Elevating your Family in a Declining Society.

Build Connection

This past Monday we had a memorial service for Randy Hensel. Anyone who knew Randy knows the battle he faced. Cancer, the loss of his are. But he never complained.

A couple weeks before his passing he found out that the cancer that was attacking his body made it’s way throughout his body and that he didn’t have long to live, weeks maybe. knowing this he stopped by my office to talk with me.

He didn’t stop to reconnect with his maker, as many in his position do, because he and Jesus were already intimate with each other.

What he wanted to share some final thoughts and some of his wishes as he knew his end was drawing close.

Create Tension

Today is the last message I will be preaching in a series called “Family Matters.” So, like Randy did, I want to share some final thoughts with you that I pray will help you live a life that shows everyone that “Family Matters!”

Provide Solution

We try so hard to fit into this world, Why?

1 John 2:15–17“15 Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. 16 For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. 17 And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.

Here are a couple things to consider to see where you lean…

We are willing to watch reruns of a series we think is good on streaming services , but do we ever rewatch an good sermon?

We are willing to give 30% of our income for a comfortable home that is more than we need, but barely give 10% for God’s purposes!

We are willing to share our stories of how others make our life difficult, but not how God has made our lives better!

Men: Model Christlike Leadership

Prioritize your Walk with God - What you value, you prioritize - W/God

Matthew 6:33 “33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”

Lead with Actions not just words - children are watching - W/Kids

1 John 3:18 “18 Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.”

Be successful in loving like Christ - sacrifice for your wives - W/Wife

Ephesians 5:25 “25 For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her”

Women: Nurture with Intent

Cultivate Your Spiritual life - What you feed grows - W/God

Galatians 6:7 “7 Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.”

Give honor where honor is due - God never tells us to honor others because they are deserving - W/Husband

Colossians 3:18 “18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting for those who belong to the Lord.”

Disciple your children with purpose - living for God doesn’t happen by accident - W/Kids

Ephesians 6:4 “4 …do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.”

Teens:

Own Your Faith: - Know what you believe and why you believe - W/God

1 Peter 3:15 “15 Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.”

Put Your Parents in their place - Honor them for who they are - W/Parents

Ephesians 6:2 “2 “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise:”

Choose Wisely - What you do now determines who you will be later

Galatians 6:7

we read early already told us that what we do now will determine our future.

Romans 12:1–2 “1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

Here we are told to give our physical lives to God as worship!

Then as you avoid the behavior and customs of the world he will change the way you think!

While God will change the way we think, it is our job to continue to think that way!

Philippians 4:8–9 “8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.”

How can you think on what is pure and lovely when what you choose to watch isn’t?

How can you think on what is true and honorable when the music you choose to listen to isn’t?

How can you think on what is true, and admirable when the people you choose to spend your time with aren’t?

What you don’t denounce, you condone!

When you have the opportunity to speak out about something but don’t the people will believe you are in agreement with it!

Encourage Change