Upcoming Events
 

Something to Think About

A PARENT'S PRIMARY PRIORITY
Colossians 1:24-2:5

Parenting can be a challenge. It is not a job for wimps! You can't sit back in your easy chair and raise kids by remote control. Parenting demands complete engagement and involvement. You've got to get out in the middle of it all and wrestle with some alligator-like issues along the way. It takes courage. Real-life parenting is hard-work. Sadly, many parents do not have a game plan. They are not clear on what should be the #1 priority and focus. They're working hard at a lot of good things, but leaving out the best, the most, and the greatest goal of parenting.

What should be a parent's primary priority? Is it to teach baseball skills? Piano lessons? Math skills? A good work ethic? Proper money management? Communication skills? How to get along with others? Discipline? Commitment? Perseverance? Responsibility? That is all good stuff, but one of the great challenges in life is becoming absorbed by doing the good and missing the best. We can become so busy with secondary issues that we neglect the primary priority of parenting. Scripture teaches that a parent's primary priority is to construct Christian character.

Paul was the spiritual parent of the Colossian Church. We can draw some key insights on constructing Christian character in his letter to the Colossians. At that time, Paul was in prison for his faith. He was facing death at the hands of Nero. In Colossians 1:24, 1:29, and 2:1, he writes about rejoicing in his suffering and his struggle "for the sake of Christ's body, which is the church" (vs. 24). Paul was willing to suffer, struggle, and even face death in order to construct Christian character in the lives of his spiritual children. We must be willing to do whatever it takes and pay whatever the price to construct Christian character in the lives of our kids.

HOW TO CONSTRUCT CHRISTIAN CHARACTER

1. PRESENT THE WORD OF GOD IN ITS FULLNESS.
Colossians 1:24-27--Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness--the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Kids want and need the truth. They want us to tell them what is important and to show them what is true. The Word of God is a road map, the source of truth, a moral compass, a promise book, and a life-line. Communicate it in its fullness: completely, clearly, and with conviction. Make it compelling!

Teach it. Teach your kids about God. What do your kids know about Him? Read the Bible together. Have family devotions with your kids. Teach Bible principles to your kids. Faithfully take your children to church. Build a respect for the Bible as life's operation manual. Joshua 24:15--As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.

Deuteronomy 6:4-9 demonstrates how parents can teach their children about the things of God: "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 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. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates." (vs. 4-9).

Deut. 6 Teaching Points
Vs. 1--Observe
Vs. 2--Fear (revere) God and keep commands
Vs. 3--Obey
Vs. 5--Love the Lord
Vs. 6--Be upon your hearts
Vs. 7--Impress, talk
Vs. 8--Tie (fix in your hearts and minds)
Vs. 9--Write
Vs. 12--Do not forget
Vs. 13--Serve Him only
Vs. 17--Keep commands
Vs. 18--Do what is right and good

Live it. Here's what your kids are saying to you: "Show me, so I can see how to do it. Help me by doing it with me until I learn how to do it. And encourage me as I begin to do it by myself." We can only show them if we're living it! You can't export what is of little import to you. It must first work in you before it flows through you. Somebody has said, "Your actions speak so loudly that I can't hear what you say."

I heard a story about a mother who was sick in bed with the flu. Her darling daughter wanted so much to be a good nurse. She fluffed the pillows and brought a magazine for her mother to read. And then she even showed up with a surprise cup of tea. "Why, you're such a sweetheart," the mother said as she drank the tea. "I didn't know you even knew how to make tea." "Oh, yes," the little girl replied. "I learned by watching you. I put the tea leaves in the pan, then I put in the water and boiled it, and then I strained it into a cup. But I couldn't find a strainer, so I used the fly swatter instead." "You WHAT?" the mother screamed. And the little girl said, "Oh, don't worry, Mom, I didn't use the new flyswatter. I used the old one." Our kids are watching us!

Reproduce it! Don't be a travel agent--be a tour guide. Guide your children on their journey instead of telling them what to do. A parent's confidence comes from Christ--the Hope of Glory--within them.

2. PRESENT EVERYONE PERFECT IN CHRIST.
Colossians 1:28-2:1--We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me. I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally.

The word "perfect" in this verse means "mature." We are to strive to become godly, like Christ. The following verses in Colossians 2:2-5 give us some construction standards.

Build these 4 qualities into your kids.
1. Construct courage into their lives. Colossians 2:2--My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ...

The word parakalein means "to encourage or comfort." It is the idea of enabling a person to meet a difficult situation with confidence. A Greek historian used this very word as he told about a general who sent a letter to dejected soldiers who lost heart and needed renewed courage. Paul prayed that the church would be filled with courage to cope with anything. 2 Timothy 1:7--For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. We receive courage through God's Word and His Spirit.

How To Construct Courage:
>> Tell your kids about great overcomers in the Bible. Paul speaks about his trials in 2 Cor. 11:23-28,31; 2 Cor. 12:9,10; and 2 Cor. 4:17,18. Jesus, Job, Joseph, Daniel, and Moses are some other biblical examples of strong, tough-as-nails overcomers.
>> Show your kids how to be an overcomer. Trust in the Lord and bounce back from your trials.
>> Talk to your kids about trials and adversities. Explain that they are only for a season. John 16:33--In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. 2 Corinthians 1:1-11 tells us to comfort others (vs. 4), rely on God (vs. 9), and focus on God's goodness with thanksgiving (vs. 11) during trials. James 1:2-4--Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. Get better, not bitter!

2. Love them and teach them to love. Colossians 2:2--...and united in love...

Being knit together and united in love are distinguishing marks of the Christian. Christians have love for God and love for others. Construct Christian character by encouraging the development of agape love (not Hollywood love) and the Fruit of the Spirit. Gal. 5:22,23--But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 1 Cor 13:4-7--Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

3. Equip them with practical knowledge to choose rightly. Colossians 2:2,3--...so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Paul uses the word sunesis in this passage, which means "understanding." It is critical knowledge, or the ability to assess any situation and decide what practical course of action is necessary. It is needed in order to make good decisions. Paul uses two other key words in verse 3: sophia (wisdom, or the ability to explain and commend the truth) and gnosis (knowledge, the ability to quickly grasp the truth). Some people struggle in making right choices, so teach your children as described in Deuteronomy 6. Talk about it as you walk, ride, drive, eat, and just chill out. Use teachable moments to build character in your children for a lifetime.

4. Build an ability to recognize evil and a commitment to resist it. Colossians 2:4,5--I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how orderly you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.

The word pithanoligi in this passage means "enticing words." It has the persuasive power of a lawyer's argument. Children need to have such a grip on truth that they are unmoved by seductive arguments. Do your kids know what they believe and why they believe what they believe? It is a great goal to make sure that by the time they graduate they are firm in their FAITH.

FAITH
F--Forgiveness--I do not need to live with guilt and condemnation.
A--Adoration--No one loves, cares, provides for me more than Jesus.
I--Instruction--Life-long instruction and guidance comes from Bible.
T--Trust--I can and must always trust in the Lord.
H--Hope--I will live life with an undying anticipation of Heaven.

Every child needs a mentor or role model. The question a parent must ask is, "If my children follow Christ like I do, what kind of people will they be?" It's a sobering question. The Great Commission to reach the lost for Jesus has been given to us all. But the commission to reach, raise, and ready our boys has been given to me and Lisa. The commission to build Christian character in his or her children has been given to each parent. Guide your children on their journey, and draw your confidence from Christ, the Hope of Glory.
 

Messages Online

Note: Hyperlinks to sermon notes for the upcoming weekend are typically active by Friday afternoon. To view all messages available for download, visit http://www.bca-online.com/messages/.

www.bca-online.com