each home of all professed Christians. Every father and every mother
should be teaching and showing each child that to choose the spiritual over the physical is what
God desires and what he expects. My friends, listen carefully, your children are being told
everywhere else that they are simply animals. Whether in school or on television - they are being
encouraged to satisfy whatever it is they want to do. Everywhere else they are being told to do
what they want, therefore, you must work diligently to combat this, by convincing them (in word
and in deed) that they are spiritual beings, created in the image of almighty God.
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II. Then in the second place, if you hope to be successful in raising spiritual children, you must
direct them to Jesus Christ as an example of spiritual living. While Jesus was indeed God in
human flesh, he was also a human being. He was born and he grew to manhood as a human
being. Luke records in Lk. 2:52, and Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with
God and men. Growing up - Jesus had to learn things; as well as develop physically. He not only
cultivated his relationship with God, but he developed his social skills in order to live among
other men. But thru it all, Jesus never lost sight of his initial purpose for living. And that
purpose was to live totally and completely for his heavenly Father. Jn. 4:34 records, Jesus
[saying] to them, my food is to do the will of him who sent me, and to finish his work. Ladies
and gentlemen, Jesus is the perfect example of how to view things, because he never once lost
sight of his mission in life. And if we could just teach our children (and often ourselves) to view
things as Jesus did, we could become more successful in raising spiritual children. If we, and our
children, could look at things the way Jesus looked at things - then we (and our families) would
not be nearly as carnal and materialistic as we otherwise are. Often, we neglect our children’s
spiritual development so that we can provide them with the material things of life. We want to
provide them with the best in designer clothes - often when they are too young to know the
difference. We work two and three jobs so they can have a brand-new car when they turn 16. We
are never home to read bible stories to them - but we work our fingers to the bone, so that we can
provide them with the finest of things. Instead of doing this, we should be directing our children
to be more like Christ in their view of objects. Listen to what Jesus said in Lk. 12:22-23,
therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body,
what you will put on. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. And then
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again in Lk. 9:58, and Jesus said to him, foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but
the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head. I don’t mean to imply that we just become
homeless and let someone else be burdened with our needs. I am saying, however, that the
Lord’s view of things stands in stark contrast to the way many professed Christians look at
things. And instead of doing what we are doing. We should be directing our children to Christ.
We should be pointing them to Jesus as the way they should view things. Jesus used whatever he
had - to do what he was sent here to do. And he teaches us to do the same. Jesus asked - in Matt.
16:26 - for what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or
what will a man give in exchange for his soul? This is not referenced to suggest that we cannot
accumulate things while living on earth. What is does suggest, however, is that we need to use
whatever we have for the cause of Christ. If we are blessed enough to have a beautiful home,
then we must be practicing hospitality. If we are fortunate enough to have much of this world’s
goods, then we need to share with those who have little. And, this is what we need to be showing
our children. Jesus wasn’t concerned with having more and more, because he perfectly
understood what Solomon wrote centuries before in Eccl. 5:10-11. And that was, he who loves
silver will not be satisfied with silver; nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is
vanity. When goods increase, they increase who eat them; so what profit have the owners
except to see them with their eyes? But, all too often we - instead of pointing our children to
becoming more like Jesus as an example of spiritual living - we encourage them to live selfishly
and carnally. We let them know that a shinny new car is more valuable than a lost soul. We teach
them living in a house that is a showplace is more important than inviting in the struggling so
they can be encouraged. My friends, we need to do some serious soul-searching in an effort to
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determine what our attitude toward things really is. Because if we have a carnal, and selfish
attitude toward life, then we can be sure that our children will develop the same attitude. Only
they will take it a step further. Begin while your children are young to direct them to Jesus as an
example to be followed in living spiritually.
III. Now, in the third place - if we want to be effective in raising spiritual children in a carnal
society - we must teach them to be grateful for what they have, regardless of what it is. It is
the carnal who pout and bellyache and feel neglected. It is the worldly who spend their lives
whining over what they perceive to be short-changes in their lives. One of the most repulsive
sins (if I can say some appear more repulsive than others). But a sin that smells as offensive as
any sin can, is the sin of ingratitude - or the sin of not appreciating what we have. Consider this
sin - in light of what is revealed in Lk 17:11-19. There we read, now it happened as he went to
Jerusalem that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. Then as he entered a
certain village, there met him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. And they lifted up
their voices and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us! So when he saw them, he said to
them, go, show yourselves to the priests. And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed.
And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified
God, and fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. So
Jesus answered and said, were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not
any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner? And he said to him, arise,
go your way. Your faith has made you well. When we read of the ingratitude of those, who were
healed of their leprosy we should cringe, and I’m sure many do. But the truth is, many of us
often do not, because we might be seeing ourselves in these verses. Everyone needs to learn to
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be thankful for what he has. Each of us needs to be able to count our many blessings, and thank
God for them. Instead of whining about what we don’t have. As parents we are often hurt and
bewildered when our children seem not to be appreciative of the things we freely give to them.
While growing up, we provide them with food and clothing. We see they are taken to the
doctor’s office when they become ill. We buy braces and overpriced shoes. We provide them
with an education and take them on vacation. These aren’t the things that a child will come up
and say “thanks dad.” They are not likely to say “thanks mom for taking me to the doctor’s
office and for the shot I received.” Parents do not expect this, but, to be perfectly honest, parents
do want to be appreciated for what they do for their children. We often get a little put-out when
we make a purchase of - let’s say - jeans. Then all we hear is, “I am not going to wear these
things. Nobody, and I mean nobody wears this brand of jeans.” Often teenagers become the
biggest whiners, because we have not taught them to be thankful for what they have while
growing up at home. They have never been denied anything their selfish little hearts desired.
Whenever they demanded a better brand - we bought it. Whatever they wanted, we would get it.
My friends, this produces young people who believe that everyone (whether a parent or society)
owes them. Where do they learn this ingratitude? Do you think there could be some correlation
between the attitudes of unthankful and unappreciative teenagers, and in some base ingratitude
seen in parents? I believe that most youngsters learn to be ingrates and selfish at home by parents
who have no idea that this is what they are teaching their children. Whenever we blindly give to
them whatever they want - we contribute to an atmosphere of selfishness. Also, our children may
overhear parents complain about their poor lot in life. They hear mom and dad whine about what
they do not have. How they will never get out of debt? How they can’t buy what others are able
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to buy? How they can’t afford to take the trips to exotic locations that others seem to be able to
take? Instead of becoming complainers, and teaching our children to become complainers, we
need to show them that we are thankful for what we have. And we need to teach them to become
thankful for what they have. Paul wrote in 1 Tim. 6:8-9, and having food and clothing, with
these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and
into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. We can
assist our young people in being thankful for what they have by following this teaching of Paul.
My friend, God doesn’t owe us anything. And instead of acting as though he does, we should
simply be thankful for whatever food, whatever clothing and whatever shelter we happen to
have. We need to learn how to do what the Psalmist wrote in Psa. 116:17, I will offer to you the
sacrifice of thanksgiving. And then spend the time necessary teaching our children to offer unto
God the sacrifice of thanksgiving.
IV. Finally, ladies and gentlemen, if we are to be successful in raising spiritual children in a
carnal society, we need to teach them how to be givers and not takers. Sacrificing for the
good of someone else is a dying trait. The prevailing attitude seems to be, “Look out for number
one.” This, ladies and gentlemen, is carnality to its core. There is nothing Christlike or spiritual
about looking out only for yourself. Jesus is our example in this - as well. He was a giver in the
most ultimate meaning of the word. Gal. 2:20 says, I have been crucified with Christ; it is no
longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by
faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. This giving by Christ is also
pictured in Jn. 3:16 that says, for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. The very marrow and
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core of Christ Jesus is giving. He gave his life for the salvation of others - including you and me.
This also must be the nature of every child of God. We must become givers and not takers. Paul
reminded us of something Jesus taught. He said in Acts 20:35, and remember the words of the
Lord Jesus, that he said, it is more blessed to give than to receive. I think, for the most part, we
have failed to restore the spirit of giving that was seen in the first century church. Jesus told a
man desiring to become a disciple something astonishing in Matt. 19:21. Jesus said to him, if
you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure
in heaven; and come, follow me. This man failed to follow Jesus because he was a taker and not
a giver. He was selfish and he was unable to part with his carnal things - even if it benefitted
others. He would not have fit in well with those in Acts 2. Verse 45 says of the early Christians.
That they sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.
This is the spirit of sacrifice that must be rooted in the heart of every believer. And this is what
we - as parents - must be teaching to our children. They must see in us the spirit of first century
giving. Whether that, involves helping the poor, or giving on the first day of the week. As an
aside here, let me urge you parents to include your children in your first day of the week
giving. That is, tell them what you are doing and why! Show them from the scriptures that you
are worshiping God in your giving. Also, allow them to earn their own money. Don’t just give
them an allowance. Let them do chores to earn what they receive. You do not owe them an
allowance simply because they are your children. And you should not raise them to believe that
you - or anyone else - owe them something for nothing. 2 Thess. 3:10 is a principle that needs to
be learned early in the life of every child. If this is learned - it will take them thru life very well.
In 2 Thess. 3:10, Paul writes, if anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. An old saying goes
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something like this. “If you give the hungry a fish, you fed him for one day. If you teach him to
catch fish - you will have fed him for a lifetime.” Our children need to be taught that work is
honorable, not so we [or they] can simply have more and more things, but so we [and they] can
become givers. Paul said in Eph. 4:28, let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him
labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has
need. Let your children see in you the fulfillment of this verse. Let them see in you the meaning
of “it is more blessed to give than to receive.” In doing this, you will teach them to become
givers and not takers. And after all, it is the givers in this life who are like Jesus.
CONCLUSION
A. These are four bible truths that should be implemented by every parent in an effort to raise
spiritual children in this carnal society. Teach your children that they are spiritual creatures made
in the image of God. Point them to Jesus as an example of spiritual living. Teach them to be
thankful for what they have. And last, teach them to be givers and not takers. And then pray as
though it all depends upon God.
B. Now, as we close for today, let me remind you of the special series of gospel meetings, which
begin next Sunday, September 23 and continuing through Friday, September 28 with the
Danville church of Christ. I am indeed privileged to be the speaker in this special effort. Our
times next Sunday will be the same as usual, but then Monday thru Friday (September 24-28)
we will be meeting at 7:00 each night. I hope you will be with us some during that week.
C. With this announcement I must close for today. Thanks for being with us and be sure to stay
tuned for some important closing announcements. Also, please join us next Sunday morning at
7:00 as we once again Search the Scriptures. Until then, for the Danville church of Christ,
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this is J.R. Bronger saying goodbye for now.