Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Several years ago, I had the privilege of preaching in a chapel service for New England Baptist College in Southington.

Afterward I was to host a question and answer session attended by young preacher boys.

Once the introduction was completed and Dr. Barry Brown turned the podium over to me and the floor was open for questions, a brief period of awkward silence was broken by one young man’s very interesting question.

He was contemplating the incredible task of leading a church full of different passions, backgrounds, and opinions.

I will never forget his question.

“Pastor Carpenter, how do you make people do things that they do not want to do?”

This simple question helped me think through some life changing truths.

We will spend the rest of our time together exploring and answering this question.

When you break down the job of parenting, does it not seem that this question strikes at the heart of a parent’s job… to get little Johnny or Jane to OBEY!

To do what we want them to do, and to ben their rebellious wills to our protective and benevolent wills for them.

Raising Children in the 21st century brings new twists to an old challenge.

How do I shape the will and behavior of my child, or grandchild, niece, or nephew, or Sunday school student?

Our text verse is often quoted and often misunderstood by believing parents.

Many parents feel or and have been taught to feel that they must MAKE their children comply!

If they wander off from what their parents have taught, the parents believe that they have failed.

Parents teach and teach and teach, yet the willful children still do not learn… what is wrong?

The Bible PROMISES that if we but teach them, they will not depart right?

Every word of God is inspired, not just the thoughts.

Our text verse does not command us to teach only.

We are commanded to TRAIN.

TRAIN =

to direct the growth of (a plant) usually by bending, pruning, and tying

[Middle English, from Anglo-French trainer, from Vulgar Latin *traginare; akin to Latin trahere to draw] verb transitive 15th century

2: to direct the growth of (a plant) usually by bending, pruning, and tying

to form by instruction, discipline, or drill

to teach so as to make fit, qualified, or proficient

Merriam-Webster, I. (2003).

Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary.

(Eleventh ed.).

Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, Inc.

You can TEACH all day long, but that does not always get the heart of the matter.

How do I get someone to do something that they do not want to do?

The short answer is that you can’t!

If God has chosen not to override one’s free will, you certainly will not be able to.

So the key then in not how to force someone to comply, but how to motivate our kids to choose to do right.

Today we will discover three life changing principles that will help us to motivate children to choose to change their behavior.

These will be key to raising a 21st century child.

Merriam-Webster, I. (2003).

Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary.

(Eleventh ed.).

Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, Inc.

I. God Has Given Children Free Will.

God does not force us to believe or comply against our will.

Jeremiah 6:16-17

Yet God the Father seeks to influence our choices.

Yet God’s word seeks to influence our choices

The story of the prodigal son shows us that God is always ready for us to choose to come to him, to choose to repent and do right, no matter how long we have chosen to ignore his teaching and pleading.... no matter how low our rock bottom is.

Children Can Be Motivated to Choose Right When they Learn and Live.

This is the beginning of training, but not all of training.

Learn the truth then pass it down

Train a Child… while they still can be taught, guided, and motivated.

While there is hope of change.

Make it part of your every day, every moment routine.

Children Can Be Motivated To Choose Right When They Live and Learn.

God has set a universal law of consequences to help children choose their actions.

Consequences must be tied to actions early, while there is hope of change.,

Corporal punishment is a tool to help tie consequences to actions.

The consequences must not fluctuate on mood or anger, but on the actions themselves.

When consequences are tied to actions, we demonstrate our love for that child.

The consequences

prov 13

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prov

Consequences can be tied to actions even when corporal punishment is no longer the best choice.

God uses consequences to motivate behavioral change in His children.

When our children become adolescent or even adults still living in our household, the training has not stopped… only modified.

We must still allow consequences to be tied to actions.

We must not get in the way of God’s hand of chastening that may be leveled at our children.

We must realize that:

God has given our children free will

That will can be modified when they LEARN AND LIVE

That will can be modified when they LIVE AND LEARN

Therefore we must use these tools to raise children in the 21st Century.