SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON, FEBRUARY 28, TOPIC - Improving Intergenerational Relationships
TOPIC - Improving Intergenerational Relationships
Be kindly affection one to another with brotherly love in honour preferring one another (KJV)
Central truth
Respective and care for one another are vital in family relationship
1. Strengthen family ties
A. Lasting relationships begins early
B. Letting children grow up
2. Teach mutual respect
A. Responsible children
B. Understanding parents
3. Care for senior adults
A. Do not forget older family members
B. Provide for the elderly
1. Impart and reinforce knowledge: impress upon
student the kinds of
attitudes and actions required
for
healthy intergenerational
relationship.
2. Influence attitudes: inspire your student to how good commitment
inflating well in maintaining
strong family among members.
3. Influence behavior: challenge student to realize that part of the
intergenerational relationship structure is
for
each other.
Perhaps your know
of families where parents and
children are constantly
bickering. Instead of solving their problems, they
are allowing these problems to destroy their relationship with each other. They may mo longer
even speak to each other. How tragic that these families
spend their lives
with
resentments,
grudges, bitterness, and other
feelings that rob
them of some of life’s greatest
pleasures.
Often the problems
begin with small,
perhaps insignificant, incidents,
rather than working through problems, family members allow
them
to escalate and grow out of
proportion.
This week’s lesson
is
designed
to help
keep families from
experiencing such tragic incidents. The scriptural guidelines presented will help produce intergenerational harmony in the home.
A. lasting Relationships Begin early
A good relationship between parent and child is one of
the most important relationships that we have if this
relationship is not properly developed; it can
have a long-lasting negative effect on the entire family.
While
the scripture
do
not
give us a lot of
detail concerning Jesus
‘childhood and his relationship with marry
and Joseph, what we do have is significant. Luke 2:40-51 relates an incident from the boyhood of Jesus.
Joseph and Mary were accustomed to making the annual pilgrimage to
Jerusalem
to observe
the Passover. Jesus was 12
years of age when
this
event took place (verses 41-42) Jesus attendance
at this particular celebration was probably to prepare to him for a particular ceremony
in the coming year. In this ceremony, he would observe the Jewish right-of-
passage that would permit him to become a responsible member of the
religious community.
At the end of the Passover, the families generally
travelled with the
women and smaller children
in one group and
the
men and older boys in
another. Jesus could have been with either Mary or Joseph. At nightfall,
as the
families rejoined
for their
evening meals
and
sleep, things become quite unsettled. Mary and Joseph supposing that Jesus had been
with the other parent, discovered that Jesus was not with the
group.
Joseph and Mary returned to Jerusalem to look for Jesus. On the
third day they found Jesus in the temple area asking question of the doctors of the law
(verses 45, 46).they were astonished when they
saw Jesus ‘understand of the law.
When Joseph and Mary
found Jesus, Mary began to scold him notice her reaction as recorded in verse 48,
son why hast thou thus dealt with us? ‘She was venting her frustrations
and fears.
While Mary’s reaction is typical, it is a respond that can hinder the
development of a good relationship Mary, without hearing the whole story, blamed her
son
for the discomfort they experienced.
Why is it important for parents to listen to their children?How often do we as parents react the same way as Mary? An important key to developing good intergenerational relationships is establishing and keeping the lines of communication open. As parents we must be open to hear and understand both sides of problems.
One of the best things we can do for
our children is to learn to really
listen to them before we blindly
pass listen, we can understand their
feelings. Listening to their reasoning may mean that we will have to readjust our evaluation also. While we might not always agree
with our children
or them with us we must keep the door of communication open.
Most parents enjoy seeing
their children mature.
This
maturing process brings about more than
physical changes though. Maturing also brings
with it a move toward independence on the part of
the
child. This happened in Jesus Christ’s
life.
Note how
gently and
respectfully
Jesus pointed
out that
he
was moving toward manhood. Parents sometimes have difficulty in coping with their children growing up. Failure to recognise this transition period
and accept it can also damage our relationship with our children. As children
leave the adolescent stage
and
move toward adulthood, they
move further away from our control and influence. This time in life can
be a
time of tension and conflict for both parent
and child.
As we see this transition happening, we often wonder what our roles as parents are during this time. It is found in balance. We must learn
to accept our
children will make this
transition easier to deal with.
Notice how Jesus submitted himself to his earthly parents and
continued to his earthy parents and continued to live under their control
and authority they had a disagreement with Jesus, yet he
yielded to their
authority during his childhood our children are more likely to follow
the
same pattern when they
feel
they are accepted for themselves and are allowed the opportunity to be heard.
A. Responsible children
Several years ago the phrase expression used to describe the differences in ideologies between younger and older generations unfortunately, this
gap
still exists today’s.
The bible gives guidelines
to bridging this gap
that stands between
many parents and their children. This relationship, like all others is one
in which both parties must
work together to make it
work.
Children’s attitude and behaviour towards parents are
important to
God. In fact, one of
the Ten Commandments addresses the children’s
relationship with
their
parents. Children
are directed to treat their parents with honour
and
respect. This
is not optional; it
is a command from God
Why do you think god places such a high importance on children’s
respecting parents?
Children must realise that parents have been instructed into responsible adults. Christian children, like their parents, are under the authority of Christ. By respecting and honouring their parents, children respect and honour God
Paul, in writing to the Ephesians, addressed the conduct each family
member has toward other as they
live spirit-filled lives (6:1-3). A good parent-child relationship is
an outgrowth of the spirit-filled life.
To what extent is a child with unsaved parents to obey them?
Obedience to
God is of the utmost importance in one’s life. Children are
to obey their parents ‘in the lord’. Some have incorrectly taken his phrase to mean only if the parents are believers. A child is not bound to obey parents in doing anything immoral,
hurtful, or illegal. The directives given here are primarily
addressed homes where parents are striving to
bring their children up in the fear of the lord and admonition of the lord. Yet in every
family situation, respect for the parental role is a child’s
responsibility
Paul not only gave the command for obedience but the reasons as
well
it is ‘right’ and
‘well-pleasing unto the lord’ (Colossians 3:20). This
denotes a proper behaviour for Christian children
In Ephesians 6:23, Paul substantiated his statement by quoting the fifth commandment with its promise of long life. It is important to note that respecting parents is not a guarantee of long life. This statement sets forth a general principle that obedience fosters a life of self- discipline. A discipline lifestyle generally
helps a person live a longer,
more productive life.
Paul also directed his attention to the parents who have a major role
in developing the parent-child relationship. Fathers are singled out in Colossians 3:21, but mothers
can
be included as well. Parents are not to
provoke or frustrate their
children. To do so will cause
them to become “discourage”.
In what ways can parents frustrate their children? A common way of frustrating children is by constantly putting them down. People respond better to praise than to criticism. Praise coupled with loving discipline will go a long way in helping build good intergenerational relationships. If parents continually redo the tasks their children perform, children feel they cannot do anything right.
A constant barrage of criticism, whether
verbal or unspoken, can discourage a child. Often children carry
this
discouragement into their adult
lives. One young lady nearly ruined her life on the streets of a major city. When a counsellor asked why she gad gotten herself into so
much trouble, she responded, “when you are continually told you are no
good, you begin to believe it.”
Mutual respect works both ways. Children are to honour
and respect their
parents. But parents are to
also
love, respect, and
accept their
children for who they are. In addition, parents are to encourage their
children to become all they can be in the Lord.
A. Do not forget older family members
An integral part of the intergenerational relations are senior adults. Like everyone else, their roles have changed within the last several
years. One of these changes has
been in longevity of life.
People are living longer today than they did a few years
ago.
However, senor adults are
not always able to
remain self-sufficient
throughout their lives. Often others must care for them in their later years.
A high priority for the early Church was caring for the widows. But the
time the pastoral
epistle was written, this had become an important ministry. Some, through, were abusing this ministry. Paul
needed to give Timothy
instructions concerning the care of widows. Paul’s instructions
can
be applied to taking care of senor adults
today.
Paul wrote that
those who were “widows indeed” were to
be honoured. This phrase referred to widows who had no family members to take care of them. Some were allowing the local. Churches to take care of their obligations to their own family members. Paul wanted
families to understand their own responsibility for taking care of their
widowed family members and not allow
the
Church to be burdened
with their care.
Questions for Application
Why is it important that families take responsibility for the care of their older family members?
Part of the intergenerational relationship structure is
for families to care
for
each other. According
to
verse 4, caring for the older members of our
family is religion put into practice. According to Paul, this is a way that we can repay our
parents and grandparents for all the sacrifices they
made for us.
The source of all
of our help is god. Widows who were godly women understood this. It is these the church was to help, not those who lived for their own pleasure.
Paul concluded this passage with a stern warning. He said that anyone who fails to care for his family members is equal an infidel, a person who has no Christian faith. While this warning includes taking care of all family members, in this context it especially includes widows, and by extension, senior adults.
Question for
application
What can Christian families provide for their older members?
There are many things we can do to provide for the senior adults in our families. However, they need much more than just material things. They need us. Some senior adults, because they are shut-ins, lack fellowship with other Christians. Time spent with them can be very
meaningful. Other senior adults may need someone to run errands for
them,
or to help
them with tasks
they are no longer
able to perform.
As we minister to senior adults, we will find that our relationship with them will not be of just giving. These wonderful people have a wealth of knowledge, experience, faith, and love to share with us. Caring for the senior adult can be one of the most rewarding experiences a family can have.
Call to Discipleship
There is no way to describe the value of having good intergenerational relationship. They bring peace and harmony to a home. The home becomes a place where all members are loved and respected for who they are. There is good communication and exchange of ideas.
On the other hand, bad family
relationships make the home a place
where no one wants to come
home. The constant bickering and fighting
creates tension. No one gives or receives love and respect. Screaming is the only form of
communication.
What makes the difference between these two homes? First and foremost is a relationship with Jesus
Christ. When Christ rules,
peace rules. Secondly, parents and children
respect each other as individuals.
They also respect each other’ opinion.
Good intergenerational relationship valuable. Pray that students will improve their relationship with their parents
No comments: