2. I Must PRAY for Them (20:20) We Must Pray FOR Our Children
Thank God for Them (Psa. 127:3; Gen. 33:5)
Ask for Help (Judg. 13:8, 12)
Develop Their Own Strong Faith (2 Tim. 1:5)
Find a Strong Christian Mate (Gen. 27:46-28:2; 24:1-4)
Be Actively Involved in the Church (1 Thess. 2:7-12)
We Must Pray WITH Our Children
Key Word to Instill: Reliance – TRUST IN GOD!

3. I Must PREPARE Them (20:23) We Must Prepare Them to Suffer (20:22-23)
There is a place of suffering prepared in the kingdom!
Jesus was going to “drink the cup” of suffering and be “immersed” with suffering (20:22, 18-19)
Faithfulness in the kingdom brings hardships, suffering & persecutions (20:23; 5:10-12; 1 Pet. 3:14; 4:14; 2 Tim. 3:12)
We must prepare our children for those who will (Luke 6:22):
“Hate” them because they live by Christian standards
“Exclude” them because they hold to Christian values
“Insult” them because they believe in & defend Biblical truth
“Scorn” their Christian “name as evil”
All suffering as a Christian is WORTH IT! (Matt. 5:10-12; 1 Pet. 3:14; 4:13-19)
Key Word to Instill: Determination – FOCUS ON GOD!

4. I Must PREPARE Them (20:23) We Must Prepare Them to Serve (20:25-28)
There is a place of serving prepared in the kingdom!
Jesus’ kingdom is about serving and ministering to OTHERS
To be considered “great” in God’s eyes, minister to others
To be considered “first” in God’s eyes, be a slave of all (Mk. 10:44)
This starts w/ the right “mind”—thinking like Christ (Phil. 2:1-8)
“Esteem others better than himself” (Phil. 2:3)
“Even Christ did not please Himself” (Rom. 15:3)
“In honor giving preference to one another” (Rom. 12:10)
This requires the right “grind”—doing like Christ (John 13:15)
“He went about doing good” (Acts 10:38)
“Go and do likewise” (Luke 10:37)
“Whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them” (Mt. 7:12)
“Do good to all” (Gal. 6:10)
Key Word to Instill: Humility – FOCUS ON OTHERS!

5. His Kingdom Is Prepared for Those Who:
Believe Jesus is God’s Son – Romans 10:9
Repent of their sins and turn to God – Acts 2:38
Confess their faith in Jesus – Romans 10:10
Are immersed into Christ – John 3:3-5
God will forgive all of their sins – Romans 6:6-7
God will add them to His church – 1 Corinthians 12:13
God will enroll them in heaven – Hebrews 12:23
Are faithful servants until death – Matthew 25:23