Father's Day at Plymouth Church ~ a preview

An African proverb reads, "It takes a whole village to raise a child". 

 

You may recall that a few years back in our own city, the Mayor, City Council and the police force dealt with an issue that should be a matter taken care of in the home-- that of teens being out at all hours of the night. I haven’t read much about the curfew lately, but as has always been true about youth out late at night, some of them are in danger-- and some of them are dangerous. That's a sad fact of life.

Maturity in body does not automatically bring about the maturity of emotion and mind, and the judgment to live responsibly as a member of the community, or a member of society.

The home is the central place in the village in which values are developed, in which the spiritual inheritance is received. But, the Church has recognized from the beginning that it is an integral part of that "village" which helps nurture the family, and guide the child. We gather on this Fathers Day as a community of faith. I could think of no more appropriate question for our reflection than the one raised by this sermon title. "Will our children have faith?" It is our desire that they do-- it is our responsibility to nurture their faith. How do we go about doing that?

This desire to give an inheritance of faith is rooted deeply in biblical faith. Deuteronomy 6:4-8 is considered by most people of the Jewish faith as the most important words Moses spoke or wrote. The account comes at the end of four decades of frustrating wandering in the desert and just before their entry into the Promised Land. Moses spoke to the Israelites about what life would be like in, the Promised Land. They were about to be scattered throughout the land. They would be confronted with and impacted by people whose values, lifestyles, and faith were altogether different from their own. It was essential that they have a strategy for surviving-- thriving-- as the people of God in a hostile environment. There are frightening parallels to our own age.

 

Will OUR children have faith? How will we as parents, and as a community of faith answer this question? The sermon will explore the resources that the Christian life and faith provide to ensure that the faith lives on in our children.

Come on Sunday the 17^th and hear the rest of the message…