The Delight of the Father

REFLECTION QUOTES

“When the yearning for freedom destroys order, the yearning for order will destroy freedom.”

~Eric Hoffer (1902-1983), American moral and social philosopher


“The first half of our life is ruined by our parents and the second half by our children.”

~Clarence Darrow (1857-1938), Famous American lawyer

“The thing that impresses me most about America is the way parents obey their children.”

~Edward, Duke of Windsor (1894-1972)

“To understand your parents’ love you must raise children yourself.”

“Respect for one’s parents is the highest duty of civil life.”

~Chinese Proverbs

“The ministry of the church in contemporary America is distorted because the cultural lives of many Christians, including their deep assumptions about reality, the practice and activities that they pursue guided by those assumptions, have been decisively shaped more by modern, western culture than by the church’s own account of reality as outlined in the Scriptures. This is in part because the church has too often abandoned its necessary and prophetic task of being involved in cultural formation, in favor of a more readily acceptable task of being chaplain to the cultural status quo.”

~Ken Myers, American social commentator

“There are no unsacred places; there are only sacred places and desecrated places.”

~Wendell Berry, American environmentalist and social critic

SERMON PASSAGE

Ephesians 5:15-21, 6:1-4 (NASB)

15 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, 16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil. 17 So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; 20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; 21 and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.



Chapter 6

1Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), 3 so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth.

4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Matthew 3:13-4:1 (NASB)

13 Then Jesus arrived from Galilee at the Jordan coming to John, to be baptized by him. 14 But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?” 15 But Jesus answering said to him, “Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he permitted Him. 16 After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, 17 and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.”

Chapter 4

1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.