I Will Lead My Family to Be Healthy Church Members

Introduction and Review

Last week we talked about the importance of praying for the church leaders.

This week, we will go ahead and jump right into the next chapter titled I Will Lead My Family to Be Healthy Church Members.

Chapter 5

Did everyone read this chapter?

Why do you think so many high school graduates leave churches, at least for a while?

What were your primary takeaways from this chapter? What things did you highlight or underline? Any comments?

I Will Lead My Family to Be Healthy Church Members

P.55-57

This was the section on ‘Bob,’ the encouraging church member that made a difference in the life of the author of this book, Thom Rainer.

Did anything stand out to you from this section? Anything that you found interesting or noteworthy?

Church and Family

p58-59

Any comments from this section?

Ephesians 5:22–26 KJV 1900

22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

Ephesians 5:32–33 KJV 1900

32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

Ephesians 6:1–4 KJV 1900

1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) 3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. 4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Parents are to be the examples of God to their children. God never does things to exasperate us. Some things He does we may not like, but He doesn’t do them just because we don’t like it. Be careful how you treat your kids. You are the image of God to them.

Praying Together as a Family for the Church

p59-60

Any comments?

Why is it important to pray together as a family for our church?

Worshiping Together as a Family

p60-62

What does worship do when we practice it together as a family? It brings us closer together to God.

Worship is more than singing - it is a lifestyle.

Teach your kids to be worshipful in their chores, in their schoolwork, in their entertainment. Everything we do should be an act of worship. The way we teach that is through example, first.

Why do you think so many high school graduates leave the church? Because they were not attached to it. They were dragged along (not that there is anything wrong with that, at times) rather than incorporated into the church.

Falling Deeply in Love with the Bride of Christ

p62-63

Questions or Comments?

The Fifth Pledge

Comments?

[Read notes, then have someone read the pledge]

Questions for Study

1. How does the biblical teaching of the log and the speck (Matthew 7) apply to church membership?

2. What is the relationship of our immediate families and the church family? What Biblical texts make this connection?

Ephesians 5

3. What is the role of a believing spouse to an unbelieving spouse? How does that manifest in church membership?

4. Why is unconditional love such a challenge, especially as it applies to church membership?

5. How is Christ’s death on the cross an example for us as church members relating to one another?

Bonus question: How can I teach my family to love the church?

The Bible tells us that where our treasures are, there will our hearts be also. Use your treasures in the church. This is not just about money. Invest your treasures in the church. I have a few treasures: my instruments. They are invested in the church. My kids have treasures that are invested in the church.

I love seeing Jeff bring his guitar. I love the fact that Joshua Steffens is using his camera to take pictures and videos here. Pamie is our official church photographer - she is using her phone and her camera and investing those in the church.