5 12. That the family is of utmost importance to God’s program because of the way God _____________ family relationships to our relationship with Him. a. Ephesians 5:18ff b. 1 Peter 3:1-6 c. 1 Peter 3:7 13. That the family is of utmost importance to God’s program because the Bible teaches that the family demands top ________ after God and His Kingdom. a. Ephesians 5:22-33 b. 1 Timothy 5:8 c. Colossians 3:17-19 d. 1 Peter 3:1-7 Conclusion: What is the family? God designed it. God defines it. Satan hates it. II. Two Kinds of Families Described in the Bible A. ________________________ families: 1. 1 Timothy 3:15; Ephesians 2:19; 3:15; John 1:12; Galatians 3:26; 1 John 3:10 Or 2. John 8:38-44; Matthew 13:38-39; Acts 13:10; 1 John 3:10 B. ________________________ families: 1. Extended Family: Judges 6:15; Genesis 10:5ff; Luke 2:4 2. Immediate Family: Psalm 128:1-4; Ephesians 5:22-6:4; Colossians 3:18-21; 1 Peter 3:1-7
6 III. More Specific Facts about What the Family Is and What the Family Should Be from God’s Perspective A. The family is God’s _____________ to _______________, a place where the deepest kind of __________ are formed and experienced. 1. Genesis 2:18; Psalm 68:6; Proverbs 2:17 (Malachi 2:14) 2. Tremendous implications for every family member! a. “Companion” in Proverbs 2 and Malachi 2 means “one who _____________________;” spending time together; being very interested in one another. b. Proverbs 17:17; 27:10a c. Proverbs 29:5; 27:5-6 d. Proverbs 12:26 e. Proverbs 27:14; 25:20; 25:17 f. Proverbs 27:9 g. Proverbs 27:17 h. John 15:13-15 B. Second, the Bible teaches that the husband and wife relationship should take __________ ________ every other human relationship. 1. Genesis 2:24 - *Note three things:
HOUSEHOLD OF FAITH Biblical Principles for Family Life
#13 The family is of utmost importance to God’s program because the Bible teaches that the family demands top loyalty after God and His Kingdom.
1 TIMOTHY 5:8 “If anyone does not provide for his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”
COLOSSIANS 3:17-19 “Whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. Wives be subject to your husbands as is fitting to the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them.”
THE FAMILY: God designed it. God defines it. Satan hates it.
TWO KINDS OF FAMILIES 1. Spiritual families: a. Children of God b. Children of the devil
CHILDREN OF GOD “household of God” - 1 Timothy 3:15 “children of God” - John 1:12 “sons of God by faith in Christ” – Gal. 3:26 “every family in heaven and on earth derives its name from the Heavenly Father” – Ephesians 3:15
CHILDREN OF THE DEVIL “By this, the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who doesn’t practice righteousness is not of God, neither is the one who doesn’t love his brother.” – 1 John 3:10
JOHN 8:38-44 “You are doing the deeds of your father, you are trying to kill Me. If God were your father, you would love Me. You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning and the father of lies.”
MATTHEW 13:38-39 “The tares are the sons of the evil one, and they are sown among the wheat by the enemy, the devil, and the harvest will be at the end of the age, and the angels are the reapers, and all the tares will be gathered and burned up at the end of the age.”
TWO KINDS OF FAMILIES 2. Biological families: a. Extended family b. Nuclear family - Might have children - But children not required
GOD’S PERSPECTIVE The family is God’s antidote to loneliness , a place where the deepest kind of friendships are formed and experienced.
GENESIS 2:18 “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make a helper that is suitable to him.” “God makes a home for the lonely.” Psalm 68:6
COMPANION Proverbs 2:17 & Malachi 2:14 “one who accompanies” - “spending time with/showing interest in” Covenant of marriage is not primarily children or sex, but companionship. Marriage is a sacred covenant.
IMPACTS EVERYONE Genesis 1:28 , “God blessed them and said ‘Be fruitful and multiply.’” Children are a blessing of the marriage covenant. Your kids should enjoy being with you! And vice versa.
FAMILY God’s plan and purpose for the family is to have a place for companionship, friendship, intimacy – being lovingly honest though at times it may be painful to hear; having a place where you can totally be yourself.
PROVERBS 17:17 “A friend loves at all times and a brother is born for adversity.” Sometimes we only see family during a crises, and friends are closer than family. This should not be.
PROVERBS 27:5-6 “Better is open rebuke than concealed love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.” David never caused his son pain – he should have!
PROVERBS 12:26 “The righteous is a guide to his neighbor, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.” Don’t bring out the worst in others. Use your influence for good.
PROVERBS 27:14 (25:20,17) “He who blesses his friend with a loud voice in the morning, it will be considered a curse.” Be sensitive to likes/dislikes of others; be a blessing…and at appropriate times.
PROVERBS 27:9 “Oil and perfume make the heart glad; so is a man’s counsel to his friend.” Bring sweetness to life with your words. Be encouraging, cheer others up.
PROVERBS 27:17 “Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” Help others “get back in sync” spiritually, mentally, emotionally. Lift their spirit to help them see matters more clearly.
PROVERBS 26:18-19 “Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows and death, so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, ‘I was just joking.’” Use words to build up, not tear down. Don’t say, “I was just kidding. Don’t be so sensitive.”
JOHN 15:13-15 “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. I call you friends because I have made known to you everything I have heard from My Father.” Sacrifice in small and big ways. Be open, transparent, willing to share on a deep level.
Recommend
More recommend
