A Family Focused Church Pt1

Building Stronger Families: The Backbone of the Church

Application: This sermon will encourage families to engage more deeply with their church and each other, fostering connections and support that can help them navigate life's challenges together. It aims to inspire a culture that prioritizes family engagement in church activities, activities that promote bonding, and mutual support.

Teaching: The sermon teaches that a church that invests in families lays a firm foundation for spiritual growth and community strength. It highlights the biblical responsibility of nurturing familial bonds through church involvement, creating environments where faith is cultivated in the heart of each family member.

How this passage could point to Christ: The focus on family within the church underscores God's design for relationships, reflecting how Christ nurtures His relationship with the church, akin to a family. In looking at the New Testament, we see Christ's emphasis on community, support, and togetherness, mirroring the family unit.

Big Idea: A family-centered church is vital for developing a resilient faith community, where individuals thrive spiritually through support and connection with one another.

A FAMILY FOCUSED CHURCH

1. Embraces Family Roles

Ephesians 6:1–4 NASB95

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth. Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

You could emphasize how children and parents are instructed to relate within the family, setting the scene for mutual love and respect. Highlight how nurturing these relationships reflects Christ's love for His Church. Encourage families to apply these principles as a way to engage spiritually and foster community within the church.

Recall when my son was learning to ride his bike. He would fall over and get frustrated, but instead of scolding him, I encouraged him to keep trying. I held the bike steady, embodying the patience and love Christ shows us. Just as I nurtured my son’s learning process, so too does our relationship with Christ grow through mutual love and respect in our families.

Consider how children often look up to their parents as they imitate their actions. When we showcase kindness and forgiveness in our families, we reflect Christ’s love. A child’s gentle act of sharing a toy can teach adults that love is demonstrated through small, everyday actions and kindness—fostering an atmosphere where love flows naturally.

2. Engage in Family Dynamics

Colossians 3:18–21 NASB95

Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them. Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they will not lose heart.

Perhaps explore how this passage outlines the dynamics of family relationships and how they mirror the body of Christ.

Stress the importance of communication and understanding among family members, and suggest that strengthening these relationships within the church context aids in building a firm spiritual foundation.

3. Equip and Educate Children

Proverbs 22:6 NASB95

Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Maybe highlight the importance of training and guiding children in the faith as a foundational task for both parents and the church. Discuss how Christ's teachings influence this upbringing, and how a family-focused church supports such efforts, leading to a stronger, interconnected faith community.

A grandmother once shared that her most cherished moments were those spent teaching her grandchildren Bible stories. She recalled how they loved to reenact the parables, with pillows for sheep and blankets for the sea. One day, she overheard one grandchild explaining to a friend that faith is like building a LEGO set. You might have missing pieces, but with guidance, you can still create something beautiful! Just like our teachings help guide children in their spiritual journey, nurturing them in faith leads to a vibrant community of believers.

In a small church, a pastor introduced a 'family night' where parents and kids worked together on service projects, like making care packages for the needy. Ateenager remarked how much fun it was to combine Lego building and service—their final creation was not just a physical structure but a way to build faith together! It reflected Christ’s desire to interweave faith in the fabric of daily life, where both church and family lead the charge in nurturing a vibrant relationship with God.

In ancient Greece, philosophers believed that the education of children was the most important societal task. They gathered children to teach them not only academics but also ethics and principles of living virtuous lives. Similarly, Christ emphasized the importance of teaching children about faith and love. If we take a cue from the Greeks, we must invest in our children's spiritual education just like they invested in their future leaders, fostering a community that supports our families in leading them to Christ.