MESSAGE NOTES Question: How has God designed us to relate to our parents? Big Idea: God designed us to our parents with obedience and to them with honor. Ephesians 6:1–3 (NLT) Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. 2 “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: 3 If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.” your parents with your obedience. Ephesians 6:1 1 Children, obey your parents… “My child, listen when your father corrects you. Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction. What you learn from them will crown you with grace and be a chain of honor around your neck.” (Proverbs 1:8–9 NLT) “Children, always obey your parents, for this pleases the Lord.” (Colossians 3:20 NLT) 2. your parents with your honor. Ephesians 6:1 2 “Honor your father and mother.” “Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” (Exodus 20:12 NLT) “Each of you must show great respect for your mother and father, …” (Leviticus 19:3) “Listen to your father, who gave you life, and don’t despise your mother when she is old.” (Proverbs 23:22) 2 Reasons To Obey & Honor Your Parents You to the Lord v1…because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. You will & your life. v3...things will go well for you,… ...and you will have a long life on the earth.” A child’s obedience develops their : submission to authority. self-discipline. loving devotion. John 14:21 Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me.“ John 14:24 Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me. John 15:10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. A child’s dishonor/disobedience toward their parents is a sign of their : lack of discipline & future poverty, Proverbs 29:18 (NLT) 18 When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is joyful. godless depravity & “last days” rebellion. Romans 1:29–30 (NLT) “Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents.” 2 Timothy 3:2 (NLT) “For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred.” “Your obedience & honor for your parents improves your present life, but Jesus’ obedience to God improves your after-life.” Romans 5:19 (NLT) 19 Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous. Philippians 2:8 (NLT) 8 ...he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. WHAT SHOULD YOU DO ABOUT THIS? Don’t wait for the eulogy, obey & honor your parents today. to your parent’s guidance as if it’s coming from God himself. Give your parents the same thing you’ll need from your kids: . “They did the best they could with what they had.” Psalm 27:10 (NLT) Tell them & retell them what they did . “I remember how you always…”, rather than …”you never…”