There are many things that a church can do to pass the torch to the next generation. We can have dynamic worship to inspire, we can have good programs of Bible Study and discipleship. We can elevate the importance of biblical truth in everything we do. However, there is no greater tool for passing the torch of biblical faith than family.

When Paul spoke of Timothy’s faith, he mentioned Timothy’s mother and grandmother and the impact they had on his life. Not much is known about Lois and Eunice except for the fact of their impact on Timothy. In 2 Timothy 3:15 Paul writes of Timothy knowing the Scriptures from childhood – that his mother and grandmother are the ones who first taught Timothy the timeless principles of the Bible.

The presence and instruction of parents in the life of a child is of indispensable importance. No person is more equipped to discipline and nurture like a parent. Many parents have a good understanding of the need to care for the physical, emotional, and social needs of their children. Spiritual education in the faith is of no less importance. Sad is the parent who believes that spiritual education can be limited to occasional church attendance or that knowledge of spiritual things is given by some sort of osmosis because of family heritage. The offspring of spiritually apathetic parents will be spiritually influenced by forces outside the family. Our children are too important for us to entrust their relationship with Jesus to others. Sadly, as a pastor I have met many young people who thrive in the faith in spite of their parents instead of with parental help.

Consistency is the key. Since all of us are sinners, there must be a consistent push against the sinful nature of the flesh. In addition to our sinful character there are multiple forces at work in the world that will vie for the position of spiritual education. Whether you realize it or not, your child is given spiritual instruction by what they watch on TV, what they see in movies, what they hear at school, and what their friends believe. There is no greater spiritual instructor in the life of a child than that of a parent who speaks the faith and lives out the faith on a daily basis. The daily example of spiritual instruction and a life well lived for a child to imitate is the greatest tool for passing the torch of faith in the life of your child. (PASTOR FRED EVERS)

Here’s a Lucado hunch about parenting: fathers and mothers enter the child-rearing business at 2 different times. Mothers decide to be mothers long before dads do. A mother carries a baby for 9 months, giving her an opportunity to grow content with her decision to parent the new family member.

Dad, however, goes about his daily routine, pretty much unaffected by what’s going on inside the womb. Oh, he’s supportive and excited, but compared to Mom, he’s an observer. Until delivery time. Then Dad’s world takes on new meaning. He looks into the face of the new life and is faced with the realization: I’m the father of this child. You might call it a “delivery room discovery.” At this point a good dad makes a big decision. He has to decide to become a father. And that decision sets up dominos of decisions he will make for the rest of his life. It’s a rational choice to alter his life, schedule, direction, and priorities in order to be a good dad to the tiny life in his arms.

Fathering a child is, for many, not difficult. But being a father is! It’s the first and most important decision of fathers: to make a conscientious choice to be a father.

The decision to be a father is not just a delivery room decision, though. Some dads leave home before the children are awake. Others arrive home long after the kids are home from school. Consequently, it’s possible, even common, for a father to forget about fathering, to emotionally disconnect himself from his children. Throughout the day, every day, dads need to renew their “dad” decision. “Will I attend this convention?” “Is this meeting essential?” “Can I rearrange these appointments to get home earlier?” on the way home from work, dads have to decide to take off the “work” hat and put on the “dad” hat. It’s a decision to manage his time, carefully reconciling work with the priority of family.

Being a good dad means making tough sacrificial decisions. Decisions that tell our children what is important to us.

The Maker of the Universe, as Man for man was made a curse

The claims of laws which He had made, unto the uttermost He paid

His holy fingers made the bough, which grew the thorns that crowned His brow

The nails that pierced His feet were mined in secret places He designed

He made the forests where there sprung, the tree on which His body hung

He died upon a cross of wood, yet made the hill on which it stood

The sky that darkened o’er His head, by Him above the earth was spread

The sun that hid from Him his face, by His decree was poised in space

The spear revealing precious blood, was tempered in the fires of God

The grace in which His form was laid, was hewn in rock which He had made

The throne on which He now appears, was His from everlasting years

But a new glory crowns His brow and every knee to Him must bow. (MICHAEL J. PENFOLD)

Jesus Christ, Fully God & Fully Man

The fact that Jesus was made human gives us confidence that He understands what we are going through. As Hebrews 4:14 says, we have a High Priest who is able to sympathize with our weaknesses, so we can approach the throne of God with complete confidence. Jesus speaks our language. He has learned our language by suffering with us, and because of that we can be confident that He hears us and wants to help us.

And because Jesus is fully God, we can be confident that Jesus has the power to do what He so eagerly desires to do for us, and He has the wisdom to do it in the best possible way. Our day-to-day relationship with God is strengthened by our knowledge that Jesus is both fully human and fully God. (NEW LIFE FELLOWSHIP)

Lessons from Christ’s Humanity

Christ is the perfect human leader … and He wants to lead you

Christ is the perfect human model … and He is worth imitating

Christ is the perfect human sacrifice … and He died for you

Christ is the perfect human conqueror … and He conquered death to give you eternal life

Christ is the perfect human High Priest … and He is merciful, loving and understanding

(from the NEW LIVING TRANSLATION LIFE APLLICATION BIBLE)