“OUR CHILDREN AND THE BIBLE: OUR SPIRITUAL FUTURE”

� A Noble Need Neglected

A. Incomplete conquest, Judges 1

1. Consequence, Judges 2:1-4

2. Aftermath and result, Judges 2:6-10

B. A failure to teach the next generation!!!

1. Resulted in apostasy and tragedy

k What God expected then

A. Deut 6:4-9

1. Sadly, an unrealized expectation -

l What God expects now

A. 2 Tim 2:1, 2. “You, then, my child be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”

1. Applicable to “fleshly” children!

a. II Tim 1:5. “I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first…”

m How Can Our Children know the Scriptures?

A. Parents must teach -

1. Prov 22:6; Eph 6:4

a. “Train up” and “Bring them up” indicate a lifetime process!

B. Teach how to study -

1. Twenty years ago, one of our teachers in Wichita Falls told me that a great deal of her time was spent in such basics as helping youngsters locate a book, chapter and verse in the Bible.

a. Didn’t know how to find!!

2. Encourage to “study” not just “read.”

3. Teach them “how” to study.

a. If you don’t know how—learn!

4. Get them a “translation” (not a paraphrase) that is easy to read.

6. Encourage them to memorize scripture and quote it to you.

C. Rid your home of a materialistic mindset.

1. Matt 6:24; I Pet 3:15. “…in your heart regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you…”

a. He—not things—must have first place.

D. “Soak” them in the word in our Bible classes!

E. Teach them the real purpose of Study.

1. 2 Tim 2:15. “Do your best to present yourselves to God as one approved, a worker that does not need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.”

a. Show them the practicality of truth.

b. Train them in putting the word into shoe leather.

2. R. L. WHITESIDE: “A godly person is one who has respect for God and sacred things…Godliness is a right attitude toward God…”

a. We study because of our love and respect for God!

n Practical Suggestions

A. Commit yourself to be a Lois and Eunice -

1. “From childhood…”

B. Study regularly, visibly…

C. Talk your faith, the Bible, spiritual things…

D. Bible games, drills, and memory work…

E. Priority on Bible study for them and for you…

F. Work with the teacher at Bible School.

1. Find out the lesson each week for the following Sunday and focus on it during the week…

G. Teachers! The Bible not methods or visual aids should be your constant focus!

H. Parents! Make sure you bring your Bible to the assembly and make sure your child does also!

o Conclusion…

A. As we observed in the beginning…

1. Joshua’s generation failed to teach the next…

a. Result was idolatry, unfaithfulness and enslavement!

B. If we teach each and every generation…

1. The result will be a strong church, a firm and lasting faith and true freedom that only comes from a knowledge of truth lived out in lives!!

B. When we are dead, will the next generation, “…know the Lord or the work he has done…”?

1. They will if we do our job!!