August 21 2016 Honoring My Parents

Honoring My Parents

Memory Verse: Exodus 20:12 "Honor your father and mother, so that you may live long in the land..."

I. WHY DID GOD GIVE THIS COMMANDMENT?

Because...

There are no perfect parents!

Respect for authority begins at home.

How I relate to my parents will affect every other relationship.

II. HOW TO HONOR MY PARENTS

1. As a child, I honor my parents by obeying and respecting them

Ephesians 6:1(LB) "Children, obey your parents; this is the right thing to do because God has placed them in authority over you."

Proverbs 19:26 (LB) "A son who mistreats his father or mother is a public disgrace."

2. As a young person. I honor my parents by accepting and appreciatingthem

Proverbs 23:22" Listen to your father who gave you your life and do not despise your mother.."

Proverbs 20:20 (GN)"If you curse your parents, your life will end like a lamp that goes out in the dark."

Acceptance includes:

Dueteronomy 26:11 (GN)"Be grateful for the good things that the Lord has given you and your family..."

Proverbs 23:32 (GN)"when your mother is old, show her your appreciation."

3. As an adult, I honor my parents by affirming and not abandoning them.

Proverbs 3:27" Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power go act."

1 Timothy 5:8 (LB)"Anyone who won't care for his own relatives when they need help, especially his own family, has no right to say he is a Christian. Such a person is worse than the heathen."

1 Timothy 5:4 "They should ... put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God."

A word to parents: Be `honorable'!

Ephesians 6:4 (LB)"And now a word to you parents; Don't keep on scolding and nagging your children, making them angry and resentful. Rather, bring them up with loving discipline..."

Matthew 18:6 (Ph) "Anybody that offends one of these little ones, it's better for him to have a millstone tied around his neck and thrown in the bottom of the ocean.

A word to those without parents

Psalm 27:10 (GN)"My father and mother may abandon me, but the Lord will take care of me."

July 24 2016 Strong Families (Part One)

Ten Values That Build Strong Families - Part 1

"Never forget these commands that I am giving you. Teach these to your children..." Deut. 6:6-7a (GN)

I. THE FOUNDATION FOR A STRONG FAMILY

"You shall have no other gods before me" Ex 20:2

The Principle: PUT GOD FIRST

The Promise: SUCCESS IN LIFE

"In everything you do, put God first, and He will direct you and crown your efforts with success." Prov. 3:6 (LB)

II. HOW DO I PUT GOD FIRST?

Give God priority in 5 areas

F - Finances

"Honor the Lord by giving him the first part of all your income, and he will fill your barns... to

overflow..." Prov 3:9-10 (LB)

"The purpose of tithing is to teach you to put God first in your lives." Deut. 14:23 (LB)

I - Interest

"Whatever you do, do it all for God's glory." I Cor. 10:31 (GN)

"Talk with each other much about the Lord." Eph. 5:19 (LB)

R - Relationships

"...what a man is really like is shown by the kind of friends he chooses." Prov. 27:19 (LB)

S - Schedule

"Make the best use of your time ... grasp firmly what you know to be the will of the Lord."Eph. 5:16-17 (Ph)

"Very early in the morning ... Jesus got up and went off to a solitary place where he prayed." Mark 1:35

T - Trouble

"Call upon Me in your day of trouble and I will deliver you and you will honor Me." Ps. 50:15

Joshua's Commitment: "As for me and my family, we will serve the Lord." Jos. 24:15 (LB)

May 8 2016 Coping With The Fears Of Raising Children

COPING WITH THE FEARS OF RAISING CHILDREN

Matthew 5:48- Be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect.

1. I must understand my children.

Psalm 103:13 – As a Father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.  For He knows how we are formed.

Proverbs 24:3 – Homes are built on the foundation of wisdom and understanding.

Proverbs 22:6 – Train a child in the way he should go, and then when he is old he will not turn from it.

Proverbs 14:29 – A patient man has great understanding.

2. I must accept my children.

Psalm 145:8 – The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.

Romans 15:7 – Accept one another.

Psalm 127:3 –Children are a gift from God, they are His reward.

3. I must communicate with my children.

HOW

• By starting early.

The Bible says a child left to itself disgraces it’s mother.

• Start early.

Isaiah 28:9 – Who is He trying to teach?  To whom is He explaining His message?  To children weaned from their milk.

• Begin with small pieces.

Isaiah 28:10 – For it is do and do, do and do, rule on rule, rule on rule, a little here a little there.

• Communicate creatively.

Deuteronomy 6:6 -7 – These commandments, impress them upon 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.

4. I must discipline my children.

Hebrews 12:6-The Lord disciplines those whom He loves.

Proverbs 13:24 – If you refuse to discipline your son, it proves you don’t love him.

Proverbs 19:18 – Discipline your children while they are young enough to learn.  If you don’t you are helping them destroy themselves.

1 John 4:18 – There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out all fear, because fear has to do with punishment.

HOW TO DISCIPLINE

• Discipline calmly.

Proverbs 29:11 – A fool gives full vent to his anger.

• Don’t be a nagger.

Ephesians 6:4 – Don’t keep scolding and nagging your children, making them angry and resentful, use loving discipline.

• Discipline quickly.
• Discipline sparingly.

5. I must express love to my children.

• Through affection.

Psalm 145:9 – The Lord is good and has compassion on all He has made.

• Affirmation.

Psalm 145:14 – The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.

• Attention.

Psalm 145:18 – The Lord is near to all who call on Him.

6. I must be consistent with my children.

Psalm 145:7 – The Lord is righteous in all His ways.

Proverbs 20:17 – It is a wonderful heritage to have an honest father.

• Don’t imply perfection.
• Keep your promises.

Psalm 145:13 – The Lord is faithful to all His promises.

January 18 2015 Getting Unstuck In My Family

GETTING UNSTUCK IN MY FAMILY

“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God.  Let them be a living and holy sacrifice - the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask?  Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person  by changing the way you think.  Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.”” – Romans 12:1-2
                
The Key to Getting Unstuck in My Family:

Give God first place In My Family!

Definition of UnStuck: Moving forward in my life because I am willing to give God complete control.

HOW TO GIVE GOD FIRST PLACE IN MY FAMILY

1.  FOCUS MY FAMILY DAILY with prayer and Bible study.

“Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him.” – 1 Chronicles 16:11

“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock.” – Matthew 7:24-25

2.  INVOLVE MY FAMILY IN my church.

“Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.”   – Proverbs 22:6

Two Elements: worship and service

“Unless the LORD builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted.”– Psalm 127:1

3.  READILY FORGIVE MY FAMILY WHEN NECESSARY.

“Be kind and loving to each other, and forgive each other just as God forgave you in Christ.” – Ephesians 4:32

“Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.”” – Proverbs 17:9

“Do your part to live in peace with everyone, as much as possible.”– Romans 12:18

4.  SCHEDULE FAMILY CELEBRATIONS TOGETHER.

“We are now going to Bethel, where I will build an altar to the God who answered my prayers when I was in distress. He has stayed with me wherever I have gone.”” – Genesis 35:3

“Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the LORD your God will give you.” – Exodus 20:12

5.  Trust God with my family.
 
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.” – Proverbs 3:5-6

Memory Verse: ““Choose today whom you will serve… but as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD.” – JOSHUA 24:15

December 21 2014 How To Make Christmas Last

How To Make Christmas Last

1. Remember Mary’s song of Amazing Grace.

Luke 1:46 -50 – Oh, how I praise the Lord, how I rejoice in God my Savior!  For he took notice of His lowly servant girl and now generation after generation forever shall call me blest of God.  For He the mighty holy One has done great things for me.  His mercy goes on from generation to generation to all who reverence Him.

Four Pillars Of Grace

• He took notice of his lowly servant
• Has done great things for me
• I rejoice in God my Savior
• Lowly servant

2. Receive an amazing gift.

Luke 1:68-69 – Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, for He has come to visit His people and has redeemed them.  He is sending us a mighty Savior from the royal line of His servant David.

3. Refocus on God’s mercy.

Luke 1:72 – He has done this to show mercy to our fathers.

Psalm 103:13 – As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him.

4. Reflect God’s glory.

Luke 2:13-14 – Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others, the armies of heaven, praising God.  Glory to God in the highest heaven, they sang, and peace on earth for all those pleasing Him.

Four Steps:

• Remember God’s Grace.
• Receive God’s Gift.
• Refocus God’s Mercy.
• Reflect God’s Glory.