Healthy habits, Prayer

Devoted

Over the past few weeks, we’ve talked about how God has intended our faith to benefit more than just us. The expression of our faith should extend to those in our circles of influence, but sometimes, it’s easier to play the “Christian part” when we are at work, at church, and with our friends. But how does your faith affect those who are in your own home? Do they see your faith being lived out when you’re in your own house or do they see one person at church and another person at home? In this week’s teaching, we look at what the Bible says our responsibility is to those in our home, how our faith should be benefitting them, and what steps we can take if it’s not.

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MESSAGE NOTES

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good thing he planned for us long ago.”

Series Recap

Live your life as expression of LOVE to God and others:

  • Intentional
  • Relational
  • Generous

Leverage your life to SERVE God and others:

  • Get involved
  • Be devoted to setting a Godly example at home

The people who should benefit from your faith most should be the people in your home.

Marker: I pursue healthy relationships with my family

Colossians 3:14-21

14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 
15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. 
  • Living in peace is usually connected with gratitude
16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. 
17And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. 
18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting for those who belong to the Lord. 
  • You aren’t called to sacrifice for your husband but to defer to your husbands
19 Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly. 
  • Husbands are called to selfless sacrifice for their wives. Who wouldn’t defer to that?!
20 Children, always obey your parents, for this pleases the Lord. 
  • It is obedience to our parents, while young, that we learn the discipline of obedience to God, as adults.
  • Your ability to follow your parents instructions trains your willpower to follow God’s instruction
21Fathers, do not aggravate your children, or they will become discouraged.
Marker: I share my faith with my family
Parents: Proverbs 22:6 says “Start children off on the way they should go,
    and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” This is a proverb, not a promise. There are things you are responsible for and things that are not. 
  • You are not responsible for their choices outside the home
  • You are responsible for their choices inside the home

Deuteronomy 6:5-9

“5 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.6 And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. 7 Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. 8 Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. 9 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

Wives: 1 Peter 3:1-2

“In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands. Then, even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over 2 by observing your pure and reverent lives.”

  • You have the ability to change your husband without ever saying a word
  • Make sure that your actions lead him to God and not away from Him

1 Peter 3:7

7 In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered.

  • She isn’t told to be understanding, you are
  • We are to treat then with honor. When? On what condition? It doesn’t say, intentionally.
  • Husbands are the only ones whose relationship with God is affected by the way we treat out spouse

Kids: 1 Timothy 4:12, “Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity”

  • You are responsible for your own faith. And you need to become an example of what it means to follow Jesus
  • You don’t need to wait for your parents to follow Jesus, or anyone else. Don’t wait on someone else to lead you in your faith.
  • You are responsible for your own walk with God. You need to spend time with God in prayer ad with his Word.

Marker: I prioritize time with my family

1 Timothy 5:8, “But those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, would have denied the true faith.”

You are replaceable in every area of your life but at home. Prioritize your life accordingly.

  • Your friends aren’t going to help you get into college, come up with a downpayment…
  • Your coworkers won’t be there in your old age, sit with your on your deathbed or tell stories about you to your children
  • Your kids would rather have your time than have your money

Application

  • Are there family relationships where you need to seek out reconciliation and forgiveness?
  • Are there family relationships that you need to prioritize more?
  • What is one thing you can do this week to make faith a part of your lives together?

Over the past few weeks, we’ve talked about how God has intended our faith to benefit more than just us. The expression of our faith should extend to those in our circles of influence, but sometimes, it’s easier to play the “Christian part” when we are at work, at church, and with our friends. But how does your faith affect those who are in your own home? Do they see your faith being lived out when you’re in your own house or do they see one person at church and another person at home? In this week’s teaching, we look at what the Bible says our responsibility is to those in our home, how our faith should be benefitting them, and what steps we can take if it’s not.

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