Zac Poonen - Raising our children for God

Zac PoonenAugust 26, 201419mWatch on YouTube

In this collectionZac Poonen379 messages

Our Goal as Christians is this: To be an exact reflection of Jesus, the son of God (Romans 8:29) We do this individually by growing in purity in our personal lives (1 John 3:2-3) We do this corporately by becoming fully functioning member of a local Church (Ephesians 4:11-16)

Summary

The central message is that raising children for God requires recognizing that the children ultimately belong to the Lord, not to the parents' personal goals. True dedication goes beyond mere ceremony; it demands a daily commitment to nurturing them in an atmosphere that reflects heaven—characterized by peace, joy, and freedom from negative habits like gossip. Parents are entrusted with a tremendous responsibility to model a godly life at home.

Outline

The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.

Presenting children to the LordWhile child dedication is not explicitly commanded in the New Testament, it follows the example of Jesus being presented to the temple in Luke.Luke 2:22

Old Covenant versus New Covenant dedicationIn the Old Covenant, only the firstborn son was dedicated to the Lord, but under the New Covenant, all our children belong entirely to God.

The act of dedication is not enoughMerely going through a public dedication ceremony does not guarantee a godly life, as even Judas was likely dedicated as a baby. Parents must recognize daily that their children belong to God.

Take this child and nurse him for meDrawing from the story of Moses, parents should view God as telling them to raise their children for Him with the promise of a reward.Exodus 2:9

The inheritance of a heavenly home atmosphereThe greatest inheritance parents can give is a home that tastes like heaven, free from gossiping and worldly attitudes, where children absorb peace and joy.

The lasting impact of early valuesValues instilled in children during their early years by mothers and parents remain with them into adulthood, as seen in Moses rejecting the wealth of Egypt.

Praying for our children and avoiding comparisonParents must pray for their children continually starting from the womb, while avoiding the trap of comparing children or criticizing other parents.

Never cause a little child to stumbleJesus gave severe warnings against causing little children to stumble, reminding the church to treat every child with utmost care.

Being like Jesus to childrenIf children are not attracted to a believer, it reveals a Pharisaical attitude that pushes people away rather than welcoming them like Jesus did.

Public dedication of the childrenFamilies come forward with their little ones to officially dedicate them to the Lord in prayer, asking for God's protection and wisdom for the parents.

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Zac Poonen - Raising our children for God

Zac Poonen · August 26, 2014 · 19m

Raising children Following Jesus