April 26-27, 2003        AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE! Selected

DESIGNER’S CHALLENGE!

!“THE TRADITIONAL AMERICAN FAMILY IS NO LONGER

THE TYPICAL AMERICAN FAMILY!”

! THE FAMILY ISN’T FINISHED BUT IT IS FRAGILE!

*** Genesis 2:18 “The Lord God said, "It isn't good for the man to live alone. I need to make a suitable partner for him." [Contemporary English Version]

*** Genesis 2:24 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” [New International Version]

NOTICE TWO THINGS IN THESE VERSES:

       A. THE FAMILY WAS GOD’S IDEA!

       B. WE WERE CREATED TO BE IN A FAMILY!

*** Genesis 1:31 “Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was excellent in every way.” [New Living Translation]

HOW CAN WE HELP OUR FAMILIES MEET THE DESIGNER’S CHALLENGE?

1. A FAMILY IS TO BE A SAFE PLACE IN LIFE’S STORMS!

*** Proverbs 14:26 “Reverence for God gives a man deep strength; his children have a place of refuge and security.” [Living Bible]

THREE LIFE-STORMS WE ALL FACE TODAY:

A. THE STORMS OF CHANGE!

*** Gen 24:67 (NLT) “Isaac brought Rebekah…she became his wife. He loved her very much, and she was a special comfort to him after the death of his mother.”

B. THE STORMS OF FAILURE!

*** Ecc. 4:9-10 “Two can accomplish more than twice as much as one…. If one falls, the other pulls him up; but if a man falls when he is alone, he's in trouble.”

C. THE STORMS OF REJECTION!

*** Eccles. 4:12 “And one standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer; three is even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.” [LB]

! HOW DO WE PROVIDE THIS SAFE PLACE?

HEAR! HUG! HELP!

! MY FAMILY IS A SAFE PLACE FROM LIFE’S STORMS!

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2. A FAMILY IS TO BE A LEARNING PLACE FOR LIFE!

*** Psalm 144:12 “Let our sons in their youth grow like plants. Let our daughters be like the decorated stones in the Temple.” [New Century Version]

! IT’S A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE GROW!

*** Eph. 6:4 (NLT) “Don't make your children angry by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction approved by the Lord.”

! THREE STAGES OF INSTRUCTION:

       è PARENT CONTROL è SELF CONTROL è GOD CONTROL!

*** Luke 2:52 (NIV) “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. “

·    WISDOM = INTELLECTUAL GROWTH!

·    STATURE = PHYSICAL GROWTH!

·    FAVOR WITH GOD = SPIRITUAL GROWTH!

·    FAVOR WITH MAN = SOCIAL GROWTH!

*** Isaiah 38:19 “One generation makes known your faithfulness to the next.”

**** Deut. 6:6-7 (NIV) “These commandments…are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

! MY FAMILY IS A LEARNING PLACE FOR LIFE!

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3. A FAMILY IS TO BE A FUN PLACE TO PLAY TOGETHER!

*** Ecc. 9:9 (NIV) “Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love….”

*** Proverbs 5:18 (NLT) “Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you. Rejoice in the wife of your youth.”

! THE FAMILY THAT PLAYS TOGETHER STAYS TOGETHER!

*** Psalm 127:3, 5 (NLT) “Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him. How happy is the man whose quiver is full of them!”

! MY FAMILY IS A FUN PLACE TO PLAY TOGETHER!

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4. A FAMILY IS TO BE A MENTORING PLACE FOR MINISTRY!

*** 1 Cor. 16:15 (NLT) “You know that Stephanas and his household were the first to become Christians in Greece, and they are spending their lives in service to other Christians.”

*** Acts 10:2 (NIV) “He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.”

*** Acts 16:33-34 (NLT) “That same hour the jailer washed their wounds, and he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized. Then he brought them into his house and set a meal before them. He and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God.”

! PARENTS YOUR NUMBER 1 JOB IN LIFE IS TO MENTOR YOUR CHILDREN INTO THE KINGDOM!

*** Romans 12:13 (NIV) “Share with God's people…. Practice hospitality.”

! MY FAMILY IS A MENTORING PLACE FOR MINISTRY!

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Joshua 24:15 “…As for me and my family, we will serve the Lord."