Family Catechesis—God’s Word to Families, Workers, and Employers
To Children
Ephesians 6:1–3 “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.””
Other Scriptures To Children
Colossians 3:20 “Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.”
Summary Words To Children
Obey
To Parents
Ephesians 6:4 “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.”
Other Scriptures To Parents
Colossians 3:21 “Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.”
Deuteronomy 6:7 “You shall teach them [God’s Words] diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.”
Summary Words to Parents
Not provoke
Romans 10:19 “But I say, did Israel not know? First Moses says: “I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are not a nation, I will move you to anger by a foolish nation.””
Ephesians 6:4 “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.”
Bring them up (Nourish)
Training
Hebrews 12:3–11 “For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.” If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”
Admonition
1 Corinthians 10:1–11 “Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.”
Teach/Repeat
To Workers of All Kinds
Ephesians 6:5–8 “Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.”
Other Scriptures To Workers of All Kinds
1 Peter 2:18–25 “Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”
Titus 2:9–10 “Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back, not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.”
Summary Words To Workers of All Kinds
Submit
Fear
Suffer Patiently
Not reviling when reviled
Not threatening others when suffering under them
Committing themselves to Him who judges justly
Romans 12:18–21 “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
To Employers and Supervisors
Ephesians 6:9 “And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.”
Other Words To Employers and Supervisors
Colossians 4:1 “Masters, give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.”
Summary Words To Employers and Supervisors
Do same as slaves in doing good as to Christ
Stop threatening
Acts 4:17 “But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name.””
Acts 4:29 “Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word,”
Acts 9:1 “Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest”
Prayer of Children
Almighty God, Heavenly Father, since You have earnestly commanded me in the Fourth Commandment to honor my father and my mother and have graciously promised to reward this service with long life and prosperity, I pray from the depths of my heart that You would give me an obedient heart that in all things will obey with due submissiveness my dear parents and all who are set in the place of my parents, to honor them in word and deed with patience and not to aggravate, ignore, or despise them as long as I live, that the blessing may come upon me. Grant that I may keep their words, commandments, and precepts, store them up in my heart, and indeed bind them on my heart always, and tie them around my neck, and accept their reproof, and not forget their teaching, that I may live the longer. Govern me also by Your good Spirit, that I may obey my father’s command and not forsake my mother’s teaching, that I may be a joy and comfort to them. Grant that I may carefully consider in all that I do or do not the pattern of my Lord and Savior, who as an example to all godly children was subject to His dear mother, the Virgin Mary, and to His guardian, Joseph. Give me a thankful and humble heart that I may repay my dear parents and serve them in turn, and especially that I may care for them in their old age, and excuse them when they become childlike and strange, not forgetting that I came from them. Graciously forgive whatever I have done against them out of the weakness or ignorance of youth. Keep me from bad company and careless men, so that when sinners entice me, I may not consent nor walk in the way with them, but may hold back my foot from their path and not fall into disgrace and iniquity. O Lord, You have led me till now as a man leads his son. Grant that I may incline my ear and hear the words of the wise, and so learn in my youth that I may gain knowledge and discretion. Help me to increase in wisdom and in stature and in favor with You and men, through Jesus Christ. Amen.
Prayer of a Servant
Merciful God, who by the sufferings and death of Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, have redeemed and released me from eternal servitude, the power of sin, the dominion of darkness, and the cruel tyranny of the devil, grant me grace, I beseech You, that in my estate of physical service into which You have, according to Your will and pleasure, placed me here on earth, I may not grow weary and not impatiently murmur, as it may be against Your ordinance, nor envy others for their higher estate, but that I may do Your pleasure with my whole heart and a goodwill, regarding it as if I were serving You, God in heaven, and not man on earth. So, dear God, help me to serve You, the Most High Lord in heaven and earth, in true knowledge and proper fear, to love You above all things, to place all my hope and blessedness in You, and to walk blameless in Your commandments; and further, that I may in all things which are not contrary to You be subject, patiently be subject to my physical master and mistress, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the unreasonable and unjust, with all fear and in the simplicity of my heart, as to Christ my Lord, not with eye-service as a pleaser of men, but from my heart for the sake of Your direction and command. Grant grace that I may be found faithful in all that is committed to me and placed in my charge, not neglect or confound anything, nor let anything be damaged or ruined through carelessness. Let me not covet or embezzle another’s property which is entrusted to me and put into my hands. Preserve my health, strengthen my limbs and all my bodily powers, and endow me with reason and wisdom that I may provide for my master and mistress, and improve their livelihood by Your divine assistance, that they may be blessed by my diligence and increased abundantly, and that all that I carry out or accomplish may serve for Your divine glory and for the blessed training of my faith, through Jesus Christ, Your beloved Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen.
Prayer of the Parents for Their Children
O faithful God and Father, Maker and Upholder of all creatures, I thank You from my heart for the children which You have given me by Your blessing, and whereas You said that You would give the Holy Spirit to all who ask You for Him, I heartily beseech You to grace my poor children with Your Holy Spirit, that He may kindle in them the true fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom, and a good understanding, which if anyone practices it, his praise endures forever. Bless them with true knowledge of You, keep them from all idolatry and false teaching, let them increase in the true saving faith and in all godliness, and continue therein until their end. Give them a believing, obedient, humble heart with true wisdom and understanding, that they may grow and increase in stature and in favor with God and man. O plant in their hearts a love for God’s Word, that they may be devout in prayer and worship, respectful to the servant of the Word, upright in their dealings with all men, modest in behavior, self-controlled in manner, true in words, faithful in works, diligent in labors, successful in carrying out their duty and office, judicious in their affairs, right in all things, and meek and kind to all men. Keep them from all the offenses of the wicked world, that they may not be led astray by bad company, fall into the mire of immodesty, unduly shorten their own lives, nor do harm to any other. Be their protection in all danger, that they may not die a sudden death. Let me not live to see dishonor and shame in them, but joy and honor, that by them also Your kingdom may be increased, and the number of believers enlarged, and that they may sit in heaven around Your table like heavenly olive shoots, and with all the elect give honor, praise, and glory to You, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer When Parents Send Their Children to School
Faithful God, Heavenly Father, who in Your Word have earnestly commanded us parents to bring up our children in the way that pleases You, I beseech You from my inmost heart that I and all others may duly acknowledge the great importance of bringing up young children. Grant that I may preside fittingly over my family, and as I have decided in support of that purpose to send my child to school in Your name, O Most High, I pray that You would fill my child with the gifts of Your Holy Spirit, direct him or her to the knowledge and fear of You, and to diligent learning and obedience, that by Your grace he or she may daily increase to Your glory, and to his or her and his or her neighbor’s good, for the sake of Your own Child, Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.
Prayer of a Mother for Wayward Children
Almighty God, Merciful Father, turn to the prayer and supplication of Your poor maidservant, and forgive me all my sins for the sake of Your most beloved Son, Jesus Christ. Do not be angry that I have taken it upon myself to pour out my heart to You, and to speak to You in my great concern and sorrow. There is no other God besides You who can save me. I know of none other in whom I might take refuge. On You was I cast from my birth, and from my mother’s womb You have been my God. Lord, You already know the cause of my pain. All my longing is before You. My sighing is not hidden from You. You see and behold the grief which my motherly heart feels over the disobedience and detestable wickedness of my child. I received them from Your hand as a precious gift, and in turn devoted them to You in Holy Baptism. I have commended them to You by daily and heartfelt prayer, and as far as in me lay, never ceased to admonish them to keep their way pure and to guard it according to Your Word. Yet how shamefully they have corrupted their way and been led astray by the devil and delinquent company. Having been a vessel of honor consecrated to You, they have become a vessel of wrath and must perish eternally unless You have mercy on them. Wash them in the waters of Your grace. Cleanse them with the blood of Your dearest Son, Jesus Christ, and deliver them, their poor soul. O Lord, look mercifully upon them for the sake of Your dearly beloved and perfectly obedient Child, Jesus Christ. Do not remember the sins of their youth and all their transgressions. Receive their poor soul into Your care, that it may not perish, but be snatched like kindling from the flames and preserved from eternal damnation. O Jesus, dearest Savior, You take no pleasure in the death of the ungodly, but desire that he should turn from his evil ways and live. For this reason also You became obedient to Your Father in heaven unto death, even the death of the cross, and made atonement for the disobedience of all the sons of men, and on the cross reconciled all things in heaven or on earth by Your blood. O let Your blood and death not be lost on this wicked person, but govern them by Your Spirit, that they may acknowledge their transgressions, consider well the temporal and eternal punishment for disobedient children and unrepentant sinners, and be genuinely converted to You. O Lord, Your heart was once moved with pity when You wept for Your friend Lazarus while he was dead and lay in the tomb. How willing You were then to restore him to life. Let the tears and sighs of Your poor maidservant also move Your heart to pity as I weep like Rachel for my child, because they are dead in their sins, although living. O Jesus, You can dry my tears and turn my sadness and grief into joy. You have the keys of death and Hades. If You are willing, You can give life again to this sinner who is dead in their trespasses and sins. Cry aloud in their heart, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Help them to hear this, to forsake the tomb of iniquity and sin, to begin a new life, and by Your merits to obtain eternal life in heaven. Lord God, Holy Spirit, who hold the hearts of all men in Your hands and govern them as You will, You moved the prodigal son to acknowledge his prolonged wickedness, repent sincerely, return to his father, and become another man. I call on You from the depths of my heart to incline the heart and mind of my wayward child to good, change their reasoning, direct their feet back to the way of true godliness, and make them a person that walks in Your commandments, keeps Your laws, and acts accordingly. Grant that they may abandon the evil society of perverse men and rather join the prodigal son in returning and saying, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” That I may be moved with all in my household to rejoice and say, “Let us celebrate, for this my child was dead and is alive again. They were lost and are found.” Then there will be joy before the angels of God in heaven over this sinner. Then I will praise and extol You for this grace with all my powers, both now and forever. O Lord, Triune God, have mercy upon me. Hear my prayer. Comfort and strengthen me in my great cross. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, for the glory of Your Name. Amen.
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