Teach Them Diligently

Text: Deut. 6:6-12

I.	Introduction

	A.	Children are a gift, an heritage from the Lord. Each one is unique!
	B.	An old rendering of Psalms 127:3, as given in the Book of Common Prayer, is a message to parents: “Lo, children and the fruit of the womb are an heritage and gift that cometh of the Lord.”
	C.	Deut. 6:6-12

II.

Importance of Family

A Houston Baptist pastor made up a questionnaire and passed it out to 100 pre-school children in his church.

		1.	What is a family? “Someone with a Mom, Dad, brother and sister.”
		2.	Why do we live in families? “Because when you’re little, you can’t do nothing for yourself.”
		3.	What would it be like if people didn’t live in families? “Very Sad,” “Terrible,” “Lonely—awful”
		4.	Who is the most important person in your family? Boys named Dads. Girls named Moms.
		5.	What would you change, if you could? “less fighting,” “less yelling”

III.

The Worth of a Child

	A.	5T 456 – The Cross of Calvary Speaks
	B.	CG 21, 22 – Parents need to understand their responsibility

IV.

How Early Should We Be Concerned for a Child’s Spirituality?

CG 21 – Even before the birth of the child

CG 26 – From the cradle to maturity

Dr. R. A. Torrey, “No other form of Christian effort brings such immediate, lasting results as work for the conversion of children.

		1.	Children are more easily led to Christ than adults
		2.	They are more likely to stay converted
		3.	They often make better Christians
		4.	They give to Christ more years of service”

V.	Teach Them Diligently

	A.	Mark 10:14
	B.	CG 23 – Teach the little ones to know Christ before Satan sows his seeds in their hearts
	C.	Ed 19 – Molding the character of children is a high and noble work

VI.

Five Benefits of Childhood Conversions

A long life of service for Christ

Matthew Henry gave his heart to Christ at age 11. He became a Bible scholar.

Isaac Watts gave his heart to Jesus at age 9. He wrote many of our favorite hymns

Count Zintendorf signed his name to these words at age 4:

“Dear Saviour, do thou be mine, and I will be thine.” He became a significant religious leader in Germany.

A life unmarred by gross sin.

		1.	Sin has a high price-tag
		2.	103 year old lady I baptized said, “I wish I could have found Jesus 100 years ago-so Jesus could have had all my lifetime.”

	C.	A sense of direction – Christless children have no rudder for their vessel.
	D.	Christ is an anchor to children when the storms of life rage.
	E.	Willing cooperation at home

VII.

What About Your Home?

	A.	No place like home-to teach values, hold on to the reins, and set a clear example
	B.	Make religion attractive

		1.	AH – 323
		2.	AH – 324 – Do not neglect the religious training of yourselves and your children.

	C.	Keep control of the TV and the computer
	D.	Your children . . . in the closing scenes of earth . . . Counsels to Parents and Teachers, p. 166, 167; 6T 203