TEXT:  Jer. 17:1-4

INTRODUCTION:

A.      THE DEGENERATE CONDITION OF JUDAH.

          1.       Josiah’s reform – shallow and short-lived.

          2.       Immediate return to idolatry after Josiah’s death.

B.      “YOU WERE RAISED BETTER THAN THAT.”

          1.       How important is our role in our children’s upbringing?

          2.       Will we not be held responsible for how they turn out?

I.      THE POWER OF INFLUENCE.

A.      WE ALL POSSESS INFLUENCE( Rom. 14:7 ).  SOMEONE IS WATCHING.

B.      MAY BE GOOD OR BAD, NOT BOTH AT THE SAME TIME( Matt. 12:30 ).

C.      YOU CAN'T LOSE IT, EVEN IN DEATH( Heb. 11:4;  Rev. 14:13 ).

D.      Eph. 5:1.  WHY DOES THIS VERSE MAKE SENSE – KIDS IMITATE PARENTS.

II.     TEACH YOUR CHILDREN WELL.

A.      ABRAHAM CHOSEN FOR THIS REASON( Gen. 18:19 ).

B.      TIME TO BEND SOME TWIGS (Prov. 22:6).

C.      A LABOR OF LOVE.

          1.       Teaching young mothers (Titus 2:4)

          2.       Fatherly concerns (Eph. 6:4).

                   a.       Chastening (Prov. 22:15;  23:13-14;  13:24;  Heb. 12:7-13).

                   b.       Admonitions – Instruction (Deut. 6:6-7).

          3.       Wise children listen( Prov. 3:1-2 ).

D.      RIGHTEOUSNESS IMMERSION (Deut. 6:4-9).

III.    THE HATEFUL CONDITION IN JUDAH.

A.      JUDAH’S CHILDREN SUBJECTED TO SIN IMMERSION.

          1.       False Reform (Jer. 3:10).

          2.       The forsaking of God (Jer. 2:13, 32).

          3.       Rampant idolatry (Jer. 2:26-27).

          4.       The abomination of human sacrifice (Jer. 16:10-12;  7:31).

B.      WHAT DO KIDS SEE AS NATURAL? (Eph. 2:1-3;  4:17-19).

C.      PRECIOUS MEMORIES?  ( Jer. 17:1-2 ).

C.      HOW DO KIDS EXPOSED TO EVIL TURN OUT?

          1.       Children learn the evil (Hosea 4:11-14)

          2.       Unfamiliar with the truth, they cannot even discuss it? (Neh. 13:23-27).

IV    2 Kings 20:15.  WHAT DO YOUR CHILDREN SEE AT HOME?

A.      A REVERENCE AND LOVE FOR GOD (Matt. 22:37-40 ).

B.      A LOVE FOR HIS WORD ( Psa. 1:2-3 ).

C.      CONSECRATION TO GOOD ( 1 Thess. 5:17 ).

D.      RIGHT PRIORITIES ( Matt. 6:33 ).  Important choices ( Josh 24:15 ).

E.      HEARTS TOO BUSY FOR WORLDLINESS( Phil. 4:8 ).

F.      A GOOD PARENTAL EXAMPLE IN ALL THESE THINGS( Eph. 5:1 ).

CONCLUSION:

A.      WE HAVE A JOB TO DO ( 1 Tim. 5:8).

B.      IN WHAT TERMS DID GOD PUT THE CALL TO REPENT? (Mal. 4:4-6)