Text: 1 Samuel 3:29

Topic: How to raise children.

A father's mission is to raise his children to know and respond to the voice of God.

God calls people to himself in special places.

Illustration: MacDonald begins a single illustration that composes the rest of the sermon—a walk through his former house, describing scenes from each room that each illustrate a responsibility of parenting.

Parents' greatest duty is to make their home a place where people grow.

• Illustration: In the breezeway, MacDonald encountered two bickering children and taught them that the home was a place for building one another.

Learn to talk to each other.

Illustration: In the kitchen, MacDonald's family learned to talk with one another.

Discern when to protect and when to stand aside.

Illustration: In the living room, MacDonald's daughter sat trying to make a difficult decision and he offered her freedom to choose on her own or to be given a father's protection.

Learn to flex within your principles.

Illustration: When MacDonald's arbitrary "No" sent his son to tears, he created a compromise that ended up teaching his son a great lesson.

Be open and available for deep heart conversations.

Illustration: In his bedroom, MacDonald hears his son's confession of receiving a speeding ticket.

Illustration: In his bedroom, MacDonald hears his daughter first speak of love for a man she eventually married.

Release your children to grow through experience.

Illustration: The garage reminds MacDonald of teaching his son to drive in rush hour and then releasing him to do so.

Be willing to make painful decisions.

• Illustration: In the dining room, MacDonald taught his children a tough lesson by canceling his own birthday party when they chose to be more concerned about other interests.