Waverly Church of Christ

Men, the most difficult task you will ever seek to accomplish in this life is that of guiding your children toward heaven. Every other task, no matter how difficult, will pale in comparison. It is the one task I would encourage you to ask God every day, “Please, don’t let me mess this up!” This morning, I want to share with you something which the apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in the city of Thessalonica. In this passage, Paul wrote of the behavior which he, Timothy and Silas demonstrated toward the believers in Thessalonica. He also wrote of the methods they used to motivate the Thessalonians to “walk in a manner worthy of the God who [had called them] into His own kingdom and glory” (v. 12). This morning, I would like for those of us who are fathers to consider these same behaviors and methods as we seek to train up our own children in what Paul called the “discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4, ESV, NASB95).