And You Fathers...Part 1

Jun 21, 2026    Bro. Welton Stoker

This powerful message centers on the critical responsibility we have in raising children with genuine faith, drawing from Deuteronomy 6:4-9, 2 Timothy 3:12-15, and Ephesians 6:4. The core truth presented is striking: it is not the church's responsibility to raise our children—that sacred duty belongs to parents and families. We discover that training up a child means more than telling them what to do; it means dedicating them to the Lord, walking the path with them, showing them by our lives what it means to love God with all our heart, soul, and strength. The example of Timothy is particularly instructive—his genuine faith was first cultivated by his grandmother Lois and mother Eunice, who taught him the Holy Scriptures from childhood. These Scriptures, we learn, are able to make us wise unto salvation. The message confronts us with an uncomfortable reality: we can achieve academic success, athletic excellence, and worldly recognition, but if we miss salvation, we've missed everything. The emphasis on starting early is crucial—the way a twig is bent determines how the tree will grow. We cannot teach what we don't know or lead where we don't go. Our children will learn what they live, which means we must embody the faith we want to pass on. This isn't about religious performance but about genuine relationship with Christ, understanding His sacrifice, and allowing that truth to settle deep in our hearts so nothing can shake it.