©2006/2007 Building God's Kingdom Together, Inc.

Text Box: We have all seen family situations where one or both of the parents expect or demand action of their kids on a regular basis. Get me this, or, go get that. I don’t want to get up, so do for me! The children become objects of slavery, yet they obey out of fear. Then the wicked twist is that out of this some children then grow up believing that they have earned the right to treat their children the same way. No wonder we have so many dysfunctional families! Obedience is not about our children doing things our way. Instead, it should be about our children doing things God’s way! Children should see us modeling obedience to Him and doing things for others based on love and respect for God. This is how parents parent God’s way! See what else Pastor Dave has to say about obedience. Read the remainder of this article on our website at http://www.buildinggodskingdomtogether/biblestudynotes/2-23-07.pdf Text Box: Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Ephesians 6:1 It would be very easy to build the argument from this verse that children have the greatest assignment, when it comes to obedience. Without a doubt, God is calling for children, all children, to be obedient to their parents. Among the Ten Commandments, the only commandment with a promise attached is the commandment to honor your father and mother. Let’s propose this: If the parents are modeling and living appropriate lives of direct obedience to God, and obedience to His instructions towards one another, then the children will be much more able to do the same. In other words, the ability of children to be appropriately obedient in their lives is the responsibility of the parents -- to model and teach them. If the children are not taught, then they are not likely to succeed themselves. It is unrealistic to believe that children will simply know that they need to be obedient. Text Box: There is very little that is instinctual about obedience. Just like God needs to tell the parents specifically, that they need to be obedient, so parents need to be very plain in teaching their children the need for, and even how they should live a lifestyle of obedience. Unfortunately, some have taken obedience and made it into solely a child’s responsibility. They heavy-handedly put the responsibility of obedience onto the backs of children for the sole purpose of lording over them. It is as if they are enslaving children, demanding obedience, like they, the adult or parent, is somehow worthy of the child’s obedience. This proceeds into the situation where the child learns from this abuse and demand for obedience, that once they are an adult, then they can enslave their own children. Because they succeed at becoming adults, and maybe even parents, they believe this entitles them to be served. Yikes! This is far from God’s plan for the family!

Children and Obedience

        by Pastor Dave Bassett
Text Box: Building God’s    Kingdom Together

February 23, 2007

February, Issue #2

Building God’s Kingdom Newsletter

Special points of interest:

· Children and Obedience
   by Pastor Dave Bassett

· Snow On A Warm
Day
   by Pastor Dave Bassett

· What’s Your Story?
   by Judy Bassett
Text Box: If you are in the Nampa area, you can now find Pastor Dave’s book “Have I Got A Secret For You!” at Living Water Book Store on Middleton and Roosevelt. (You can order the book at our website if you aren’t lucky enough to live in Idaho!) The book is also available in eBook format. See our website for more details.