PASSING ON FAITH

TEXT- 2 TIMOTHY 1:5

INTRODUCTION

SINCE TODAY IS MOTHER'S DAY I HAVE CHOSEN TO USE THIS OCCASION AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU ON THE TOPIC OF THE FAMILY.

THROUGHOUT THE WORLD AND MOST ESPECIALLY HERE IN THE UNITED STATES THE FAMILY UNIT IS UNDER A GREAT DEAL OF ATTACK BY THE GOVERNMENT, THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM AND THE LIBERAL MEDIA OF TELEVISION AND NEWSPAPER.

NEVER BEFORE HAS THERE BEEN A TIME WHEN THE BIBLICAL CONCEPT OF THE FAMILY BEEN IN MORE DANGER OF BEING DESTROYED.

HISTORY HAS PROVEN THAT WHEN THE FAMILY IS STRONG, THE NATION IS STRONG AND WHEN THE FAMILY IS WEAK, THE NATION IS WEAK.

IN FACT, ENTIRE KINGDOMS HAVE GONE OUT OF EXISTENCE BECAUSE THEY FAILED TO EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE FAMILY IN THEIR SOCIAL STRUCTURE.

PART OF THE REASON FOR THE BREAKDOWN OF THE FAMILY UNIT STEMS FROM THE FAILURE OF PARENTS TO FULFILL THEIR RESPONSIBILITY.

WHILE A PARENT HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO CARE FOR THE PHYSICAL NEEDS OF THEIR CHILDREN THEY ALSO HAVE A MORAL OBLIGATION TO CARE FOR THEIR SPIRITUAL NEEDS AS WELL.

THIS MORNING OUR TEXT IS FOUND IN 2 TIMOTHY 1:5 AND THE TITLE OF MY MESSAGE IS, "PASSING ON FAITH."

A DISTRAUGHT MOTHER WENT TO A PSYCHIATRIST AND SAID THAT HER SON WAS ALWAYS MAKING MUD PIES, AND WHEN HE HAD FINISHED THEM HE ATE THEM. "THAT'S NOT TOO UNUSUAL," SAID THE PSYCHIATRIST. "LOTS OF BOYS MAKE MUD PIES AND TRY TO EAT THEM." "I'M NOT SO SURE OF THAT," SAID THE MOTHER, "AND NEITHER IS MY SON'S WIFE."

THIS MORNING I WOULD LIKE US TO CONSIDER SEVEN STEPS THAT BOTH MOTHERS AND FATHERS NEED TO FOLLOW IN ORDER TO PASS ON THE FAITH THAT THEY HAVE TO THEIR CHILDREN.