On Sunday at our launch team meeting we talked about the importance of children's ministry. There have been great men over the course of history who have undersood the importance of ministry to children. D.L. Moody comes to mind as we think of a man who had a heart for children. The Sunday School that he began became so prominient that President Lincoln came and spoke at one of his Sunday School meetings in 1860. D.L. Moody was concerned about the souls of children.
As adults we ought to have this same
passion to minister to children. This begins in our homes. Parents have a great responsibility to care for and teach their children. Moses reminded the people of God that parents have a responsibility to pass the Word of God onto their children. In Deuteronomy 4:9,10 he told parents that they were to make the things of the Lord known to their children and their children's children so that they would learn to fear the Lord all the days of their lives. In Deuteronomy 6:4-9 we see that teaching our children the words of God is not a once a week thing or a once a day thing, but rather it is something that we should be doing continually with our children throughout our days with them. This same admonition is given again in Deuteronomy 11:18-21. Deuteronomy 32:46,47 remind us of just how important the Word is to our children. He writes, "for it is no empty word for you, but your very life."
There is no greater responsibility for a parent then teaching their children the Word of God.
Other examples include God's plan for Abraham. Genesis 18:19 says that God chose Abraham so that he may command his children and his household to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice. Psalm 78 speaks of the importance of telling our children the glorious deeds of the Lord and His might and the wonders that He has done so that they might put their hope in God. (Ps.78:1-8) Much of the book of Proverbs is the effort of a father to pass wisdom onto his son. Again and again in the Proverbs we read, "hear, my son, your father's instruction." There is no doubt that teaching children the things of God was seen as the primary responsibility of the parent in the OT.
The N.T. continues to remind parents of their responsibility to their children. Ephesians 6:4 instructs fathers to bring up their children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Men, it is not just our wives responsibility to teach our children God's Word, but as the head of the home it is your responsibility to make sure that your children are being instructed in the things of the Lord. When looking at the qualifications for someone to hold the office of deacon in the church they were to be someone who managed their children and their household well. (1 Tim.3:12) The qualifications of an elder are no different. (1 Tim.3:4; Titus 1:6)
How are you doing as a parent? It is no easy task, but one that we need to make the number one priority as we raise our children. We spend a lot of time, money and effort on things that really matter very little in our kids lives. Let us never be to busy or distracted that we neglect instructing our children in the things of the Lord.
Next we will look at how Harvest does children's ministry and the values that they hold to.