The Family Plan

Building a Christ-Centered Family

Introduction:

We’re going to talk about something that’s close to all our hearts—family. Family is God’s gift to us, and it’s where we learn some of the most important lessons in life.

Today, we’re going to explore three essential building blocks that will help us build a Christ-Centered Family: Respect, Love, and Obedience.

It all begins with being intentional about our family.

Tension:

How many of us struggle with constant busy schedules trying to balance, work, school, etc..

The truth is that we all get busy? (sport, activities, work, etc..) ---> busy calendars

If you want your home to be Christ-Centered

.....It all begins with being intentional about our family.

You need a Family Plan..

"Failing to plan is planning to fail." Benjamin Franklin

Since I love building things and I like Lego’s , I brought a few with me this morning as building blocks for a Christ-Centered Family.

Transitional Sentence:

Let’s explore God’s plan for a Christ-centered family, focusing on three key building blocks: respect, love, and obedience.

Main Points:

Marriage is small-scale model of what enduring and lasting relationship with Christ should be.

Main Point #1: The Respect Block

Scripture: Ephesians 5:33

Ephesians 5:33 NKJV

Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Explanation:

The deepest need for a man’s heart is unconditional respect and the deepest need of a woman is love.

God make it to were only the wife could meet this need in a marriage.

Positive regard

Listen to him

Praise him (In front of others)

Respond to his leadership

Its an opportunity to show and demonstrate respect, the same reverence and respect we show God.

Its easy for a man to give respect, but when a wife shows respect to her husband, it send a powerful message to our kids of the importance reverence and respect God and His Word.

Illustration:

Letter from Maria

Fill-in-the-Blank Talking Point:

The deepest need for a man's heart is respect.

Transitional Sentence:

Now that we have seen the importance of Respect, a Christ-centered family also needs to be built with love.

Main Point #2: The Love Block

Ephesians 5:23–25 NKJV

For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,

Explanation:

We know the deepest need for a man is respect, but the deepest need for a woman’s heart is unconditional love.

Love is essential in a family, just as Jesus loves us.

This love is sacrificial, selfless, and unconditional.

The Apostle Paul instructs husbands to love their wives just as Christ loved the church.

Christ's love was sacrificial and selfless—He gave everything for us.

It is the model that shows our children how to love with unconditional love. Mom’s know how to love, its natural, but there is something powerful when a child sees their dad love like God.

Illustration:

Think of love as the heart of the family. Just as the heart pumps life-giving blood to every part of the body, love pumps life into every part of our family relationships. Without love, the family cannot thrive.

Fill-in-the-Blank Talking Point:

The deepest need for a woman’s heart is love.

Transitional Sentence:

While respect and love are vital, a Christ-centered family also stands strong on the foundation of obedience.

Main Point #3: The Obedience Block

Ephesians 6:1–3 NKJV

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”

Explanation:

Obedience in the family is about more than just following rules.

It’s about honoring and respecting the guidance of parents.

This commandment comes with a promise of well-being and long life, emphasizing how seriously God takes family structure and respect.

Parents we, too, are called to obey God’s commandments and set a godly example for our children.(Leading by example)

Obedience reflects our trust in God’s plans and our willingness to follow His guidance.

Kids learn by our example.

Illustration: Imagine a father who consistently breaks traffic laws, such as not wearing a seat belt and speeding. His son, observing this behavior, learns that rules are optional and can be ignored. Similarly, if the father disregards God's commandments, the son might believe that following God's Word is also optional. This highlights the powerful impact a parent's example has on a child's desire to follow God's Word.

Fill-in-the-Blank Talking Point:

Obedience in a family means listening to parents, following God's commandments, and showing respect.

Conclusion:

Three essential building blocks for a Christ-centered family: Respect, Love, and Obedience. Let’s commit today to building our families on these blocks, allowing God to transform our hearts and minds.

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