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We continue this morning in our series on Proverbs; looking at those things that are characteristic of those who are walking in wisdom, We have seen that...
•    The path of wisdom is a person.
•    The path of wisdom is marked by humility and not pride
•    The path of wisdom stands up for unjust murder .
•    The path of wisdom views money differently .
•    The path of wisdom views work as worship
•    The path of wisdom is not lead by desires but is self-controlled
•    The path of wisdom takes seriously the next generation

I want to say at the beginning that this message is not just for those who have children; it is for every one of us in the congregation, Though teaching the next generation how to walk in wisdom is first and foremost a parent issue, it is also a church issue for all throughout this congregation this morning are future moms and dads, current moms and dads, current grandparents, current spiritual fathers and mothers in the faith who have been given the responsibility to model wisdom for the sake of the next generation. To say ''1 do not currently have children in my home and therefore this does not apply to me'' is to misunderstand your responsibility as a part of the body of Christ and is to be misinformed concerning the path of wisdom.

Text: Proverbs 4
''AII that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."
(Edmund Burke)

I would alter that statement for us this morning by saying "All that is necessary to lose the next generation is for the church to do nothing."
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Barna Study
The survey shows that while most teens consider themselves to be Christian and attend a Christian church at least occasionally, many of their beliefs are not consistent with biblical teaching.
•    The Bible is totally accurate (6 in 10 agree)  
•    Satan is only a symbol not real (almost 7 in 10 agree)
•    Being good is enough to get you to heaven (6 in 10 agree)
•    Jesus committed sins on earth (5 in 10 agree)

Barna points out that ''what we see is what we will continue to get''  
•    ''Well-intentioned but misinformed faith perspectives that lead to bad choices and spiritual confusion. As the future leaders of the Christian church, we must be concerned about the substance of the faith that will be communicated and practiced in the long-term.''

The dominant influences on the spiritual views of young people - parents, friends, music and pop entertainment - are largely responsible for the errant theological views of teens and cannot be counted on to restore biblical clarity.

If biblical truth is going to prevail, it will require a strategic, long- term, coordinated effort to convey God's truth in ways that shake young people from their theological complacency and arrogance.
Families must become more diligent and reliable in the religious training they provide to their children. Churches cannot continue to minister in the same ways they have been doing for the past decade.

As someone who has spent many years in student ministry I can tell you the number one obstacle (and it is not even close) to the discipleship of students was/is the lack of reinforcement of biblical teaching in the home.

The voice of Wisdom is crying out to us this morning...will we listen as a church, will we listen as parents, will we listen as children?

One of the opening phrases of our text is to ''be attentive." What we are going to see this morning from God's Word is one of the greatest challenges I face as a Christian parent, what we are going to see is going to take hard work, it is going to cause some of us to adjust our schedules, it is going to cause some of us to make some different priorities in life, it is going to cause some of us to do things that look radical in the eyes of the culture, but I am convinced from God's word that there is no greater calling and there is no higher task if we are going to walk in the way of Wisdom. If we do not listen we are only a generation away from losing the faith.
Teaching: Proverbs 4
The book of Proverbs gives serious instruction to parents to view the issue of parenting with great importance. It starts at home, not at church...church
partners and affirms what should already be taking place in the home.

The Way of Wisdom has the Next Generation insight (3-4)
3 When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother,
4 he taught me and said to me, ''Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live.

The point of the text is seeing that the Father is doing to the son what his father had done for him. It was a generational thing, a responsibility that was given to him.

It is easy to become focused on the here and now and yet when we stop focusing on future generations we wake up only to find that there is no one walking behind us, no one to whom we have passed wisdom on to.

3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unseasonable.

4 One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty arts. (Psalm 145:4)

The Bible shows us that it is the responsibility of believers (particularly parents) to lift high the greatness of God, to speak loudly the greatness of our God for the sake of the next generation.

God does not give this responsibility to television, he does not give this responsibility to teachers at school, he does not give this responsibility to their friends, it is the responsibility of parents partnered with the local congregation of spiritual mothers and fathers who will declare the mighty works of God for a future generation.

Notice the passion of this verse. Dry, unemotional, teaching about God - whether at home or at church - will do nothing for the next generation. I want to see a generation who is passionate, who is all-surrendered, who is sold out to living the life of Wisdom. And we ought not to amen that if we are not willing to invest the time that it takes to raising up that generation.
Because in order for the next generation to walk in the way of wisdom they need to see passionate worshippers today, the need to see that God has made a difference in our lives and that he can do the same in theirs.

What the next generation will bring has everything to generation responds.
do with how this

The Way of Wisdom has the Next Generation to instruct (1-2)

I cannot express to you this morning with more fervor that the most important impact you will have in this world is what you teach you children.
Even if they reject it, even if they do not follow in your instruction, greater than being financially successful, greater than climbing the corporate latter, greater than community service is the instruction of a parent to a child.

Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD vour God with all vour heart and with all vour soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk bv the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. (Deuteronomy 6:4-7)

4 We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.
5 He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children,
6 that the next generation might know them, the children vet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children,
7 that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, so but keep his commandments;
8 and that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, an a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God.
(Psalm 78:4-8)

Proverbs teaches the Blessing of Believing Children

A wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish son is a grief to his mother. (Pro. 10:1)

•    A child who follows the faith of the parent is a source of great satisfaction. Because of that special bond between parents and children, this kind of son makes his father glad.
•    But Solomon also describes the effect of a son who does not take the instruction given. This son is ''foolish,'' and he is a ''grief'' to his mother.

Godly Instruction: The What?
Instruct the next generation to get wisdom (4:5,7) .
•    Solomon is urging his son to ''take up'' (the meaning of ''accept'') what he hears from his father and make those words, commands and insights his own, What Solomon is passing to his son is not just his opinions about life, but his perspective and conviction as a result of having learned himself from God.
•    More than perfect grades, more than participation in athletics, more than social acceptance...direct them to Wisdom!


Instruct the next generation on the value of wisdom (4:6,8).
•    Instructing them that they need to be wise is not enough, they must also understand its value. Proverbs says ''She will guard you'' ''She will exalt you'' ''She will be a crown'' .
•    When you are gone, when school is gone, when friends are gone, when sports are gone...wisdom will guide them, wisdom will protect them, wisdom will keep them on the right path.

Instruct the next generation to walk in wisdom (11)
(What it looks like)
•    Solomon also refers to this activity of educating his son as directing him ''in the way of wisdom. That word ''directed'' (yarah) means ''to shoot'' as when one shoots an arrow at a target. Aim is taken and skill is used to ensure that once the arrow flies, it finds the intended objective, This is how Solomon describes the process of instructing his son--not a ''hit or miss'' approach, but a deliberate approach.
•    If your children are learning about sex from a class at school.
•    If they are given money weekly and no guidance in how to use it.
•    If they have cell phones/computers without any accountability.
•    If they are learning about relationships from the sitcoms they watch.
•    If they are allowed to do things half way without consequences.
•    There is a deeply spiritual problem taking place within the home

Godly Instruction: The How?
Instruct with Discipline
24 Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him. (Proverbs 13:24)
15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him. (Proverbs 22:15)
15 The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother. (Proverbs 29:15)

The rod was a common means of discipline. It involved physical contact.
Solomon speaks bluntly about that matter: If you refuse to employ physical discomfort as a means of discipline, then you hate your child, He could not say this if this means of discipline were, in fact, cruel and abusive as some insist. In fact, Solomon says a loving parent ''disciplines diligently.'' This means more than once or twice in the child's lifetime. It means whenever necessary or as often as necessary.

This verse explains why a parent must discipline a child. The word rendered ''foolishness'' (iweleth) means just that--folly, stupidity. This is what is ''bound up'' in the heart of your child.

MY son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD Or loathe His reproof, For whom the LORD loves He reproves, Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights. (Pro. 3:11 , 12)

Discipline that images a false view of God
•    A parent who will not discipline or is passive in discipline because of disobedience is teaching the child that there are no consequences for our actions. ''A loving parent doesn't discipline...there is no hell.''
•    A parent who only disciplines and never shows affection teaches the child that God only cares about our behavior. "I respond to you based on what you do, not who you are."
•    A parent who disciplines just because they are angry is teaching the child that God is unjust, that God ants out of uncontrolled emotions, They will grow up viewing God as an angry God.
•    A parent who disciplines by giving their child long periods of ''time-out'' is teaching that the way God disciplines us is by ignoring us and isolating us.
•    A parent who disciplines by always reminding the child of the things they keep on doing gives them a picture of God who has not truly forgiven.
•    A parent that disciplines the child for things that annoy the parent we teach that God does not accept us for who we are.

Discipline that images a right view of God.

•    Biblical discipline has as its goal the maturity of the child. It is not punishment, it is not abuse, it is not discipline just to discipline.
•    It must be just.
•    It must be immediate
•    It must be coupled with instruction
•    It must end with reconciliation
•    Biblical discipline focuses on disrespect, disobedience, and defiance.
•    You discipline shows something about God, theology and evangelism training everyday

*Need to receive it because it proves that you are loved (spiritual issue)

Instruct by Example (4: 11) [God does not just give you commands]
•    I have shown you what walking with God looks like.
•    I have shown you what loving a spouse looks like.
•    I have shown you what be faithful to the church looks like.
•    I have shown you what be honest looks like
•    I have shown you what integrity looks like
•    I have shown you what humility after mistakes looks like
•    I have lead you in the path...now walk!

Godly Instruction: The Why?

The godly instruction is the means through which God will raise up a future generation who fears the Lord and walks in wisdom. It requires effort as parents, it requires effort as a church, but there is no greater reward.

The Way of Wisdom is paved with parents who understand the seriousness of the responsibility given to them, and who are determined to make it a priority in their life.

Application
•    Some of you this morning are parents who have been neglecting their children, your priorities are out of order and voice of Wisdom tells you that it is time to turn things around, repent and walk in the way of Wisdom.
•    Some of you this morning have opportunities in this congregation to make an impact on the next generation but you've been too selfish because you don't like their music, you don't have the patience, you don't have the time, repent and walk in the way of Wisdom.
•    Some of you this morning have abandoned the instruction of your parents. They taught you, they modeled for you, and you decided you could do better, repent and walk in the way of Wisdom.
•    Some of you this morning need a church home who will partner with you in shaping your children, some of you need come and pray for your children, some of you simply need someone who will love you and instruct in the way you should go, He is here, His name is Jesus.