Psalm 127 · Series: Who Is My Neighbour?
“Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labour in vain.” (Psalm 127:1)
Continuing our series “Who Is My Neighbour?”, Pastor Duli Asi takes the call to public discipleship home, to our nearest neighbours: our own children. The neighbour is the person whose vulnerability calls us to respond in love, and few are more vulnerable than the young people growing up in Papua New Guinea today.
More than half of PNG’s population is young. Many of our children face pressures and information about relationships and sexuality long before they are ready, and a new sexuality education curriculum is being introduced in schools from Grade 7 to Grade 12. Pastor Duli shares his concerns about it and asks the question every Christian parent needs to hear: have we sat down with our children ourselves? If we don’t do it, someone else will do it.
From Psalm 127, children are a heritage from the Lord, like arrows in the hand of a warrior, to be prepared well so they can stand firm in faith, righteousness and integrity. Drawing on Colossians 3, Ephesians 6 and Deuteronomy 6, Pastor Duli calls parents to engage God in the family home: honouring marriage as God designed it, building trust with our children, creating a safe place where they can ask hard questions, and impressing God’s Word on their hearts at home, on the road, when we lie down and when we rise. The family comes first, and the church stands alongside.
The service closes with the solemnisation of a marriage, as a couple from our church family commit their marriage to God.
Reflect this week
- When did you last sit down and talk openly with your children about the changes and pressures they face?
- Is your home a safe place for your children to ask hard questions?
- How can your family “impress” God’s Word on your children this week?
Key scriptures: Psalm 127 · Luke 10:37 · Colossians 3:12–21 · Genesis 1:27 · Genesis 2:22–25 · Hebrews 13:4 · Ephesians 6:1–4 · Deuteronomy 6:5–9