To the World Where Families are Messy
Notes
Transcript
And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.
Jesus went into the world teaching.
And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out,
Jesus did not encounter a tidy world.
Likewise, when we take the gospel to families, we will encounter a messy world.
God has always worked in and through messy families.
Single Parents with Children
Hagar & Ishmael (Genesis 16)
The Widow of Zarapheth (1 Kings 17:7-16)
Single Parents with Adopted Children
Pharaoh’s Daughter & Moses (Exodus 2:5-10)
Blended Families with Stepchildren
Jacob’s Wives & Children (Genesis 29)
David’s Wives & Children (2 Samuel 3:2-5)
Grandparents/Relatives Raising Children
Jehoida & Joash (2 Kings 11)
Childless Couples
Abraham & Sarah (Genesis 16:1)
Zacharias & Elizabeth (Luke 1:5-7)
Guardianship
Eli & Samuel (1 Samuel 1:19-28)
Joseph & Jesus (Matthew 1:18-25)
“What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.”
The messy world assumes Jesus is here to condemn and judge.
But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him.
Jesus actually came to liberate and heal our mess.
And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.
God’s work in messy families will spread like fire.
And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.