BACK TO SCHOOL FOR THE FAMILY (Psalm 127:1-4)

 Psalm 127: 1-4

Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to those he loves.

Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one’s youth.

INTRO.- Children are wonderful. How dull life would be without them! And remember we were once children too!

ILL.- It was the little girl’s first day at school and the teacher was making out her registration card. “What is your father’s name?” She said, “Daddy.”

“Yes, I know he’s your daddy, but what does your mother call him?” “Oh, she don’t call him anything. SHE LIKES HIM.”

ILL.- The teacher said, “Why don’t you brush your teeth? I can see what you had for breakfast this morning.”

Boy, “What did I have?” Teacher, “Eggs.” Boy, “You’re wrong! THAT WAS YESTERDAY!”

ILL.- Johnny’s first day of school the class was to put their right hands over their hearts and repeat the Pledge of Allegiance.

The teacher watched the children as he started the pledge, "I pledge allegiance to the flag..."

She stopped when she noticed Johnny’s right hand over the left side of his rear end. "Johnny, I will not continue until you put your hand over your heart,” the teacher said.

"Because whenever my Granny visits, she picks me up, pats me here, and says, ’Bless your little heart,’ and my Granny doesn’t lie!"

When we look at these illustrations, you can understand that our behaviors affect our children more. They carry what they learned from home to school just as they can bring what they learned from school back home. We therefore need to really school our children at home. Here we have three tips for the family for back to school:

1. Every child is home schooled.

Whether you send your kids off to school everyday or not they are still going to get the biggest chunk of their education from the life they see at home.

Many Christians are concerned that there is no prayer in schools but I am more concerned that there is no prayer in the home.

Deuteronomy 6: 5-9

Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on 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. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

The message, the truth, the life; must be yours before you can pass it on to the kids.

If not you will be teaching them:

- Religion

- Rules

- Regulations

That always leads to rebellion.

You are trying to teach your kids to swim by correspondence!

Proverbs 22: 6

Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.

Train them in there own unique way. You need to be involved; don’t try to remove what God put there. Steer it, guide it, encourage and develop it.

- Do not make comparisons!

2. Communication is critical.

When they want to talk – you need to take time to listen.

Parents it is vital that you get aware of what is going on in your kid’s life.

- What is being taught at school?

- What friendships are growing or dissolving and why.

- What do they enjoy, what do they fear.

- Are there any questions you can answer? No topic off limits.

Tell the truth about drinking and drugs and sex to your kids.

Deuteronomy 6: 7

Impress them on 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.

Pray about things together. Tests, bullies, sports; any concern is a chance to live it.

Listen to this Father – Son communication.

Proverbs 4: 1-27 read

Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding. I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching.

When I was a boy in my father’s house, still tender, and an only child of my mother, he taught me and said, "Lay hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands and you will live.

Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Esteem her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you. She will set a garland of grace on your head and present you with a crown of splendor."

Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many. I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble. Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life. Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil men. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way. For they cannot sleep till they do evil; they are robbed of slumber till they make someone fall. They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.

My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man’s whole body.

Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.

3. Encouragement is essential.

There are enough negative forces in the world. If you can’t find the positives and focus on them in your own kids – You have a problem – not the kids. You need to put in all your efforts to encourage them to do the things that are right. You cannot encourage them in words and you are doing something else; you must be intentional. Some parents focus on the negative forces; we encourage our children to do things which we know so well that are wrong. What do we expect from them tomorrow?

Your kids belong to God.

Proverbs 14: 1

The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.

John 6: 66- 68

Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God."

Every parent’s goal should be to be 50% as great as your 5 year old thinks you are and 50% as dumb as you’re 15 year old thinks you are.

Illustration:

Property Laws of a children

1. If I like it, it’s mine.

2. If it’s in my hand, it’s mine.

3. If I can take it from you, it’s mine.

4. If I had it a little while ago, it’s mine.

5. If it’s mine, it must never appear to be yours in any way.

6. If I’m doing or building something, all the pieces are mine.

7. If it looks just like mine, it’s mine.

8. If I saw it first, it’s mine.

9. If you are playing with something and you put it down, it automatically becomes mine.

10. If it’s broken, it’s yours.

Conclusion:

Joshua 24: 14-15

"Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."

It is your call – unless the Lord builds the house it is all in vain. Unless the Lord prepare your children, your education, the efforts you put all is vain.

Shalom