Today, more than ever, families are confused and in chaos. Christians increasingly take their cues from culture, the permanency of marriage is optional and roles within the home are misunderstood. Additionally, social media influences parents more than the Bible, our government redefines marriage and we are now told that gender is not biological, but how we feel. There is not one individual or family unit that has not been affected in some way by today’s cultural confusion. However, despite this cultural confusion, our King is telling us not to give up, give in or back down. We know this because of what Holy Scripture teaches us in Ephesians 4 where we are instructed “to speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). Furthermore, in Ephesians 6 we learn that the primary command for Christians is to stand (Ephesians 6:11, 13, 14), not to cast out demons or bind territorial spirits. Friends, the purpose of this sermon series is to strengthen our families and to encourage singles, dads, moms and children to stand strong and persevere in scriptural obedience as we face the fierce winds of opposition. Today’s message, titled God’s Wisdom for the Family, presents three purposes for the Christian family. The first is purpose is….
The Christian family exists to honor and to treasure God above all
God is very direct and practical in His counsel as to how this is to take place. God’s people are to love God with all their heart, all their soul and all their might (Deuteronomy 6:4-6). Love for God is intentional, intellectual, emotional and physical. Furthermore, love for God is inseparable from the words of God (Deuteronomy 6:7-9). Contrary to our thinking, our affection follows our decision, our love follows our resolve and our emotion follows our commitment.
As parents, we often pass down our love for certain foods, music and ethnic traditions which become part of our family’s culture. However, because we love and treasure God first and foremost, rehearsing God’s word to and with our children should be the top priority. Your love for God’s word should echo through your home because it resides in your heart. Furthermore, the scriptural knowledge you gain from rehearsing God’s word should lead you and your family to love God. If our minds are filled with facts but our hearts never respond with gratefulness, there is a disconnect that God did not intend. Your family does not exist for money, vacation, retirement, hobbies or your idealized world of perfection. Your family exists to treasure and to honor God above all. Brothers and sisters, your goals affect how you parent. If safety, athletics, academics, or career path is your greatest goal, then that informs and shapes your family culture; conversely, if honoring and treasuring God above all is your highest goal, all other goals become secondary. Christian, are you and your family loving and treasuring God above all?….
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