Centennial Park Baptist Church – Sunday May 23^rd, 2010 – 10:30 am

A WILD TRIP FOR A LONG WEEKEND

Deuteronomy 6: 4-7

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. ⁵ Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. ⁶ These words that I give you today are to be on your hearts. ⁷ Impress them deeply upon your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

The Starting Point

1. God loves families. He wants all families to flourish, to be functional, to succeed – Jeremiah 29:11

2. Satan strategically and methodically tries to tear families apart.

3. The Bible is a tried and true book that can transform your family for the better.

4. Ultimately, the way your family functions – and whether it even survives – comes down to choosing whether you’re going to do life God’s way or the world’s way

Question # 1 – Do Parents and Grandparents Really make a Difference, or is that Passé

Percent choosing as one of top 5 Religious Influences

Most Significant Religious Influences	Grade 7^th 8^th 9^th 10^th 11^th 12^th	Gender M F
Mother	87 75 77 72 75 75	81 74
Father	64 51 55 49 57 51	61 50
Grandparents	36 28 29 34 27 22	30 29
Another Relative	11 12 14 16 12 7	13 12

Mothers and Fathers are the TOP 2 influences in the faith development of children.

Therefore, it is the parents’ RESPONSIBILITY and PRIVILEGE to pass their faith in God to their children – Deut 6: 6-7

Church PROGRAMS were never intended to displace the primary responsibility of faith building in the HOME. Rather, church programs were designed to enhance that.

Why do parents cop out?

FEAR

FEELING that the church can do it better.

Question # 2 – How do Parents and Grandparents Make the Right Difference?

MODELLING faith through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Revelation 3:20 -  Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.

Where is Christ standing in your life:

* At the very centre, influencing decisions, the way you live your life?

* Still outside knocking?

A Magnificent HOME Makeover begins with a makeover in your own HEART

Your child’s faith will likely be a reflection of your faith.

Question #3 – How do we Survive the White-Water Rafting of Modeling Faith?

A. MAP - the Bible

Psalm 119: 105 -Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.

Satan doesn’t want you to read the Bible, because he realizes that this will make the journey of faith easier for you

B. GUIDE - Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit - John 14: 6; 14: 26; 16: 13

C. RAFT - The Church

Hebrews 10:25 - not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near

D. The SAFETY NET - PRAYER

_______________________________

E. The GOAL - Love – John 13: 34-35

Have we taught our children well, is our life a show and tell,

Can they see the love of Jesus in our eyes?

And when another page has turned, do you think they will have learned,

To show the love of Jesus with their lives?

Have we taught our children well?

Question # 4 – What About You

[ ] – I’m reading the Bible and gaining encouragement from those who have gone before me.

[ ] I’m turning the Jesus Christ and praying for the Holy Spirit to guide and direct me through life.

[ ] I’ve jumped in and committed to a Christian church. I recognize that while the church has flaws, it is still what I need to get through this journey.