9 September 2007
My First Disciples, Part 3
Biblical Principles For Growing Kids God's Way
David J. Brown

Kids About Moms and Dads
How did God make mothers?
o He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
o Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring
o God made my Mom just the same like he made me - He just used bigger parts

What ingredients are mothers made of?
o God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world, and one dab of mean
o They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.

What kind of little girl was your mom?
o My mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff
o I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy
o They say she used to be nice

What did Mom need to know about Dad before she married him?
o His last name
o She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?
o Does he make at least $800 a year?
o Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?

Why did your mom marry your dad?
o My Dad makes the best spaghetti in the world, and my Mom eats a lot
o She got too old to do anything else with him
o My grandma says that Mom didn't have her thinking cap on

Who's the boss at your house?
o Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goof ball
o Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed
o I guess Mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad

What's the difference between moms & dads?
o Moms work at work and work at home, and dads just go to work at work
o Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them
o Dads are taller & stronger, but moms have all the real power 'cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friend's house

What Kids Are Saying
o An Associated Press Survey in June 2007 reported that two-thirds of the young people polled, ages 13 to 24, named their parents as among the people they most admired.
o When asked to list heroes, 29% of the 1280 youngsters gave the top nod to Mom, 21% chose Dad, and 16% picked their parents without specifying which one.
o Total of 66% - Moms and Dads rule!
o Next in line as the poll's top heroes:
- 11%, friends
- 7%, grandmother
- 6%, God
- 5%, their brother
- 5%, a teacher or professor
o 72% said that "family time" is what makes them most happy
o Almost none of the young people answered money when asked what makes them happy

"Why My Daddy Should Be Father of the Year"
o Sociologists studied over 3,000 of such children's primary school essays in 2006 to see just why children thought their dads should be recognized as extraordinary.
He should be Father of the Year because …
o 49% - He loves me and is nice to me
o 27% - He cooks special things for me
o 11% - He spends time with me; we do fun things together; he's fun
o 8% - He works to provide for us (most fathers believe this is #1)
o 5% - He is exceptional, better than other dads

Principle #3 - It's About Nurturing
Our passage today: 1 Thessalonians 2:7-12

"… But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children. So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us." 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8
o Gentle - were mild and kind
o Cherishes - followed you to keep you warm, foster with love, tend with care
o Affectionately longing - yearned to be with
o Impart our own lives - modeled the truth
o Dear - you were well loved, a favourite

Five elements of nurturing:
1. Gentle - voice - quiet words (mild and kind)
2. Cherishes - feet - tending, serving, not ignoring (publicly or privately)
3. Affectionately longing - clock - wanting to spend time (they can tell)
4. Impart our lives - no mask - model the truth, no hypocrisy, consistency, integrity - kids can spot hypocrisy and insincerety from a thousand meters
5. Dear - mouth - tell them every positive thought about them

"… You know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children." 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12
o Charged - shared truth that we had experienced, urged you step-by-step
o Comforted - calmed and unruffled you
o Exhorted - came along side you to admonish, reinforce, and encourage
o Every one - consistency between children

The three elements of discipleship target the three elements of the soul:
1. Charged - a brain to pick - intellect - medium voice
2. Comforted - a shoulder to cry on - emotions - soft voice
3. Exhorted - a kick in the pants - will - strong voice
o Everyone - one standard, no favourites

Based on the above, rearranged, nurturing Is …
1. Now is the time I want to be with you
2. Unruffling them when they're sad
3. Rehearsing why you love them
4. Tending and caring for them
5. Urging step by step obedience
6. Reinforcing the right while you're together
7. Integrity, living consistently before them
8. No favouritism
9. Gentle, quiet words with them

Dedication of Amber Thomson