Teaching Children to Call the Sabbath a Delight

(1) Dave Goethal's - Teaching Children to Call the Sabbath a Delight - YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmJJCPQodkY

Transcript:
(00:05) Patty and I had the most amazing experience here about um four weeks, three weeks ago, having the privilege to go up to the young family weekend. It was incredible. And at the young family weekend, I do as I do at camp all the time. I go around and I ask questions of all the children. I get a big kick out of that.
(00:28) And what was interesting is that at camp when I asked her there I would ask them what does the church do well? What is it that we really do well? They always give almost always the three same answers. Number one the feast of tabernacles. Number two camps. And number three consistently was family weekends. Campouts were the third one almost always. So while we were there there we're good.
(01:01) So the title of today's message is teaching children to call the Sabbath a delight. At camp, one of the most difficult things was in the mornings when I would go out with the athletes uh before camp would start and we would do different activities when we would finish the the question always came up, how is it that the Sabbath feels like a burden to me? What is it that it does? How is it that it I can answer the questions of why I can't participate? Has to do with reverence.
(01:38) Today, what I would like to do is I'd like to use seven teaching points and show you how we can move from considering the Sabbath a burden to seeing it as a delight and a joy. And I would like to use the family young family weekend as a framework for that because there I watched six teaching methods. I had a blast as I walked around said, "Well, there's the one, there's one.
(02:05) " So I wrote it's called the six E of teaching methods and that is a called a scaffling or a framework. And when we were there the scripture came to mind for me was in Isaiah 58. And that's where we're going to begin today. Isaiah 58 and verse 13 and 14. in Isaiah 58:13 and 14 right there. You know, this was a scripture that was spoken to the people who knew about the Sabbath but weren't keeping it in spirit and truth. Isaiah disappeared on me.
(02:49) Yeah, there it is. Getting closer. Isaiah 58, starting in verse 13 and 14. If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, that means that you literally move aside or you trample on it. You don't follow it. You make it common ground or you or from doing your own pleasure on my holy day meaning refraraming from pursuing personal interests, entertainment, special activities on that part. And calling the Sabbath a delight.
(03:43) One calls the Sabbath a light by joyful setting the Sabbath apart and worshiping, resting, and fellowshipping on God's Sabbath special day, treasuring it as a holy gift. The holy day, the Lord, the holy day of the Lord, honorable, meaning we treat it with respect and reverence, and shall honor him, not doing your own way, nor finding your own will.
(04:14) So in other words, what we're doing is we are honoring God on the Sabbath and not doing our own usual activities, avoiding personal entertainment. And it was interesting at camp, one of the main distractions that that we talked about early on at camp was that the phone was a distraction, but it was their their Bible was on it. All the things were on it, but it was a distraction.
(04:42) And it said it only took one distraction for them to completely avoid what the next 20 or 30 minutes that was going on and whatever they were doing. It was an interesting comment that they shared with me. So we went ahead and required all electronics to be put away at the beginning of camp and we found it very successful. So, and should honor him, not doing your own way, nor finding your own pleasure, nor nor speaking your own words.
(05:16) What are we meaning? We're meaning that we're honoring God's Sabbath by not doing our usual activities, avoiding personal entertainment, those distractions that take us away from showing God his holy time. The amazing thing that I found when we went to the to the camp out was that each of the young people provided me some amazing comments.
(05:39) And what I did was I wrote the comments down and then I used a common denominator. I just simply went in and put it are any of these comments are there? And I'm sorry I didn't make that bigger because I sure can't read it. So but comments. So let me grab here real quick. So comments like um I love being outside, getting to be with my friends, sharing food, campfire, church scheduled outside, being outside from church, being outside for church. That was actually was a number of them.
(06:17) But the ones I put in quotes were direct quotes that affected me specifically. They were nice to me. I like it when we learn about God. It's fun and I can talk about growing plants and man turning into animals. I love singing with my friends and the special music was uh in amazing. But there was one comment that really touched me that talked about commitment of the parent. and the connection.
(06:52) Here's a very young lady and we're walking back from the dad's talk and she said, and I asked her, I said, "What's your big smile on your face?" And she said, "Seeing my dad tell others what he tells me." You know how powerful that is? Seeing my dad tell others what he tells me. So what I did was I took each of these and I put them into a common denominator.
(07:23) There's not one comment, not one comment that took any of a negative approach. There was friendship and fellowship. We see that over in Hebrews. There was God's creation joyful setting talking about what it does and how the joy and the awe there is in worship when we're outside worship and leadership.
(07:51) The Sabbath for you know the Sabbath is a spiritual time to grow and to discuss and to share and sharing the service so important modeling that comment was quite interesting. says, you know, sharing food. Sharing food is important. And I'd like to thank the Pates, Lynn, Michelle, Christina, and Eric.
(08:20) You guys did a absolute wonderful job of not only providing food, but providing a positive, nurturing, learning environment where the youth can grow and enjoy and they can share. And years ago, I can remember my dad on a Sabbath at Tanglewood and it was hot and it was a Sabbath and the back then, nah, you didn't do anything like open up the pool, but dad did. Lynn lifeguarded and Michelle may have been there too.
(08:52) But there are opportunities that open it up that we can enjoy God's creation, enjoy what he has provided for us. The teaching process that I was able to observe that was so well done was first engage. When we engage, we create a positive nurturing learning environment where everybody feels included. There's comfort. You see it in the body language.
(09:23) At school, I could not have asked the questions. you get some kind of different remarks but there they trusted there was warmth there was courtesy there two educated God's word was taught God's word was taught how physical activities that teach spiritual principles those spiritual activities that we do that teach spiritual principles can be hands-on Christina did a wonderful job of taking soil which pictures the mind and a potted plant and strawberry and they went through the process of planting and dare to what to show how we grow. They see and they connect in that that they
(10:07) could paint a clear picture that growth comes through what? Nourishment, support, encouragement, biblical teaching, all of those aspects. empower. She they empowered them through the tools. Not only they provide soil and a potter, but they provided a very important tool. They provided a popsicle stick.
(10:32) Why? They wrote down how to grow on that and they stuck it into the plant. Why is that important? That allows them to see the process and to be a reminder called a point of reference. Then they encouraged them. How did they encourage them? They put their name on the side of each of the pots. That's identification. When we work for something, we value it.
(10:56) When our name is on it, we value it. Then they emphasized it. What's emphasizing? Emphasizing is where you stand up for it. When we stand up for it, you engage. And when you engage, I want you there. I wish it was a bigger picture. I wish you could see the faces on here, but what do you see? You see a positive nurturing environment.
(11:20) You see positive peer pressure. You see an encouragement. You see people reaching around and helping one another. So it creates that positive atmosphere. Right here you have Mr. Portius teaching about the hands, the head and the heart knowledge using God's word not only to inspire but to plant the seed on how to share, how to show respect and the fact that not only does it do do we educate but he uses God's word.
(11:54) Why do we use God's word? God's word transforms us and only God's word can show us the way. And what is the way? Christ is the way. John 14:6, he is the way, the truth, and life. It's amazing in second Timothy, the very word that Mr. Portius is using right here simply is that it is God breathed.
(12:21) All scripture is given by inspiration of God. That's God breathed. It is profitable for and it lists all the things it is, including what? Instruction in righteousness. When we instruct in righteousness, what we're doing is it starts with an example. An example is absolutely critical. If you could see this picture, you would see that there's peace, there's comfort, there's quiet, a reflection on God's Sabbath day.
(12:49) And what does it do? It empowers us. God empowers us through his Holy Spirit. We empower our children. How? through providing them the holy spir spirit working with them they are holy we are told that in 1 Corinthians 14:7 that they are holy when we think about Timothy and his calling Timothy's calling was amazing because his mother and his grandmother set an incredible example and what did they do it showed that God uses family instruction to prepare and empower children spiritually.
(13:32) How is it that we do that? Think of your calling. Some of us here were called more like the Ethiopian unic when Steven went to him in the Ethiopian unic where he opened it up and he read and he astounded. So a minister maybe explained something to you'd never seen before.
(13:57) The amazing calling of Paul on the road to Damascus. Supernatural, unbelievable turning. Our calling, most of us in here, me being a second generation Christian, was the calling came through my parents and the example that they set and the learning that took place, the nurturing of our minds, our heart, and our soul, but most importantly, the examples that they set.
(14:23) We then evaluate. Evaluate is simply assessing. It was amazing that their how to grow was the theme. And Christina was kind enough to send me a text and I'd like to quote her text to me because the Sabbath is a great time to take physical activity and teach spiritual principles.
(14:46) And what it does is it nurtures a desire to learn which is called a teachable moment. A teachable moment is so hard to grasp. When it's there, you have to grab it. You have to nurture it. And you have to have all desire to fill it. I'd like to quote what Christina sent to me. She said, "Using potted plants to make the comparison of strawberries producing fruit and humans needing the pro uh needing to produce fruit to become like God, which is our purpose.
(15:17) " Each child put popsicle sticks in the potted strawberry plants I added with instruction in the Bible regarding how to grow into people. Now when you take that popsicle stick and you push it into the ground, it has a physical kinetic called kinesthetic feeling.
(15:43) And when we connect to something, it implants in our mind and it helps us these with these boundaries of making decisions. So encouragement, encouragement was the next aspect that we see inside of the E7 teaching modes. Thank you. Encouraging. When we encourage, we cause a different kind of energy. One of the things I love to do with young children is I'll take them and I'll put them in front there and we'll just together.
(16:15) So, I didn't ask anybody about it, but I there. But what we do is we're there and I have them hold their arms out and I say, "I want you to try to hold your arms out. Do all you can to hold your arms out. Just try. I'll take my hands, push them right to the side. I ask them, pick two of your friends. Pick any two friends you have and there. Come up and stand next to you.
(16:34) " I come up there, not touching hands, but just hold your hands out like this. I said, "Now, I want you to believe that you have full support on both sides, and I don't want you to try. I want you to say, "I will. I will." And say what you're going to say. I will support everybody. And you can take the hands and I can put a grip tensometer in their hands and improves by 15 pounds.
(16:59) But I can tell you, I can push and I can push hard and I have to get all the way up onto my toes before it starts to go. See, encouragement is so powerful. So when parents walk in front of a child, they feel like they have to follow. When the parent walks behind them, they feel like they're getting pushed. When a parent walks beside them, they feel trusted, nurtured, and supported.
(17:24) And that's why we walk with them. That's why Christ walks with us. That's why he's paid the penalty for us. In Hebrews 10:22, it talks to us there. Let's I'll go ahead and turn to it real quickly. Hebrews 10 and verse 22. Thought it would be bigger on the screen than it is. Hebrews 10 and verse 22. I'm sorry, 24 and verse 25.
(17:59) And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another and so much more as you have done at the day approaching. The power of encouragement. It's amazing what encouragement looks like sometimes.
(18:26) Abigail here is giving an important encouragement to two one and there. So this encouragement looks different to all of us. So Abigail, what are you doing? You're helping them pray the far side on there. On the other side, serving, doing good on the Sabbath, right? There's different ways of approaching when we look at things.
(18:55) But one interesting thing about teaching is you know how much the student wants to be there about how high they raise their arm and the co it's called the crease over the ear. When the crease in the arm is above the ear that they're all in. They're all in. And if you ever see Mr.
(19:14) Portius do it with the kids it's hilarious because it's not just one arms it's generally two arms are up in the air. But what we have found is when we emphasize something, it's real important that they understand that they're standing up for something to simply say, "I keep the Sabbath holy." How do we measure that? How do we how do we do it with our hands? How do we do it with our head? How do we do it with our heart? Hands is application.
(19:47) Head is thought and knowledge, but heart is where all thoughts start from. So what is it that we do with the heart? As a parent, we show love and compassion. We take care of them at all times. On the beach in the mornings at camp, you can't see this very well. I'm sorry.
(20:14) But uh anyway, on the beach, I would do athletic events with them before before camp and there. And during that time, um this was 2010. And the reason that this one right here was that Mr. Son in 2010 came to us and he said to me, he said, "Dave, we are changing and we're going to do Christian living is going to be our focus. We're going to have themes. I want themes for the day.
(20:39) And he had a fantastic plan. And he says, "So, how do we do it?" And I said, "Okay." And he says, "I'm going to ask you one question first. What's the most important day at camp?" And I thought for a minute and I said, "Well, are we talking administratively? Are we talking Christian living process?" He said, "What's the most important day of camp period?" I said the Sabbath. He said we will make the Sabbath a joy.
(21:11) We will fill it with activities that are Goddriven. We're going to start with hymns on Friday night. But even before that, we're going to start with preparing and preparation and putting all the equipment and everything away so that we can start the Sabbath and show that the Sabbath is different.
(21:34) For years, I could not believe the comments that we returned back saying that one part of camp helped them understand what the Sabbath is about. When we were doing it, I learned a very important thing because I was asked all the time continually, why does the Sabbath feel like a burden at home but not here? It had to do specifically with there is I would normally turn to John and I would turn to 1 John 5:3 and I would just say, okay, first of all, God's laws are not a burden.
(22:12) And I'd simply quote that uh this is the love of God that we keep his commandments and his commandments are not burdensome. They're not. So what is it that we're looking at? What is it that we're doing that are there? We talk about immediate self-gratification. we talked about there. But it comes down to reverence and reverencing is absolutely critical. Reverence of the Sabbath involves recognizing that it's different from the very start from sundown forward, but preparing for it.
(22:52) So, we had five standards at camp. I want to back up just a little bit here because I'm not even going to be able to read it on there. The Sabbath standard. First was preparation. Mr. Sexon felt that it's absolutely critical that we prepare for the staff and for the campers and for our children. And I saw that up at the campout. It was wonderful.
(23:16) There were things that were prepared way in advance. The amount of planning that went on to it was amazing. The second the second is to to have reverence, respect, and honor for God's day. To actually think about it, being respectful and how to act in services was one of the ones we had at camp. And in in in council orientation, we'd walk through the process of what does it look like? What do we do? What do we share? And Mr. Sexon's goal was that we would have open seating at some point in the future.
(23:55) Every year we built upon it. I don't know if they had it this year that way or not, but I know in our last year we had open seating and it was wonderful. They did a tremendous job on there engaging in God- centered activities. We have ice cream socials on Friday night after the campfire where the seniors would give their advice. Then we'd have a campfire.
(24:22) Then there'd be a beach walk. Then back to there. And in the morning they would sleep in a little bit extra, give them more personal private time, have breakfast, come there. And then there was Q&A with uh dorm parents and then a special service that basically included all of the information that was given camp and themes on there.
(24:46) Why? So that when they went out to Highway 101 and they left that they were leaving with seeds planted in their heart that they could grow, seeds that they could pass on. It's always a joy for a head counselor and administration to get letters from parents and clearly state, I see a change in my son or my daughter. Where did that change come from? Positive, nurturing learning environment. Yes.
(25:14) But most importantly, internalizing God's way in their lives, which changes the way we think and act. I provided a handout for you on there. And the reason I did that was it's six pages very in-depth on different there it's 40 distinct things that that I built so that you and your sons and daughters your grandchildren there can build a Sabbath standard. We call it the checklist. I did it with a lot of campers.
(25:48) I've done it with grandchildren. I've done it with different ones. And the key is is that you understand the process. I'm just going to briefly go through the process. First of all, the first section required for obedience. What God commands us to obey simply walking one thing, don't do it. Slow is fast. Simply discussing, showing it. Try to put in physical activities with it.
(26:17) Try to show them through your example what a blessing it is to observe the Sabbath. Section two, need to know as knowledge why the Sabbath matters. The number of times that I'm asked at camp to help craft an a an answer to the question of what do I tell my coach that I can't play? What do I tell my friends? How do I do that? Where do we start? You start with God's word is true.
(26:51) I believe in the Bible. An I believe statement of which you believe comes from the heart of which you're able to articulate clearly there. And the and I understand the fourth commandment to mean that I'm going to keep it holy and it is honored time and I don't do things that I do on my own.
(27:12) Most of them are there short to the point specific. Section three of the handout is proper application of the Sabbath. That is how we keep the Sabbath holy. That is a great discussion with your children. But when you're doing this, the fourth is blessing for obedience. Blessing for observing the Sabbath. When we rest, God works. It's part of the faith and stepping forward.
(27:47) You know what's interesting is that these four you may change based upon this the learning style of your child. And that's what I want to be able to share with you in the next portion here. I'd like to show you that you had a wonderful introduction to framework scaffolding how to pro provide a positive nurturing environment learning activities of physical activities that teach spiritual lessons.
(28:12) But what I would like to do is when you have the opportunity and you look at the handout and if you choose to use it is that there is I just put the first few on there. What I did was I simply stated for example the Sabbath is a commandment. It has the verse and it has a background to it. You got it.
(28:31) It's one at a time. It's not overload. It's being able to walk them through the process of recognizing that the Sabbath is a commandment. There are seven teaching steps in doing this. These are called there. So, they're methods on there. First, you explain. Say it so they can see it. paint a clear visual picture so that they can basically articulate it back to you.
(29:01) The what, the why, and the how. When they can articulate that back to you, they can explain it. Two, demonstrate what they see, they will learn. And what they see is yours. If your body language says, "I don't want to go to church," guess what? the children's body language is going to say h I don't know what's going on.
(29:29) If the tone of your voice towards them is there, remember 53% of all communication is body language. Body language you show joy and happiness and outgoing and warmth that extends. 40% is tone. Your voice tone, what it says, what it it relays about the importance of what it is. And 7% is words. But as parents a lot of times we use words in place of physical example.
(30:08) I know we come home and with hard work we're tired there. The key is looking forward to the Sabbath and making it the best day of the week is important to your children. Walking through do it with them. I cannot tell you how important it is to be with them, next to them, walking them through. Mr. Portius, my wife, and I all had the same preparation when we were growing up, although they probably did it different than I did.
(30:40) It was called polishing shoes for the Sabbath. Now, I had no problem. They may have had problems with that, but all my shoes were black cuz I'm color blind. So, it didn't matter what shoe came to me. It got it got polished black. The amazing thing was my siblings and parents didn't ever said anything to me that somebody else wanted the job.
(31:04) So after a while they were really black. The interesting part was that one lesson as I sat on 21st Avenue on the stairs going downstairs into the basement polishing shoes well before Sabbath is still part of what I do today. Why? Because physical activity and preparation starts with a thought. Thought produces action. Action produces habit. And habit produces character.
(31:36) And when we walk through, we close the gap between what we know and what we do. And closing that gap for ourselves and our children allows them to make good and wise decisions. Perform. Look for what they're doing right. It's called the five to one rule. Don't look for what they're doing wrong. Look for what they're doing right.
(32:04) When you go in looking for what you're doing right, you're not going to nitpick. And then the one thing that can make the greatest improvement, use that one thing, but do it in a different way. Say, "I'm having an issue." No, don't use those words. Say, "Would you help me? Would you help me? I'm working on something.
(32:29) Would you help me on the Sabbath?" So, this is what we're going to do. We're going to make a special dessert for Sabbath. We're going to make a Sabbath box so that we can put special things in it that we use on the Sabbath. We're going to go out and we're going to do a good works and we're going to serve at church. We're going to help others.
(32:46) We're going to adopt a grand a grandparent from church. We're going to encourage others. We're going to visit the sick. We're going to send letters and texts of encouragement and support. When we perform, the doing moves from form to substance. And the substance is what becomes part of us. Review. Talk it out, lock it in.
(33:19) It's so important that we talk it out, lock it in. What does that mean? is that at the end of the Sabbath, one of the great times that from my memories was Friday nights was the Bible studies that we had in the family prayers. But on Sabbath, on Sabbath evenings prayer was always one of us, one of the siblings had the opportunity and the nice part was we could say no.
(33:47) We could say no sometimes there, but most of the time we did it. And it taught us, it taught us that the Sabbath is a blessing, a delight. Step six is reward. Celebrate the effort, not just the success. Effort is so important. When you see someone putting forth effort, you want to help them even more. Recognize the effort.
(34:18) recognize that they are trying. It may not be successful, but they're trying. They're giving everything they can. How is it that we can help them move on and progress? Give them more responsibility. Help them grow in grace and knowledge in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. keep them focused on the on that most important thing that they master and that is the kingdom of God that they never lose their point of reference. So with a quick overview, let me just quickly go through and do applications.
(34:54) Applications help us to understand how it is that we can apply this in our lives with our children. taking it personally, helping to build standards, not only for the family, but to help each individual child build its own standard. And those standards went with your major. My standard came in the gym when the as I've told you before when the is I probably the most difficult time and most embarrassing time that I still feel and that is when the journalist came in and the reporter stuck a microphone in my face and handed me a Bible and says,
(35:46) "Show me where you can't play on Friday night." Now, had I not been taught where to turn, had I not turned to Leviticus 23:32, had I not just pointed to the bottom and said there and read it, he never again. But you know what he did? And I still did not understand it. But they set me on a bench.
(36:12) They had me put my foot up and they put there and they shined a light over my head. So on the picture that came out into the paper there was a perfect halo over my head. To this day it still drives me insane. The title the sundown kid there. But what was interesting is that was me. That wasn't my parents' religion. That was that that was me having to stand up and say this is what I believe.
(36:43) It was that day that I realized it was mine, not my parents. And when your child gets to that point, there's a special time. There is a special time. So we saw the scaffolding. We call it the PP plus 6E is the name of it. PP plus 6E. You remember that Mr. Portius? And there. So prayer and preparation. And then the six E, you engage.
(37:09) We did that through the environment we produce. We educate through God's word. We empower through what? The tools and skills we give to our children. But they have the spirit working with them as the spirit is working within us that have been baptized. We encourage giving support and we emphasize the goal the kingdom of God. a point of reference.
(37:40) So when we explain and we want the Sabbath to be a delight, what do we do? God set the Sabbath as a holy time. We recognize that. Genesis 2 and verse three. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it because it because in it he rested from his work which God had created and made. Interesting thing at camp almost to a camper at some point well when we talk about the Sabbath they tell me it was at Mount Si not at creation.
(38:19) And it's interesting that we look to say, well, when the ten commandment, no, it was at creation quite clearly as it tells us right there in Genesis 2:3. So, as you work through with your children, build building the standard way there, we prepare for the Sabbath. We go through the what, the why, and the how.
(38:46) So, it's God's holy time as it tells us in Exodus 20 and:e 8 as a as one of the ten commandments. Why is the Sabbath a delight? As we look at the Sabbath itself, the why it brings rest, peace, and time with God, relationship. And the how. The how is so important. It's how we honor God's purpose for this day. So in application, when we apply it, what do we do? God made the Sabbath for us to enjoy.
(39:27) How do we do that for our children? How do we make it enjoyable? Teaching step number two is demonstrate. When we demonstrate, it's the power. At camp, we're asked I was often asked by the staff, what's the most important thing we can give the campers? It is our example. Our example is powerful. They are always watching. But if you don't take anything away but these three things, take these away.
(39:54) And when you demonstrate, be what you teach, show what you believe, and live what you say. If you simply remember these three things, be what you teach, show what you believe, and live what you say. Children don't just learn from what we say. They absorb what we do. They're like a sponge.
(40:31) Not just your emotions, not just your body language, not just what you do for them. There teaching says, "Here's what to do." Demonstrating says, "Watch me do it." So when you have your Sabbath standards and you're there and you've only had three and you put them down and you work together on it, what does it do? It teaches us that slow is fast. God is patient, incredibly patient.
(41:05) But in demonstrating you work and whenever and in physical activity we demonstrate at 50% of natural speed. The same thing goes when you're demonstrating God's word. Take your time. Let them talk. Let them reverberate or or mirror back to you what they've heard. Why? Because you'll meet them where they are. You'll understand what they know and what they do. Your actions are your lesson. They speak louder than your words.
(41:33) We have a wonderful example in Christ. Christ gave us an example to follow in his footsteps and there. And when we follow in his footsteps, they're pure and they're perfect. So, what are four things parents can do to demonstrate and to show that the Sabbath is a delight? These come from my notes from camp of what campers shared with me.
(42:03) The first was joyful anticipation before Sabbath begins. preparation, peaceful and respectful atmosphere during the during the Sabbath. That peace, that joy, that comfort, spending time together, conversation, doing special activities of which are God-based that draw them closer to God's word. Praying together is important. Prioritizing worship and and study.
(42:40) Be the very first to open your Bible in the morning. Parents, be the very first. They know they're watching and it won't be long and you're there. And what do you do on that? You don't be a teacher, a teller. You be a teacher. A teacher invites. They don't tell, they invite, they nurture, they bring into.
(43:07) They make them feel comfortable so that they can express their ideas and they can learn more about God as we learn in Deuteronomy 6:7. And our job in to teach them diligently to our children and include the children in Sabbath activities. One of the uh encouraging things that I saw at camp was a counselor.
(43:30) They took before the Sabbath and they took and put simply a poster board across and they drew a line on it. And each camper simply went up to that line and put a line and said, "This was the blessing from this week." They called it the blessing timeline. And at the end and at the end of there, there was answers to prayers. There was answers to safety. to healing from sickness for anointing.
(43:55) There were examples all the way through there. But there was one that was pretty incredible there. He said, "Thank you for opening my eyes to what is true." And it was the counsel that wrote that. The counselor, see right next to that is a code of conduct, a dorm code of conduct. And it lists the standards of which I have the counselors build.
(44:25) What is it that we do? What is it that you want in your dorm? How is it that we're going to do it? How we're going to do? What are we going to live up to? You see, we challenge rules. People challenge rules. But we rise to standard. And that's why the high tide raises all the boats. So when all of us raise our standards, it raises all of us through encouragement, support.
(44:52) Walk through is the most neglected teaching point there is. When we walk through it, it's absolutely critical that you engage with them. reading where they're comfortable, reading how they are, how and I'm I can speak openly. Rebellion comes from deep down inside. And when we rebel, it shows up in body language, shows up in tone towards parents.
(45:23) It shows up in defiance and rolling of the eyes and all the that's the time that you nurture them even more. That's the time of which you get right next to them and you find out what it is that you can do for them, how you can help them, how you can nurture them, how you can guide them and direct them when we walk st uh step by step through.
(45:54) Walking through is so important. Still not going on it, Bill. Thank you. When you're walking through, it's absolutely critical that you walk next to them step by step. In physical activity, if I'm teaching a shooting stroke and I know that it has to be a release at 52 degrees with the hand in and and the wrist has to be locked what we call the shooting pocket on there and know that it has to go through the sagittal plane. They don't understand that terminology.
(46:27) But if you can put your hand on them and you can put their elbow and you can drive them through, it's no different than the same way we teach about the Sabbath. The Sabbath has a foundation. It has a form, which is the standards, and it has a follow through, our performance. It's no different. So, how we break down and walk them through the Sabbath is critical.
(46:54) One of the great ways to walk through as you see Jeff here walking them through how to light a fire. It's interesting that when you walk them through, others are watching. You can't see it up there, but you have young ladies in the background watching intently. When we take time to walk people through things, each step, it develops comfortable and confidence.
(47:23) And when we do that, what happens is we kindle that spiritual fire. And when we kindle that spiritual fire, it develops there that you can walk them through the Sabbath. Preparation that God's time is set. It's holy. It's special. Participation. How to participate. How to serve. How to recognize the need and fill the need. The connection with the family and the base of the family.
(47:49) and the reflection, closing the Sabbath with gratitude, having opportunities and to enjoy one another's fellowship and feasting together. But you know how God walks us through his plan of salvation? Step by step every year. How? Through his holy days. From Passover and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ to unleaven bread, we go through the entire plan of salvation and the eighth day or the last great day where final judgment and salvation is offered to everybody of which we're going to celebrate here shortly.
(48:32) So when we perform, which we had the wonderful opportunity to do out at the pates, when we have the opportunity to look at the creation and the beauty and to share, I wanted you to think back for those you were there, how comfortable people were, what did the body language, what were the conversations, what was the tone, what was the warmth, the children playing and enjoying the Sabbath. That's what is a delight.
(49:04) When we cheer them on, we let them perform. Cheer on. Look what they're doing, right? Whether they're preparing the the mind as the soil, planting the plants, understanding how the roots take root, what it takes to be watered both spiritually and physically, and to see the results.
(49:38) And when we see that results, we see the body language, we see the smiles, we see the warmth, and we see the confidence. How does a coach know there's confidence on the bench when he looks down the row? All you have to look for, and you will never put in a player where their chin is down. We never put in a player. Why? Because when the chin is down, it decreases the amount of oxygen and recovery to the diaphragm by the diaphragm not pulling down. And the head down, what does God tell us? Keep our eyes on the hill.
(50:11) Keep it up. Look, be positive and encouraging. I wish you could see this. This was a absolute beautiful picture that uh was sent to me. It looks out over the point and there the grass and there which brought back how we review. When we review, God reviews with us in different ways. He speaks to us through his words. We speak to him through our prayers.
(50:46) We have spouses that can help us and encourage us. But we review once a year, some of us a lot more, but once a year we examine ourselves. We look at ourselves and see what we need to improve on before we go that way. So a review, you use a review to build Sabbath identity. The review step isn't just repetition. It's reinforcement, remembrance, and recommmitment.
(51:19) It's the internalizing of the material. It's moving it from short-term memory to long-term memory to muscle memory to heart knowledge. When it becomes heart knowledge, it becomes part of our character. And when it becomes part of our character, it shows in our face and in our eyes. And our eyes are the window to the soul.
(51:47) And when we can look out and see people in need, you see it differently. You see they're hurting. We don't avoid them. We offer. We go and we share and we take care of reward. It is amazing about reward. Reward has five motives for children spiritually. Five rewards. It in it encourages them to repeat right decisions. We change for two reasons in life. Reward and penalties.
(52:23) Rewards by parents and there it's amazing what they will do. I don't care if it's memorizing the Ten Commandments in exchange for an activity, but you have a reward to look forward to. We have an amazing reward to live, rule, and reign with Jesus Christ in his kingdom. Can we pass that on to our children? Absolutely. The Sabbath points us to that every single week.
(52:52) Two, build joyful hearts with God with God's way. Joy comes from within. When you are comfortable, when you're sharing, and when sin has been repented of, it's you're not separated from God. You draw closer to him through what? Prayer, Bible study, fasting, meditation, and the encouragement from each one of us to our children. creating positive Sabbath memories. I'm sure every one of us in here has some pretty amazing Sabbath memories.
(53:28) Pass those on. Tell your story. Share it. Reinforce that effort matters. Recognize effort matters. When you see it, recognize it. Tell them. Share them. Let them know. And rewards they mirror now. and they mirror how God detail uh deals with us as his children. The last step and in closing is progress.
(54:03) When we progress, we close the gap between what we know and what we do. And when we close that gap there, it causes spiritual momentum. And spiritual momentum carries over and it is fueled every day as we heard in the sermonet. How parents can help their children progress then encourage ownership the Sabbath habits and building what we call a Sabbath standard checklist.
(54:35) It's not hard. You can post it. You can recognize it. It can include chores before the Sabbath. It can report different things. I know some parents that like to put on their uh encouraged breakfast in bed by their children. That's a great one. That makes for a joyous Sabbath there.
(54:57) But what is it that you will do that will make a difference to make the Sabbath a joy? Sabbath standard is one. Two, mentor toward spiritual leadership. Help them recognize those that are in need and hurt. recognize something that needs to be done and step forward and become a servant. I don't know what just happened there, but I'll go back. Set growth goals.
(55:27) One of the great joys for me is every every feast on the Sabbath during the feast, my grandson and I sit down and we build our yearly goals. We evaluate where we were and there absolutely phenomenal experience and there and then he has me go through my goals and the successes and we share and four hours goes by so fast you can't even believe it and when we're done we have a new set of goals and when he calls he'll say hey how you doing on this goal I'll ask him how he's doing on his it allows for that communication that warmth in that relationship
(56:08) connect the Sabbath to the kingdom of God when we connect it to it, we always have a point of reference and help them close the gap. And how do we do that? Help them when they make mistake understand what the stimulus was, what the response was, and what happened during that period of choice. When you look out and you see children displaying a delight for the Sabbath, being taught and sharing and respecting one another, teaching children to call the Sabbath a delight brings joy not only to parents but also to God. And as we move forward over the next
(56:58) one, my exit ticket to you is this. Take every opportunity to teach about the Sabbath. Don't pass a single opportunity. Be the first to open your Bible on the Sabbath. Be the first to share the blessings that the Sabbath has provided. And above all, teach your children to pray, "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.