This sermon centers on the profound question, 'Who are you imitating?', using the account of Jesus at age twelve in the temple as a pivotal example of divine identity and human growth. It emphasizes that Jesus, though fully God, lived a fully human life, growing in wisdom, stature, and favor with God and man, demonstrating that spiritual maturity requires active engagement with Scripture, a hunger for truth, and humble teachability. The passage reveals Jesus' unique relationship with God the Father, affirming His divine mission even in childhood, while also highlighting the importance of parental faith and the gradual understanding of Christ's identity by His followers. The preacher calls believers to imitate Christ not through mere imitation of behavior, but through a life rooted in Scripture, dependence on God, and obedience to His will, ultimately reflecting His light in the world.

The sermon centers on the fifth commandment, 'Honor your father and mother,' presenting it as the foundational pillar for all human relationships and societal order, rooted in the divine design of the family as the primary unit of God's creation. It emphasizes that honoring parents is not merely a moral obligation but a spiritual discipline that reflects reverence for God, the ultimate authority, and prepares individuals to honor all legitimate authorities in society. The message underscores the universality, uniqueness, and enduring nature of the parent-child relationship, which spans generations and serves as the first school of obedience, respect, and submission to God's ordained order. While acknowledging the reality of broken families and the need for grace, the sermon calls both children and parents to live out this command with integrity—children in humble obedience and parents in loving, godly leadership modeled after Christ's perfect example. Ultimately, the promise of long life in the land is reinterpreted through the lens of the New Covenant, pointing not to earthly inheritance but to the eternal inheritance in Christ, where the disobedient are redeemed by the perfect obedience of Jesus, the true Son who honored the Father on our behalf.

This sermon centers on the biblical call to honor and care for older believers and widows, emphasizing respect, familial responsibility, and intentional community support. Drawing from 1 Timothy 5, it highlights the importance of treating older individuals with dignity—exhorting younger believers to regard them as parents and mentors, recognizing their accumulated wisdom and experience. The passage underscores that while the church has a duty to assist truly needy widows, family remains the primary caregiver, with failure to provide for one's household deemed a denial of faith. The sermon also addresses the dangers of idleness and gossip among younger widows, advocating for marriage and household management as God-honoring alternatives. Ultimately, it calls the church to balance compassion with discernment, prioritizing relational engagement, practical service, and intergenerational connection, while affirming that both the young and old are essential to the body of Christ's health and witness.

What does it mean to grow as a Christian? In our first kids teaching segment, we introduced Baptist Catechism Question #38 on sanctification—a big word with a simple and important meaning. Sanctification is a gradual growing in righteousness, becoming more like Jesus over time. Using the illustration of physical growth, kids learned that just like eating healthy food and getting good sleep helps us grow strong, there are also spiritual habits that help us grow in the Lord—like praying, reading our Bibles, going to church, and worshiping God. But just as we can't make ourselves grow taller, we also can't make ourselves grow spiritually on our own—God is the one who gives the growth. This lesson reminds both kids and parents that sanctification is a partnership: we are called to be faithful in practicing godly habits, while trusting that God is at work in us, growing us more and more into the likeness of Christ. 📖 Key Verse: Philippians 1:6 — God begins, continues, and completes His work in us. Takeaway for families: Practice the habits that help you grow in Christ this week—and trust God to do what only He can do.

1. Marvelous 2. God-Ordained 3. Parental-Influenced The sermon centers on the divine significance of children's praise during Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, highlighting how their Hosannas confessed Christ's divinity and messianic identity, despite their limited understanding. It emphasizes that this praise was not merely spontaneous but divinely ordained from eternity, rooted in God's covenantal promise to include children in His worship, as affirmed by Jesus' reference of Psalm 8:2, where God perfects praise from the mouths of babes. The passage also underscores the influence of parental faith, showing how children naturally reflect the spiritual atmosphere of their homes, urging believers to model genuine worship so that their children may echo heartfelt praise, not mere repetition. The sermon concludes with a call to intentional, authentic Christian living, where parents' consistent worship and confession become the foundation for their children's salvation, and where even the simplest expressions of faith can silence spiritual adversaries through God's sovereign design.

The sermon centers on the biblical understanding of children within the church, affirming that they are part of the covenant community by virtue of their parents' faith, not by personal belief, and thus should be included in worship and nurtured in the faith from infancy. Drawing from Luke 18:15–17, it emphasizes that Jesus welcomed children not only as recipients of blessing but as models of the humble, trusting faith required for entry into the kingdom of God. The preacher distinguishes between childlike faith—marked by dependence, trust, and openness to truth—and childish faith, which resists growth, depth, and mature understanding, urging believers to maintain childlike awe while pursuing spiritual maturity. It underscores the responsibility of parents and the church to raise children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord through consistent exposure to Scripture, prayer, sacraments, and faithful teaching, both at home and in the gathered assembly, while affirming that baptism and covenant membership do not guarantee salvation but point to the need for personal faith. Ultimately, the message calls for a lifelong commitment to bringing children to Christ and helping them grow into mature, self-conscious disciples who personally embrace the gospel.

Christ centers our family life on Him as He fill us with His Spirit. Therefore, 1. Children, obey your parents in the Lord in light of God's promise. (vv. 1-3) 2. Dads (and moms), raise your children in the Lord's Word of Law and Gospel. (v. 4)

Raising Children 1 (Eph. 6:4) The sermon centers on Ephesians 6:4, emphasizing that parenting is a divine responsibility entrusted primarily to fathers as spiritual leaders, though mothers play an indispensable role as co-laborers. It underscores that raising children is not a passive or optional endeavor but an ongoing, active, and biblically mandated duty requiring consistent engagement, discipline, and instruction. The ultimate goal is not mere behavioral conformity or worldly success, but the spiritual maturity of children as disciples of Christ, trained to obey all His commands and walk in truth, holiness, and faith. This shared, God-centered purpose, rooted in Scripture rather than culture or personal preference, unites spouses in their mission and transforms parenting from a source of division into a bond of unity. The message calls for repentance, humility, and reliance on God's grace, affirming that while parenting is impossible in human strength, it is possible through divine enablement and faithful obedience.

We Are Shapers — Becoming Dangerously Strong Dangerously Strong for the Truth The sermon centers on the urgent call for believers to be intentional shapers of truth in a world bent toward falsehood, using Jeremiah 9:3 and related passages to illustrate how society's reliance on lies, human strength, and worldly distractions undermines spiritual integrity. Drawing powerful metaphors from archery and parenting, the message emphasizes that every person—especially parents and spiritual leaders—is shaping the next generation, either toward crookedness or toward a life of faith, repentance, and dependence on Christ. The principles in this word underscores that while humanity is inherently flawed and prone to self-reliance, true transformation comes only through surrendering one's life to Jesus, allowing His grace to straighten the crooked, and cultivating a heart that is dangerously strong for truth. The call is for radical self-examination, accountability, and daily commitment to Christ, so that believers become vessels of God's life, love, and wisdom, shaping others not by their own strength but by the Spirit's power, ultimately pointing future generations to the Savior. A Messenger's Word to the Home, the Church, and the Next Generation Primary Truth: Jeremiah 9:3 Supporting Truths: Jeremiah 8:4–6; Ecclesiastes 9; Joshua 11; Proverbs 16:3; 2 Timothy 1:7; Psalm 127; Malachi 3:16; Matthew 18 Introduction: A Messenger With a Note From Home Amen. Thank You, Lord. Praise the Lord. What a treat it is to gather with God's people. What a precious gift to hear the songs of Zion, to celebrate the goodness of God, and to open up His Word together. Thank God for faithful musicia

The sermon centers on the biblical imperative for children to obey and honor their parents as a foundational expression of God's design for family and society, rooted in Colossians 3:20–21 and the Fifth Commandment. It emphasizes that obedience is not mere external compliance but a heart attitude of reverence, love, and submission to God-ordained authority, reflecting the childlike faith Jesus welcomed. The passage warns against parental failure to discipline wisely, highlighting that harshness or inconsistency breeds rebellion, while godly parenting—marked by consistency, humility, and Christ-centered instruction—fosters lifelong spiritual maturity. Ultimately, the sermon calls both children and parents to live in alignment with divine order, recognizing that parental authority is a temporary stewardship from God, intended to prepare children for eternal obedience to Christ and healthy relationships in all spheres of life.