Sermon Tone Analysis

Ten Habits of Highly Successful Families

Joshua 24:15

April 24, 2005

Sermon Outline

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION

 

Families are certainly different today than they were 25 years ago.

I heard the funny story about a man who rushed into a toy store late one evening to buy a Barbie doll for his daughter who had a birthday the next morning.

The saleslady said, “Well, you have several to choose from.

This is the Tennis Barbie; it’s $20.

The Ballet Barbie and the Beach Barbie are $20 each.

We have a new item called the Divorced Barbie, and she sells for $265.”

The man said, “Why is the Divorced Barbie so much more expensive?”

The saleslady said, “Oh, because she comes with Ken’s house, Ken’s car, and all of Ken’s furniture!”

Las familias son hoy ciertamente diferente que ellos eran hace 25 años.

Oí el cuento chistoso acerca de un hombre que se apresuró en una juguetería tarde una tarde para comprar una muñeca de Barbie para su hija que tuvo un cumpleaños la próxima mañana.

La dependienta dijo, “Bien, usted tiene varios en escoger de.

Esto es el Tenis Barbie; es $20.

El Ballet Barbie y la Playa Barbie son $20 cada.

Tenemos un artículo nuevo llamó el Barbie Divorciado, y ella vende para $265.”

El hombre dijo, “por qué es el Barbie Divorciado tan mucho más costoso?” La dependienta dijo, “Ah, porque ella viene con la casa de Conocimientos, con coche de Conocimientos, y con todos muebles de Conocimientos!”

This is the third of four messages in the series, “Family: An Endangered Species?”

I want to talk about ten habits of highly successful families.

The Family is the most important unit that God has made.

The family is where we learn to love to communicate.

It is in the family that we are to develop as

 

Let’s look at a great passage of scripture on what’s most important for a family.

In the Old Testament book of Joshua, the children of Israel moved into the Promised Land.

They were getting ready to set up their homes as permanent places rather than tents that would be taken down and moved every few days.

The leader, Joshua, issued a strong challenge to the families.

*Joshua** 24:15*,

 “15 But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living.

But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD ."

*Josué 24:15 NVI*

Pero si a ustedes les parece mal servir al Señor, elijan ustedes mismos a quiénes van a servir: a los dioses que sirvieron sus antepasados al otro lado del río Éufrates, o a los dioses de los amorreos, en cuya tierra ustedes ahora habitan.

Por mi parte, mi familia y yo serviremos al Señor.

*1.

**Children are disciplined with love and consistency*

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*1.

Los niños son disciplinados con  amor y la consistencia*

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*Proverbs 22:15 says*

 “15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,

    but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him.”

*Proverbios 22:15 *

15  La necedad es parte del corazón juvenil,

   pero la vara de la disciplina la corrige.

“Firm but loving discipline keeps order in the home.

There is much chaos when the kids rule the house!”

When “Boundaries are established and consequences are explained.

Then choice making is taught as a skill.

Children are allowed to suffer the consequences of bad choices.

Mother and Father do not disagree concerning discipline in front of the children.

Discipline is necessary in any area of life, but especially in the home.

Children are born with a stubborn, rebellious nature, and they are by nature sinful.

Okay, I know your children and grandchildren are perfect, but wouldn’t you agree that everyone else’s children are rebellious?

You don’t have to teach your kids how to disobey and say, “NO!”

You have to teach them not to be disobedient.

In strong families, limits are clearly explained to the children.

Then, they are told the consequences if they violate those limits.

And if the child trespasses beyond the limits, discipline is applied.

The worst thing a parent can do is to promise punishment, and then not deliver it because it teaches a child the terrible lesson that they can get away with breaking the rules.

*2.

**Money is managed wisely and discussed openly*

*2.

El dinero se maneja sabiamente y es discutido abiertamente*

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Money problems can tear a marriage or a family apart.

Decisions should be discussed as a family.

A strong family may look something like this in terms of money; the 10~/10~/80 financial plan.

They give God the first ten percent, save the next ten percent, and discipline themselves to live on 80% of our income.

These families teach their children about the importance of giving their money to God.

They want their kids to know they tithe, and that one reason they may not have as many “toys” as some of their friends is because they are giving to God.

We must learn for ourselves and then teach our children the importance of controlling our money and our debt.

It’s important to avoid buying things on credit.

If you use credit cards, you should always try to pay the full balance to avoid paying the interest.

If you find you cannot pay the full bill on your credit card for two months, the card needs to be put in the draw, or cut up.

The debt trap has snared many families.

These strong families work hard to keep a handle on their family finances.

*3.

**Everyone shares household tasks*

*3.

Todos comparten las tareas de la casa*

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These families tell me the family shares household chores.

As two parent working families become more the morm than the exception, it is important to speard the work load around the house.

The father sets the primary example for this by helping out in all areas and not just the ‘male’ tasks.”

Repeat in Spanish

 

 

Story;

 

A man and wife were arguing because he thought the wife should do all the household tasks.

It was beneath him to do the dishes or clean up the house–”that’s the woman’s job.”

After listening to him, I asked him.

“If I could show you in the Bible, in black and white, that it says a man cleans the dishes, would you do it?”

He believed the Bible, but he said, “Sure preacher, but I don’t think it’s in the Bible.”

I turned to II Kings 21:13 in my King James Version and I read where God said, “I will wipe Jerusalem as a man wipeth a dish, wiping it, and turning it upside down.”

He didn’t like it, but the next time I saw his wife she smiled and said, “He’s helping me with the dishes now!”

 

 

 

*4.

**The family has learned to cope with adversity*

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*4.

La familia ha aprendido a enfrentarse con la adversidad*

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Every family has to face and deal with adversity, tribulation, and problems.

It’s how a family deals with these problems that makes them stronger.

One family wrote: “(Wife’s name)’s (disease) has taught us not to take time or anything for granted.

Consequently, we try to have fun as we go and realize that each stage of our life is special and cannot be regained.

The adversity of her illness has made all of us more sensitive to others and strengthened our relationship with God and each other.”

Do you see the word “cope?”

It doesn’t mean the family members ignore the problem, or they flippantly say, “Praise the Lord” and act as it it’s not there.

They face their problems and then depend on God’s grace and power to help them live with it every day.

They consider themselves Survivors in the midst of their pain and problems.

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*5.

**Family members laugh together*

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*5.

Los miembros de la familia se ríen juntos*

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The Bible says in Proverbs 17:22,