Qualities of family

The Qualities of Family; NV 4/12/02 AM - I Thessalonians 2OS:A  Author and preacher Tony Campolo said that when his wife, Peggy, was at home full-time with their children and someone would ask, "And what is it that you do, my dear?" she would respond, "I am socializing two Homo sapiens into the dominant values of the Judeo-Christian tradition in order that they might be instruments for the transformation of the social order into the kind of eschatological utopia that God willed from the beginning of creation."

Then Peggy would ask the other person, "And what do you do?"

---First-time father Michael Bryson was not about to let his wife's first real Mother's Day pass unnoticed. He wrapped up his six-month-old son, Jason, plunked him in a baby carrier, and went to the hospital where Miriam Bryson worked as a nurse. Then in front of patients and coworkers alike Michael surprised Miriam with flowers, and balloons that said, "World's Greatest Mom."

It was a special moment for all, but after all the laughing and crying and smooching was over, Miriam had to say good-bye. She went back to work, and the two men in her life returned to the car for the trip home.

Going home, of course, was not nearly as much fun as preparing for the surprise. And getting all that "stuff" back into the car wasn't as easy as getting it out. Michael snorted in preoccupied disgust as he balanced the baby carrier on the roof of the car while tossing the candy in the front seat, arranging the flowers on the floor, and wrestling the balloons out of the wind into the backseat. Finally, he got everything arranged and headed home.

Suddenly, other drivers began to honk at Michael and flash their lights. He could not figure out what was happening until he hit about 55 miles per hour on the highway. That is when he heard a scraping sound move across the top of the car. Then Michael watched in horror through the rearview mirror as the baby carrier—still holding Jason—slid off the roof, bounced on the trunk, dropped to the road, and began to toboggan down the highway behind the car.

The driver in the car behind Michael's had spotted the baby carrier on the roof and was prepared. He screeched to a halt behind the carrier to shield it from oncoming traffic. Michael, of course, also braked to a hard stop, ran back to Jason, and discovered the baby carrier had more than fulfilled its design function—the baby was safe! Then as the waves of fear, guilt, and relief hit him, the new father began to sob uncontrollably on the highway.

See where we would be without Mothers!

TS]     In I Thessalonians 2 there are some "side comments" by Paul on the way parents ideally relate to their children.  Theses passages provide an outline of family characteristics we might look at and cultivate.I.      I would like to use these passages this morning as they relate to both church/family/meaningful relationships.A.   A Church is Family.1.     B God-Centered Family (People business centered on God)2.     1 Thessalonians 2:4, “We speak, not as pleasing to men, but God who tests our hearts”3.     We exist to bring glory to God, not to meet every need. Yet needs are met when we focus on God.4.     The bottom line is not church growth, programs, or good reports, the bottom line is are we bringing glory to God. If so, there will most likely be all of the above. God gives increase.B.    The same thing is true for our home families, and even in the relationships we have with others.1.     It’s not the financial reports, amount of stuff we own, or the size house we live in that really makes the difference.2.     What makes the difference is bringing glory to God through being the kind of Parent, Husband/Wife, Friend that brings Him that glory.C.   So what are the qualities of family that Bring Glory to God?II.   The single most important thing that families and friendships need is C love!A.   Love is more than a word.B.     D 2 8 We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.  C.   Love is an action that separates the okay and the terrific, the better and the best, the good and the incredible. (Use Mom’s as example)1.     Basic care is important. Washing clothes, cooking, (externals) What makes Mom so special is the love. 2.      E A USA Today poll asked a group of mothers what they needed most. The most popular responses and percentage of mothers who gave them were: a.       More time in the day: 32 percent / *Patience: 27 percent / *Respect: 15 percent / *Money: 15 percent.  - Citation: USA Today (6-5-00), 3.     Why – Notice how each relates to child-care.TS] The Foundation for Church, family, and relationships is love, and now let’s consider how that love is expressed… Glory to God!I.      F GentlenessA.   Paul says, (2:7) 7 but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. B.    One evening while my daughters were taking a bath together, 4-year-old Andrea began pouring water over her 10-month-old sister's bald little head. Exasperated, I asked Andrea what she was doing. Without a moment's hesitation, she replied, "I'm watering Rachel's head so her hair will grow!" 1.   One of the greatest traits of mother’s is that they are always gently pouring over their children to help them grow. (inside and out)C.   There is a time for that Gentle pouring over in the church, and within our relationships as well.G 1 Corinthians 3 6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.TS] The first quality that makes for "family / Relationship” health is LOVE EXPRESSED AS...Gentleness, and then second.. Glory to GodII.    H SharingA.   2 8 We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.B.    A Mother is a great example for sharing.1.   Time, energy, and the last piece of pie or chicken, etc.2.   A mother shares her personal items as well such as that new dress that she would like but instead uses the money to buy something for the kids. Etc.3.   Mother’s also share their lives. Typically the mother has the most intimate relationship with the children. C.   What about the sharing of our lives?1.   Those feelings that are most private, most personal, speak most deeply to others. What is most personal and unique in each one of us is probably the very element that would, if it were shared, have the greatest impact on the building of better relationships (home, church, friendships). 2.   Each person is unique. No other person on this earth has what you have to offer. Sometimes, due to fear we fail to reveal that uniqueness. TS] The first quality that makes for "family / Relationship” health is LOVE EXPRESSED AS...Gentleness, Sharing, and then third. Glory to GodIII.                  I Spurring On (Encouragement, comforting, urging)A.   2 11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children,  12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.1.   A Mother spurs her children on because she wants them to succeed because she loves them.2.   A church family spurs one another on because we want each other to succeed because we love each other.3.   A Father etc.4.   A Friend etc.B.    A Mother, a father, a good friend is an encourager! 1.   He/she makes you feel like you CAN! He/she doesn't beat you down, but builds you up!C.   We all need to be spurred on! 1.   Illu – Cowboy Spurs2.    In an earlier grade, I'd taped Mark's mouth shut for talking too much in class. Now he was one of my students in junior high math. His class had worked hard all week. By Friday the students were getting cranky. So, for a break, I asked them to write the nicest thing they could about each other student and hand it in. I compiled the results for each student and, on Monday, gave out the lists. Several years later, Mark was killed in Vietnam. After the funeral, most of his former classmates gathered with Mark's parents and me for lunch. Mark's father took a wallet out of his pocket. "They found this on Mark when he was killed," he said. He carefully removed a folded, refolded, and taped paper—the one on which I'd listed the good things Mark's classmates had said about him. Charlie smiled sheepishly and said, "I keep my list in my desk drawer. "Chuck's wife said, "Chuck put his in our wedding album." "I have mine, too," Marilyn said, "in my diary. "Vicky reached into her pocketbook and brought out her frazzled list.3.  Encouragement is never, never a question! It is needed!!!!TS] There is one more very important item on the list that resembles encouragement. Glory to GodIV.                  J Praise!A.     2 20 Indeed, you are our glory and joy. 3 8 For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord.1.   Paul expresses many praises for this young church.B.    Ever wonder why God included in the 10 commandments, Honor your father and your mother. (honor is equal in many ways to praise)1.   He knew they would need it don’t you think.2.   That’s why Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are so important.  K1 Corinthians 13 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails.

 L      I long for these things for Northview to abound more and more. 1 Thessalonians 4 10 And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more.I want to see us live to please God with all our hearts. Glory to GodLet us love one another deeply as God intended. Taking the example of Mothers on this special day to honor them.