Article 9

Pastor - Ralph E. Dale

"Shiloh Baptist Church is a Sovereign Assembly"

"We believe and preach the doctrines of God's sovereign grace"

Children

One of the most difficult things I face as a preacher is children. How to speak to them is a matter which I do not excel. One of our church members asked me, "I know that we are sinners, but how do we give our children any self-worth in the light of this?" What a good question!

It is a Bible fact that all are born in sin and shaped in iniquity (Ps. 51:5). We must teach our children the truth of human depravity. However, they must have a healthy concept of their self-worth in this life. We must teach them to know the difference between worth in the eyes of a man and the eyes of God.

We must NOT give them self-worth in a spiritual sense. Fleshly religion is guilty of this atrocity. We must teach our children that they are sinners in need of salvation, but at the same time they have a worth, and we must thell them so.

Our children are ourselves, and that oneness with them causes that great love that melts your heart. Are your children worth anything? More than I can tell.