1

Faith Learned Early

2

“Now faith is assurance of (things) hoped for, a conviction of things not seen.” ASV

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”KJV

What Is Faith? Heb. 11:1

3

Faith (Pistis) “is the conviction that God

exists and is the creator and ruler of all things, the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ: Heb 11:6” (Thayer)

What Is Faith? Heb. 11:1

4

Substance (hupostasis) “a setting or placing

under; thing put under, substructure, foundation:” (Thayer)

“That which provides the basis for trust and reliance” (Greek-English Lexicon Based on Semantic Domain)

What Is Faith? Heb. 11:1

5

Evidence (elengchos) a proof of the things we

cannot see' or 'evidence that what we cannot see really exists' Heb 11:1” (Greek-English Lexicon Based on

Semantic Domain.)

What Is Faith? Heb. 11:1

6

“What Mean Ye By These Stones?”

Joshua 4:6, 20

7

Definition

Memorial: “serving to help people remember some person or event.” Webster.

Easy to forget. Deut. 6:10ff; Judges; Jer. 2:32; 3:21; Cf. 2 Pet. 1:12ff

8

The Children’s Question

“What Mean Ye By These Stones?” Josh. 4:6; 4:7; 4:21

“That this may be a sign among you. The erection of… huge piles of stones, as monuments of remarkable incidents, has been common among all people, especially in the early and rude periods of their history; and it is practiced by the Arabs still ('Researches and Missionary Labors,' by Joseph Wolff p.

492). They are the established means of perpetuating the memory of important transactions…”

(from Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown)

9

The Children’s Question

Pillar of stones would attract the attention of a child!

Gilgal was a special place.1 Sam. 11:14-15 Place where Saul was made king.2 Sam. 19:15 Place where David was brought back.

10

The Children

Children are special. Ps 127:3-5 “Lo, children are a heritage of

Jehovah; (and) the fruit of the womb is (his) reward. As arrows in the hand of a mighty man, so are the children of youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be put to shame, when they speak with their enemies in the gate.”

Prov 17:6 “Children's children are the crown of old men; And the glory of children are their fathers.”

11

The Children

Children ask questions. “Where is the lamb?” Gen. 22:7 “What mean ye by this service?” Ex.

12:26; cf. 14 “Tell thy son…” Ex. 13:8 “What is this?” Ex. 13:14ff “What mean the testimonies, and the

statutes, and the ordinances…” Deut. 6:20

“What meaneth these stones?” Josh. 4:6,22

12

The Children

They Are The Future. Of the home. Wives, Mothers, Husbands

& Fathers. Eph. 5:22ff; Tit. 2:2ff Of the church. 1 Tim. 3:1ff; Tit. 1:5ff; 1

Tim. 4:16; 2 Tim. 4:2 Elders, deacons, preachers, teachers & song leaders

Pillars in the church. Gal. 2:9

13

Those To Answer The Question

Fathers are to satisfy the questions of their children. Joshua 4:6, 20; 1 Tim. 5:8; Deut. 6:6ff; Eph. 6:4

Mother’s place. Cf. 2 Tim. 3:15

Let’s tell the children. Ps. 78:1-6

14

Memorials

Rainbow. Gen. 9:12ff The Passover. Ex. 12:14, 24;

13:8,14 Ark of the Covenant: Heb. 9:4

Omer of manna Ex. 16:33Aaron’s rod. Ex. 7-8; Num. 17:6-10Tablets of stone. Deut. 6:20

These twelve stones. Josh. 4:22 The Lord’s Supper. 1 Cor. 11:23ff

15

Lessons

The wondrous works of God are for all time. Josh 3:10 “ye may know”Josh 4:24 “all the peoples of the earth may know” cf. Jno. 20:30-31

The importance of history. Rom. 15:4; 1 Cor. 10:11 Providence. Eccl. 9:1; Dan. 2:21; 5:21;

Joseph, Gen. 37-50; Esther

16

Conclusion

Tell your Children! God expects men to propagate His fame. Ex. 10:2; Rom. 9:17The existence of the memorial is

insufficient of itself to preserve the memory. Josh. 4:6-7, 22;

Our children do not inherit our faith.! Cf. Judg. 2:10

We must teach the lessons!!!

“What mean ye by these stones…?”