Wrestling with God’s Ideal Family
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TITLE: Wrestling with God’s Ideal Family
SUBJECT: Family
PROPOSITION: In this lesson we will discuss God’s ideal of the family. We will discuss God’s ideal 1) Father and Husband, 2) Mother and Wife, 3) Children, 4) Grandparents.
OBJECTIVE: Each person should be able to state what their role is in the family as God would have it and cite supporting scripture to back this up.
AIM: To support and encourage each person as they fulfill their role in the family.
INTRODUCTION:
1. Read: Psalm 127:1 – “Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it.”
2. About the Text:
1) God has a standard for how our families should be ordered.
2) We need to be faithful to that standard.
3) The traditional family has come under fire in our culture today.
4) While we can’t control what the world does, we can control our own lives.
5) How are we ordering our families today?
3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.
DISCUSSION: Wrestling with God’s ideal family means accepting . . .
I. The Father/Husband’s Role as Leader
1. Father
1) Ephesians 6:4; Colossians 3:21
a. Nurture — don’t discourage them by being negative–encourage their hopes and their dreams.
b. Admonish (Hebrews 12:9, 10)
c. Of the Lord–I.E. Not just ANY nurturing and admonishing.
d. Implications are: 1) Commitment, 2) Love, 3) Care, 4) Devotion, 5) Instruction 6) discipline, etc.
2) When I think about good Fathers, I think about . . .
a. Joshua. (Joshua 24:15).
b. David. (1 Chronicles 28:9).
2. Husband
1) How does the Bible define it?
2) Ephesians 5:25-30.
a. Love — to the point of giving your life for her.
b. Love — as you would your own self.
c. Nourish
d. Cherish
e. Not bitter
f. Honoring
3) When I think about good husbands, I think about . . .
a. Jacob — worked 14 years of his life for Rachel.
b. Boaz — took Ruth into his house.
II. The Mother/Wife’s Role as Nurturer
1. C.S. Lewis Quotation
2. Mother
1) What does the Bible say a mother is?
a. Titus 2:4, 5; 1 Timothy 5:14
b. Love her children.
c. Raise her children.
d. Implications: Commitment, care, concern, instruction, discipline.
2) When I think about good mothers I think about . . .
a. Hannah. (1 Samuel 1) — Dedicated her son to the Lord.
b. Lois and Eunice. (2 Timothy 1:5) — raised Timothy to believe in God.
3. Wife
1) What does the Bible say?
a. Ephesians 5:22, 23; Titus 2:4, 5
b. Love her husband.
c. Submit to husband.
d. Implications: Commitment, concern, learn from Him, help him, work with him.
2) When I think about good wives I think about . . .
a. Sarah. (1 Peter 3:5, 6)
b. Elizabeth (Luke 1:60) — When all the other kindred questioned the name of the child, Elizabeth supported her husband.
III. The Child’s Role as Learner
1. As Children
1) The offspring of a parent.
2) What does the Bible say?
a. Psalm 127:3-5 — They are a heritage from the Lord.
b. Ephesians 6:1,2 — They are to be obedient to their parents.
3) Even Jesus grew as a child – Luke 2:40, 52.
4) Must not let children dictate the direction of the family.
a. Isaiah 7:15-16
b. Deuteronomy 1:39
c. They have no experience.
d. They have no knowledge.
e. Parents must set the standard for them so they may learn.
2. As Adults
1) Children don’t stop being children just because they are grown up.
2) Parents still have a responsibility to love and support them.
3) Children still have the responsibility to obey their parents.
4) Children must honor their father and mother. (Exodus 20:12; Deut.5:16; Eph.6:2)
5) See also Mark 7:9-13.
6) “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever” (1 Timothy 5:8).
7) “If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows” (1 Timothy 5:16).
CONCLUSION:
1. God’s Family is a family in which all are doing what God wants them to do.
1) As fathers and husbands.
2) As mothers and wives.
3) As children.
2. There is another sense of God’s Family about which we have not discussed.
1) This is God’s spiritual family.
2) It too is made up of a loving Father, elder brother, and children.
3) Jesus once said that THIS family was more dear to him than his earthly family (Mark 3:34, 35).
4) While earthly families will dissolve, our heavenly family will last forever!
3. Invitation
5) We want you to be part of that family today!