Latest / DFC Podcast / Faith Over Fear: Raising Children God’s Way
Transcript
- 0:01Welcome to the Dorchester Family Church podcast, our vision to be
- 0:06a church known for our love. Our wholehearted love for God,
- 0:10our authentic love for each other, and our compassionate
- 0:13love for our community. Each week get fueled up to
- 0:17worship passionately, grow meaningfully together, and make
- 0:21an eternal impact on the lives around you.
- 0:24Lean in close as we explore this Sunday's practical Bible based
- 0:29message unpacking that transformative vision.
- 0:34So good morning again. So just a few moments ago, we
- 0:38had the privilege of dedicating some of our babies.
- 0:41And young children to God. And these moments are always
- 0:45special moments, even though we are blessed with many children
- 0:48and young people in DFC and quite a number.
- 0:50Of babies on the. Way each one is unique and a
- 0:54blessing in their own way, loved by God and loved by us precious
- 0:59to God. And precious.
- 1:01To us, and for those of you particularly who are new to us
- 1:04or are visiting or guests for the dedications here at DFC, we
- 1:08don't practice infant baptisms. Firstly because we don't see
- 1:13examples or teaching of it in the Bible, but secondly because
- 1:17we see baptism as being in response.
- 1:19To personal faith rather. Than in the hope.
- 1:22Of personal faith. Because the Bible commands us to
- 1:25repent, That means to turn away from our sin and turn toward
- 1:29Jesus to recognise what our sin cost him.
- 1:34He had to die on a cross for it, and then to choose to live for
- 1:37God for for now, it's a wonderful, free gift of grace.
- 1:42But even the smartest babies aren't going to be able to.
- 1:45Repent of their sins. Or put their trust in Jesus.
- 1:48Or make the decision to. Follow him for themselves.
- 1:52And after all, despite what some first time parents might think,
- 1:55keeping you up all night is not really sinful.
- 1:59It's just babies showing how much they love.
- 2:01You and want to be with you wait.
- 2:04Until they become toddlers and teenagers.
- 2:06Then they will have lots of sin to say sorry for.
- 2:09And lots to repent of, therefore, instead of infant.
- 2:13Baptisms we'd. Love to follow the biblical
- 2:15example of dedicating our. Children to God.
- 2:19Which, as I said, is about firstly giving thanks.
- 2:23To God for our children. Psalm 127 says children are a
- 2:28heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him, and
- 2:32I remember that feeling acutely at the birth of our first child,
- 2:35Abigail. Who is now 17 driving?
- 2:38And going to. Uni this year.
- 2:40Boy, that went quickly, but then they hand you this newborn and
- 2:45it's an. Incredible moment and an.
- 2:47Incredible shock and an incredible gift from God because
- 2:52within each and every child we see the creative genius of God
- 2:57who performs miracles. Every day in creating new life
- 3:01in every. Person we see the beautiful and
- 3:03unique image of God every person, whether very new or
- 3:08very. Old is a gift of God.
- 3:11And so just as we like to instill the importance of
- 3:14gratitude in our children, so we realise that it must be
- 3:18primarily based on our gratitude for our children.
- 3:22Particularly when life gets hard and our patience is wafer thin.
- 3:27It does us so much good to remember that these are all.
- 3:30Gifts from God. To the parents, to their wider.
- 3:34Family to the church family and so.
- 3:37It's right to give thanks and the glory.
- 3:38To him first, Secondly. We are choosing to dedicate them
- 3:43to God's will and His. Plan for their lives.
- 3:46Yes, they are a gift, but in another way they're.
- 3:49They're sort of alone. A gift to bring us and others
- 3:52joy, but with the expectation that we will raise them to know
- 3:56and love God, to give them every possible opportunity to see
- 4:01their lives as a gift. Of God for themselves.
- 4:04And that they were primarily created for a relationship with
- 4:07him and to. Follow his.
- 4:09Will for their life, even when that might go against what?
- 4:12We might want for their lives. Dedication.
- 4:16Say God, I want your will for them.
- 4:19Even above my own. And so in the Bible we see godly
- 4:23parents bringing their children to God and dedicating them to
- 4:26Him as we've. Done this morning.
- 4:29Like with Samuel, as we hear the words of his mother, Hannah, she
- 4:33said, I prayed for this child. And the Lord has granted.
- 4:35Me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord
- 4:39for his whole life He. Shall he shall be given over to
- 4:42the Lord? We also see this with Mary and
- 4:45Joseph that the Nativity bit after the shepherds and the
- 4:48angels and the wise men as they bring the month old Jesus to the
- 4:51temple. And I love that on both of those
- 4:55occasions the parents got to hear the voice of the Lord for
- 4:58that child. Like in the verse here where
- 5:01you've got three Hebrew words prayed for, asked and given,
- 5:04which are actually all the same. Root word in Hebrew.
- 5:07Which is really the word Samuel, from which they got the name
- 5:11Samuel, because Samuel would be the great prayed for, asked for.
- 5:14Gift of God for Israel. And with Jesus dedication we we
- 5:19see these two elderly faithful servants, Simeon and Anna
- 5:23grabbing the child. Hopefully with parental.
- 5:26Consent. But then they're speaking words
- 5:28over this newborn and over the. Parents.
- 5:32Because for us, the these. Children are so new.
- 5:35We we just see an empty slate, a future not yet begun, but God.
- 5:40Sees everyday mapped out. For their lives and for those of
- 5:45us. Who those who have dedicated
- 5:47their children. God has a plan and a purpose for
- 5:50your child. And so dedicating them to God at
- 5:52the beginning is a great. Start so well done.
- 5:57Thirdly. As I said earlier.
- 5:59We're asking for help. We ask for help from God.
- 6:02Friends, family and church. Because yes.
- 6:06They are a gift from God. A blessing from God.
- 6:08And yes, God has a plan for their lives.
- 6:11But boy, it's also the hardest thing in the world to be a.
- 6:15Parent tons of joy. But also tons of challenges.
- 6:20Even those parents that seem really confident.
- 6:23Will always struggle at times. Therefore, the third part of the
- 6:27dedication process is the acknowledgement that we want,
- 6:30that we need. The help of others, particularly
- 6:33our church family. It's to say I don't want to be
- 6:36one of those parents constantly struggling because they somehow
- 6:40feel like they need to do these things alone or they somehow
- 6:43have to write the book on parenting themselves.
- 6:47It's accepting that raising children in today's world will
- 6:50always be challenging. But it shouldn't be chaotic as
- 6:55the famous. African proverb says.
- 6:57It takes a. Village to raise a child, and
- 6:59wonderfully, we have that village.
- 7:01In our church family. Whether our own physical family
- 7:05are close or not to help. We have brothers and sisters and
- 7:08mums and dads and granddads and grandmas in the church to
- 7:12support one another. I love this verse from Proverbs.
- 7:1511 for lack of guidance a nation.
- 7:18Falls, but victory is won through many advisors.
- 7:22Dedications are saying parenting can feel like a.
- 7:25Battle at times against. The will of our children against
- 7:29unfair expectations from others, even a battle for our own sanity
- 7:34sometimes, but with many godly. Advisers and friends and
- 7:38encouragers walk in this road with us.
- 7:41There are also some spectacular victories to be enjoyed as well.
- 7:46And so This is why we dedicate our children to God and why
- 7:49these times are always special. And they're also special because
- 7:52they're a great opportunity to talk about parenting, to
- 7:56encourage all. The church.
- 7:57Parents and say well done and to challenge them a bit, let's stay
- 8:02together and let's stay. On track with this.
- 8:05And it's also an opportunity for every one of us, whether we have
- 8:09children of our. Own at home.
- 8:10Right now or not to feel a. Good and godly pressure to.
- 8:15Check what we're doing right now to support.
- 8:17The families around us. And potentially feel that
- 8:20invitation, even that godly push.
- 8:23To find new ways to support the babies and children and young
- 8:26people and parents within our wider church family.
- 8:31But before we get to the support that we can be, I first want to
- 8:34talk about godly parenting so we all know the goal.
- 8:37That we are heading towards. Because everyday the world is
- 8:41telling us and speaking to us about how we should raise our
- 8:44children. Not all of it's bad, but.
- 8:47Most of it comes with a price tag and something being sold.
- 8:51Maybe a book? Or an experience.
- 8:54Or a holiday. Or a game.
- 8:55Or a sport. And we see.
- 8:57All the adverts. We watch the social media
- 9:00videos, some of us somehow have enough time to watch lifestyle.
- 9:04TV where the celebs. Show us choose how the celebs
- 9:08choose to raise their children and all you need is vast amounts
- 9:12of. Money and endless free time.
- 9:15The world. Preaches us all the.
- 9:17Time about parenting. Which is why I find it ironic
- 9:20that Christians are told off for.
- 9:21Preaching about anything. Don't.
- 9:23Tell me how to parent my children.
- 9:25Don't. Tell me how to.
- 9:26Live my life. Ignoring the fact that we
- 9:29welcome all of that into our homes all the time, at least I'm
- 9:33being open. And honest about it.
- 9:35And at least we're basing what we believe on a trustworthy
- 9:38source of wisdom. God's Word, rather.
- 9:41Than just our thoughts. Our ideas or our limited?
- 9:43Experience. So therefore, this morning, to
- 9:47those of us we're children at home and to the friends and
- 9:50family who came. To support those dedications.
- 9:52And to those in the church family who seek to be a support
- 9:55to. The families in our church,
- 9:57basically that's everyone in the room.
- 9:59Today I want. To ask the question, what kind
- 10:02of parenting are we seeking for our families?
- 10:05And also what kind of? Parenting are we trying to
- 10:07encourage in our families? Well, particularly.
- 10:11When we all agreed to help our families and I heard you all say
- 10:14we will. So this is what you've signed up
- 10:17for? Because there are many ways that
- 10:20we could categorise different. Types of parenting.
- 10:23But for this morning I would just want to categorise them.
- 10:25Two ways. And I would summarise.
- 10:28Them with two words, faith or fear.
- 10:32Are we seeking and encouraging fear based parenting?
- 10:35Or faith-based parenting. So when we consider our own
- 10:40heart. When we watch those adverts or
- 10:42read those blogs or listen to the advice of friends.
- 10:46Or indeed, I hope, as we read the Bible and ask what?
- 10:48God expects of us. When we look deep into our
- 10:51hearts. And check our responses to
- 10:53situations our. Responses to the joys and
- 10:57challenges of parenting would. We find a foundation of faith or
- 11:01a foundation of fear. Now I'm I'm a parent of I've got
- 11:053 kids and especially being a church leader means I know the
- 11:09answer that I want to give. We all do.
- 11:11Of course it's faith. Of course we know that God.
- 11:14We trust that God is in control. We we trust that He holds our
- 11:18future and the future of our children in His hands.
- 11:20We trust that His word is best for our family.
- 11:24And yet. When I stop for a moment, as
- 11:27we're doing this morning and. Then look a bit deeper.
- 11:30Into my own heart, my own responses.
- 11:33My own choices. Suddenly there's some warning.
- 11:36Flags that appear like red lights on the dashboard.
- 11:40At which point in with those reactions, I have to kind of
- 11:42think maybe I've crossed the line from faith.
- 11:46Interfere and that maybe. I'm not really living by faith,
- 11:49but. Rather, I'm being driven by a
- 11:51fear. So therefore before I consider 3
- 11:55gifts to help us. Parent with faith.
- 11:58In fact, I think 3 gifts that help us with faith in.
- 12:00Every aspect of life. So no.
- 12:01One in the room needs to switch off.
- 12:04Before I share those, I thought I first want to share four of
- 12:07the. Warning signs that I.
- 12:09Know I can recognise in myself. And in friends around me.
- 12:13And these aren't the. Only warning signs out there
- 12:15but. Perhaps they're more.
- 12:16The more obvious ones today. And for these I am indebted to
- 12:20the HTB. Parenting course which?
- 12:23Lists them as signs of unhealthy control, but I also want to see
- 12:27them as four ways that fear gives itself.
- 12:29Away fear reveals itself. And if you want more of the
- 12:32parenting course wisdom, then do sign.
- 12:34Up for our parenting. Evening coffee #1.
- 12:36Monday the 29th of June and. In case you're wondering, I
- 12:40think I've. Got all four myself.
- 12:41I've got the full set. Here are some.
- 12:44Warning flags for fear. Firstly, micromanaging our
- 12:48children's lives. What today we might call the
- 12:51helicopter parenting because we are constantly hovering over
- 12:54them as they play, as they. Learn as they make friends, as
- 12:58they grow up. Maybe you're the parent that
- 13:00always has to stay for. Children's parties maybe in Kids
- 13:04group in. Church because my child gets.
- 13:06Upset if I leave. Yes, kids do that, but then they
- 13:10learn to have a bit of independence or maybe something.
- 13:13Tricky happens at school and you are straight on the phone to the
- 13:16head. This needs sorting out right
- 13:18away. My child had a bad maths lesson.
- 13:20You need to. Sort it out right now.
- 13:23Or maybe, and I have done this, they make a mistake on their
- 13:26homework and then they go to bed and you think.
- 13:28I could just adjust. It a little.
- 13:30Bit I could just make it right. The artwork's not that good, but
- 13:34I can make it look better and then they'll look.
- 13:36Better at school in the morning. And the intentions are good most
- 13:41of the time. It's not wrong to care for our
- 13:42children and want to be there for them.
- 13:45But the great danger is that our children don't grow up to.
- 13:47Think for themselves or cope in tricky situations or really grow
- 13:51up. And our fear, rational or
- 13:54irrational, is determining our parenting and it's exhausting
- 13:58for both parties because our kids never truly to be
- 14:01independent for. Themselves secondly, being over
- 14:06competitive for our children. Now last weekend was the final
- 14:10time after 12 years of me getting to watch my son.
- 14:13Joshua play football in a youth team.
- 14:16Which is a very sad moment, but it was probably a good time for
- 14:20the. Sake of the Gospel and the
- 14:21reputation of the Church. Because I am not good at.
- 14:25Watching my kids play sport, I get.
- 14:28Far too engaged and excited and may have had to apologise to a
- 14:32number. Of refs well meaning.
- 14:34Who though clearly in the wrong? And who?
- 14:37Could do with a visit to Specsavers perhaps.
- 14:40Didn't deserve to have their judgements.
- 14:41Called into question as I did. But sadly though, it's not just
- 14:45on touch. Lines of football games.
- 14:48We save faith versus not fear when.
- 14:51Our kids. Need to have the.
- 14:52Best exam results be top of the class.
- 14:55They need to read at a level two or three years above.
- 14:57Everyone else later they. Have to go to university but not
- 15:01any university. The best universities.
- 15:03Or they have to follow in our footsteps or go beyond us.
- 15:07They have to be busy everyday with lots of sports and and
- 15:10extracurricular activities perhaps to.
- 15:13Live out an unmet desire in US. Which puts so much unfair
- 15:17expectation and pressure on our children.
- 15:20And whilst it's easy to focus on the unrealistic expectations
- 15:23that our children might get from TV or social media and so put
- 15:27filters and measures in place, it's easy for us to miss.
- 15:30The even greater oppression that our own fear based expectations
- 15:34are placing on them. So it's been over competitive.
- 15:38Thirdly, it's over. Scheduling our kids lives.
- 15:41Again, this can just add to the pressure on our children and
- 15:44the. Pressure on our parenting and.
- 15:46Again, this can be so fear driven.
- 15:49Fear of them missing out on experiences that I enjoyed or I
- 15:52think they should have, Fear of them not being in the right
- 15:55crowds. Fear of them missing the the
- 15:57sport or the hobby that will guarantee the happiness and
- 16:00success and contentment that every.
- 16:02Parent wants for their child and so we.
- 16:05Fill up every. Evening with activities.
- 16:06And every weekend has. Sports and hobbies and mini.
- 16:09Breaks we have to explore new areas because we saw that on
- 16:12social media and every holiday needs to be this overseas
- 16:16odyssey. Normal life isn't good enough.
- 16:20And I know for me, comparison is really dangerous because let's
- 16:23be honest, we live in a part. Of the world with a lot of
- 16:26wealthy families. And we see other kids getting to
- 16:29do everything. So I can think that joy and
- 16:32happiness and contentment can never be.
- 16:34Found in the ordinary life or in everyday experiences like meals
- 16:38round the table, summer nights, playing in the garden, reading
- 16:42together, going to church together.
- 16:44Cheap holidays close to home where you are at the.
- 16:46Whim of English weather. So our third time was over
- 16:50scheduling. Fourthly, over protecting our
- 16:53children's lives. So you only let them play in
- 16:56those parks? With that rubber.
- 16:57Matting and definitely not the. Monkey bars because one. 100% of
- 17:01kids. Break their arms on the monkey
- 17:03bars. Every time they're used.
- 17:06And maybe you need to drive everywhere because walking
- 17:08crossing roads is just. Too dangerous it might be in
- 17:12trying to ban all. Media from their lives, meaning
- 17:14they don't grow up to discern right and wrong and.
- 17:18Like all of these things, in a way, they all come from
- 17:20conscientious parenting, because who wouldn't want to protect
- 17:24their kids? Who would knowingly put them
- 17:25anywhere near danger? And yet it's easy to see where
- 17:29fear based. Overprotection has LED our
- 17:32society. Because as they.
- 17:34Grow overprotection always. Intervening and with
- 17:37withholding. Challenging situations prevent.
- 17:40Children from taking responsibility or learning from
- 17:43their mistakes. And in the end, we have children
- 17:46who don't know how to deal. With danger or with?
- 17:48Difficult people or with setbacks?
- 17:50Because mum and dad always dealt with them first and they have a
- 17:54low frustration tolerance. They don't.
- 17:56Learn to regulate emotions and sadly, we've seen it ends up.
- 18:00With high rates of anxiety and depression and low self esteem.
- 18:05And maybe like me, whether you have your children are young or
- 18:08teenager, or maybe they've left home or and you, you see, you
- 18:11see these things, don't feel bad.
- 18:13We all do it. But do feel encouraged to move
- 18:17more and more towards faith-based parenting.
- 18:21Because if fear based parenting is most often driven by anxiety
- 18:24and control. And the need to prevent failure.
- 18:27Faith-based parenting is focused on entrusting our children to
- 18:31God, offering love and discipline, and modelling faith
- 18:35in our families. It's about teaching them to see
- 18:38danger, but also to know that our heavenly.
- 18:41Father has made it possible for us to walk the safest.
- 18:43Paths it is about being aware of.
- 18:46The times around us. But it's knowing.
- 18:48That there is a. God above and beyond all human
- 18:50culture and life situations and even world events.
- 18:55And so to help us have. Faith-based Parenting.
- 18:58I want to share 3 gifts that God has given us to grow our faith.
- 19:05And the first one is prayer. Philippian says do not be
- 19:08anxious about anything but in every.
- 19:10Situation by prayer and petition with Thanksgiving.
- 19:13Present your request to God. And the peace of God, which
- 19:16transcends all understanding, will.
- 19:18Guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
- 19:21Rather than denying our fears, acknowledge them.
- 19:24Because fear is the most common response to a dangerous,
- 19:28uncertain world. Which is why the Bible never
- 19:30just says don't have. Fear or pretend you lack fear.
- 19:34But it says there's a. Place where we can take our
- 19:36fears. This is where we.
- 19:39Take our worries about the world and about our children.
- 19:43Please don't believe the lie that you can worry.
- 19:45Yourself out of worry or reason yourself away from it, but do
- 19:49know that. Prayer is the place.
- 19:51Where you can take your worries. And if you struggle to pray,
- 19:55that's OK. Just start small.
- 19:57Just learn to. Talk with God.
- 19:59Don't try and overreach. If you're parenting alone, then
- 20:03why not invite someone? To come and pray with you and
- 20:05meet regularly maybe when your. Kids are young and it may be
- 20:08choosing to walk to school with a Christian friend and just
- 20:11spend a few moments of that journey praying together.
- 20:14With your eyes open, of course, especially crossing roads.
- 20:17Maybe you could have a prayer WhatsApp with just simple.
- 20:19Prayers from chosen friends. Or if you're a couple then
- 20:23commit to to pray everyday. Just simple, small, unimpressive
- 20:28sounding prayers as you cast all your.
- 20:31Cares on him together because he cares for us.
- 20:35And This is why I think prayer meetings should be faith fuel
- 20:38stations for parents everywhere and where others in the in the
- 20:42church can become great prayer supporters for our.
- 20:44Families. So that whatever the theme of
- 20:46the prayer meeting might be, you can be the one that keeps
- 20:49bringing it back to the babies and children and young people
- 20:51and. Parents.
- 20:53Because prayer takes fear. And it adds faith.
- 20:58The second gift is community. Hebrews 10 says and let us
- 21:02consider. How we may spur one another on.
- 21:04To love and good deeds, not giving up.
- 21:07Meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but
- 21:09encouraging one another all the more as you see the day
- 21:13approaching. Christian community is great.
- 21:15Because that's where faith is caught from others, if you.
- 21:19Lack faith, then ask for it in prayer, but also get around
- 21:22people who seem to have more. Faith.
- 21:24Than you stop listening to voices that kill faith.
- 21:27Start listening to voices that seem to build it equally.
- 21:31Being in community means some. Sometimes it means going up to
- 21:35parents who seem a bit further. Down the road than.
- 21:38You and asking how do you do it? Not that they did things
- 21:41perfectly, but faith grows through godly experience and
- 21:45people are always happy. To share their experience if we
- 21:48ask them and offer to buy them a coffee or have a meal together.
- 21:53Because sadly. Often church is the.
- 21:54Thing that gets laid aside when we get lost in overprotecting
- 21:58over scheduling and micromanaging our children's
- 22:01lives. We have time for every activity
- 22:03but but we just have to. Compromise on community so maybe
- 22:08we don't have time for connect group or meeting with other
- 22:10families or going to church and. And these things just kind of
- 22:13slip down our. Priority list.
- 22:15Which is why today I'm so grateful.
- 22:17That my parents were committed to church community as I was
- 22:20growing up and there were the four of us 4 two brothers and
- 22:23two sisters. And but my parents regularly
- 22:25fostered other children. So sometimes there were.
- 22:28Seven or eight children in the house life was crazy and they.
- 22:31Would bring in their difficult. Family situations into us.
- 22:35And yet church community was always there to keep our family
- 22:38in faith. And though I doubt I saw it or
- 22:41appreciated it back then, especially when I wanted to play
- 22:44football. On Sunday mornings.
- 22:46I do thank God for it now. So regardless of how stressed
- 22:50life can feel, learn more into community because it would.
- 22:53Be a wonderful. Source of faith.
- 22:55To keep you going. And the final gift is the word
- 22:59of God. Deuteronomy 6 says love the Lord
- 23:02your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with
- 23:05all your strength. These commandments I give.
- 23:07You today are to be on your heart, impress them on your
- 23:10children, talk about them when you sit at home and.
- 23:12When you walk along the road, when you lie down, and when you
- 23:15get up. I'm convinced that so much often
- 23:19we struggle because we ask Google before we ask God.
- 23:22AI gets to inform us more than the great I am.
- 23:26Now the Bible won't tell you how to settle.
- 23:28Your child at 2:00 AM. But it will remind you that God
- 23:31is with you there because. He never sleeps.
- 23:34It won't tell you how much screen time is safe, but it will
- 23:37speak about guarding your child's heart until they can.
- 23:40Discern right and right. It won't tell you how much
- 23:43pocket money to give, but it will teach them how to avoid the
- 23:47love of money and be generous of what God has given them which
- 23:50will protect them in the future, however much or.
- 23:52Little they earn. Spending time in God.
- 23:55'S words will help you shepherd a child's heart more than just
- 23:59react to their behaviour. It will remind you that though
- 24:02we. All mess up.
- 24:03Regularly we have. God is our Heavenly Father too,
- 24:06and he loves to give grace and. Peace and second chances.
- 24:10To those who see their need of him.
- 24:13It will help you teach godly values to weave them into daily
- 24:17life and everyday conversations so the child will.
- 24:19Carry those values. Even when we're not.
- 24:22Hovering over them because those apron springs eventually would
- 24:26need to break. And the Bible reminds.
- 24:29Us that though. We may have good.
- 24:30Intentions. God's.
- 24:31Plan for their life. Began even earlier.
- 24:34Psalm 100. And 39 says all the days
- 24:37ordained for me were written in your book before one of them
- 24:40came to be. And truths like these as we
- 24:43read. Them and meditate them and talk
- 24:46about them with our children and teach them.
- 24:48Are the best responses to our fears and the best
- 24:51encouragements to faith. So if, like me, you you look at
- 24:55your parenting and see some of those warning signs of fear, do
- 24:59consider how you can. Take hold of these gifts of
- 25:01prayer, community, and the Word of God more and more.
- 25:05To begin to starve the. Fears and feed and grow the
- 25:08faith. And then begin to see how much
- 25:10more enjoyable and sustainable and life affirming parenting
- 25:14with faith is. Rather than the chaos and the
- 25:17worry and uncertainty of parenting with fear.
- 25:21However, before I come to a close, I do just want to quickly
- 25:24add two more benefits. Of these three gifts.
- 25:28In that firstly, with each of these things, this is where we.
- 25:31Discover what God is really like and get reminded.
- 25:35Because when I speak about faith, I don't mean faith in
- 25:37ourselves or faith in the world or things that the world will
- 25:41get better faith than even in our children.
- 25:44True faith is only found in God and rooted in who He is, what
- 25:48He's like, and what He's promised and done for us.
- 25:52And so in prayer, we don't just dump our.
- 25:54Worries we we find a Heavenly Father who loves our children
- 25:57even more than we do. We see a God at work even when
- 26:01our physical eyes can only. See the problems around us?
- 26:05In community, especially as we worship and study the Word
- 26:08together and enjoy times in the Spirit, our eyes are lifted
- 26:11above the trials of life. And unto the promises of God.
- 26:16Because when we're away from community, families naturally
- 26:19tend to focus on either what's going wrong or just the constant
- 26:23everyday of life. Breakfast routines, school
- 26:27nursery clubs, uniform bills. But parents connected with other
- 26:32parents. As well as.
- 26:34Singles and other. Generations and life.
- 26:36Stages in the Church. Get to lift their gaze to what
- 26:39God is like, what He's done, and what He's doing for us every day
- 26:44and in the Word. Of God, we don't just find
- 26:46wisdom. For life or tips for happiness
- 26:48most importantly. We get to.
- 26:50See what God is like. Most notably seen in the.
- 26:53Person of Jesus. Christ, the one who drew
- 26:56children to himself. Like a magnet.
- 26:58The one who who healed the sick, who fed the hungry, who taught
- 27:02the lost, who forgave the Sinner, who ran towards the
- 27:05prodigals. Because faith comes most of.
- 27:09All when we remind ourselves what God is really like.
- 27:12Fear comes when we forget. And the second benefit is that
- 27:17these are the ways. That the rest of us can help
- 27:19support these families. First, you can encourage and
- 27:23give faith through prayer. Just going up to.
- 27:26Parents saying well done, he got through another week.
- 27:31It's not easy, but can I? Pray for you how?
- 27:33Easy would it be to send a message to someone in your small
- 27:36group or someone? You see on Sundays.
- 27:38And just say I'm just going to be praying for you this week.
- 27:40Is there anything particular you're worried?
- 27:42About and then expect an avalanche.
- 27:46Earlier this year in our Mother's Day talk, Lou shared
- 27:49about a couple who've supported and prayed for our kids before
- 27:52since before they were born. And she still.
- 27:54Sends encouragement. She remembers their birthday.
- 27:57She wants to know their exam schedule.
- 28:00You could be. A prayer support.
- 28:01Like that and the impact that it's had on us and our children.
- 28:05I'll be eternally grateful for that.
- 28:07Secondly, be an example of faith in your church.
- 28:10Family speak faith over others. Speak faith into others, give
- 28:15space and room for their faith to grow, which might be offering
- 28:19to hold their baby while they're in.
- 28:20Live wise so the mum can be in here and get faith from God's
- 28:23Word and get ministry and just take a breath.
- 28:27Sometimes it means sitting in a different place on a Sunday so
- 28:29that our worship gets to bless those who are just trying to
- 28:32juggle children and meet with. God, if you aren't a parent, you
- 28:37have an incredibly important role too.
- 28:40You get to live faith around these parents.
- 28:42And you get to ask God. For words and share.
- 28:45Them on Sundays and. Write them on cards and
- 28:47demonstrate faith around them. It will make such a.
- 28:50Difference and finally God. 'S word.
- 28:54I love seeing adults who have children have left home, or
- 28:57perhaps adults who sadly. Never had kids of their own.
- 29:00Committing to teaching. What God is like through?
- 29:02Our in the Bible. Through our kids and youth
- 29:04programmes. Which if you've seen the size of
- 29:07our groups. Always needs more helpers.
- 29:10Thank you if you do that teaching what God is like to
- 29:13young people. Despite the cost of.
- 29:16Your time, Maybe the cost of your dreams of retirement.
- 29:19Sometimes even your health. Because let's face it.
- 29:22Kids are germ factories. Thank you.
- 29:25If you do that. But let me put.
- 29:27This nicely. We need a lot more of you.
- 29:31So maybe God might be stirring faith in you to inspire.
- 29:34Faith in the next generation? Maybe when you said we will
- 29:38earlier. Agreeing to help.
- 29:40These. Children being dedicated, maybe
- 29:43this is what God might want it to look like for you.
- 29:46And so as I come to a close, not only do these gifts.
- 29:50Inspire faith in parents. Ultimately reminding them what
- 29:53God. Is like and remembering his
- 29:54promises. But they're also ways that the
- 29:57rest of us can be a source of faith to the busiest and most
- 30:00fear prone families in the church.
- 30:03And yes, it will cost us, but what an impact it will have.
- 30:06On these parents and these children.
- 30:09What a church. Community it will build around
- 30:11us, and what a light of hope it will be to all the fearful
- 30:14families in our community around us.
- 30:18Let's pray together, Father God, we do.
- 30:23Lift up, not just the families. Being dedicated but all families
- 30:27in our church. We pray for those.
- 30:29Who are struggling with fear? Who are?
- 30:32Listening to the world. Or listening to.
- 30:35Some advice from friends. Or family that is just bringing
- 30:39fear. Maybe there were flags?
- 30:41That they recognised in their own life and I pray that you
- 30:44would instill faith into families today in Jesus name.
- 30:49And I pray for each of us that we would find ways to inspire
- 30:52faith. In others through prayer
- 30:54through. Being more community by by
- 30:56speaking God's word into. These families that we would.
- 30:59Be a source of. Faith to these families as well.
- 31:02Would you create in us a community of faith more and more
- 31:06through the gifts that you've given us?
- 31:08In Jesus name we pray, Amen. Thank you for listening to the
- 31:16Dorchester Family Church Podcast.
- 31:18We pray that God's Word ignited a flame in you today to burn
- 31:22brighter for Him. But the journey doesn't stop
- 31:25here. Stay motivated by visiting
- 31:27dfc.org.uk to get plugged into community, join a small group,
- 31:33find serving opportunities, and take your next steps in joyfully
- 31:37living out your faith every day. Please join us next week as we
- 31:41continue being equipped to wholeheartedly worship,
- 31:45intentionally grow, and boldly go make disciples.
- 31:49Grace and peace until next time.