And if you wanna open your Bibles, we're gonna be looking at a number of scriptures this morning, but you can turn to the book of Luke in chapter one. Luke chapter one. As we have celebrated this week the birth of Christ, God becoming flesh, the theological term for that is the incarnation. Karnas, the word for flesh. God taking upon himself human flesh He was born, as we're told in the Word, and as Ron Hamilton put to music, he was born to die. He was born that he might live a sinless life and die a substitutionary death for us. And that's what his life is about. But his life does provide an example for us to follow. His life is not about an example. He didn't just come to be an example. He came to be our Savior. But he does give us an example of how to live. Paul wrote to the Corinthian church, be followers of me as I follow Christ. Imitate me as I seek to imitate Christ. Paul would write to the Philippian church, let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus. Be like Christ, think like Christ, live like Christ. So there are things that we can learn from his life. as long as we don't make that the focus, that it's all just about being an example. But what I wanna do this morning is look at the years before Christ's public ministry began, as Jesus is growing up in the home of Mary and Joseph, and see an example of what a godly home should look like. And I wanna focus, as we begin this morning, on just thinking about Mary and Joseph's character and their conduct, and what they, display for us about godly parents. Because parents establish a godly home. It begins with the parents. And by the way, if you are not a parent this morning, don't tune out because there are things that just because you're not a parent doesn't mean that you can't be a godly woman or a godly man. And so there are things for everybody. If your children are already grown, you say, I'm a parent, but I don't have any children in the home. Well, maybe you're a grandparent or You're an example to others. There are things that we can learn by looking at what we're told about their lives that will help us. They were not perfect, and we will not live life perfectly, but we can strive to be the foundation of a godly home. We, first of all, know, thinking about Mary, that she was saved, that she was a believer. And of course, a godly home begins with saved parents, parents who have entrusted Christ as Savior. In Luke 1 and verse 46, as Mary gives her song of praise, as she has gone to the home of Zechariah and Elizabeth, and she is rejoicing in the privilege that she has been given to be the mother of the Savior. And so she begins her hymn of praise, my soul that magnify the Lord. And then she says this, my spirit hath rejoiced in God, my Savior. And she acknowledges the fact that she indeed needed a Savior, that God was her Savior. Though Jesus came, He had not yet died, she understood as much as the Old Testament believers could understand of the coming Messiah who would be the sacrifice for sin. She recognized her sin and her need of salvation, and that God was the one in whom salvation was found. And so she recognizes and acknowledges that she is in need of salvation and has trusted Christ as Savior. But we also find that not only was she saved, but she was submitted to the Lord. Back earlier in the chapter is Gabriel comes to announce to her that she is going to be the mother of the Messiah. And she recognizes this and when she comes to understand that despite the fact that she's a virgin, God is going to work a miracle in her womb and she would indeed bear the Christ child, God incarnate. Then she says in verse 38 of Luke chapter one, behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it unto me according to thy word. She acknowledges the fact that she is a servant of the Lord. She's the handmaid of the Lord. That he is the Lord over her life. That he is the authority. That's what the word means. Behold the handmaid of the Lord. Recognizing God's authority in her life. That God has a right to use her in whatever way he would choose. On a Wednesday night, a couple weeks ago, we were just kind of looking at Zechariah and Elizabeth. I don't know if I had the opportunity to really make this point, but why Mary and Joseph? Why Zachariah and Elizabeth? They weren't the only ones in Israel in those days that would have qualified to be the parents of John the Baptist or the Lord Jesus. They were the ones that God chose. Why them? Because God chose them. We read this morning in Romans chapter 12 that we've all been given gifts. We don't all have the same gifts. We all have the same Lord. If we know Christ as Savior, we have a Lord over our lives. God is the Lord. He is the master. He has the right to call the shots in our life. And he has determined how he would use us and what he would have us do. And our response to God should be like Mary's, behold the handmaid of the Lord or behold the servant of the Lord. Lord, I am yours to be used in whatever way you choose. I'll serve you in whatever capacity you choose. You know, I'm reminded of what John the Baptist said in John chapter 3, it's recorded, I believe it's verse 10, where the Lord Jesus began his public ministry, and people began to follow him, and they were leaving John to follow Jesus. And John's disciples came, and they were concerned about that, and they questioned that with John, and, John, aren't you concerned about this? And his response was, he must increase, I must decrease. He said, it's not about me, it's about him. And if glorifying him means that I lose this ministry. Well, that's what it's all about. John was raised up to prepare people for the coming of Jesus. And once Jesus came, John's ministry is effectively over and he decreases. Sometimes in our life, God gives us, may give us an opportunity of service for a window of time. And then he takes that away. And we should say like, John, he must increase and I must decrease. It's not about me. I'm thankful for every opportunity God gives me to serve, but it's not about me. And when He chooses to take that away or diminish it or whatever, it's not about me, it's about Him. When the job that He gives me to do is a difficult one, Mary's going to suffer in being the Savior. Her reputation is called into question. She has to see the suffering of her son, and though he was the Lord, he was God come in the flesh, Mary is still a mother. She has a mother's heart, and as she sees the things that Jesus goes through, it touches her heart, it grieves her heart. She's a mother, and that was part of the price that she paid for being the one who would bear the Christ child. And sometimes The path that God chooses for us is not an easy path. It's not a pleasant path. But if it is the path that God has chosen, we like Mary should just say, Lord, I'm your servant to be used in whatever way you choose. You know, as parents, as grandparents, Our children, our grandchildren need to see that having come to know Christ as Savior, that we are indeed submitted to Him, that we are striving to have Him direct our lives, that we are satisfied with however God chooses to use us and whatever God brings into our life. Let me use this illustration, and I hope I don't get myself in trouble for doing this, but many of you know Debbie's parents. Her father served as interim pastor here for a year, and many of you got to know them. Her mother now has the beginnings of dementia. And so we're, you know, struggling with that and keeping up with that and dealing with that. And her father especially is, you know, day-to-day dealing with that. It's not severe right now, thankfully. She also has some issues with her eyes, and she may possibly lose her eyesight. They're trying to, she's giving her treatments that hopefully will prevent that, but her eyesight is not what it was. And yet, in it all, her heart and her spirit is the Lord's in control and I'm just trusting Him day by day. That's Mary. That's that heart that says, you know what, God's in control and this is what He's chosen and it's okay. And I can trust Him with that. So Mary is, she's saved, she's submitted to the Lord and she's a student of the Word. When you read that hymn of praise, her song of praise there in Luke 1, beginning in verse 46, and it goes down through verse 55, and we won't read it all this morning, but when you look at that, and you read it and you understand, it suggests that she has a knowledge of the word of God. Someone said that her song is saturated with Old Testament ideas. It's modeled on Hannah's song in 1 Samuel. She has an understanding and knowledge of the word. She doesn't have the Bible. She didn't have the Bible like we do. She couldn't just pick up her Bible and read it like we can, but she was faithful in her attendance at the temple and hearing the Word taught and And whatever access she had to the Word, she was spending time in the Word, knowing the Word, and knowing the God of the Word. She knew the Lord. She said in that song, as she spoke of Him, that He is mighty, that He is holy, that He is merciful, that He is powerful, that He is just, that He is faithful, that He is eternal. She understood all those things about God. because she knew the Word of God, and so knew the God of the Word. And what ought to be true in all of our lives, and especially as parents, as grandparents, as men and women who are examples to a younger generation is coming behind us, they need to know that we are serious about getting to know the Word of God. You need to be in the Word regularly. and not just reading it to check off the list to say that I've read it, but getting to know God's word. Right now I'm reading through the book of Proverbs in my devotions and as I began this, Proverbs can be a difficult, it can be a challenging book because there's so much there and it moves around so much and as I began reading it, I wasn't getting much, I'll be honest. I was just reading it, but I was gonna press on, and I wasn't getting much. But I had neglected to do something that I regularly do, and that is write as I read. And so I pulled out my notebook, and I began to, instead of just reading, And so I'm going through each chapter in Proverbs, and I'm looking for the truths that maybe hit home to me at that point. And I'm writing those verses down in my notebook. And it's amazing how much difference it made. And all of a sudden, I'm not just reading words. All of a sudden, I'm getting the sense of it. I would encourage you to write when you read. As you have your devotions, keep a notebook. and fill it up, write things God impresses upon you, write verses of scripture, write things. I did something this morning I've never done before. I don't, I say never, maybe I have, but I don't like written prayers. But I was reading a psalm this morning, and it just suggested a prayer, and I wrote out in my devotional notebook, I wrote a prayer based on this psalm. There's many ways you can take what you learn from the Word of God, but writing it down just helps. And I would encourage you to do that. Get in the Word regularly, write things down, and it'll help you concentrate and get a blessing while you're there, and you can always go back and look at it again later and renew that blessing or remind yourself of what you found. And so she's a student of the Word of God, and so she knows the God of the Word. And then, I don't think I'm reading into the text this. I think she is a serious and stable individual. And let me say this for ladies, for young ladies. She's not flighty or flirty. Now there's a place for flirting with your husband, flirting with your wife. But remember, Mary at this point is probably a teenager, but she's not a boy crazy teenager. She is a serious-minded child of God who knows God, who is submitted to God, who is seeking to walk with God. She, again, recognizes her position before God. She says in verse 48 of Luke chapter one, the Lord has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. She's humble before the Lord. She has a reflective turn of mind and we read, chapter 2 and verse 19 as the shepherds come and they tell all about the angels and everything and they go away and the Bible says that Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart she thought about what's going on here you know obviously she's aware God is at work here and she's thinking about this and she's trying to understand fully all that God is doing In chapter 2 and verse 51, as Jesus, at 12 years of age, stays behind at the temple and Mary and Joseph realize that he's not with them as they're going home, so they go back and they find him and he, you know, what are you doing? Don't you know that we were worried about you? And he said, don't you know that I must be about my father's business? And they didn't fully understand that, but she, it says in verse 51 of Luke chapter 2, kept all these sayings in her heart. She's thinking about it. She has a serious bent to life. And it doesn't mean that as a believer we can't have a good time or can't have a sense of humor. That's all part of it. But there should be a seriousness and a stability to our life as believers. Mary had that. And I think she was strong, again, I'm taking what I see in the text and drawing from it what I think is probably true, that later in the life of Christ, after he has begun his public ministry, there's a point where Jesus is, he is teaching the multitudes, and he's so engaged in his ministry that the Bible says he didn't even have time to eat. And Mary and his brothers and sisters find out about it, and they're coming. They think that something's wrong with him, that he's mentally unstable. And they're coming to get him and to take him and try to get him some help. But Mary's the one that leads a delegation to go get him. Now, she doesn't fully understand at that point. She does come to appreciate and understand his ministry, but at that point, not fully. But she's leading that delegation. Probably at this point, Joseph is dead. We never read about him again after the birth narrative, so probably he didn't live into Jesus' adult life. In John chapter two, we have the account of the turning of water into wine, and Mary is the one who takes the lead. She comes to Jesus and says, here's the problem, take care of it. I sense in those things that there's a strength to Mary. that she's a strong woman. And you can have strength and still be a submissive wife and a godly mother and still be a strong individual. And I think we see that in Mary. And I think certainly because of the kind of godly woman that she was, she would have been submitted to her husband as well, despite her strength of character. But what about Joseph? Joseph also was a believer. He's referred in Matthew 1.19, he's referred to as a just man, that's speaking of his salvation. He's a compassionate man. When he believes that Mary has been unfaithful, he could have dealt harshly with her, but instead he chooses to treat her with kindness and compassion. Guys, how do you treat your wife? How do you treat your, maybe even your daughters? Are you harsh, unkind, unloving? The Bible says that husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the church, that we should have a kindness and a compassion as we deal with our wives, as we might deal with our all of our children, but our daughters. In 1 Peter 3 and verse 7, Peter writes, husbands, dwell with your wives according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife as unto the weaker vessel, and being heirs together to the grace of life, that your prayers be not hindered. How we treat our wives impacts our spiritual life. It does matter how we treat them and how we speak to them and how we take care of them. It matters. Joseph was also a student of the word. He knew what the law said concerning dealing with an unfaithful wife. They, when Jesus was born, and there were sacrifices to be made at the temple, and the circumcision the eighth day, Joseph understood all that, and he took care of that. He's a steady individual. Jesus is referred to as the carpenter's son. Joseph was of the line of David and would have been king, but he wasn't. But again, he's not bemoaning his fate, but faithfully applying his trade as a carpenter to provide for himself and his family. He's taking care of his family. He's taking that responsibility seriously. 1 Timothy 5, 8 says, if any provide not for his own, especially those of his own house, he's denied the faith and is worse than an infidel. As the men in the home, it's our responsibility to provide for our family, to take care of them, to be that steady leader and provider in our home as much as we are able to do so, and not be dissatisfied. Doing what we have to do. Sometimes that's not always pleasant, but we have a responsibility before God to take care of our families, and we need to do that. And Joseph was that kind of man. And he, too, is submitted to the Lord. We read over and over again that, you know, as Joseph again believes that Mary's been unfaithful to him, but the angel of the Lord comes to him and says, no, that God is doing a supernatural miracle in Mary's life and she's going to bear the Christ child and you need to take her as your wife. And he did so. And then when this wise man left and Herod's ready to kill the babies, and the angel of the Lord comes to him and says, go take the mother and the child to Egypt, and he does that, and the angel of the Lord comes and says, now it's time to go back to Israel, and he does that, he's following the leading of the Lord. Like Mary, he's submitted to the Lord, and as the Lord is directing his life, he is doing everything that the Lord tells him to do. And by the way, each act of obedience fulfilled prophecies concerning the Messiah. You think about that. how important it was for Joseph to obey the angel of the Lord every step of the way because Jesus had to fulfill all the Old Testament prophecies concerning his first coming and that involved Mary and Joseph doing some things under the guidance of the Lord and they did that. We never know how a single act of obedience to God is going to be used of God to impact others or to fulfill his purpose, not only in our lives, but in the lives of others. We all always know what God is doing. I don't know that Joseph understood fully all that God was doing, but he was obedient step by step by step. And again, there's an example for us in our obedience to Christ, not only to say, Lord, I'm yours to be used however you choose, but as you lead me and as you show me your will, I will do that. trusting that you have a reason for everything you ask of me. And even if I don't always understand it, I know that you have a purpose and you're working that purpose out and I want to be obedient. And I do think Joseph provided spiritual leadership. They brought him Luke 2.22 tells us that they brought him to Jerusalem. When the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. In verse 33, as Simeon speaks about the Lord Jesus, Joseph and his mother marveled at those things which were spoken of him. In verse 41, we read that his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. Joseph is providing spiritual leadership in his home. Guys, that is a responsibility God has given to us. We are to be the spiritual leaders in our homes. Ephesians 6, 4 says, and ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath, but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. You know, as Sunday morning rolls around, it shouldn't be the wife and mother that says, we need to get ready and get to church. Dad should be the one The husband should be the one to take the lead and say, you know, we're gonna get ready, we're going to church today. And it should never be a question, unless there's some extenuation. Obviously, sometimes we're sick, you might have to work, but barring something unusual, it shouldn't be a question of, are we going to church today? It should be, we are going to church today, and guys, we need to take the lead in that. It's not your wife's job, it's not mom's job to see that you and the kids are in church. And don't send them. Take them. Provide the leadership in being faithful to the house of God. Provide the leadership about spiritual things in the home. You should be initiating spiritual conversations with your wife and with your children. Again, that shouldn't just come from your wife, or it shouldn't be non-existent in our homes. There should be spiritual conversations that take place there. And husbands, dads, we should be leading the way in that. Talking to our children about spiritual things, teaching them the things of God. Teaching them the Bible. Take the lead in providing discipline when it's needed. Not abuse. But biblical discipline, as needed, should not be left to the mother, but should be provided by the father. Now, sometimes, obviously, mom has to be the one to do it. It should be under the leadership of the father, and mom and dad should be in agreement on what's taking place. And while sometimes you may have to submit to your husband, I wouldn't do it this way, but he's the one that's answerable to God, and so I'm gonna follow his lead, trusting God and understanding that he's the one that has the accountability before God. more so than me. You have an accountability as far as your opportunity goes, but he is the one who ultimately is responsible before God for what goes on in that home. It's not an easy task. To be a parent is not easy. To be a husband and a father is not easy. To be a mother is not easy. But we need to be setting the example. A family is built on the foundation of godly parents. I think it's summed up in Deuteronomy chapter 6 where we read, beginning in verse 4, Here, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord, and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words which I command thee this day shall be in thine heart. There is the parents, the husband and wife, taking the lead, knowing the Word of God, they're in your heart, you're loving the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and with all your mind, and all your strength, and you're knowing the word of God, it is being implanted in your heart, and then, thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and talk with them when thou sittest in thine house, and walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, when thou risest up, that's the, those spiritual conversations that take place, not just at a, maybe a family devotional time, but all the time, throughout the day, wherever you're going, whatever you're doing, there's opportunities. It's not saying that that's the only thing we ever talk about, but it's just saying that, you know, throughout the day, as you go through your day, and all the different activities, there's opportunities to share spiritual truth, to talk about spiritual things, and bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they'll be as frontless between thine eyes, and write them upon the post of thy house and on thy gates. Having the word of God as a constant part of our family life. If the only time we ever do anything spiritual is when we come to church, if our kids don't walk with God or follow after God when they get out of our home, it's no wonder. Because to them, Christianity is something you put on on Sunday and don't worry about the rest of the week. It should be our life. It is our life. And it should be our life. And our family needs to see that it is our life. And that chapter goes on. Later on, the Lord said, when your son asks you in time to come, what mean these testimonies and statutes and judgments of the Lord our God has commanded you? Then thou shalt say unto thy son, I don't know, go ask the pastor or go ask your mom. That's not in the Bible, by the way. It doesn't say that. It says, no, tell him. Explain to him we were in their case. We were pharaohs bondmen in Egypt and the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand Hey, we were sinners and God saved us Why do we go to church? Why do we read the Bible? Why do we pray? Why do we have these spiritual conversations? Because I We are new creatures in Christ and this is now our life. We were sinners on our way to hell. We didn't have any hope. We didn't have any peace. We didn't have any joy. We didn't have any satisfaction. Now we have all that because of Christ. And that's why we do this because we're serving the Lord and we're walking with the Lord and it's all about knowing him. And that's why we do this. And again, that's, we should take the responsibility to explain that. I mean, there may be times when you have to say, I don't know, go ask the pastor. You never should have to say, I don't know, go ask your mom. No, I don't know, but I'll find out. You have that responsibility. And so there is this foundation of godly parents, even in Jesus' home. Mary and Joseph were godly people. They weren't perfect. but they were godly people and they had a relationship with God and a spiritual relationship with one another. And by the way, let me note here too that this is maybe an aside, but I think it speaks to this issue of spirituality as well. Jesus grew up in material poverty. And we know that because when they came to offer the sacrifice at his dedication, they offered the poor man's sacrifice, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons, They didn't have a lot. They weren't wealthy. But, you know, money should never be the focus of a godly home. God may bless you with abundance or not. That's irrelevant. Whatever God chooses for you, that's fine. But money should never be our focus. Spirituality should be. It's never about the things of this world. It's about the things of eternity. And even as we enjoy what God has given or struggle with God, what God has not given, it's all intended to teach us about God. And God should be the focus in our homes, not materialism, not the things of this world, but God. But what about children? Well, We see again in the Lord Jesus an example, and so kids, your turn to listen up and learn. Jesus was an obedient child. In Luke 2 and verse 51, again after Jesus had stayed in the temple, he's 12 years old, he had stayed in the temple and talked with the doctors and the scribes and Pharisees, the religious leaders, the students of the word, and Mary and Joseph found him and they You know, what are you doing? And he said, don't you know I must be about my father's business? But it says amazingly in verse 51 of Luke chapter two that he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was subject unto them. He was obedient unto them. And the interesting thing about this is he was perfect and they were not. And yet he still obeyed them completely. And he obeyed them. in a way that we cannot, could never have obeyed our parents in a way you never can because you won't do it perfectly that he did. And it is amazing, you know, the fact that they were imperfect didn't change anything. And I assure you guys and gals, your parents are not perfect, they won't always do it perfectly. But don't let that stop you from obeying them. Ephesians 6 says, children, obey your parents and the Lord, for this is right. This is what God expects of you. Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise that it may be well with thee and thou mayest live long in the earth. Because you understand, there came a time when Jesus didn't obey his parents. You say, what? Yeah. After he was grown and out of the home and in his public ministry, again, in John chapter 2, marriage feast at Cana, and Mary comes to Jesus and says, they have no wine, you need to do something about it. And Jesus said to her, woman, what have I to do with the amount of hours not yet come? In other words, mom, I need to obey my heavenly father right now, and it's not his time for me to do something. Now Jesus obviously did something in the will of his heavenly father, but what he was saying to her is, I have a higher allegiance, I'm not in your home anymore, I'm not under your authority like I was, and I must do my father's will. And there does come a time when our kids grow up, and they become adults, and they need to live as adults. They need to lead their own lives. And as parents, we need to let them. That may be hard for some of us. to let go, but we have to let go. We have to let them live their own lives. Make their own mistakes. You made mistakes, you learn from them, they'll make mistakes, and hopefully they learn from them, but there comes a point where they don't have to obey us any longer, and nor should we expect them to or try to direct their lives. Trust them to God and let him lead. Jesus was an obedient child. He was also a growing child. Verse 52 of Luke chapter 2 tells us that Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man. Let me say again to parents, here is a pattern for your goals for your children's development, and guys and gals, this is God's will for your growth as you are growing up in your parents' home, that you would increase in wisdom, that's insight or understanding of all things. It does include your education, that as you have opportunity, and we have great opportunity here in America for education, Even if you don't ever go to college, there's great opportunity for education. And as a Christian young person, it should be your desire to understand the things that you're studying and grow in your knowledge. Solomon had wisdom. And the Bible says that he spoke 3,000 proverbs and 1,005 songs. He spoke of trees. from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon, even under the hyssop that springeth out of the wall." He spake of beasts and of fowl and of creeping things and of fishes. He had a knowledge of all kinds of science and things of that nature. That was part of the wisdom that God gave him, an understanding of all things. So as you study math and science and English and history and all these things that you would study as a child growing up, all of those things are important, all of those things are part of God's creation, part of God's working, and you should seek to know and understand those things as you're being taught those things. That's part of your growth and part of what God wants for you as he gives you that opportunity. But certainly the most important area where you need to have understanding is concerning spiritual things. Again, Jesus is 12 years old. In Luke 2, verses 46 and 47, they find him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, that is the teachers and the students of the word, the scribes, the Pharisees, for the theologians of their day, and he was both hearing them and asking them questions, and all that heard him were astonished at his understanding, his wisdom, his understanding of the word of God and the answers that he gave as a 12-year-old child. Now, I understand he's God come in the flesh, but our children don't need to wait till they're grown to understand the Bible, even the deeper truths of the Bible. In John 7 and verse 15, the Jews marveled at Jesus' understanding of the scriptures as he taught. And they said, how knoweth this man letters, having never learned? He didn't have a theological education, but he understood the Bible. They said, when he was come to Nazareth, whence hath this man this wisdom? How is it, as he taught in their synagogue, how is it that he has such understanding of the Bible? I mean, when he teaches, it's obvious that he understands, and there was a depth to his teaching, a simplicity in his teaching, but a depth to his teaching that they weren't getting from the scribes and Pharisees. He had an understanding of the Bible they didn't have, and they're marveling at that. And we'll never have the understanding to the degree that Jesus did. He's God come in the flesh. but even our children should be growing in their understanding of the word of God. And they can, if they're saved, they have the spirit of God within them who can give them understanding of the Bible just like he gives us understanding of the Bible. He increased in not only wisdom, but in stature. That's physical growth, yes, but also maturity. He was maturing as he grew. There's a time to be a child, but children need to grow up. They need to be mature. They need to be prepared to take on responsibility for themselves and their life, to eventually take on responsibility for their own families, and that comes, we as parents need to guide them and help them to grow up. Maturity comes through experience. So give your children the opportunity to grow by giving them age-appropriate responsibilities. Don't do everything for them. You know, when they reach a certain age, and it would be very young, they need to make their own bed, and they need to do it every morning. That's teaching them responsibility. It's helping them to grow up. There comes a time when they... maybe can work a part-time job, and then you stop paying, buying all their stuff. Make them buy some of their own stuff. Make them appreciate what it takes to make money, and then to spend that money, and help them to see, and to be able to manage, learn how to manage their money. Don't always do these things for them, because when you do it for them, you're not teaching them how to be responsible for themselves. You're not helping them grow up. And even though you can, doesn't mean that you should. because you want them to grow up. The goal ought to be, and they ought to understand this, and you ought to understand this, they're not going to live in your basement for the rest of their lives. That they're going to grow up, and they're going to move out, and they're going to get a life of their own. And hopefully they're not coming back. I know sometimes life happens. I get it. And sometimes they may have to come back for a little while. But it should never be the goal that they're going to come back and live with us, and we're going to support them for the rest of their lives. That shouldn't be their thinking or our thinking. No, we're gonna help them increase in stature. We're gonna help them increase in maturity so that they can live on their own and be responsible for themselves and take care of themselves and not always be dependent upon us. He increased in favor with God. That is a personal relationship with the Lord. Children need to develop their own walk with God. They don't need to, for the rest of their lives, depend on your faith. and your familiarity with God, your own personal walk with God, you should have that. But they have to have that as well. They need to learn and we can teach them how to have personal devotions and what it means to have personal devotions. And it's not just about reading the Bible, but learning from the word of God and helping them to establish that as a daily habit in their lives, teaching them to walk with God and then having favor with man. graciousness, not socially awkward, knowing how to get along with others. In Luke 4, verse 22, we read, all bore him witness, that is the Lord, and they wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. People were drawn to Jesus because he was, the way that he spoke was gracious and the way that he related to other people was gracious. He knew how to interact with people. and how to talk to people and how to be gracious with people. They were drawn to him, but that was part of his growing up. He increased in favor with the man. He learned how to be a gracious individual. I don't know how much of that Mary and Joseph taught him and how much the Spirit instilled in him and how much it was just because he is God. But nonetheless, we need to teach our children how to get along with others and how to interact with them. how to have grace in our relationships with others. Let me note one other thing, and then I'll close this morning, about the Lord Jesus, he was a caring child. As he hung upon the cross, he made provision for the care of his mother. When he saw John there, and he saw Mary there, and he said to John, behold your mother, he said to Mary, behold your son, and John took Mary into his home and took care of her, In her old age, John was the one that watched after her. There probably was some kind of a relationship there, family relationship, but Jesus took care of his mother even as he was dying on the cross. It is our responsibility to take care of our aging parents according to their need and our ability. In 1 Timothy 5 and verse 4, it says, if any have widows, if any widow has children or nephews, let them first learn to show piety at home, to requite their parents, to pay them back. Your parents took care of you. When they get old, it's your job to take care of them. And that is good and acceptable before God. That is what God wants of you. in Matthew 15 verses 1-6 don't turn but Jesus rebuked the scribes and Pharisees for teaching that children could neglect their parents by claiming that the money that they the child would use to take care of their parents was dedicated to God and therefore they would say to their parents I'm sorry I can't help you that I yeah I've got the money to do it but I dedicated that money to God and so I can't use it to help you And it's not money that they gave to God. It was money that they supposedly dedicated to God so it couldn't be used for anything else. But it was simply a way to get around the responsibility to take care of their elderly parents. We have that responsibility. And as we can, and as they have need, we need to take care of them. So you're a man, you're a woman, an adult. Are you a godly man or woman? You're a husband, you're a wife. Are you a godly husband or wife? You're a parent. Are you setting an example of godliness by your life? You're a grandparent. Do your grandchildren see the Lord in you and the way you live? Are they going to be drawn to your God because of the way that you live? Are you part of that foundation of a godly home and a godly life? And then children here this morning, are you being the kind of child, God I want you to be, obedient and growing and listening to your parents and following their guidance and Wanting to know their God, not just while you're in their home going along with it, but actually having a heart for God. What's it like in your life? What's it like in your home? Is it what it ought to be? And if not, change it. Confess it to God. and ask His help to be the kind of man or woman or child that God wants you to be for His glory. Let's stand together for prayer. Our Father, we thank You for Your Word. We thank You for what it teaches us. Lord, we have had a challenge set before us this morning, and you know our hearts, you know our homes. You know what's going on day by day, and we pray that you would help us to have godly homes that honor you and that encourage our families to walk with you. I pray for each husband and father, grandfather here today. that they could be the leaders in godliness in their home and with their families. Among their friends and acquaintances, Lord, may they be an example of a godly man. And for the women today, the mothers, the grandmothers, Lord, may they too set an example of godliness. Lord, may our lives have an impact on the generations that are following us to turn their hearts toward you. Pray for our young people here today. Lord, may they seek to be obedient to you. And in so doing, being obedient and following the leadership of their parents. Father, may they be growing into adults that will be pleasing unto you, whose lives will be an example of godliness and who will know what it is to truly walk with you, to serve you and to follow your leadership as well. Lord, I pray that even from among our midst, from among our young people, you would call some into full-time service, whether it be a pastorate or being a pastor's wife here in the States, or Lord, even going to another country where the need of the gospel is great. And Lord, may you call them, and may they surrender to your call. May you use them in your service for your glory. May they be open and willing when the time comes and you would call them. We pray your blessing upon us as a church, Father. Help us in this new year that's coming to honor you and to serve you faithfully. Lord, may the Holy Spirit freely work among us in this coming year. May we grow in our spirituality in this new year, we pray. We pray for anyone that might be here today who doesn't know Christ as Savior. We pray your Holy Spirit would convict them of their sin and their need to be saved. And may they, even this day, trust Christ as their Savior. We ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.