Train Your Children in the Way of the Lord Children are gifts from God. They are not only to be fed, clothed, and educated in worldly things, but they must also be trained in the fear, wisdom, and knowledge of God. In today’s world, many children are growing without godly direction, and this has brought pain to families and society. God is calling parents, guardians, and the church to raise children in His way. Training a child in the way of the Lord is not optional; it is a divine responsibility. A child left without godly training may grow into confusion, rebellion, and destruction. But a child trained in God’s way becomes a blessing to the family, the church, and the nation. What Does It Mean to Train a Child in the Way of the Lord? It means to teach, guide, correct, discipline, and model the life of Christ before them. It means helping them to know God, love His Word, obey His commands, and live a holy life. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children…” God wants His Word to be taught to children continually, not occasionally. Why Must We Train Our Children in the Way of the Lord? 1. Because children belong to God Psalm 127:3 “Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.” Children are God’s heritage. They are entrusted into our hands for proper nurturing and spiritual development. 2. Because the world is full of evil influences 1 Corinthians 15:33 “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” If parents do not train their children, the world will train them. Bad friends, immoral media, wrong teachings, and ungodly environments can destroy a child’s future. 3. Because godly training builds a strong foundation Matthew 7:24-25 “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man…” A child trained in God’s Word will have a solid foundation that can withstand temptation, trials, and pressure. 4. Because it brings peace and joy to parents Proverbs 29:17 “Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.” A well-trained child becomes a source of joy, not sorrow. How to Train Your Children in the Way of the Lord 1. Teach them the Word of God Children must be taught the Scriptures from an early age. 2 Timothy 3:15 “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation…” Let them know Bible stories, memory verses, prayers, and the commandments of God. 2. Lead by example Children learn more from what they see than from what they hear. 1 Timothy 4:12 “…be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” Parents must live the life they want their children to follow. You cannot teach holiness and live in sin before them. 3. Discipline them with love Discipline is part of godly training. Proverbs 13:24 “He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.” Correction should not be done in anger or wickedness, but in love, wisdom, and for the child’s good. 4. Pray for your children always Prayer is one of the greatest gifts parents can give to their children. Job 1:5 Job continually prayed and sanctified his children. Parents must pray for their salvation, protection, wisdom, and destiny. 5. Bring them to the house of God Teach children to love fellowship, worship, and the presence of God. Psalm 122:1 “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.” Do not let children grow up seeing church as punishment or burden. 6. Teach them obedience and respect Children must be taught to obey God and honor authority. Ephesians 6:1-3 “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother…” Obedience is one of the first signs of godly training. Biblical Examples of Godly Training 1. Hannah trained Samuel 1 Samuel 1:27-28 Hannah dedicated Samuel to God, and he became a great prophet. 2. Lois and Eunice trained Timothy 2 Timothy 1:5 Timothy’s mother and grandmother passed sincere faith into him. 3. Joseph and Mary cared for Jesus Luke 2:52 Jesus grew in wisdom, stature, and favor because He was raised under godly care. Consequences of Failing to Train Children in God’s Way 1. Rebellion 1 Samuel 2:12 The sons of Eli became corrupt because they were not properly restrained. 2. Shame and sorrow Proverbs 29:15 “A child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.” 3. Destruction of destiny When children are not trained in the way of God, they may lose direction and ruin their future. Benefits of Training Children in the Way of the Lord 1. They will fear God 2. They will grow in wisdom 3. They will become responsible adults 4. They will bring honor to the family 5. They will stand strong in times of temptation Proverbs 20:7 “The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.” Message to Parents Parents must not hand over the total training of their children to schools, society, phones, television, or the internet. Your child’s spiritual growth is your responsibility before God. Start early, be consistent, be prayerful, and never give up. Conclusion Training children in the way of the Lord is one of the greatest investments a parent can make. Money can be lost and recovered, but when a child’s life is destroyed through lack of training, the pain can be deep. Raise your children to know God, to fear Him, to obey Him, and to walk in righteousness. When they grow, they will remember the truth you planted in them. Proverbs 22:6 remains the foundation: “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Prayer Points Father, give me wisdom to train my children in Your way. Lord, let my children love You and serve You all their lives. Every evil influence over my children, be destroyed in Jesus’ name. Father, help me to be a godly example before my children. My children shall not depart from the way of the Lord in Jesus’ name. Pastor Abiodun Kadri #TrainYourChildrenInTheWayOfTheLord #GodlyParenting #ChristianParenting #Proverbs226 #RaiseGodlyChildren #FamilyInChrist #BiblicalParenting #ChildrenOfGod #ParentingWithPurpose #TeachThemGodsWord

↘️ S*x Ed Reclaimed_ is for… ▪️Parents who want to speak first ▪️Homeschool families looking for biblically rooted tools ▪️Caregivers who want to protect innocence _without avoiding truth_ ▪️Anyone who believes God’s design is good — and worth explaining well 💁 You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to be willing. #SexEdReclaimed #FaithBasedParenting #ChristianSexEd #BiblicalParenting #TeachTruth #EquipTheNextGen #ProtectInnocence #HomeschoolTools #StartTheConversation

Mothering: Don’t Be Like Rebekah Motherhood is a sacred trust from God. Mothers are divinely positioned to nurture faith, shape character, and guide destinies. However, Scripture honestly presents both positive and negative examples so that we may learn wisdom. Rebekah, the wife of Isaac and mother of Esau and Jacob, is one such example. Though chosen by God and favored with prophetic insight, her actions in Genesis 27 reveal serious errors that modern parents—especially mothers—must avoid. This sermon is not to condemn Rebekah, but to instruct believers on how not to parent, especially when dealing with destiny, favoritism, manipulation, and impatience with God’s process. BACKGROUND: WHO WAS REBEKAH? Rebekah was a woman of faith and courage (Genesis 24). God spoke to her directly concerning the future of her unborn sons: “Two nations are in thy womb… and the elder shall serve the younger.” (Genesis 25:23) However, knowing God’s will is not the same as trusting God’s way. Rebekah made the mistake of helping God through deception. LESSONS FROM REBEKAH: DON’T BE LIKE HER 1. Don’t Practice Favoritism Among Children “And Isaac loved Esau… but Rebekah loved Jacob.” (Genesis 25:28) Rebekah openly favored Jacob. This favoritism divided the family and planted seeds of hatred and rivalry. Favoritism destroys unity and damages destinies. God commands parents to love their children impartially (Colossians 3:21). 2. Don’t Manipulate Destiny Through Deception. Rebekah devised a plan for Jacob to steal Esau’s blessing by lying to Isaac (Genesis 27:6–17). God’s promises do not require sinful methods. What God has ordained, He will bring to pass without deceit. “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5) 3. Don’t Encourage Children to Sin for Success Rebekah coached Jacob on how to lie and disguise himself. “Upon me be thy curse, my son: only obey my voice.” (Genesis 27:13) Parents must never teach children that the end justifies the means. Spiritual success achieved through sin invites sorrow. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” (Galatians 6:7) 4. Don’t Undermine God-Ordained Authority Instead of trusting God to work through Isaac, Rebekah went behind her husband’s back. God values order in the family. Undermining authority creates long-term chaos and regret. 5. Don’t Rush God’s Timing Though Jacob was destined to lead, Rebekah rushed the process, leading to painful consequences: Jacob fled from home Rebekah never saw Jacob again Family unity was destroyed Impatience can delay or complicate destiny. Waiting on God is always safer than helping God. “He that believeth shall not make haste.” (Isaiah 28:16) CONSEQUENCES OF REBEKAH’S ACTIONS ** Family division (Genesis 27:41) ** Jacob’s exile (Genesis 27:43) ** Lifelong sorrow ** Loss of peace in the home Even when God’s purpose prevailed, Rebekah paid a heavy emotional price. POSITIVE CONTRAST: WHAT MOTHERS SHOULD DO INSTEAD -- Pray, not plot (1 Samuel 1:10–11) -- Guide children in truth, not tricks (Proverbs 22:6) -- Trust God’s sovereignty over children’s future (Psalm 127:3–5) -- Teach integrity, patience, and faith CONCLUSION Rebekah teaches us a powerful lesson: Good intentions do not excuse wrong actions. God does not need manipulation, favoritism, or deception to fulfill His promises. Mothers are called to be mentors of truth, models of faith, and guardians of integrity. Let every mother say: “I will trust God with my children’s destiny and not interfere with His process.” CALL TO REFLECTION Are you favoring one child over another? Are you pushing destiny through unhealthy means? Are you trusting God or trying to control outcomes? Return to God’s way today. PRAYER Lord, help us to parent according to Your wisdom. Deliver us from favoritism, manipulation, and impatience. Teach us to trust You fully with the destinies You have placed in our hands. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Pastor Abiodun Kadri #ChristianMotherhood #ParentingGodsWay #TrustGodsProcess #BiblicalParenting #IntegrityInTheHome #FaithOverFavoritism #MothersWithPurpose #LetGodLead

↘️ S*x Ed Reclaimed_ is for… ▪️Parents who want to speak first ▪️Homeschool families looking for biblically rooted tools ▪️Caregivers who want to protect innocence _without avoiding truth_ ▪️Anyone who believes God’s design is good — and worth explaining well 💁 You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to be willing. #SexEdReclaimed #FaithBasedParenting #ChristianSexEd #BiblicalParenting #TeachTruth #EquipTheNextGen #ProtectInnocence #HomeschoolTools #StartTheConversation

↘️ S*x Ed Reclaimed_ is for… ▪️Parents who want to speak first ▪️Homeschool families looking for biblically rooted tools ▪️Caregivers who want to protect innocence _without avoiding truth_ ▪️Anyone who believes God’s design is good — and worth explaining well 💁 You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to be willing. #SexEdReclaimed #FaithBasedParenting #ChristianSexEd #BiblicalParenting #TeachTruth #EquipTheNextGen #ProtectInnocence #HomeschoolTools #StartTheConversation