How to Raise Godly Children Voegtlin Sermon

8/3/2019 How to Raise Godly Children Voegtlin Sermon

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FortheLoveoftheFamilyMinistriesMissionariestoAmericasForgottenMissionField,theFamily

FortheLoveoftheFamilySeriesPastorTerryL.Coomer

MinistryofElwoodBibleBaptistChurch

TLCOOMER@juno.comThesemessagesmaybecopiedintheirentiretytohelpChristiansinthetaskofrearingtheirchildrenforGod.Theyarenottobechangedinanymannerortobesold.Thisheadermustbeonanycopy.Ifyouhaveanyquestions,pleasefeelfreetocontacttheauthor.

HowToRaiseGodlyChildrenByDr.RogerVoegtlin,Pastor

FairhavenBaptistChurch,Chesterton,IN

Thefirstwouldbediscipline.WhentheBibletalksaboutraisingchildren,ittalksabout

discipline.Ifyouloveyourchildwithoutdiscipline,youllproduceabrat.Lookat

Proverbs10:1.ThisisawonderfulversethatIwouldalwaysthinkaboutwhilewewere

rearingourchildren....Awisesonmakethagladfather:butafoolishsonistheheavinessofhismother.Sorrytosay,Iveseenthatverseprovenmanytimesinthe28yearsIve

pastoredthischurch.But,Imgladtosaythatawisesonmakesahappyfamily.Nothing

willmakeyouhappierthanthat.Iwouldratherhavemykidsturnoutrightthanhavethelargest,mostprosperouschurchintheworld.Theresnomorejoythanraisingyour

childrenforGod.Butyoullneverhavemoreofabrokenheartifyoudont.Youthinkits

badtoloseyourjob.Youthinkitsbadtoloseyourhealth.Buttheresnothinglikelosingyourchildren.Ifyouloseyourchildren,youjustaboutloseyourlife.

HaveyouevernoticedthatmostpeoplewholosetheirchildrenputupawhiteflagandjustaboutquitChristianity?Theresnothingmorerewardingormoredamning.In

Proverbs13:24weseeoneofthemany,manyversesondiscipline.Hethatsparethhis

rodhatethhisson:buthethatlovethhimchastenethhimbetimes.TheNewTestamentsays,ForwhomtheLordlovethhechasteneth...Hegoesontosaythatifyoudont

chastenyourson,youretreatinghimasabastard.NowIdontswearImquotingthe

Bible,andtheBibleusesthatstrongterm.Weveseenmanyfatherslikethatintheworld

today.Theyhavechildren,andtheirchildrendontevenknowwhotheirfatheris!Thefathercouldntcarelessaboutraisingthatillegitimatechild.Helldoanythingnottopay

supportandnottohelpintheraisingofthatchild.Godsaysthatifyoudontspankyour

child,thatswhatyourelike.

Thepersonwhohitshischildwithhisfistorwithhishandinthefaceistheparentwho

doesntdisciplinehischildandthengetsfrustratedandhitshim.Spankingisnotabuse.Notspankingisabuse.Proverbs19:18says,Chastenthysonwhilethereishope,andlet

notthysoulspareforhiscrying.TheBibleissimple.YoucantunderstandtheKing

JamesBible?ThenIfeelsorryforyou.Trainupyourchildandspankhimwhenhes

en at theme of thisrmon,egtlin hadeady lostof hisldren,

ank andatherine.

ey spokehis abusethem in

e CNNecial.


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young,becauseifyoulethimgettooold,thenhesgoingtobelikeanunbrokendog.Ifyoudonthousetrainadogwhenhesyoung,thenyouvegotaproblemonyourhands.

Ifyoudontspankyourchildandtrainhimwhenhesyoung,thenyouvegotabigger

problemonyourhands.Chastenthysonwhilethereishope...Anddontletyoursoul

spareforhiscrying.Thattellsmeyoushouldspankhimuntilhesettlesdown.Youdont

worryabouthiscrying.Youneedtobefirmandconsistent.Ifsomebodyaskedmewhatthemostimportantthingindisciplineis,itwouldbetobefirmandbeconsistent.Doit

everytime,EVERYTIME.

RemembertheillustrationIusedaboutayearagoconcerningmydog?Hedoesntwalk

onthecarpetinthelivingroom.Whenhewasapuppy,somebodysaid,Well,cantwebringhiminjustthisonetime?Ifyoubringhiminonetime,youvesinnedagainsthim.

Youreconfusingthatdog.Anybodywhohastrainedanimalsunderstandsthat.Ifwe

loveourdogenoughnottoconfusehim,thenweoughttoloveourchildrenenoughnottoconfusethem.Doiteverytime.Everytime.Fiftypercentofachildscharacterisformed

bythetimehesthreeyearsold.Trainupachildwhenhesyoung,whilethereshope.

Seventy-fivepercentofachildscharacterisformedbythetimeheisfive.Whenyourespankingyourone-ortwo-year-oldonthediaper,doyoureallythink

youredoingalot?Poof,poof!Whatdoyouthinkyouredoingwhenthekidsscream

andgocrazy,andyoustopspankingthem?Listen,mother,whatdoyouthinkyoure

doingwhentheonlytimeyouseeaproblemiswhenthepreachersaround?Mymotherwouldsitandwatchtelevisiondayandnight.Idgooverandvisither.Sureenough,

whenIdsitdowntherewouldbecursingonit,ortherewouldbesex,andshedsay,

Roger,Idontknowwhyitis,buttheonlytimetheyswearontheseprogramsiswhenyourehere.SheknewwhatIthoughtabouttelevision.Normallyshewouldjustsit

there,andletitallsinkin.

Ifyouloveyourchild,youregoingtolookforproblems.Youregoingtoseeproblems.

Andthenyouregoingtospankthemfive,six,seven,eightgoodones.Youmake

themburn.Butthebiggestthingistobeconsistent.Makeitconsistent,andmakethemnotwantitagain.Peoplesay,Oh,Idontwanttospankmykidssooften.Thenspank

themconsistently,andyoullgettotheplacewhereyoudonthavetospankthem.Thats

afact.Dad,youvegottotaketheleadershipbecausemomsaresofterthandadsinmostcases.Proverbs22:15,Foolishnessisboundintheheartofachild;buttherodof

correctionshalldriveitfarfromhim.Youseehowstraightforwardthisisandhow

strongitis?LookatProverbs23:13and14,Withholdnotcorrectionfromthechild:for

ifthoubeatesthimwiththerod,heshallnotdie.

Canyouimaginethewelfaredepartmentsittinginthebackofthisauditoriumlisteningto

mepreach?CanyouimaginetheVidette-MessengerortheGaryPostTribunesittinginhere?Canyouimaginewhattheywouldwrite?ButImnotsayingthis,Godissayingit.

Godissaying,Withholdnotcorrectionfromthechild...Imjustillustratingit.Imjust

sayingexactlywhattheBiblesays.Icouldntmakeitanystronger....forifthoubeatesthimwiththerod,heshallnotdie.Thoushaltbeathimwiththerod,andshaltdeliverhis

soulfromhell.Yousay,Ilovemychildtoomuchtospankhim.Youdontlovehimif

youdontspankhim.Youwantafriend,youwanttocoddlehim,youwanttobabyhim.


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Donttellmeyoulovehimifyoudontspankhim.

Dontlistentopsychologists,notevenso-calledChristianpsychologists.Dontlistento

theseeducators,andbytheway,dontgointoaChristianbookstoreandbuyoneofthose

stupidbooksonhowtoraiseyourchildren.Lookattheirchildren;youdontwantthat.

Theproblemisthateversincethislawwaspassed,peoplehavegottensofterandsofter.Eveninourchurcheswherewesaywebelieve,wearentatallasconsistent,wearentat

allasfirm,asevenaweakerChristianwas25yearsagoIventuretosayevenmostCatholics25yearsago.Godsaidtospank.Ifwelivedahundredyearsagoandwere

travelingbywagontrainacrossAmericainIndiancountry,doyouthinkwedbe

watchingforIndians?Ofcourse!Wedsay,Man,Idontwantmykidstodie.Idontwantmykidstohaveanarrowthroughthem.Wedlookbehindrocksandbehindtrees,

andwedlookformovingbushes.ThereareIndiansouttherewhowanttokillus!

Satanisoutthereseekingwhomhemaydevour.Iwanttostressagain,dontblowup.Youshouldneverstrikeyourchildinanger.Dontblowup,andthenletitgothenext

time.Makerules,andgobythem.Letthemknowwhattoexpect,andthenfollowthem

consistently.

Raiseupachildinthewayheshouldgowithdiscipline,andthen,withfamilydevotions.

TurntoMatthew18:19and20.AgainIsayuntoyou,Thatiftwoofyoushallagreeon

earthastouchinganythingthattheyshallask,itshallbedoneforthemofmyFatherwhichisinheaven.Whatcouplecouldreadthatandnotthink,Hey,thatsaystwo.If

mywifeandI,ormyhusbandandI,justagreeandwepray,Godwillanswerour

prayers.Idontknowhowamotherandfathercouldreadthisandnotthink,Weregoingtoprayforourchildren.Forwheretwoorthreearegatheredtogetherinmy

name,thereamIinthemidstofthem.Thatmeanswhenyougatheraroundthekitchen

tablewithyourchildrenforfamilydevotions,Hesthere.Peoplesay,Idontknowwhywehavedevotions.Iffornootherreason,Hesthere.Yourestartingthedayoffright.

Nowsomeareafraid;theysay,Imnotatheologian.PastorVoegtlin,youreaBible

schoolgraduate.Thathasabsolutelynothingtodowithit.Ihaveneveronceinmylifepreparedwhattosayfordevotiontime.YousitthereandyoureadtheBible.Ifthekids

arereallyyoung,youusesomethinglikeJohnR.RicesBiblestorybook.Butreal

quicklyyouusetheBible,andyoujustreadtheBibleandexplainit.Now,tometheresnomoreexcitingtimetohavedevotionsthanwhenyourkidsareyoung.

Iveheardparentssay,PastorVoegtlinsaidthis...orThatsaschoolrule.Ifyou

practicethat,youregoingtoloseyourchildren.Yourjob,father,istobepriestofthehome,toopentheBibleandreaditandexplainit.Yousay,Kids,webelievethis

becauseitsrighthere.IfyoushowaChristianchildthatwhatweredoingiswhatGod

saysinHisWord,youvegotarealgoodchancethatchildisgoingtoturnoutright.Isntthatexciting?GotoEphesianswhereittalksaboutthefamily.Thisiswhywebelieve

this.Ifyouwantto,youcouldjusttakenotesduringasermon,takeversesdownanduse

themonMondaytoapplyitspirituallytoyourfamily.Explainthatthisisthereasonwedowhatwedo.Thenyouhaveprayerrequests.Itssimple.Yougettheprayersheetand

youprayforamissionaryeveryday.Thenyoulookattheneedsofthechurch,andyou

prayforthoseeveryday.OnedaywhenBeckywasayounggirlIsaid,Doyouthink


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youdeverwanttobeapreacherswife?Andshesaid,No,becauseIdontwanttoprayfortheofferingseverydayfortherestofmylife!Youprayfortheneedsofthe

family,andtheygettoseeGodanswerprayerintheirownlives.Canyouthinkof

anythingmorewonderfulthansittingdownwithyoursmallchildrenandteachingthem?

Ahundredyearsagotherewasonedivorcein36.Asyouknow,theresonedivorcein

everytwotoday.AHarvardprofessormadeastudyof1,005familieswhohaddevotions.Hefollowedthemthroughtheyearsandonlyoneoutofthe1,005gotadivorce.The

familythatpraystogetherstaystogether.

Josephus,theunsavedJewishhistorian,wrotethatinhisdayatfiveyearsoldtheyread

theBible,attentheywouldstudytheologicalwritings,andby15theyhadmemorizedDeuteronomy.Today,betweentheagesof4and14theaveragechildhaswatched20,000

hoursoftelevision.Theaveragetelevisionison7hoursaday.AsIvesaidsomany

times,Igotridofourtelevisionoveraquarterofacenturyagobecauseitwasawasteoftime,acompletewasteoftime.Wefewpreacherswhopreachagainsttelevisionare

thoughtofasweirdbyotherindependentBaptists.Theressomethingwrongwhen

preacherscantpreachagainsttrash.Theythinkwereweird.

LookoverinDeuteronomychapter6,thistellsyouthewayitoughttobe.Verse6,And

thesewords,whichIcommandtheethisday,shallbeinthineheart:Andthoushaltteach

themdiligentlyuntothychildren,andshalttalkofthemwhenthousittestinthinehouse,andwhenthouwalkestbytheway,andwhenthouliestdown,andwhenthourisestup.

Andthoushaltbindthemforasignuponthinehand,andtheyshallbeasfrontlets

betweenthineeyes.Andthoushaltwritethemuponthepostsofthinehouse,andonthygates.Notonlyarewetohavefamilydevotions,buttheresagreatneedtoteachthe

principlesofGodsWordthroughouttheday.Weteachthemduringdevotionsandwhen

wewalk.Weoughttobelookingforopportunities.

Dontjustsayyouplanto;theresnothingmoreimportantinyourlife,exceptforyour

mate,thanyourchildren.Yourmateismoreimportantbecauseifthatdoesntworkout,yourchildrenarentgoingtoworkout.Yourmate,thenyourchildren.Andsowhenyou

walk,orinourday,whenyoudrive,takethechildrenwithyou.Takethemwithyouif

yougotothegrocerystore.Takethemwithyouifyougoonhospitalvisitation.Todayyoucanbringthemrightupintotheroom.Whenyousitorrest,talktothembeforeyou

gotobedintheevening.Thepassagesaysinthemorningalsowhenyougetup.What

doesthismean?YoujustputtheprinciplesofGodtoworkeverywhere.Beteaching

themallthetime.Youshouldbelookingforopportunities,whetherthereareproblemsinthechurchorthereissuccessinthechurch,whateveritis,yourelookingfor

opportunitiestosay,Thisiswhathappenswhenyoudowrong.Thisiswhathappens

whenyoudoright.Lookforitandteachthem.Lineuponline,preceptuponprecept.SomeofthebesttimesIhadwithmykidswerewhenIwasjusttalkingtothem.Whena

teenagergetstoacertainage,itstypicalnowadaysfortheparenttosay,Myteenager

wonttalktome.Ifyourteenagerwonttalktoyou,itsbecauseyoudidnttalktohimwhenhewasyoung.Youcutitoff.Everychildwantstotalktohisparents!Yousay,I

donthaveanythingtosaytothem.ThenyourenotrightwithGod.Talktothem!And

Imtalkingaboutatsixorsevenyearsofage.Talktothemaboutthetypeofpersonto


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marry.Youseetheseteenagersbitingatthebitandwantingtodatethewrongperson,wantingtohangwiththewrongperson.Theyvegotthewrongplansbecauseyoudidnt

talktothemwhentheywereyoung.Thenallofasuddenyouputhandcuffsandbarson

themandyoureafraidofwhattheyregoingtodo.Andtheybalk.Butifyoutalkto

them,andyousay,Boy,Icantwaituntilyougetmarried.Andthisisthetypeofguy

youwant.

Iwouldjokesometimeswithmykids.IdtellDebbie,Youwantastrongguy.Youwantameanguy,rightDebbie?Sheneededameanguybecauseshestoonice.Shegot

him!Justtalktoyourchildren.Mychildrendidntwanttodateuntiltheywerefreshmen

incollege.WhenIsaydate,realizeIdontmeanaworldlydate.Imtalkingaboutgodlycourtship.Youteachthemtoworkhardbutnotlovemoney.Youteachthemto

havetherightkindoffriends,andhowtobenicetotheweakpeoplebutnotfollowthem.

Theyrelikeclayandwereformingthembyspankingthem,andthenteachingthemandtalkingtothem.

IreadaboutGeneralRobertE.Leewalkingthroughthesnowonedaywhenheheardsomethingbehindhim.Itwashissmallsonjumpingfromsteptostep,tryingtowalkin

hisfootsteps.Heturnedaroundandhuggedhimandprayed,God,helpmenevertolead

myboytohell.Whataresponsibilitywehave.RememberHannahprayingforason?

Thereweretearsstreamingdownhercheeks.Herlipsweremovingbutyoucouldnthearanything.Theoldbacksliddenpriestthoughtshewasdrunk,butshewasprayingfora

boytogivetoGod.Oh,howweoughttoprayandgiveourchildrentoGod.Someone

whogoesintofull-timeserviceisnobetterthansomeonewhodoesnt.Idontmeanfulltimeservice;ImsayinggiveourchildrentoGod.Seek,ask,knock.ClaimProverbs

22:6.

Again,theproblemwithourkidsisthattheyhearonethingpreachedinthepulpit,and

theyseetheirparentsactacertainwayinchurchandaroundotherChristians,andthey

hearandseesomethingelsewhenthedoorisclosedathome.Theyvelearnedfromtheirparentstohaveareligioninfrontofpeopleandhavenothingrealathome.Theyseetheir

parentssaywiththeirlives,Iamrichandincreasedwithgoodsandhaveneedof

nothing.Weknowhowvaccinationsworkgenerally.Ifyouwanttobevaccinatedagainstthemeasles,forinstance,youhaveaweakenedformofthemeaslesinjectedinto

you.Thechildsdefensemechanismsattacktheforeignentitiesandformantibodies,

preventingthechildfromcontractingthedisease.Wetaketheweakenedformofthereal

thingtopreventthemfromgettingtherealthing.

ThatswhatishappeninginfundamentalismalloverAmerica.Doyoueverwonderwhy

buskidscangrowupinthischurchandmakeitandsomekidsfromregularattenderscant?ItsbecausethebuskidsdonthavewrongChristianexamples.Theydonthave

anythingsaying,whatispreachedisntreal.Alltheydoislistentothepreacherand

youthpastorandtheteachersandtheysay,Ilovethis.Buttherearesomechurchkidswhohaveparentsvaccinatingthemathome.Theydonthaveachance.Theyheartheir

parentscomplaining.Theresnothingworseyoucando.Mykidssawmemad,butthey

neversawmesadoverthethingsofGod.Ifyousitaroundandyoucomplainaboutyour


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stateintheministryoryourstateinservingGod,youregoingtolosethem!Theyregone!Areyoulistening?DontvaccinateyourchildrenagainstChristianity.Youvegot

toteachthemtheBible,trueBibleprinciplesathomebyfamilydevotions,bytalking,

andbyyourlife.

Next,youraiseupachildinthewayheshouldgobyteachinghimhowtowork.Thatsmissingtoday.Ecclesiastes9:10says,Whatsoeverthyhandfindethtodo,doitwiththy

might...Proverbs6:6-9says,Gototheant,thousluggard;considerherways,andbewise:Whichhavingnoguide,overseer,orruler,Providethhermeatinthesummer,and

gatherethherfoodintheharvest.Howlongwiltthousleep,Osluggard?...Understand

therearetwogreatprinciplestaughtintheBibleifyouregoingtosucceed:oneisfaithandoneiswork.Yourenotgoingtosucceedwithoutboth.Ibelievethatifyouhave

faith,youllwork.YourenotaBible-practicingChristianifyoudontwork.Weliveina

lazygeneration.IvehadChristiansthinkthereshouldbeaunionstewardinthechurch!Theyreworkingmetoohard.Werelivinginagenerationthatdoeseverythingitcan

tokeepfromwork.Ifyouteachyourchildrenthat,youregoingtodestroymuchofwhat

theycouldbe.

Someyearsback,westartedseeingmanychildrenoffamouspreachersgoingtothe

devil.Therewasareaction,anditwasthewrongone.Thatreactionwas,Imgoingto

protectmychildren.Imgoingtoputmyarmsaroundmychildren,andnobodysgoingtogetthem.Imgoingtobabymychildren.Youlldestroythemjustasmuchthatway.

Godsays,Sixdaysshaltthouwork.Godsaysweresupposedtoworkbythesweatof

ourbrow.Weshouldteachourchildrentoenjoywork.Yousay,Idontknowwhatswrongwithmyteenageson.Hessolazy.Lookinthemirror.Youmadehimthatway.

SpurgeonwroteanarticlethatIthoughtwastremendous.Hesaid,Ifyouwanttoruin

yourson,firstofall,neverlethimknowhardship.Whenhesalittlechild,carryhiminyourarms.Whenmychildrenwereyoung,especiallyJeff,becausethechurchwasso

small,theteenagegirlsjustwantedtocarryhimallthetime.Ihadtolaydownthelaw:

Nobodypicksupmyson.Nobody.Yousay,Whatifhefallsdown?Thatsanotherproblem.Whatdoyoudowhentheyfalldown?Say,Shutup.Quitcrying,andgetup.

Now,youfirstofallseeiftheresbloodrunning.Seeiftheresabrokenarmoutofthe

cornerofyoureye.Butinmostcases,theirfeelingsarehurt.Dontbabythem!Iftheyfalldown,say,Hey,youreokay.Getupandjustkeeponwalking.Yousay,Thats

mean.No,todoanythingelseismean.

Wehaveacollege,andIbelievewehavemanyofthebestkidsofAmerica.Butiftheresanyproblemwithourstudentsitisthattheyhavebeenbabiedbytheirparentsandhome

church.SomethinkbeingagoodChristianisbabyingpeople.Therearesomeothersof

youwhohearababyscreamandsay,Ah,itsmine!Youruntopickhimup.Lethimbeforawhile.Icanrememberacertainmotherwhenourchurchwasrealyoungwhohad

aboyshecarriedaround.Whenshewouldcarryhimaround,hisheadwaslevelwith

hers,andhisfeetweredowntoherknees.Shepickedthatkidupandcarriedhimaround!Iknewhewouldbecomeasissy,andhewasthegreatestoneweeverproduced.Hes

worthlessforGodtoday.Imnotsayingneverpickupachild.Butoncehegetstoa

certainageandhecanwalkaround,dontcarryhimeveryplace;dontbeholdinghimall

s section

stratesme of theugh talk"

atrhaven

ads haveentioned--egtlin'sorts toeventssy" boys

havingxingatches,aking boysrry pursespacifiers if

ey didn'tn trackents orestlingatches.


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thetime.

Spurgeonwentonandsaid,Ifyouwanttopreventhisbeingusefulintheworld,guard

himfromeverykindoftoil.Yousay,Whatdoesthatmean?Well,thatmeansdont

everlethimparticipateinthecross-countryrace.Wevehadcollegestudentscomehere

andthinkwewereguiltyofchildabusebecausefive-year-oldswouldberunningaroundthelake.Itshowswheretheycomefrom!Wedothosethingsforapurpose,togivethem

anopportunity.Letthemtoilalittlebit.Icouldgiveyoualotofotherexamples.Hegoeson,though,andsays,Donotsufferhimtostruggle.Youknow,theteacherisalways

pickingonhim.Youknowthat,dontyou?Whenhestrugglesinschool,itsneverhis

fault.Pityhimwhenheoughttobepunished.Gototheprincipal.Justtellhimhowyouappreciatetheschool,but....Supplyallhiswishes.Givehimeverythinghewants.

Avertalldisappointments.Preventalltroubles...(thisisSpurgeon)...andyoullsurely

tutorhimtobeareprobatetobreakyourheart.Youwill.Iveseeniteverysingletime.Youthinkyoulovehim?No,youloveyourself.Youreraisinghimorherforyou,but

hellcurseyou.

Spurgeongoesonandsays,Ifyouwanttorescuehim,puthimwherehehastowork.

Whatmadeourcountrygreat?Oneofthethingsthatmadeourcountrygreatisthatwe

wereputinthepositionwherewehadtotoil.Imtalkingaboutwhenthecountrywas

beingbuilt,whenwewerebeingattackedbyIndians.Youtalkaboutnaturalchildbirth,youdhavethechildbehindabush!Youdbuildyourownhome,andwhodoyouthink

helped?Thelittlechildrenwouldhelp.Youwouldgrowyourowncrops,andwhodoyou

thinkhelped?Thelittlechildrenwouldhelp.Whatdochildrendotoday?Sitaroundanddonothingbutcrabandgetintrouble.Teachthemtowork!

Now,inourdayandageyouhavetolookforwork.Irememberasmychildrenweregrowingup,wehadacollegegarden.Wegrewfoodforthecollegeinordertosave

money.Mykidsdidntlikeit,butIloveditbecausetherewasonefulldayaweekwhen

theywereweeding,planting,harvesting,andeverythingelsewhentheyhadtowork.Yououghttobegladifwecanfindsomeweeding,mowing,orsomethinglikethat

aroundtheproperty.Dontletthemfuddle-duddlearound,begladforthemtodo

something.Wereraisinglazyreprobates!Iftheresanythingthatwereweakin,itsthisrighthere.Puthimwherehehastowork.Exposehimtodifficulties.Takethose

trainingwheelsawayfromhim.Lethimfalldown.

Weusedtohaveboxingeveryweek.Yousay,Ihateboxing.Idontlikeiteither.Imnogood.IfIgethitinthenose,Itearup,oh,Ihateit!Butwehadit.Jeffwouldgetin

therewithsomebody(andhewasalousyboxer;hehatedboxing),butyouknowhow

kidsare.Theykindofdancearound.Theydontsayanything,buttheyrethinking,Ifyoudonthitmehard,Iwonthityouhard.Idsay,IfIdontseeblood,yourenot

stopping.Forsomeofyouthisishard.Compareittowhatourforefatherswentthrough

astheymadethisgreatcountry.Weareasoftgeneration,andwereraisingasoftergeneration.Ifyoudothingslikethis,youllmakeamanoutofhim.Iillustratedwhat

Spurgeonsaid,butIguaranteeinhisdayhehadtougherthingsthanthisinmind.

CanyoubeagoodChristianandbelazy?No.Canyoubeagoodbusworkerandbe


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lazy?No.CanyoubeagoodChristianschoolteacherorSundaySchoolteacherandbelazy?No!Again,Illsaythenumberoneproblemwehavewithourcollegestudentsis

notgreatsin.Itisnttheacademics.Itslaziness.Itssoftness.Itsalackofcharacter.

BobJones,Sr.,usedtosay,Idratherseesomebodywithbadcharacterthanno

character.Atleastyoucanmakesomethingoutofsomebodywhohasbadcharacter.

But,no,theysleepinandcantevenwakeuptogettoclass.Theyrealwaysmakingexcuses.

Christianshavetheideathatiftheysay,Yes,sirandNo,maamandtheysmile,

everythingsokay.Theyvebeentaughttohaveaphonyfront.Godsayswellnot

succeedinthisworldexceptweknowhowtosweat,andwesinagainstourchildrenifwedontteachthemtowork.AlloverAmerica,especiallyinlargechurches,thereare

worthlesspeoplewithnicehaircutswhodressandtalklikefundamentalists.Youmay

lookatthemandsay,Man,theyvegotpotential.Theyvegotnothingbecausetheywerenevertrained.ListentothisquotefromTeddyRoosevelt:

Itisnotthecriticwhocounts;notthemanwhopointsouthowthestrongmanstumbles,orwherethedoerofdeedscouldhavedonethembetter.Thecredit

belongstothemanwhoisactuallyinthearena,whosefaceismarredbydustand

sweatandblood;whostrivesvaliantly;whoerrs,andcomesshortagainand

again;becausethereisnoteffortwithouterrorandshortcoming;butwhodoesactuallystrivetodothedeeds;whoknowsthegreatenthusiasms,thegreat

devotions;whospendshimselfinaworthycause,whoattheworst,ifhefails,at

leastfailswhiledaringgreatly,sothathisplaceshallneverbewiththosecoldandtimidsoulswhoknowneithervictorynordefeat.

Fourthly,weraiseupchildrentheBiblewaybylovingthemandspendingtimewiththem.MostpeopleknowthatBillySundayschildrenallwenttothedevil.LatelyIve

heardpeoplesaythatprovesGodspromisesabouttrainingupachildarentvalid.No,

hischildrensfailureprovesthatBillySundaydidntraiseuphischildrenaccordingtotheBible.Hediedofshockwhenanewspapermancamerunningupandshowedhima

front-pagestoryaboutoneofhiskidswhowasthrowninjailbecauseofwickedsin.D.L.

Moodysonesonwenttothedevil.HeputhiminchargeofhissecondschoolinMassachusetts.Theboygaveittothedevil.Overandoveragainwehearofpreachers

whosekidsgobad,andthedevilwhispersinourears,Ifhecantraisehiskids,thenI

cant.DontliftmanaboveGodsWord.GodsWordsaysyoucan.Ifhiskidswentbad,

itsbecauseheputhisdesires,hisambitions,infrontofhisfamily.

IlovetheillustrationofJohnR.Rice.Somebigshot(andIhatepushypeoplewho

thinktheyrebigshots)cameonaFridayafternoonandsaid,Ivegottoseeyou.Dr.Ricesaid,No,Ivegottoleave.Ihaveanimportantappointment.Themansaid,I

havetoseeyou.Youvegottoseeme.Dr.Ricesaid,No,thisisanappointmentthatI

cantbreak.TheybothleftandthisguyhappenedtodrivebyDr.Riceshomeandsawhimplayingwithhiskidsinhisyard.ThenexttimehesawDr.Ricehesaid,Yourea

liar.Yousaidyouhadsuchanimportantappointmentthatyoucouldntmeetwithme.

Dr.Ricesaid,No,Imnotaliar.Myappointmentwithmykidsisthemostimportant


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appointmentIhaveoftheweek.Ipracticedthatalso.

Youcantjustsayyourchildrenareimportant,youmustshowthemtheyreimportant.

EverytimeIseeaboyorgirlgobadoramarriagegobad,everytimeweveeverhada

kidreallygobadandIvehadachancetotalktohim,Iaskthatchild,Didyourdad

havedevotionswithyouonaregularbasis?Everysingletimetheanswerwas,No.Didyouhavefamilytimestogether?Everysingletimetheysaid,No.Areyou

listeningtome,Dad?Youvegottoshowyourkidsyoucare.Itsnotuptomom,itsuptoyou,Dad.Iftheresamaninthehome,itsuptohim.Yousay,Thatshard.No,its

nothard,notifyouloveyourchildren.

Idontlikeusingmyselfasanexample,butIlovedplanningthingsforourfamily.It

usedtothrillmetosetupfamilyactivities.Welldothis,welldothat,wellcutoutof

schoolhereandgotothezoo.YouNEVERhavetoconflictwiththechurch,butsometimesyoumayconflictwiththeschool.Ifyoudo,theschoolcomesinsecond.Im

notsayingjustcomeinlateallthetime.Especiallywhentheyreyoung,itseasytoplan

familytimes.Youpoppopcorn.Now,listen,youyoungcouples.Theyhavepopcornthatdoesntcomeinabag,andyouhavetogetoneoftheseshakers.Imnottalkingabouta

machineeither.Ashaker!Wehappenedtohaveafireplace,soitmadeitevenmoreold

fashioned.

Thatsallyouhavetodotohavefunwithsmallkids.Theyloveit.Theygiggleandthey

squeal,anditssomuchfun.

Theressomethingelseyoucando.Havepizza.Yousay,Wedothat.No,no,no,not

fromPizzaHut.Makeit.Yousee,thatswhatmakesitfun.Youmakeit.Yousay,Its

notasgoodasPizzaHut.Well,ithelpsyourdiet.ThethingIlikedthemostwasmakingsundaes.Yougettheicecream.Itdependsonhowmuchmoneyyouhave,whetheryou

havevanillaandchocolateandstrawberry,whetheryoucangetsomewhippedcreamina

can,orwhatever.Itmakesamessbecausetheymakeit.But,boy,dotheyhavefun.Idontknowwhatitis,buttheressomethingspecialaboutmomanddadtakingtime

withthekidsanddoingsimplethings.Likeapicnic.Parentsalwayssay,Idonthave

money.Ifyouhavetospendmoneyonit,itsprobablynotthebestactivity.Peoplesay,Wehaveourfamilynight.Wewatchvideos.Oh,comeon.Goonapicnic,andjust

spendthemoneyyouwouldhaveonameal.GetAldishotdogsandday-oldbread!You

donthavetohavemoney.Youhavetohaveheart.Youhavetoloveenoughtoplan.You

goonthatpicnicandyouplayKicktheCan.Youbuythesegadgetstomakesmoreswith.Or,youhikeandgetlost.Ialwaysgotlost,andmygirlswouldcryandIdcarry

themonmyback.DoyouunderstandthepointImmaking?Ibelieveinavacationa

timewhenyouallpileintothecar.Youdonthavetogoanyplacefancy,butIwouldsuggestthatyoualwaysdonthavetogotorelativeshouseseither.Youcangetatent.

Youcancamp.

Raiseupachildinthewayheshouldgo,andIbelievethathellnotdepartfromit.It

takesdiscipline,ittakesteachingtheWordofGod(youteachingtheWordofGodand

Christianity),teachingthemhowtowork,andshowingthemyoulovethem.RememberI


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saidthatlovewithoutdisciplinemakesabrat?Letmetellyousomethingelsedisciplinewithoutlovemakesarebel.Kidslookforlove.Youmightsay,Idont

communicatewell.Imnotthebestatiteitherbutatleastwritethemnotes.Iloveyou.

ThisiswhyIloveyou.Imprayingforyou.Theylookforthingslikethat.

IhavetoconfessthatImaveryprivatepersonandIdidntshowtheaffectionthatIwishIhadtowardmywifeinfrontofmychildren.ButwhenIdid,whenIkissedmywife

whentheywerearound,evenwhentheywereteenagers,youknowwhattheydid?Hee,hee,hee.Oh,ho,ho.Lookatmomanddad.Theylikedit.Itsaidsomething.Iusedto

pickherupandIwouldtwirlheraround.Andthekidswouldgo,Ha,ha,ha.Hee,hee,

hee.YouknowwhatIthinkthissaid?Allswellwithmomanddad.Allswellinourhome.Kidslookforaffection.Theylooktoseeifyoucare.

Youcanraisechildrenupright.Istress,dontraisethemuptogointofull-timeservice,Godwilltakecareofthat.Asyourpastor,Idontthinkthoseinfull-timeserviceareany

betterthanthosewhoarenot.Wepaymoreattentiontothembecausewesendthemto

themissionfieldandwehavetotrainthem.ButIlltellyoufromthebottomofmyheart,Idontthinkanymoreoffull-timeworkersthananyothergoodkid.Trainthemupto

loveGodandtoliveforGod.Whenyougettobemyage,itwillmakeyourlifeoritwill

breakyourlife.TotheproportionthatyouraisethemupforGod,thatwillbeyour

amountofjoyfromthetimetheyleaveyourhome.

Peoplesaytheylovebabiesbutnottheterribletwos,andtherottenthrees.Weve

hadspeakerssay,Whentheygettobeteenagers,youwanttoputtheminacage.Preachersevenpreachonthatinthesensethatitstobeexpected.Thatswrong.It

shouldgetbetter.Yousee,whenachildisalittletinybaby,hesgoingtocryattimes.

Butashegetstobeoneyearold,youcanbegintodisciplinehim.Attwoyearsold,forsure,heoughttobewellundercontrol.Itshouldntgetworse.Ifitsworse,itsyour

fault.

Whentheygettobeteenagersitshouldbeajoyfultime,anexcitingtimeastheyblossom

forGod.Thenwhentheygetmarriedandtheypicktherightmate,andtheystarthaving

childrenandyouseethemraisingtheirchildrenbetterthanyouraisedthem(andthatsthewayitoughttobe),itgetsmorewonderfulallthetime.Idontwanttolivelong

exceptforonethingIdliketoseemygrandkidsgrowupandliveforGod.Canyou

thinkofanythingmorewonderfulthanthat?Toseeabout10or12ofyourgrandkidsall

livingforGod.Therecouldnotbeagreaterblessing!

Documents

How to Raise Godly Children Voegtlin Sermon