100:00:01,000 –> 00:00:06,960If your vision is simply that your child would know enough about Christianity to200:00:06,960 –> 00:00:08,880be able to make a decision about it,300:00:08,880 –> 00:00:14,680then you will view their spiritual nurture as something you can400:00:14,680 –> 00:00:20,240outsource to the church. Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith500:00:20,240 –> 00:00:21,580I’m glad you could be with us today.600:00:21,580 –> 00:00:25,660I’m David Pick and Colin there are some parents who do have that700:00:26,540 –> 00:00:30,540view unfortunately that it’s the church’s job to teach children about God but that’s800:00:30,540 –> 00:00:33,959not taking proper responsibility as parents is it?900:00:33,959 –> 00:00:36,720Ya that’s right and this whole outsourcing business you know1000:00:36,720 –> 00:00:41,299well it’s the church’s job to deal with the spiritual side of my children’s1100:00:41,299 –> 00:00:46,540development and so forth, no in the first place it is the job of the father and of1200:00:46,540 –> 00:00:50,779the mother. The child’s being trusted to the parents and the church is a context1300:00:51,000 –> 00:00:56,860It is a partner and a very very rich and necessary one but first it’s for the1400:00:56,860 –> 00:01:01,860father and for the mother to nurture children in the knowledge of Christ and1500:01:01,860 –> 00:01:06,559this is part of the trust that God gives with children. So we’re in the book of1600:01:06,559 –> 00:01:11,019Timothy today, now here’s Paul, has a great influence on Timothy’s life but he1700:01:11,019 –> 00:01:14,660also says now, you know, you learned this truth from your mother and from your1800:01:14,660 –> 00:01:20,180grandmother. So there’s a great great example of the influence of the home as1900:01:20,760 –> 00:01:24,739being primary in the spiritual development of a young child and I2000:01:24,739 –> 00:01:29,139really want to encourage parents in that regard today. I think you’re going to be2100:01:29,139 –> 00:01:32,980encouraged as you hear today’s message so join us if you can in 2 Timothy2200:01:32,980 –> 00:01:37,459chapter 3 as we begin the message the power of example. Here is Colin.2300:01:37,459 –> 00:01:42,779Two words by way of introduction. The first is that if you’re not a parent and2400:01:42,779 –> 00:01:46,980if you’re not a grandparent I want again to remind you that there is something2500:01:47,940 –> 00:01:52,279scriptures today. Here’s how I want to encourage you to think as we come to2600:01:52,279 –> 00:01:55,839God’s Word. Think about relationships in which you2700:01:55,839 –> 00:02:00,419have the opportunity to shape another person’s life.2800:02:00,419 –> 00:02:06,739A friend. A mentoring relationship. You will find a context in which you’re2900:02:06,739 –> 00:02:13,360able to apply what we’re learning together today. Second. A word to parents3000:02:13,360 –> 00:02:20,119who are in great distress over your kids. Your kids are not where you want3100:02:20,119 –> 00:02:24,360them to be, and nothing is a greater burden to your hearts. Let me give you3200:02:24,360 –> 00:02:30,720this word of encouragement. Your job of parenting isn’t over yet!3300:02:30,720 –> 00:02:38,139That’s good news. Those who rejoice now may have some trials in the future, and3400:02:38,380 –> 00:02:45,500those who feel most desolate now may soon be surprised by great joy. You never3500:02:45,500 –> 00:02:51,259know what God is just about to do. So, with these words of introduction, I want3600:02:51,259 –> 00:02:54,880to invite all of us to turn to Second Timothy chapter 3, which has been read3700:02:54,880 –> 00:02:59,779for us. And I want to begin with a question for all parents, and3800:02:59,779 –> 00:03:04,679then more widely, for us as a church congregation. For parents, let me frame3900:03:04,679 –> 00:03:12,699it this way, what is your vision for your children? What is your vision for your4000:03:12,699 –> 00:03:19,440children? Your grandchildren? Or putting it more widely, what is our vision for4100:03:19,440 –> 00:03:27,740the next generation in our church? Now I found it helpful to frame that question4200:03:28,020 –> 00:03:35,559with three particular choices. Here’s the first, is it about decisions or about4300:03:35,559 –> 00:03:40,899disciples? You see if your vision is simply that your child would know enough4400:03:40,899 –> 00:03:47,779about Christianity to be able to make a decision about it, then you will view4500:03:47,779 –> 00:03:54,679their spiritual nurture as something you can outsource to the church. You will4600:03:54,679 –> 00:03:59,100view their spiritual nurture in the same way as you view things like their4700:03:59,100 –> 00:04:03,600injections or their education. You see what do I do to get the kids their shots?4800:04:03,600 –> 00:04:07,679Take them to the doctor. What do I do to get the kids an education? Send them to4900:04:07,679 –> 00:04:11,160school. What do I do to get the kids the right model and spiritual stuff and all5000:04:11,160 –> 00:04:14,119that kind of thing? Send them to Sunday school, get them in the Bible5100:04:14,119 –> 00:04:20,359instruction class, get them into high school ministry, send them to camp. If5200:04:20,359 –> 00:04:24,640your vision is simply that your children should know what Christianity is and be5300:04:24,839 –> 00:04:28,679able therefore to make a decision about it you will see this as another check5400:04:28,679 –> 00:04:35,399box on the list. If that is the agenda then frankly as for many hundreds of5500:04:35,399 –> 00:04:40,119people the search will simply be on for a church with a good program and that’ll5600:04:40,119 –> 00:04:42,459do the trick.5700:04:44,140 –> 00:04:49,820Now I hope you have a bigger vision than that I want to try and impart a bigger5800:04:49,959 –> 00:04:55,619vision than that today for this reason5900:04:55,619 –> 00:05:00,980that all over the country there are thousands and thousands and thousands of6000:05:00,980 –> 00:05:08,179kids who have made a decision that turned out to be utterly meaningless it6100:05:08,299 –> 00:05:14,739turned out to be a religious phase that ended after they were 18 and did not6200:05:14,739 –> 00:05:23,399lead to a life of following Christ so we need a broader vision than kids who are6300:05:23,399 –> 00:05:30,179able to make a decision we need a vision of kids who have a hunger and a thirst6400:05:30,179 –> 00:05:37,019for God in their own souls and a deep desire to follow after Christ wholeheartedly6500:05:39,019 –> 00:05:43,160I to tell you that one of the most encouraging things that I see in the6600:05:43,299 –> 00:05:50,959life of our church is that more and more parents are gaining a biblical vision6700:05:51,579 –> 00:05:57,079for raising their kids I have to tell you that I am seeing more and more kids6800:05:57,079 –> 00:06:00,559who are getting into Bible studies gathering for prayer reaching6900:06:00,559 –> 00:06:05,799unbelievers with the gospel I am encouraged and a large part of my own7000:06:05,799 –> 00:06:11,959prayer for this month is that God will expand our vision of what is possible7100:06:11,959 –> 00:06:18,320what he can do in the lives of our children is it about decisions or is it7200:06:18,320 –> 00:06:23,359about discipleship here’s the second pair or or choice is it about isolation7300:06:23,359 –> 00:06:29,239or is it about participation see you need to know that there is a significant7400:06:29,239 –> 00:06:36,160movement in America today towards a personal spirituality that has little or7500:06:36,160 –> 00:06:42,519no place for the church it is about personal spiritual conversations7600:06:42,519 –> 00:06:46,279friendships and relationships small groups of intimately connected friends7700:06:46,279 –> 00:06:51,980but not much place if any for corporate worship not much place if any for the7800:06:51,980 –> 00:06:56,859public testimony of the gathered body of Christ7900:06:56,859 –> 00:07:03,179now if that is the extent of your vision a kind of isolated vision then you will8000:07:03,179 –> 00:07:07,559be content as long as your family has its own program of spiritual nurture8100:07:07,559 –> 00:07:13,320and as long as your kids have a few good Christian friends but I have to say that8200:07:13,320 –> 00:07:18,559is not biblical Christianity is it if you belong to Christ in the New8300:07:18,559 –> 00:07:23,220Testament you belong to his body you share in the life of that body you8400:07:23,220 –> 00:07:28,160contribute to the life of that body wherever you are in the world every day8500:07:28,160 –> 00:07:30,320that you are alive8600:07:30,320 –> 00:07:35,859Jesus said I will build my church the marvelous good news is for every8700:07:35,859 –> 00:07:43,140Christian you get to be a part of it so I want my kids to feel that they belong8800:07:43,140 –> 00:07:49,540to the body of Christ for a lifetime I want them to feel that they belong to a8900:07:49,540 –> 00:07:55,480story that began on the day of Pentecost has been going on and is going on in9000:07:55,519 –> 00:08:00,820every continent of the world throughout every generation and is being worked out9100:08:00,820 –> 00:08:08,380right here and now in this place that’s one reason why we place such emphasis in9200:08:08,380 –> 00:08:12,079recent years on encouraging parents to worship with their children and children9300:08:12,079 –> 00:08:17,380with their parents there’s such value in it their ear children need to know that9400:08:17,380 –> 00:08:25,500as they come to believe they belong to Christ’s family as much as they belong9500:08:25,500 –> 00:08:31,739to your family they’ll leave your home they’ll never leave the Church of Christ9600:08:31,739 –> 00:08:41,299in time or in eternity that by the way is why you need to be very careful9700:08:41,500 –> 00:08:49,619about how you speak of the church. Think of it this way a wise husband will9800:08:49,619 –> 00:08:56,039always be careful about how he speaks of his wife in front of the kids right9900:08:56,039 –> 00:09:04,000you’re very careful because you want your kids to honor their mother you want10000:09:04,000 –> 00:09:09,479the kids to hold her in the highest esteem you want the kids to know that10100:09:09,559 –> 00:09:15,679you love her and so you’re very careful how you speak about her even when she’s10200:09:15,679 –> 00:09:25,900wrong which she might be sometimes the church is the bride of Christ10300:09:25,900 –> 00:09:32,960that means that you will want to speak of her in front of your kids in a way10400:09:32,960 –> 00:09:37,840that makes it very clear that you love the Church of Jesus Christ to which you10500:09:37,880 –> 00:09:46,159belong you hold her in high honor and even when you find some frustration with10600:09:46,159 –> 00:09:54,760her as you will you want to speak of the bride of Christ in a way that shows your10700:09:54,760 –> 00:10:02,299kids you hold her in the highest affection and honor and I ask you this10800:10:02,299 –> 00:10:07,179question because I think it’s important is that what your kids get from you in10900:10:07,179 –> 00:10:13,719the van going home on Sunday morning is that what your kids get from you over11000:10:13,719 –> 00:10:25,719the table at lunch if you bad-mouth the church at home don’t be surprised if11100:10:25,719 –> 00:10:31,520your kids want nothing to do with any church in the future to take up the11200:10:31,739 –> 00:10:37,419like the analogy last week when your kids swim in the water of your11300:10:37,419 –> 00:10:45,380attitude towards the local church it will wash off on them not with regards11400:10:45,380 –> 00:10:49,460to one church but with regard to any church11500:10:49,460 –> 00:10:53,280you’re listening to open the Bible with pastor Colin Smith and the message11600:10:53,280 –> 00:10:57,700called the power of example part of the series unless the Lord builds a house11700:10:58,080 –> 00:11:02,200forget it’s easy to catch up we’ll go back and listen again to any of Colin’s11800:11:02,219 –> 00:11:08,119messages by coming online to our website openthebible.org.uk11900:11:08,119 –> 00:11:13,119Open the Bible is able to remain on your radio and on the internet because we are12000:11:13,119 –> 00:11:17,940supported financially by our listeners so if you already give to support the12100:11:17,940 –> 00:11:23,299work thank you so much and may God bless you. If you’ve considered supporting us12200:11:23,299 –> 00:11:27,619in that way all this month we’d like to encourage you by offering something in12300:11:27,619 –> 00:11:32,900return by setting up a new direct debit to open the Bible of five pounds per12400:11:32,900 –> 00:11:38,900month or more or a new one-off gift of 50 pounds or more. In return we’ll send12500:11:38,900 –> 00:11:43,599you two copies of Pastor Colin’s book Christmas Stories along with five12600:11:43,599 –> 00:11:48,679exclusive Christmas cards featuring the illustrations from the book.12700:11:48,679 –> 00:11:53,140Here’s Colin to talk about one of the characters from Christmas stories King David.12800:11:53,520 –> 00:11:58,719Yeah and David is significant because he was Israel’s greatest king. No one higher12900:11:58,719 –> 00:12:04,059in all of the Old Testament in terms of his accomplishments and yet David13000:12:04,059 –> 00:12:08,900himself knows he needs someone greater than himself and you know that’s really13100:12:08,900 –> 00:12:12,280the beginning of Christian faith isn’t it? I come to the place of realizing I13200:12:12,280 –> 00:12:16,780need someone greater than myself. I need someone who’s going to rule my life13300:12:16,780 –> 00:12:21,580whatever my accomplishments and someone is going to be my redeemer and thank God13400:12:21,580 –> 00:12:25,419for David’s greater Son our Lord Jesus Christ.13500:12:25,419 –> 00:12:31,159David to whom people looked up as Lord looks up to Jesus as Lord and that’s13600:12:31,159 –> 00:12:35,099what Christ calls us to do as well. So that’s our free gift to you of two13700:12:35,099 –> 00:12:40,000copies of Christmas stories along with five Christmas cards if you’re able to13800:12:40,000 –> 00:12:44,820begin to support Open the Bible financially this month. Full terms and13900:12:44,820 –> 00:12:50,500conditions are on our website openthebible.org.uk and you can give14000:12:51,039 –> 00:12:55,679online on the website. Don’t forget though to include your full name and14100:12:55,679 –> 00:13:01,239address. Don’t give anonymously so that we can send you your free gift. Back to14200:13:01,239 –> 00:13:05,640the message now here again is Colin. So what’s your vision for your children? Is14300:13:05,640 –> 00:13:11,679it about decisions or discipleship? Is it about isolation or is it about14400:13:11,679 –> 00:13:18,799participation? Here’s the third choice? Is it about self fulfillment or is it14500:13:18,799 –> 00:13:27,979about self-sacrifice. See if your faith is simply about you enlisting God to14600:13:27,979 –> 00:13:32,580make your life more as you want it to be to make your life better. If your faith14700:13:32,580 –> 00:13:36,340is about you enlisting God to make your life more as you want it to be. Do not14800:13:36,340 –> 00:13:42,760expect your child to follow that faith because here’s what will happen.14900:13:42,820 –> 00:13:50,440Your child will follow your model and you see what your model is is having15000:13:50,440 –> 00:13:56,099life as I want it to be. What they’ll do is they’ll embrace that model and they15100:13:56,099 –> 00:14:00,640will quickly come to the conclusion that they do not need your God to get there15200:14:00,640 –> 00:14:03,159for them.15300:14:03,400 –> 00:14:14,900Years ago I read a statement on the purpose of parenting that struck me and15400:14:14,900 –> 00:14:20,479has stayed with me. And I’m going to give it to you in two parts so that we catch15500:14:20,479 –> 00:14:23,840the force of what’s being said here. From a pastor by the name of William15600:14:23,840 –> 00:14:28,919Still here’s the sentence he says this. He’s talking about shepherding and he15700:14:28,919 –> 00:14:36,380says Israel’s sheep were reared, fed, tended, retrieved,15800:14:36,380 –> 00:14:43,900healed, and restored. How would you end that sentence?15900:14:43,900 –> 00:14:52,859Israel’s sheep were reared food tended, retrieved, healed, and restored.16000:14:52,940 –> 00:14:56,440You want the end of the sentence, are you ready for it?16100:14:56,780 –> 00:15:04,840For sacrifice on the altar of God. Wow.16200:15:05,260 –> 00:15:08,780And says William, still, that is the purpose of all shepherding, of all pastoral16300:15:08,780 –> 00:15:15,099ministry, and by extension, of course, of all parenting. Now think about this.16400:15:15,580 –> 00:15:21,179Here you are, a father and a mother tending these little lambs,16500:15:21,419 –> 00:15:23,500feeding and nourishing them.16600:15:25,900 –> 00:15:29,500For what purpose do these little lambs exist?16700:15:32,179 –> 00:15:41,700Israel’s sheep, were reared, fed, tended,traded, healed and restored for sacrifice on the altar of God.16800:15:42,500 –> 00:15:46,599Now think about it, is that not what our lives are for?16900:15:47,340 –> 00:15:50,119Romans chapter 12 and verse 1,17000:15:50,119 –> 00:15:54,919I urge you brothers in view of God’s mercy to offer yourselves as what?17100:15:56,039 –> 00:15:57,960Living sacrifices.17200:15:57,960 –> 00:16:00,140That is the whole purpose of your life,17300:16:00,140 –> 00:16:01,640that is the purpose of my life,17400:16:01,640 –> 00:16:04,859that is the purpose for which life has been given to my children.17500:16:08,200 –> 00:16:11,400Now if the purpose of your child’s life,17600:16:11,479 –> 00:16:15,400is to be offered as a living sacrifice to God.17700:16:16,260 –> 00:16:20,359If the goal and the vision is that my kids may offer their whole selves17800:16:20,359 –> 00:16:23,659without reservation as living sacrifices to Christ,17900:16:25,719 –> 00:16:27,239If that is the goal,18000:16:29,719 –> 00:16:34,359Then we dare not bring them up with the mistaken idea that they are the center of the universe,18100:16:36,119 –> 00:16:38,380For whom all things exist,18200:16:38,640 –> 00:16:40,900For whom all things are possible,18300:16:41,859 –> 00:16:45,119And whose word becomes your very command.18400:16:48,419 –> 00:16:54,659If your children grow up with the idea that everything should be sacrificed for them,18500:16:57,219 –> 00:17:02,299How will they ever be ready to sacrifice themselves for Christ,18600:17:02,299 –> 00:17:05,520the category wont exist in their minds?18700:17:06,479 –> 00:17:10,560Now, remember Satan’s work . . .18800:17:10,560 –> 00:17:18,900Satan’s work is to make our children think that they’re their own God18900:17:20,479 –> 00:17:22,420Right back to Genesis 3, isn’t it?19000:17:22,420 –> 00:17:27,719Satan’s work is to make your kids think they’re their own God.19100:17:29,180 –> 00:17:33,459And therefore by definition a family that becomes child-centered19200:17:34,400 –> 00:17:36,400Will contribute greatly to his work19300:17:38,900 –> 00:17:41,020So, what’s your vision for your children?19400:17:41,739 –> 00:17:48,219I want to commend to you a vision of children and young people who grow to love Christ, to belong to his body,19500:17:48,219 –> 00:17:51,040and to offer themselves without reservation to him.19600:17:51,560 –> 00:17:54,540In other words, not just decisions, but disciples19700:17:54,540 –> 00:17:57,099Not isolation, but participation19800:17:57,119 –> 00:18:01,060Not self-fulfilment as the goal, but self-sacrifice19900:18:01,060 –> 00:18:04,239for Christ and his kingdom, which is the ultimate purpose of life20000:18:04,239 –> 00:18:06,880as it is given to each and to every one of us20100:18:08,439 –> 00:18:11,660Now if that’s the vision, the question, of course, is how should we pursue it?20200:18:12,119 –> 00:18:16,300And here I want to focus in on Second Timothy chapter 3 and verse 1420300:18:16,300 –> 00:18:22,280just this one verse today, and it’s such a marvelous and important statement for us20400:18:22,280 –> 00:18:25,579Second Timothy chapter 3 and verse 1420500:18:26,280 –> 00:18:29,000As for you, Paul writes to Timothy,20600:18:29,680 –> 00:18:34,459continue in what you have learned, and have become convinced of20700:18:35,520 –> 00:18:40,619because you know those from whom you learned it20800:18:42,380 –> 00:18:48,380That’s a very fascinating statement, and I trust that God will impress it upon our minds today20900:18:49,800 –> 00:18:53,459that the reason that Paul gives Timothy for continuing in the Christian life21000:18:53,459 –> 00:19:01,579is not so much what he learned, but who he learned it from21100:19:02,339 –> 00:19:10,660Continue in what you have learned, why? Because you know from whom you have learned it21200:19:13,760 –> 00:19:16,479I want us to focus in then on the teachers,21300:19:17,319 –> 00:19:23,640Then briefly on the teaching and then finally on the example21400:19:24,380 –> 00:19:26,380first of all the teachers21500:19:27,040 –> 00:19:30,359You know what those from whom you learned it21600:19:31,540 –> 00:19:35,339Now from whom did timothy learn the gospel?21700:19:37,300 –> 00:19:40,160Well if you turn back just one page here in 2nd21800:19:40,160 –> 00:19:45,479Timothy to the beginning of the letter you see it’s quite clearly stated there 2nd timothy chapter 1 in verse 521900:19:46,300 –> 00:19:52,900Paul’s writing to this young man timothy encouraging him to press forward in the christian life and in ministry and22000:19:54,239 –> 00:19:59,839He says you know from whom you learned this and it’s right there in chapter 1 in verse 5 I’ve been reminded22100:19:59,859 –> 00:20:01,859He says of your sincere faith22200:20:02,060 –> 00:20:04,599Which first lived in your Grandmother?22300:20:05,239 –> 00:20:07,239Lois and22400:20:07,239 –> 00:20:09,239Then in your mother22500:20:09,920 –> 00:20:13,800Eunice and I am persuaded now that it lives in you22600:20:14,800 –> 00:20:16,900So where did he learn his faith answer?22700:20:18,300 –> 00:20:20,300from the parents22800:20:20,839 –> 00:20:22,839You learned it from your mother22900:20:24,439 –> 00:20:26,619You learned it from your Grandmother23000:20:29,040 –> 00:20:34,839Now we get a little more background to this family from Acts and chapter 16 and verse 1 where we’re told that23100:20:35,400 –> 00:20:40,199Timothy’s mother Eunice was a Jew S who believed in Christ23200:20:41,060 –> 00:20:47,859We also know that Timothy’s father was Greek we’re told that there and therefore this was a racially mixed marriage23300:20:49,180 –> 00:20:54,319Some commentators think that Timothy’s father died when he was still quite young23400:20:54,319 –> 00:21:01,339I myself am convinced that that was indeed the case in which case what we have here is a word of23500:21:01,900 –> 00:21:03,079tremendous23600:21:03,079 –> 00:21:05,680encouragement for single parents if23700:21:06,619 –> 00:21:08,119you are a23800:21:08,119 –> 00:21:11,420single parent a single mother single father today, I23900:21:12,619 –> 00:21:17,439hope you feel the love and the support of this fellowship and24000:21:18,380 –> 00:21:21,239I hope that you will be encouraged by Eunice24100:21:22,599 –> 00:21:29,979who single handedly raised a son who became one of the heroes of the early Church Timothy24200:21:31,060 –> 00:21:32,819and24300:21:33,219 –> 00:21:37,239Grandparents never underestimate the importance of your role24400:21:38,859 –> 00:21:40,859Remember Lois24500:21:42,020 –> 00:21:46,739Don’t forget the significance of your continuing influence as a24600:21:47,739 –> 00:21:52,180model and example of faith in the lives of your grandchildren24700:21:54,060 –> 00:21:58,199You know from whom you learned it, who did you learn it from from the parents24800:21:59,040 –> 00:22:00,000But24900:22:00,000 –> 00:22:03,800not only from the parents I want suggested secondly from the partners and25000:22:04,000 –> 00:22:08,020The partner here the most obvious partner was of course the Apostle Paul himself25100:22:08,719 –> 00:22:11,619Paul has as many of you will know took Timothy under his wing25200:22:11,900 –> 00:22:16,839He became a mentor to this lad and in the end Timothy became an apprentice to Paul25300:22:17,420 –> 00:22:19,619traveling with him on his journeys25400:22:20,119 –> 00:22:27,140And I think what we have here therefore is a beautiful example of how the family and the wider Church25500:22:27,300 –> 00:22:33,060fellowship contribute together in the training and the teaching of a child25600:22:34,660 –> 00:22:37,239Now you see that’s the body of Christ at work25700:22:38,859 –> 00:22:46,000our lives network together parents partners together shaping the lives of our kids and25800:22:48,459 –> 00:22:50,459If your eyes are open25900:22:51,239 –> 00:22:55,959There will be some way in which you can contribute to the life of a younger person in the body of Christ26000:22:56,859 –> 00:23:00,359The challenging message from Pastor Colin Smith on open the Bible26100:23:00,939 –> 00:23:08,300As we heard how we don’t just want our children to make a decision but rather to become disciples for Christ26200:23:08,660 –> 00:23:14,939the message is called the power of example, and it’s from a series called unless the Lord builds the house and26300:23:15,640 –> 00:23:20,319Colin framing our vision for parenting as three choices is really helpful26400:23:21,000 –> 00:23:24,979Well, it’s it’s always useful to be clear as to what the challenge is26500:23:25,579 –> 00:23:27,380We can never end that of course26600:23:27,380 –> 00:23:31,640Because once we know what the challenge is then we begin to feel our need of the Lord’s help26700:23:31,640 –> 00:23:35,839I was talking with a guy just a few weeks ago who said that the birth of26800:23:35,959 –> 00:23:42,060his first child had given him a new sense of his need for the Lord that he’d never had in quite the same way before and26900:23:42,520 –> 00:23:47,260that was very powerful in his life, and it may not just be at the at the birth of a child27000:23:47,260 –> 00:23:53,420But as a youngster develops and you begin to send some of the strains and struggles of parenting you say Oh27100:23:53,780 –> 00:23:58,500I really need the Lord and the good news is that the help of the Lord is with you and27200:23:58,979 –> 00:24:02,599Present and he’s powerful and there could be no greater27300:24:03,180 –> 00:24:08,900motivation, I think to to walk more closely with the Lord than to do that for the sake of27400:24:09,699 –> 00:24:14,739Leading a person that you love into a deeper knowledge of Christ27500:24:14,739 –> 00:24:19,219Why would your son or daughter follow a Christ you did not find compelling?27600:24:19,459 –> 00:24:26,619Press after Christ yourself and they’ll begin to see something new is happening within you and they may not say much for a while27700:24:26,619 –> 00:24:28,400but they’ll take notice27800:24:28,400 –> 00:24:35,040Children may not be interested in a set of instructions, but they are interested in how Christ impacts your life27900:24:35,560 –> 00:24:37,800And really that’s what this message is all about28000:24:38,459 –> 00:24:43,780message is called the power of example and it’s from our series and lest the Lord builds a house and28100:24:44,180 –> 00:24:48,739Perhaps you might have missed some of the series or you might need to come back and listen to some of them again28200:24:48,739 –> 00:24:51,800And that’s easy to do by coming online to our website28300:24:52,199 –> 00:24:59,900Open the Bible org dot UK also on all the main podcast sites by searching for open the Bible UK28400:25:00,859 –> 00:25:03,540for open the Bible for Pastor Colin Smith and28500:25:03,979 –> 00:25:09,380From me David pick I look forward to joining us again next time on open the Bible28600:25:09,780 –> 00:25:11,780In28700:25:14,540 –> 00:25:21,640The Bible we’re encouraged to continue what we’ve learned find out why that is next time on open the Bible