The ABCs of Loving our Children

1. Read: Titus 2:4 – “admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children.”

2. About the Text:

1) Perhaps it is obvious, but the Bible teaches us that we are supposed to love our children.

2) Some have a harder time doing this than others.

3) In this lesson we want to look at three simple things that we can do to love our children.

3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. Children need attention.

1) The smaller they are, the more attention they need.

2) Children are not born with innate instructions.

3) They don’t know what to do unless you teach them.

4) Proverbs 22:6 – “Train up a child in the way he should go. . . .”

2. God wants parents to give attention to their children.

1) Deuteronomy 6:4-9

2) God specifically wanted parents to teach their children.

3) We must give them attention if we are going to do this.

3. Fathers specifically are exhorted to train their children.

1) Ephesians 6:4 – “. . . but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.”

2) Time is the most precious resource you can give your children.

4. Tell your children that you love them – say the words!

1. There is such a thing as right and wrong.

1) “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good” (Romans 12:9).

2) 3 John 1:11 “Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God.”

2. Behavior should be loving.

1) Matthew 22:37-39 – Must understand and know the human purpose.

2) 1 Corinthians 13

3. Parents must exercise authority in a loving way.

1) Ephesians 6:4 – “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.”

2) Proverbs 1:8 – “My son, hear the instruction of your father, And do not forsake the law of your mother.”

1. Christ in the Old Testament

1) From Genesis 3:15 to Malachi 4:5-6 the coming of Christ is in every story.

2) Consider Isaiah 9:6-7 – “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”

2. Christ in the New Testament

1) They need to know the story of Jesus’ birth.

2) They need to know the miracles and parables of Jesus.

3) They need to know the story of Jesus’ death on the cross.

4) 1 Corinthians 2:2 – “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”

3. The Fact of Christ’s Return

1) They need to be prepared for Christ’s return.

2) John 5:28-29 – “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.”

3) Acts 17:30-31 – “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”

1. Let’s remember the ABCs of loving our children.

1) Attention

2) Boundaries

3) Christ

2. Invitation