Next book, Tedd Tripp's "Shepherdng a Child's Heart."

*Just a reminder that this study of Shepherding a Child’s Heart, is not by any means me teaching, but rather a simple summary chapter by chapter of his book for my own enrichment.*

Preface....

We can tend to focus on the external behavior instead of the internal overflow of the heart…. We tend to worry more about the what of behavior instead of the why.

Ultimately, when we miss the heart, we miss the gospel.   Demanding appropriate behavior will not help children understand heart issues, and ultimately how a sinful heart is in need for grace.   When we miss the heart, we miss the glory of God.

“One of the most important callings God has given parents is to display the greatness, goodness, and glory of the God for whom they are made.”

Introduction.

Many kids do not look to their parents as an authority and by age 10-12 they are totally respectless.  Culture does not want Dad to be the boss and home or Mom to be submissive to dad.  Children are no longer submissive.  If the old authoritarian ways are no longer valid, what method should we use?

Experience might fail us, but the only safe guide is the Bible, absolute truth from an infinitely knowledgeable God.

We should be a kind authority, a shepherd to our children so they can understand themselves in God’s world, and keep the gospel in clear view.

1.    Authority. God is our authority and has put people in authority around us.  It is not something embarrassing to be in a place of authority for the kids, as we exercise authority as God’s agent….to lay down our own lives and selflessly raise the kids.

a.     Of course Jesus is the perfect example of this. He has all authority yet is a servant.  He allows people in their submission to live freely in the freedom of the gospel.

b.    Parents must exercise authority and expect obedience as they are called by God to obey and honor their parents.

2.    Shepherding. We are to guide the children to understand themselves, others, and God .

3.    Gospel.  God’s gospel is powerful, and meets the needs of fallen humanity.  Tripp expects God’s word to be the power of God to salvation for his children.  His desire for his children to be believers is not based on a formula but on the gospel.  If children see the what/why of their sins they will understand their need of savior.

“The gospel enables you and your children to face the worst in yourselves; your sin, your badness, and your weakness, and still find hope, because grace is powerful.”

Chapter 1.

Getting to the heart of behavior.

The heart determines behavior.  Either evil actions and speech well up from the heart, or good things that are stored up in the heart.

Behavior is not the basic issue, but rather what is going on in the heart.

Wow, Tripp says that a change in behavior that does not stem from a change of heart is NOT commendable, it is condemnable!  It is hypocrisy!

As we shepherd our children, we must always draw them back to a view of their hearts, the root of their behavior, and their need for God’s law and his salvation.

Final chapter (57) of Wayne Grudems systematic theology!

The New Heavens and the New Earth

*Just a reminder that this study of Wayne Grudem's book, Systematic Theology, is not by any means me teaching, but rather a simple summary chapter by chapter of his book for my own enrichment.*

After the final judgement, we will enter a kingdom where we will be together with God and the lamb, a new heavesn and new earth.

Some aspects of this kingdom:

·        The former things shall not be remembered (Isaiah 65)

·        A place in which righteousness dwells (2 Peter 3)

·        God will dwell with men. (Rev 21)

·        We shall eat and drink, there is a street of the city and a river, and a tree of life.  (symbolic or literal?) 

·        God’s infite greatness means we have a lot to find out! (So learning, discovering things, doing things are probably an amazing aspect if it all!)

·        Although the thought of time might be different, scripture speaks of an unending succession of moments.

Heaven is a place, not just a state of mind.  “I will go and prepare a place for you and will return and take you to myself, that where I am you may also be.” (John 14)

The day of the Lord will come like a thief and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise and the elements will be dissolved with fire and the earth and all the works that are upon it will be burned up. (1 Peter 3)

Protestants disagree whether the earth will be destroyed completely and replaced or just changed and renewed.

Our resurrection bodies will be part of the renewed creation.

Imagine, a place and activities for our resurerection bodies which will never grow old or become weak or ill.

When we think about the eternal aspect of heaven and compare it to our short life on earth, we should be motivated as Christians to store up treasures in heaven!

Scripture consistently portrays this new creation as a place of great beauty and joy.

More important than all these descriptions, it’s beauty, fellowship with believers, etc., we will be in the presence of God and enjoying unhindered fellowship with him!

Psalm 16:11, In your presence there is fullness of joy, at your right hand are pleasures for evermore.

One thing I have asked of the Lord, that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. Psalm 27. 

Wayne Grudems Systematic Theology, chapter 56

The final judgement and eternal punishment

*Just a reminder that this study of Wayne Grudem's book, Systematic Theology, is not by any means me teaching, but rather a simple summary chapter by chapter of his book for my own enrichment.*

Scripture is clear in many places on the fact that the Lord will bring all men before him and have a final judgement based on their lives.

Dispensational views say that there will be more than one period of judgement, before and after the tribulation.  Grudem takes a view that there will be just one time of judgement.

Jesus Christ will be the judge, over the living and the dead.
Unbelievers and believers will be judged, as the judgement includes the dead, great and small.

The Bible speaks of some sort of eternal reward for the work of eternal perspective we have done on earth, and how we will lay our crowns before the Lord, so it is not some kind of competition and comparison game.

Even angels will be judged (i.e. rebellious angels).

God has this final judgement in order to show his perfect justice before all men.

Morally speaking,
The doctrine of justice fulfills our need for justice in the world, knowing that God will have the final say in wrongdoers who seem to "get off the hook."

Also we may forgive others freely, as we know that the final vengeance is the Lord's .
Final judgement gives us a motive for righteous living, and gives us a great motivation for evangelism.   "Turn back from your evil ways, why will you die, o house of Israel?" Ezekiel 33.11.

The judgement can lead to one going to hell, a place of eternal conscious punishment for the wicked.

As I live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live;" Ezekiel 33.11.

The doctrine of hell is hard to understand because God has put a portion of his love in our hearts, even his love for sinners who rebel against him. j

We must rejoice in God who is perfectly righteous in this matter.