Deuteronomy 6 and Family Ministry: Part 2
Notice the importance God places on children in this passage:
There are two things I see that standout concerning children. First, that God values them and takes the time to consider them . He values them so much that he commands parents to tell their children the story of Redemption and to own the Covenant promises that Yahweh made with his people.
Second, I see the parents and the community's role in children's upbringing. The parents are to live in light of God's promises. They are to love Yahweh. They are to live in light of His deliverance and because of their lives, it causes their children to take notice and ask them what it all means. Parents are to be active in telling their children the story of redemption - plain and simple. It is their responsibility. If the broader context of Deuteronomy 6 is understood (think: the audience is the community, not segregated individuals), there is the implication that the community is involved as well. I envision a scene where these statutes are played out where the Covenant community is living in light of Yahweh's promises and teaching them to their children. Families are so entranced by the sheer grace and holiness of God that their children cannot help but be captivated by it. The notion of loving the Lord, telling the story of redemption is not something that only belongs to individuals, but to God's people. The love the people of God have for him and each other (think: 10 commandments) is something that is to be recognized by the children.
Parents are to be diligent in training their children because God values them.
This training cannot come only by word, but also by deed.
This is all done with the understanding that God comes to us first. He takes the initiative.
2that you may fear the LORD your God, you and your son and your son's son, by keeping all his statutes and his commandments, which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be long.
7You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
20"When your son asks you in time to come, 'What is the meaning of the testimonies and the statutes and the rules that the LORD our God has commanded you?' 21then you shall say to your son, 'We were Pharaoh's slaves in Egypt. And the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. 22And the LORD showed signs and wonders, great and grievous, against Egypt and against Pharaoh and all his household, before our eyes. 23And he brought us out from there, that he might bring us in and give us the land that he swore to give to our fathers. 24And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as we are this day. 25And it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to do all this commandment before the LORD our God, as he has commanded us.
There are two things I see that standout concerning children. First, that God values them and takes the time to consider them . He values them so much that he commands parents to tell their children the story of Redemption and to own the Covenant promises that Yahweh made with his people.
Second, I see the parents and the community's role in children's upbringing. The parents are to live in light of God's promises. They are to love Yahweh. They are to live in light of His deliverance and because of their lives, it causes their children to take notice and ask them what it all means. Parents are to be active in telling their children the story of redemption - plain and simple. It is their responsibility. If the broader context of Deuteronomy 6 is understood (think: the audience is the community, not segregated individuals), there is the implication that the community is involved as well. I envision a scene where these statutes are played out where the Covenant community is living in light of Yahweh's promises and teaching them to their children. Families are so entranced by the sheer grace and holiness of God that their children cannot help but be captivated by it. The notion of loving the Lord, telling the story of redemption is not something that only belongs to individuals, but to God's people. The love the people of God have for him and each other (think: 10 commandments) is something that is to be recognized by the children.
Parents are to be diligent in training their children because God values them.
This training cannot come only by word, but also by deed.
This is all done with the understanding that God comes to us first. He takes the initiative.
Labels: ministry
posted by Bobby's blog at 3:10 PM
1 Comments:
this is way too deep man, can you give me the baptist version?
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