You’ve Been Promoted!

This weekend at Hardy Street Baptist Church, we will continue in a sermon series called, "Faith Begins At Home". I am excited to focus on grandparenting as we consider the generational impact believers can have (both positively and negatively) on future generations. The Bible is filled with grandparents in action and Scripture has much to say about the roles of grandparents! Hope you'll join us! Again, I'll offer my "disclaimer"... There's a message for everyone this weekend! I realize you might say, I'm not a grandparent (or even a parent...or even married for that matter) and this sermon is not for me. That couldn't be further from the truth! The principles we'll consider from God's Word hold application for all of us!

Also, I've spent a great deal of time thinking about God's design for the family and have run across some great resources in my study. Below is an article by Pastor Steve Stroope about the role of grandfathers. Hope you enjoy.

Pastoral insights from Steve Stroope, LakePointe Church, Rockwall, TX
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Grandfathers hold a unique and exalted position when it comes to the process of spiritual formation in the next generation. Other than mom and dad no one else carries the stature or inherent authority in the lives of children. In fact, not even mom or dad can fill the role we fill. That’s why I find it troubling that so many modern grandfathers squander their opportunity thinking “I’ve finished the parenting task.” 

We are not called “grandparents” because we’ve been retired from the parenting process. We are called “grand” because we’ve been promoted! That means your task is to do everything possible to help your family achieve success in their most important assignment.  Regardless of what business you may be in, your “family business”  includes a clear purpose. Specifically, those blessed with the gift of grandchildren are called to inspire and nurture the faith of the next generation as life’s greatest privilege and priority. 

The scriptures command moms, dads and grandparents to give the next generation a framework for living rooted in the knowledge of and relationship with God. It is our job to support and reinforce the 
role of parents as they fulfill the command of Deuteronomy 6... 

These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home, and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up… (vs. 6-8) 

It seems that this generation of grandfathers mentally check-out or skim past this vital passage of scripture because they assume it only applies to mom and dad. When did that change? 

Prior generations of grandparents understood this mandate to target them as the patriarchs of faith in their extended families. We need to recapture that understanding today if we are going to fulfill 
our God-ordained role in the faith formation process. How do you start? Put in place regular scheduled times when you get to invest in your grandchildren such as: 

• Put a weekly “touching base” call or text message reminder on your planner to prompt “spontaneous” encouragement or conversation.

• Plan once-a-month, twice-a-month, or once-a-week sleepovers .

• Host a once-a-year entire week or more with grandchildren .

• Create Grandfather/Grandson, Grandmother/Granddaughter events or dates .

• Establish birthday traditions (like breakfasts with them) 

• Help grandchildren pick out and purchase Christmas gifts for their parents. 

• Create a Fall Festival celebration each year .

• Observe annual celebration of their salvation. 

• Establish Easter traditions. 

The key is creating recurring meaningful experiences that, once they have been instituted, take place fairly automatically. Leverage the tools and resources we’ve suggested to make influencing the 
faith of the next generation easy. 

Recommended Books:
Extreme Grandparenting (by Tim Kimmel and Darcy Kimmel). Are you ready to take grandparenting to the next level? This book offers timeless and tested principles for grandparenting in the twenty-first century.
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It Starts At Home (by Kurt Bruner and Steve Stroope) gives grandparents practical suggestions for influencing the faith of their grandchildren. 

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