Proper 21/Pentecost 19/Ordinary Time 26
Preaching
Hear My Voice
Preaching The Lectionary Psalms for Cycles A, B, C
(See Proper 27/Pentecost 25/Ordinary Time 32, Cycle A, or an alternative approach to vv. 1-7.)
This is one of the "Wisdom Psalms," and part of the wisdom it extols is the importance of telling our children about our faith (v. 4), including telling them of the glorious deeds of God in the past (as, for example, vv. 12-16) as evidence for what God continues to do in the present.
We hear a lot these days about how rebellious many teens are, and how many seem to abandon the values of their parents. But studies have shown that most teens, despite their rebelliousness and the agony they put their parents through, when grown up, eventually adopt the values of their parents.
What better reason is there than that for us to speak of the meaning and importance of faith in our homes -- and to do so in front of the children growing up around us? If they are going to eventually embrace at least some of the things we hold important, then hadn't we better let them know how much our God means to us personally?
Speaking of our faith may seem more difficult and awkward with youth than with adults, but it's actually not that hard. At our church, during the confirmation classes, we assign each young person in the class an adult mentor. Week after week, I give the kids some questions to ask of their mentors. The kids phone the adults and then report back to the class the next Sunday the results of those conversations.
Those adults have no problem explaining their faith to young people. In each case, all that is required is for the kids to ask. In our homes, in our classes at church, at family gatherings and other places, what we need to do is talk freely about our faith without waiting for the questions to be asked. We may think the kids aren't listening, but we are often surprised by how much they have soaked up.
-- S. P.
This is one of the "Wisdom Psalms," and part of the wisdom it extols is the importance of telling our children about our faith (v. 4), including telling them of the glorious deeds of God in the past (as, for example, vv. 12-16) as evidence for what God continues to do in the present.
We hear a lot these days about how rebellious many teens are, and how many seem to abandon the values of their parents. But studies have shown that most teens, despite their rebelliousness and the agony they put their parents through, when grown up, eventually adopt the values of their parents.
What better reason is there than that for us to speak of the meaning and importance of faith in our homes -- and to do so in front of the children growing up around us? If they are going to eventually embrace at least some of the things we hold important, then hadn't we better let them know how much our God means to us personally?
Speaking of our faith may seem more difficult and awkward with youth than with adults, but it's actually not that hard. At our church, during the confirmation classes, we assign each young person in the class an adult mentor. Week after week, I give the kids some questions to ask of their mentors. The kids phone the adults and then report back to the class the next Sunday the results of those conversations.
Those adults have no problem explaining their faith to young people. In each case, all that is required is for the kids to ask. In our homes, in our classes at church, at family gatherings and other places, what we need to do is talk freely about our faith without waiting for the questions to be asked. We may think the kids aren't listening, but we are often surprised by how much they have soaked up.
-- S. P.
