Amen. What a privilege to sing from God's own inspired hymn book. If you would please, we want to take our Bibles out at this time and we want to turn back to Ephesians. Ephesians chapter 6. As we continue in our exposition of this epistle, we consider here in chapter 6 the continuing instruction which the Apostle Paul, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, gave as it relates to the family and specifically to parents and children. So I want to read in your hearing, beginning in verse one, and I'll read down through verse four this morning, where we have this word of responsibility to children and then to parents. Ephesians 6 and verse 1. Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise, that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth. And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. Let's now join together before the Lord in prayer. Heavenly Father, we bow before you as we come before your holy word. And Father, we come before your word as those who are saved by your sovereign grace. We come eagerly and sincerely and with a humility to receive that word implanted, able to save our souls. We come, Father, that your word would have its way in our lives. We welcome its rebukes, its admonitions, its words of instruction and comfort, and yes, even as it confronts us in our sin, because Lord, it is our desire that we would have our lives conformed to your word, that we would not seek to conform your word to our opinions or our lifestyle, but that we would have our lives conformed to the inerrant and infallible, all-sufficient Word of God. Father, it is our prayer today that you would draw us closer to your Son. Lord, that we would, in these days of declension and depravity on the rise, have homes that are holy, where Christ is at the center where we have children who obey and parents who are careful in their parenting unto your glory and honor. Father, that we would be salt and light in the midst of a perverse and wicked generation, that we would be truly those who point to the transforming power of the gospel. Father, we pray that you would draw us closer in all aspects of our living into conformity with what your Word declares. And Lord, those who do not have Christ as their Savior, may it be, O God, your privilege in accordance with your sovereign grace to draw them to your Son, to show them their sin and need of a Savior, and that salvation is only found in Jesus Christ alone. Father, we thank you for that salvation. We thank you for Christ our Savior, and we pray this in his holy name, amen. As we continue here, quickly by way of review, you will recall last week we looked at verses two and three of our text, and we noted there the duties of children. We noted, first of all, in verse 2, the honor which is commanded. And we noted there in verse 2 that quotation, honor your father and your mother. This, of course, comes directly from the fifth commandment, Exodus 20, verse 12, Deuteronomy chapter 5, verse 16. We said, and we turned actually to the book of Exodus, and we said that that Hebrew word for honor is the word kaved. And the idea of that word of honoring your parents, your father and mother, is that you are to give due weight of respect unto them. That's the essential essence of that word. From that, we considered how is it that children are to honor their parents. And we said four different things last week. First of all, children honor their parents by obeying them. We already spent much time on that in the previous exposition, because that's the essence of what you find in verse 1. Children, obey your parents and the Lord, for this is right. And of course, the idea of obeying and honoring are so intertwined, the very essence of honoring is obeying. The very essence of obeying is honoring. And so Paul links these two ideas with verse one and verse two. Secondly, children honor their parents not only by obeying them, but by loving them. We looked at several examples in scripture. Children, it is your responsibility to have a deep, sincere affection and love for your parents. Your parents love you, and you should love them. You should have a true, natural affection for them and for all that they do. Thirdly, we said that the honoring of parents by children is by respecting them. There is, in that idea of honor, the very essence of that, of giving due weight unto them, this idea that you show them great respect. Indeed, that word kaved has the idea, and it's translated in other places in the Scriptures, as fear. It's used as the idea of fearing the Lord. And so you're to have that reverence, respect, that godly sense of awe as it relates to your parents because of God and He has placed them over you. They are your superiors. You are under them as an inferior. And so they are in that God-ordained place and that calls you to a great honor and respect of them. Fourthly, we said you honor your parents by listening to them. We looked at several passages in the Proverbs about heeding, listening, Hearing what your parents say. Now, and we said, as we thought about these four different points, these things cannot be ferreted out like they are distinct and unrelated. These things all are intertwined, aren't they? Whenever you are loving your parents, you're respecting them and you're obeying them. And when you obey them and respect them, that honoring means that you will listen to them. And so these four threads are not somehow distinctly different, they all flow together with the idea of the kind of relationship, children, you are to have with your parents. We then noted in verse two, part B, in verse three, not only the honor commanded, but the promise attached. And of course, the promise attached comes right from the fifth commandment. The promise there in verse three, it may be well with you, and you may live long on the earth." This is a general principle, a general promise, and we spoke of that and described the meaning of that. It is an inducement and encouragement. Obey and God will have His blessing upon you. Now, today we want to continue looking at verse number four. We move from the duties of children to the duties of parents. And what we want to see in verse four is the negative, that is what parents are not to do, and then the positive, what parents are to do. So very simple, straightforward statements. And you, verse four, fathers do not provoke your children to wrath, that's the negative. but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord." That's the positive. So, these two words of instruction for parents. First of all, the negative is, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath. Notice here, as we have been considering the family and the home for many months now, in chapter 5 and then into chapter 6, that we have here addressed fathers in this verse. It is not addressed to mothers. It is not addressed mothers and fathers. It's not addressed parents. Why is that? Well, because the father has this primary responsibility. Now, certainly these words apply to mothers also. Amen? They apply to both father and mother. But we affirm biblical patriarchy. We believe that the father is in that place of rule and of leadership. That is true in the home, that is true in the church, and what is true in the home and the church certainly should be as well evident in society. And this was universally accepted in Christianity. until relatively recently with the feminist movement. Fathers are to be, in the words of Joel Beakey, prophets, priests, and kings in the home. Leading, ruling, and guiding. And so when we come to verse four, and it addresses the responsibility of parents, we're not shocked. We're not surprised. We don't say, well, what about the mother here? Because again, it is this affirmation of biblical patriarchy. The father is addressed, both parents are implied. Well, what is it that Paul says to fathers here? He says, do not provoke your children to wrath. The word there, provoke, Perargizo is the Greek word. It's only found here and in one other place in the New Testament, Romans chapter 10 and verse 19. The word means to stir up, exasperate, or to rouse to wrath. That's the meaning of this word. And so it is appropriate here, this phrase, if you look at verse four again, do not provoke your children to wrath. Because that's even implied in that idea of provoking. Wrath has this idea of your children having feelings of anger, resentment, ill will, distance, or bitterness. Now often we have compared Paul's instruction in Ephesians with what he says over in Colossians. So let's just turn over in Colossians and let's just look at what we're kind of calling a parallel passage. And of course, there are certainly distinct emphases found in Colossians, but there are many similarities with Ephesians. And we turn to Colossians 3 and we read in verse 20 these words. Obey your parents in all things for this is well pleasing to the Lord. Verse 21. Fathers, do not provoke your children lest they become discouraged. Here this idea of them becoming discouraged. It is this idea, now turning back to Ephesians 6, do not provoke your children to wrath. The idea in Colossians of being discouraged is that they lose heart, they give up, they fall into a kind of despair. They say to their parents, they think in their hearts, what's the use in even trying? I can't please them. I can't do anything right. It's always wrong. There's nothing I can do to ever be in a good standing. William Hendrickson says here this idea of provoking. He says, quote, do not exasperate or embitter your children or provoke them to an angry mood. Very well put. Charles Hawthorne, the great, Prince Stoney and Hodge says, parents are not to excite the bad passions of their children. The bad passions of their children. Well, what exactly does this mean? Does this mean that we are to be as parents, as fathers, walking on eggshells because we're worried that if we give a command or a directive or we give a correction, It might make my child angry, and we don't want to do that. Is that what Paul is saying here? Well, absolutely not. If anyone would even suggest that, that is ludicrous. I think that Wayne Mack, in his book Strengthening Your Marriage, puts it very well in understanding the emphasis here about provoking to wrath. This is found in chapter 7 on raising children, and let me quote him. He says, God says that we must avoid provoking our children to wrath. At this point, an explanation of the words provoke and wrath is in order, lest we completely misconstrue what this phrase teaches. To avoid provoking our children to wrath does not mean that we never do anything that would upset or annoy or make our children angry. It does not imply that we must never cross our children or withhold from them something that they desperately want. I mean, that should happen all the time if you're a good parent. He says this on the positive side. He says, what it does connote is that we should not treat them in such a way that their passions are unnecessarily aroused. What it does mean, continuing in this quote, is that we should not handle them in such a way that they will be incited to a wrathful kind of living and become angry young men and women. The Amplified Bible translation of this verse sets its meaning and clear focus. It says, Fathers, do not irritate or provoke your children to anger. Do not exasperate them to resentment. Note particularly the words exasperate and resentment. What we are to avoid, according to Wayne Mack, what we are to avoid is exasperating our children to the point of deep and abiding resentment. That's the idea here. Yes, your children are going to get angry. They're not going to be happy when you discipline them. Don't think, parents, that if your children get angry or they don't like your correction, that you're doing it wrong. But it is this idea of provoking them to a sense where they have this give up mentality, where they have this inner committed place in their heart of resentment, so that it is a foil to your very seeking to lead them in the ways of the Lord. Well, what are some concrete examples of how you can provoke your children to wrath? Some practical things. I have ten things listed, and I just want to basically read them. Again, they come essentially from Wayne Mack's handling of this subject. And he says there are several things that parents can do which will provoke your children to wrath. And so therefore, don't be doing these things. Number one, you can provoke your children to wrath by neglect or by ignoring them. Neglect or ignoring. Interest and involvement in your child's life is absolutely essential. Fathers, your children should never wonder, am I as important as daddy's career or job? They should never wonder, well, where do I fit in in terms of my family and my parents' affections for me? They should know that you love them, and you have an interest in them, and you want to be involved in every aspect of their lives. Secondly, you can provoke your children to wrath by having a lack of standards in your parenting. This is a failure to set limits and consistently enforce the standards. Now, you sometimes think that the opposite is the case, that your children would be more happy if you just had loose standards. Children need boundaries, amen? And here's the secret, children desire those boundaries. They actually want those boundaries. It is an evidence of your lack of commitment and parenting that you don't set those boundaries and are consistent with them. Number three, another way that you can provoke your child to wrath is by having unrealistic goals. Goals which create an attitude that nothing is never enough. A child is not a small adult. You cannot expect a seven-month-year-old or a seven-year-old and a 17-year-old to act exactly the same. and so you're to have realistic goals in your parenting. Number four, another way you can provoke your children to wrath is by having double standards or changing expectations. Based upon the mood of the parent at the moment, you should never be parenting where the emotions or your mood is in the driver's seat. You're to be having standards that are clear, expectations that are consistent. Number five, you can provoke your children to wrath by showing favoritism, comparing or are favoring leads to frustration. Well, why can't you be more like your sister? She's always doing the right thing and you're never doing the right thing. That just leads not to helpfulness, but to frustration, that favoritism. Number six, another way that you can provoke your child is by a critical attitude. Seek to maintain a positive, constructive environment in your disciplining and in your instruction. Number seven, you can provoke your children to wrath by refusing to listen to them. allowing no input, no discussion, nothing to be expressed. Now, certainly there are times when they just need to be quiet and listen. But you also, as parents, need to have a sensitivity to listen to them as well. And if you never ever listen to them, if it's always, well, I am the parent, you're the child, you have nothing of any value to say, that will provoke them to wrath. Number eight, you can provoke your children to wrath by not providing for their needs. And when I say needs, I mean intellectual, social, spiritual, as well as physical. These are all vitally important. Number nine, you can provoke your child to wrath by abuse. Abuse in its various forms. It could be physical abuse. It could be verbal. abuse. Be careful how you speak to your children. That's very important. And then number 10, you can provoke your children to wrath by a lack of affection or a lack of communication of your affection. Your children should never wonder whether or not mommy and daddy truly care and truly love them. You should be always expressing by words and deeds, by actions and attitudes. that everything that you do, even in chastening and disciplining and in correcting, is done with a spirit of affection, love, and seeking their very best. So Paul begins here in verse 4 by stating the negative. Parents, fathers, this is what you are not to do. Do not provoke your children to wrath. Now, let's look in verse four, part B, and turn to the positive this morning. And we'll be looking at this in more detail next week. But two things positively, bring them up, that is your children, bring them up in the training of the Lord and in the admonition. of the Lord. First of all, bring them up in the training of the Lord. The word there, training, is the word paideia. It's a word that some of us are familiar with. It is a general word for education, and it is translated in various Bible translations using various different words. For example, in the King James translation, they chose the word nurture to give the idea of paideia. In the New American Standard Bible and the ESV, it's the word discipline. In the Old American Standard Version, it's the word chastening. And in the New King James, the one that we are using, as well as the Holman and the NIV and other translations, it is the word training. This, by the very translators seeking to bring it into the English, should give you some idea of the range involved in this word paideia. Interestingly, whenever you look at the Septuagint, you say, what is the Septuagint? The Septuagint is the Greek translation of the Old Testament Hebrew Bible. We recognize that the Septuagint is not the inspired Word of God. The Word of God was inspired in Hebrew and Aramaic in the Old Testament and Greek in the New Testament. But the Septuagint can be helpful whenever we see the word choices when they were rendering Hebrew words to help us to get an idea of how these words were used in that setting. And so that's a way it is helpful. This word paideia in the Septuagint is found 115 times. and it is used to translate different Hebrew words. It is used to translate, for example, the word instruction. It is also used to translate the Hebrew word for chastening or correction. Let's just look at a couple of examples this morning. Turn with me in your Bibles back into the Old Testament and look with me please in Proverbs 15. We'll just look at a couple of examples where We have the Hebrew word for instruction translated in the Septuagint with the word paideia. Proverbs chapter 15, look with me please at verse 32 and 33. Proverbs 15 to verse 32, he who disdains instruction, there's our word, despises his own soul. But he who heeds rebuke gets understanding. The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom and before honor is humility. They're the word instruction. is translated in the Septuagint with this word paideia. This is found also, and again, there are many places that we could look. In fact, there are 35 times where the Septuagint uses the word paideia for the word instruction. Just one more example, turn over to chapter 19 of Proverbs, Proverbs 19 and verse 20. Listen to counsel and receive, and here's our word, instruction, that you may be wise in your latter days. So this tells us that the authors of the Septuagint understood the word paideia to have this idea of instruction. But they also use the word paideia in terms of chastening or correction. Let's just look at a couple of quick examples, both of them in Isaiah. Turn with me please to Isaiah chapter 26. And again, there are several examples, but we just need a couple just to consider here. And in Isaiah chapter 26, look for example in verse 16. Isaiah 26 and verse 16, Lord, in trouble they have visited you, they poured out a prayer when your chastening was upon them. This word, chastening, in verse 16, That is rendered in the Septuagint with the Greek word paideia, the word that Paul uses in Ephesians. Another example real quickly, one that you'll immediately recognize, is found in Isaiah chapter 53. Isaiah 53, which is A beautiful high-water mark in Old Testament prophecy, speaking of the Messiah, speaking of Jesus Christ, who would come, the Lamb of God, and who would die in our place. And we read here in Isaiah 53, look at verse 5. But he was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon him, and by his stripes we are healed." The word there, chastisement. In the Septuagint, they translate chastisement with the word paideia. So what's the point of considering the subdugent here regarding this word? Well, it is very simply that this word paideia has a various multi-hued meaning, and it carries both of these ideas, the idea of instruction and the idea of chastening or correction. They're bound up in this singular word. Now, let's turn to the New Testament and consider this word, and we want to consider that this word, paideia, is found six times in the New Testament. Now, it is also found in its various cognates, but the word itself, paideia, in the usage as we see in Ephesians, is found six different times. In addition to the book of Ephesians, turn with me to 2 Timothy chapter 3. And again, we're seeking to get a flavor of the meaning of this word. The fact that parents are to bring up their children in the training or the nurture of the Lord. What all does this entail? And so we turn to 2 Timothy chapter 3. 2 Timothy chapter 3. And we read this very familiar verse speaking of the inspiration of Holy Scripture. 2 Timothy 3.16, all Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. Well, at the very end of verse 16, you have that word instruction. Instruction in righteousness. And the word there, instruction, is our word paideia. Now, let's look at another use of this. And the other uses in the New Testament turn to Hebrews chapter 12. Hebrews chapter 12. So we see here that this idea has certainly the idea of instruction, which is what we find in 2 Timothy 3.16. But when we turn to Hebrews chapter 12, this word also, just like in its use in the Septuagint, has the meaning or the idea of chastening or correction. You say, where do you find that, Pastor? Well, in Hebrews chapter 12, and let's take up our reading in verse 5. It says, in you, verse 5, you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons. My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by him. For whom the Lord loves, he chastens and scourges every son whom he receives. Verse 7, if you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons. For what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Here the idea of chastening is likened to God's dealing with us. God chastens us and it is a sign of sonship. God loves us enough as our heavenly father that he will chasten and correct us. And this word that is found, chasten or chastening, you'll see that several times, verses 5, 6, 7, and 8. It's our word paideia and that fills out the six uses of this word in the New Testament. It is this idea of instruction and it is also this idea of chastening or correction. This is how the Septuagint used the word. This is how the Holy Spirit in the New Testament uses the idea of this word. So I say that as we consider this word study, when we think about parenting, this word here that is translated regarding whatever translation you have as nurture, discipline, chastening, training, is not a singular concept, but it includes these two levels, this idea of instruction and this idea of chastening or of disciplining or correcting. It includes all of these ideas in the responsibility of parents as it relates to parenting your child. You say, Pastor, how do you do this? Well, you are to bring your children up in the training or the discipline, the instruction of the Lord, and I'll say three things very briefly. Number one, by modeling, by modeling. This is an incredibly important element to your instruction before your children. You are to be an example You've heard the old saying that actions speak louder than words? That I can't hear your words because your actions are screaming right now? Well, as parents, you need to realize that your parenting is to be by example. Amen? You're to be showing your children holiness and godliness and God-centeredness. You are to be showing them by the priorities of your life, by the pursuits that you value, by the time and its use that you have, that you love the Lord. And that, by your very example, will have that instructing element for them. You are to be instructing by example, by modeling. Secondly, not only by modeling, that's not enough. It must be by teaching then. This is the idea of instructing in righteousness. Both formal and informal teaching. Teaching doctrine, teaching biblical values, teaching your children a biblical worldview. You are to be teaching them in all of the various common concourses of life. Whether it's in the grocery store, or driving down the highway, or at Sam's, or wherever you are, there are opportunities to instruct your children by positive and negative example. And you are to not only do that informally in the various playing out of God's providence in your life, you are to be instructing them directly. And of course, we spent several weeks a while back talking about the fact that fathers are to be prophets, priests, and kings, and fathers as prophets What are you to be doing? You're to be teaching in the home. You're to be teaching the Word of God. You're to be catechizing. This is the idea of instructing. The instruction of your children is not something that you do by dropping them off at church. I hope you wouldn't be doing that. Yes, the church does instruct, and that's a vital ministry, but as fathers, and yes, mothers who come alongside the fathers, you're to be instructing them, teaching them, catechizing them, reading the scriptures with them, having Devotions are what we would call family worship, where you teach them in the ways of the Lord. So you do this by modeling, you instruct them by teaching them, and thirdly, by disciplining them. That is by the use of the rod of correction. The rod of correction. That's the idea of chastening, the idea of correcting, the idea of giving them that due for their disobedience. That chastening is an act of love. And we'll talk more about that next week. Listen to the words of John Bunyan as he gave these general duties as it relates to parents of children. He says this, quote, if you are a parent, a father or a mother, then you are to consider your calling under this relation. Your children have souls and they must be born of God as well as of you or they perish. And know also that unless you be very circumspect in your behavior to and before them, they may perish through you, the thoughts of which should provoke you both to instruct and also to correct them. To instruct them, as the Scripture says, to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. And to do this diligently when thou settest in thine house, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. Deuteronomy 6 and verse 7. John Bunyan says this is a very serious responsibility and it calls for a very serious commitment on the part of parents that you lead your children, that you bring them up in the nurture, the training, the discipline, the instruction of the Lord by modeling, teaching, and by discipline. Now, turn with me, please, back in your Bibles to Ephesians chapter 6. And as we're just giving a survey of this passage this morning, we see here on the positive side, it is not only bringing them up in the training of the Lord, but notice what Paul says at the end of the verse. He says, bring them up in the training and admonition. of the Lord." The phrase, of the Lord, obviously applies to both of these. It is the training of the Lord and the admonition of the Lord. What about this word, admonition? It is the Greek word, neuthesia. It is a word, the prefix is neus, which is the word for mind. And the word tithemi, which means to put or to place. It's a very common verb in the New Testament. So when you bring these two words, mind and place, together, what does neuthesia mean? It means to place in the mind. That's the meaning, the literal transliteration of the etymology of the word. It is this idea of counseling them. of warning them, of admonishing them, of rebuking them. Now, where do we find this word in other places? Let's just look at a couple of places in the New Testament this morning. This word, newthesia, is found, turn with me, in 1 Corinthians chapter 10. 1 Corinthians chapter 10. These are the two other places we're going to look at today. 1 Corinthians 10 and then Titus 3. 1 Corinthians 10, and I want to read beginning in verse 1 and read down through verse 11. Paul here writing and he is speaking of that very familiar account of ancient Israel while they were in the wilderness. They were wandering in the wilderness. And they sinned, they complained against their leadership, and they were always found to be in places of wicked iniquity. And we read beginning in verse 1, Paul says, now, moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud and all passed through the sea. All were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. All ate the same spiritual food and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual rock that followed them and that rock was Christ. But with most of them God was not well pleased. For their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. Now these things became our examples. to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted, and do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, the people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play. Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did. And in one day, 23,000 fell. Nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted and were destroyed by serpents. nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. We know the story of ancient Israel. We know how wicked and iniquitous they were. You think about the idolatry, a golden calf. You think about their constant murmuring against Moses and Aaron. Murmuring and complaining, carping and criticizing. They didn't like the way things were going. even though God had appointed those men to lead God's people, yet they didn't have the attitude that was pleasing to the Lord. It was wicked before God. All of these various things, sexual immorality. And Paul says these were given for our example. We're not to look at these stories and say, well, that's the way it was way back then. No, we're to look at these stories and say, let us take heed. Let us learn. of the negative examples that we see among God's chosen people. And what I want you to notice in our text is in verse 11, here you have this word, neuthacea, as Paul uses it in this context. He says now, verse 11, all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition. And there's our word, neuthesia. Here the idea is the idea of instruction and giving example. Negative instruction and example, for sure. There's another place I want you to turn with me, please, and that is over in Titus chapter 3. Again, just looking at the vocabulary of the text and the uses of these words by the Holy Spirit himself, it gives us, again, the flavor of the meaning of these words. And we read in Titus 3, verses 8 through 11. Paul writing to Titus who was in Crete. And in verse 8 of chapter 3 of Titus, this is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men. But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law. For they are unprofitable and useless. Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned." Well, you notice there in verse 10, you have, again, If you have a new King James translation, and I'm not sure how it's rendered in your translation, it is that word admonition, nuthesia. Here the idea is not so much the idea of instruction, but the idea of warning, of warning. This person, he had the first and second admonition, that is, warning. He was warned, and if he continues, you are to avoid those type of people. So, again, we have this idea of admonition, the idea of instruction, and the idea of warning, the idea of reproof, counsel, and admonition. So, congregation, when we take these two words together, how are we to parent our children, and you don't have 500 pages in a book of these are all the do's and the don'ts and how do you parent your children. Isn't it interesting? You can go into a Christian bookstore and you can find rolls and rolls of books on parenting. And yet you can basically take all the teachings of scripture on parenting and write it down on one little sheet of notebook paper, because it is very simple and straightforward. And yes, books are helpful to help flesh out the implications of these teachings, but the scriptures are very simple, straightforward, and clear. These two words, we could say, This word training and the word admonition, they are a beautiful summary of the duty of parenting. The training in the Lord and the admonition of the Lord. Listen to what Dr. Hohner says in his excellent commentary on Ephesians. He's talking about these two words and what's the meaning of these two words? He says, quote, The distinction between the two words is difficult to determine with any certainty. Several think that paideia is education emphasizing activity and discipline, and neuthesia is education emphasizing the verbal aspect, whether it be encouragement or reproof. This appears to be a reasonable explanation. Hence, paideia, the idea of training, is the activity of education best translated training. And neuthesia is the verbal aspect of education and is best translated as correction or admonition, which is a part of education. instruction. These two words in the manifold nuance of their meaning comprise for us the duties that parents have, fathers and mothers, as it relates to parenting your children. So as we conclude this morning, congregation, having considered the words of Holy Scripture, we note, first of all, parents This is your responsibility. You have this responsibility to parent your children. You have this duty before God. God has placed these little ones, these little souls under your care. Fathers, you are to be prophets and priests and kings in your home. And you are to be shepherding and guiding and teaching and correcting, along with the mother who comes alongside and assists. You are to be very careful and very consistent. You are to be Christ-like in your parenting. You are Christ-representative in the home. And fathers, you are to be leading and guiding as it relates to this issue of parenting. There is this notion, sadly, in our day among many, even believers, who think that it is the father's responsibility to go out and provide, and the mothers do all of the spiritual care in the home. Well, congregation, that's a false narrative. The leading spiritually in the home is to be led by the Father. Amen? And the wife is to be right alongside Him every step of the way. That is what God has called you to do. It is to be consistent, careful, Christ-like, and it is to be done with an earnestness and care, realizing these little ones that God has placed in your care souls that will live forever, and you are to bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord." We see here also, parents, this very important word of caution. Let us heed this caution. Fathers, mothers, do you provoke your children to wrath? Do you provoke your children so that they become discouraged? So that they throw up their hands and say, what's the use? I can never do anything right in this house. I'm always doing the wrong thing and saying the wrong thing. Is that the kind of parenting style that you have where there's never any praise or encouragement along with that instruction? Where they do not sense your love, your sensitivity, your loving care for them? If that is your approach to parenting, then please repent of that approach. Everything that you do is to be bathed with love and Christ-likeness. Because your care is not only what you say, but it's how you say it. It's not only what you do, but how you do it. Do it with love. Do it with true affection. Do it with earnestness and sincerity. and realize that you, father, mother, will one day give an account for how faithful you have parented your children. What you do in the home has great implications for your children, for the church, and for society. As children of God, we think about this widening the application here. God is our Heavenly Father. And isn't it interesting the way that fathers are called to parent by instruction and admonition? Isn't this how God parents us as his spiritual children? He instructs us with his word. He challenges us. He confronts us. He rebukes us. He admonishes us through his word. And yes, that word is not the only way in which that admonition and chastening sometimes come, as we read in Hebrews chapter 12. Sometimes when His children err and they fall into sin, God, out of His love for us, brings His hand of chastening upon us. Maybe there is someone here today, and you're going through a time in your life, and it is a frowning providence, and it is a time for you to search your soul. Is this because of sin? Is this because I have been wayward in the ways of the Lord? And that calls for a judgment day honesty and seeking God in that situation. And it may be that God is bringing correction, but God does that with His children always with love. God is always working out all things, Romans 8, 28, for our good and for His glory. So my friend, if you're going through something that is challenging and maybe even the hand of correction is upon you presently, look to Christ and draw near unto the Lord and find in Him a Savior who lovingly admonishes and corrects and instructs as we as parents must do with our children. Let's bow together in prayer. Our gracious Heavenly Father, we bow before you today. as we consider these basic teachings as it relates to parenting and the responsibilities that fathers and mothers have. as it relates to bringing up our children in the training and admonition of the Lord. Help us to see the weighty, eternal significance, consequences of our care of the little ones you've entrusted to us. Help us that we, as parents, would be consistent, that we would be Christ-like, and that we would have the caution not to provoke, but that in all of our parenting it is done with care, sensitivity, and love. Help us as your children to be instructed along every providence you've put along our path, that we would be teachable, and that we would be instructed and admonished as it relates to righteousness and truth, so that we might avoid those things that are evil, and we might follow in those paths of righteousness, honoring unto you. Father, we pray that if there are those here who do not have Christ as their Savior, they could not say that they are a child of God, and God truly is their heavenly Father, that they, by your divine enabling and grace, would be shown their need, that they would run to Lord Jesus and embrace Him as they bow before Him and find in Him a Savior who welcomes everyone who comes to Him by faith. Father, bless Your people, strengthen Your church, and extend Your kingdom. And we pray all of this in the name of Your dear Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. And for his sake we pray, amen. Amen. Let's all stand together now as we prepare to be dismissed. Again, with the words of Holy Scripture, the Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you. The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. And all of God's people said, amen, amen.