CENTRAL THOUGHT
God expects believers to bring up their children in His fear and nurture.
HYMN: WHEN WE WALK WITH THE LORD
TEXT: Gen 18:1-16; Deut 6:1-9; Prov 22:6
INTRODUCTION
God’s desire for His children who are parents is that they should nurture, train and build Godly seed. This constitutes the bed rock from which the ability to do greater works is derived. This is God’s mandate for Christian parents. This divine injunction must be obeyed by all parents if they are to build Godly seeds for greater works. The task may seem enormous, but with the help of the Holy Spirit and through constant teaching and admonition in the word of God, our seed shall be built to do greater works. In this study, we shall be examining why and how we will accomplish this divine instruction.
LESSON OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this study are:
- To understand what “building Godly seed to do greater works” means.
- To discuss the common vices among children in society today and the consequences of these vices.
- To discuss the roles of the following in building Godly seed to do greater works: parents, the church, school and society.
- To know the responsibilities of the child in building Godly seed to do greater works.
- To Know the benefits of building Godly seed to do greater works.
BIBLE TRUTH
Q1. WHAT DO WE UNDERSTAND BY BUILDING GODLY SEED TO DO GREATER WORK?
Building Godly seed to do greater works simply means bringing up our children to know, love, fear and serve God unreservedly with all their might and all their being. Children are gifts from God. He has given them to the parents to bring them up in such a way as to bring honor and glory to His name. God’s divine instruction to parents is “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Prov. 22:6). This involves making a deliberate and concerted effort at bringing up our children according to the scriptural and biblical standards. They must be taught to accept Christ as their Lord and Savior and live daily to please Him in all things. It is only after this is accomplished that they can be fully equipped to do greater works.
Q2. WHAT ARE THE COMMON VICES AMONG CHILDREN IN SOCIETY TODAY AND THEIR CONSEQUENCES?
There are many vices among children in the society today. The commonest among them include crimes such as stealing, fraud, disobedience to parents and other properly constituted authorities, murder, terrorism, kidnapping, fornication, rape, homosexuality, lesbianism, membership of secret cults and societies and the likes. The devil is also luring them into these vices through the internet where so many crimes are committed through the wrong use of the technological advancements the world attained. Rather than using these to improve on their wellbeing and use these to honor God and advance God’s kingdom here on earth, they have used these to perpetrate evil in our society today.
The consequences of these vices are numerous. There is breakdown of law and order in some segments of our society. Many people live daily in fear of being victims of one thing or the other. There is moral decadence in the society. The children will cause grief to the parents and other people around them. The consequences are not fully exhausted, the class should mention more and discuss them.
Q3. WHAT ARE THE ROLES OF THE FOLLOWING IN BUILDING GODLY SEED TO DO GREATER WORKS?
Many groups in our society today have great roles to play in building Godly seed to do greater works. These groups and their roles are briefly discussed below;
Parents/ Home: Deut.6:7; Pro.22:6; 1Tim.5:8; Job 1:5
Parents are the first to have any contact with their children after their birth. It is the responsibility of parents to assist in the character molding of their children right from their infancy. Parents must endeavor to diligently teach their children the word of God and Godly values and virtues. They must be good models and examples to their own children in the home. The children must be taught to fear, serve and honor God. When they get to the age of accountability, parents must make deliberate effort to lead their children to accept Christ as their Lord and Savior. This should not be left to chance or to some other persons out there. The parents, who are determined to build Godly seed to do greater works, must learn to “catch them young”; realizing that the first contact the child has with this life starts from the home through the parents. The children should be trained and taught core values in the home that will help them to grow up into responsible men and women in the society such as doing house chores, showing interest and getting involved and being committed to the work of God. Parents must provide adequately for their children to the best of their ability. Also, the children must be prayed for by their parents and taught to pray for themselves and others.
The Church: 2 Tim.4:1-4
The Bible describes the church in 1 Tim.3:15 as “the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of truth”. The church should therefore be the place where the truth of the word of God should be taught and practiced. The church should be a place a place where the children should be taught the undiluted word of God. Many of our churches today are engaged in programs and activities that do not actually engender spiritual growth in our youths. They are mainly entertaining without much to make for holy living and growing in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This is very sad. Our prayer and earnest desire is that the church fulfils her God given mandate on earth which is to be “a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” ( Eph.5:27).
Schools and society
The school and the society at large constitute training grounds in helping to build Godly seed for greater works. Both environments have a lot to offer in this regard.
The school is a place of learning for children. In addition to the academic knowledge the school imparts to them, morals should also form part of the school curriculum. The society has to be made conducive for the children to learn some virtues and all that make for decencyand right living.
Q4. WHAT ARE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CHILD IN BUILDING GODLY SEED TO DO GREATER WORKS?
Eph.6:1-3; 2Tim.2:22; 3:14-17;Prov.4:20-27; 1 Cor 15:33
The responsibilities of the child in building Godly seed to do greater works are many and demand a great deal of seriousness and commitment on the part of the child. First and foremost, he must exhibit the fear of God in all his actions and in his daily living. This will Involve complete obedience to God’s injunctions as stated in the scriptures. He must honor his parents and all other older people who have one form of contact or the other with him. He must continually dwell on the word of God and also put into practice all he has been taught concerning right living and Godly virtues. The child should “Flee all youthful lust: but follow
righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2Tim 2:22). He should avoid evil company. This means that he must associate with people that will add value to his life and help grow in the things of God rather than those who draw him away from following the ways of God. In the society he should dare to be different and live Godly.
Q5. WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF BUILDING GODLY SEED FOR GREATER WORKS?
Prov.10:1; 15:20; 22:6; 29:15-17.
There are so many benefits in building Godly seed to do greater works. These benefits cut across every segment of the society at large; be it at home, at school, in the church or in any place the child finds himself. He stands out among his peers as a role model. He exhibits wisdom as he practices the good things and Godly virtues that he has learned from home, church, school and the society. He causes his parents to be glad and brings honor to them. He can be fully depended upon and one has no fear in committing things to his care because it is certain he will not fail. Ultimately, he will make it to heaven.
DAILY LIVING APPLICATION
Building Godly seed to do greater works is a series of actions that will involve teaching the children about God and Godliness, virtues of hard work, commitment to God’s work, respect for elders and properly constituted authority. Above all, he must have had a personal encounter with Christ and must have accepted Him as Lord and Savior. Every Christian parent must do this with every sense of responsibility bearing in mind that a Christian heritage is the best legacy one can bequeath to one’s children.
MEMORY VERSE
Proverbs 22:6
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it”.
DAILY DEVOTIONAL
Monday: How to build Godly seed.
Gen.18:1-16; Deut. 6:1-9
Tuesday: Role of parents/Home in building Godly seed.
Deut.6:7; Prov.22:6; 1Tim. 5:8; Job.1:5
Wednesday: Role of church in building Godly seed.
2 Tim. 4:1-4.
Thursday: Responsibility of the child in building Godly seed.
Eph.6:1-3, 2Tim. 3:14-17.
Friday: Responsibility of the child in building Godly seed.
Prov.4:20-27; 1Cor.15:33; 2Tim.2:22
Saturday: Benefit of building Godly seed.
Prov.10:1; 15:20; 29:15-17