Raising Sons & Daughters

This is our Sunday teaching by Andy Brims. Recorded live at our Sunday Service in Harris Academy Purley, Croydon on Sunday 21st June, 2026.
Below you can find the full talk audio, and a summary article.

TALK SUMMARY - Raising Sons and Daughters

On Father’s Day, we reflected on one of Croydon Vineyard’s deepest values: raising sons and daughters — investing in the next generation.

This has always been central to who we are as a church. Every Sunday, across babies, children, youth, Vineyard English School crèche and youth drop-in, more than 120 under-18s are being loved, taught, discipled and served. In a borough with around 90,000 under-18s, this is not a side ministry. It is part of our calling.

In Acts 16:1–5, we meet Timothy: a young disciple with a mixed background, a good reputation, and a calling just beginning to emerge. His story gives us a picture of how sons and daughters are raised in the faith.

First, they are raised through example. Timothy’s faith was shaped by the living faith of his grandmother Lois, his mother Eunice, the local church and Paul himself. Faith is passed from person to person. Programmes help, but discipleship is ultimately handed on through lives. Even messy circumstances do not disqualify us. A living faith in a messy circumstance is far more powerful than a dead faith in a perfect-looking picture.

Second, sons and daughters are raised through encouragement. Acts tells us that the believers in Lystra and Iconium “spoke well” of Timothy. The next generation needs people who will say, “I see that in you. Well done. Keep going.” But we also need to give young people opportunities to do things worth speaking well of — chances to serve, lead, try, fail, grow and be celebrated.

Third, sons and daughters are raised by being invited into costly mission. In Acts 16, Paul circumcises Timothy — not for salvation, but to remove an obstacle so others could hear the gospel. It is a strange and shocking moment, but it shows us something vital: the kingdom advances when people take costly steps for the sake of others they have not yet met.

Ultimately, Timothy points us to Jesus, the true Son, who stepped into humility, baptism and the road to the cross so that others might come into life.

We raise sons and daughters when they see living faith in us, hear encouragement from us, and are invited with us into the costly, beautiful mission of Jesus.