Reflections on ‘Honouring Christ in Family’
As we continue with our vision this year of “Building Depth”, one way we do that is by posting mid-week reflections on our Sunday Morning talks. The aim is that they encourage us to keep applying the truths we’ve heard wherever we’ve been uniquely placed during the week. This week, Matt reflects on ‘Honouring Christ in Family’, and you can listen to the talk from Gus Rosier by clicking here or using the embedded player below.
Tell us a little about yourself?
Sarah and I have been part of Oasis since 2012. We’ve got two young children. I work in schools and science festivals across the country presenting ‘Science Magic Shows’ — which fuse my passions of creative communication, magic and science (I’m a lapsed atomic physicist).
Can you give a two sentence summary of this week’s talk?
Honour and obey your parents. Don’t exasperate your children but train them on a joint journey of faith.
Which verse or passage stuck out to you and why?
Often at about 6:20pm we as parents are well on our way to feeling exasperated. The bath and bedtime routine is in full swing. The bathroom floor is wet, the air is filled with talcum powder and a toddler is being chased around with a hair brush. The threat of losing the bedtime story is looming. And Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:4 that we as parents should not exasperate our kids! How I wish some days that verse could be flipped around.
The ESV translation puts it “Father’s do not provoke your children to anger”, which is perhaps a more helpful reading. In the sermon Gus talked about how both parental legalism and hypocrisy are sources for friction between parent and child; particularly as they start to enter their teens.
But verse 4 doesn’t stop there as it goes onto say “bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” The challenge is as a parent to stop acting like a lecturer but become a mentor to your children. To journey, learn and experience together. And along the adventure to share Biblical knowledge, wisdom and encouragement.
Which point in the talk really impacted you and why?
I think as adults it’s easy to skip over the start of chapter 6. We’ve left home and can now make our own decisions — the bit about obeying parents is now redundant. Or maybe not. We’re called (in the 10 commandments no less) to honour our parents. Part of honouring is obeying or submitting to them. Gus listed 10 different ways that we can still honour our parents. A few highlights were: 1) speaking highly of them (including the in-laws); 2) listen and learn from them; 6) be forgiving in disposition and forgive; 8) thank them.
One of the big impacts of the talk for me was reflecting on how just because I’ve left living with my parents it doesn’t mean I’ve left my parents. I’ve still got a responsibility as their child to honour them.
What action points will you carry with you into this week?
Gus’ checklist of 10 ways to honour my parents will be a good starting point. The second key action point that struck me was the two-way prayers. Parents praying for their children and children praying for their parents. And as an adult that fits into both categories, I better getting praying.
