"Behold, children are a gift of the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward," writes Solomon in Psalm 127:3. Other translations say, "Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord." Children are a sensitive issue in the church. Whether people have lots of children or no children they can feel judged and misunderstood by others. I have three desires with this sermon. First, regardless of the number of children you have you see them as they’re described in God’s Word. Understand God’s second command to “Be fruitful and multiply, see children as “a gift, reward, and blessing,” and recognize the spiritual maturity they produce.

My second desire with this message is to hopefully prevent people from experiencing one of the most common regrets as a pastor that I have heard express: “I wish we would’ve had more children.” By knowing what God’s Word says about children we can make the right decisions and hopefully avoid painful regret in the future.

My third desire with this sermon relates to barrenness: help people understand barrenness scripturally, provide encouragement for those struggling with barrenness, and equip people to encourage those experiencing with barrenness. People should understand why barrenness should never be chosen.

This applies to all of us: those with children, younger people considering having children, older people in the position to teach the younger generation about children.

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Lessons for Children Are a Gift of the LORD the Fruit of the Womb a Reward

Lesson 1: God ________________ ____________ to, “be fruitful and multiply” (Gen 1:28, 2:18; Pro 14:28).

Lesson 2: Children are:
• (Part I) A ________, ____________, and ________________ (Psa 127:3-5, 128:1-4; Deut 7:13, 28:4).
• (Part II) __________ ____________ of maturity (Eph 6:4; 1 Tim 2:15).

Lesson 3: Barrenness:
• (Part I) Is __ __________ ____ Scripture (Gen 11:30, 25:21, 29:31; Judg 13:2; 1 Sam 1:5; Luke 1:7
• (Part II) Shouldn’t ____ ____________.

Lesson 4: __________ ________ God’s Word says about children (Pro 14:4).

Family Worship Guide for Lessons for Children Are a Gift of the LORD the Fruit of the Womb a Reward

Memory Verses: Psalm 127:3

1. Day 1—Read Genesis 1:28 and discuss: Why did God give this command? What benefits are there associated with this command being obeyed/fulfilled? What problems are associated with it being disobeyed? Are we seeing some of those problems today?

2. Day 2—Read Psalms 127 and 128 and discuss: How are children described? How should parents view their children? How should Christians respond when God provides a couple with a child?

3. Day 3—Read Ephesians 6:4 and 1 Timothy 2:15 and discuss: How do children help parents mature spiritually? What does it mean that women “will be saved in childbearing”?

4. Day 4—Read some of the accounts of barren women (Gen 11:30, 25:21, 29:31; Judg 13:2; 1 Sam 1:15, Luke 1:7) and discuss: What are some of the similarities in these accounts? What can we learn from them? How should Christians view barrenness? Why shouldn’t barrenness be chosen?

5. Day 5—Read Pro 14:4 and discuss: What application does this verse have to families? Since families can’t do everything they might want, discuss those activities that are most important and least important to your family.