Building Strong Families EBC Sunday School 7
Building Strong Families EBC Sunday School 7/30/06
Visit to Lois and Robert Hollins – white out – called white out. Couldn’t see 10 ft. in front of you because of the fog. I believe today our nation is in a fog. Everywhere Christians are confused and disoriented, and godly leaders are needed to lead us to safety.
What is responsibility of the massive moral whiteout of today?
1- Foundations are being destroyed-
A. Psa. 11:3-
B. When the Pilgrims came to this country / they had a great foundation setter – The Bible
1. Psa. 33:20-
2- A second contributor to the moral fog is moral relativism-
A. Allan Bloom wrote the insightful book The Closing of the American Mind. He was not a Christian but concluded that in essence America’s greatness was a result of every home having a Bible, which represented the moral code of that family. Because “God said so” in the Bible, certain things were right and certain things were wrong. Thus every home stood on a foundation of moral absolutes.
1. But along came the 1960s and the ideology of moral relativism gained popularity. Moral relativism rejects the idea of a preeminent God and King who has the right to rule humanity as He chooses. With no absolute authority, absolute truth flies out the window.
a. Judges 17:6-
I. Rebuilding the Foundation
A. All roads lead back to somebody’s house! The pivotal issues in life and ministry ultimately have to do with the health and wholeness of the family.
1. Dennis Rainey- Nothing but a family’s surrender to the Lordship of Christ will transform it.
B. How do we transform the home and family?
1. We must make the commitment to see it happen.
a. Josh. 24:14-15- Joshua wants this family of God to decide where their loyalty and devotion will be. Make up your mind! What are you going to do? Whom are you going to serve?
1. Our homes today need to be what we want homes in future generations to be.
2. Parents set the tone and the direction of the home. As our children watch us they must not see hypocrisy and inconsistency.
b. We should try to turn our families into what we would like to see society become. We ought to teach our children to “contend for the faith” and to hate sin in all of its forms and to boldly live righteousness. And as parents, if we really want to raise godly children, we must never forget to take personal responsibility for our own holiness.
2. We must “humble” ourselves.
a. 2 Chron. 7:14-
1. A humble heart acknowledges it’s own tendency to wander into sin. “Whatever they are doing I either have done or I am capable of doing!” It is the cry of helplessness and dependence on God for His help and deliverance”.
3. We must pray. God’s power is released through the believing prayers of His people.
a. Are you and your family praying for our county? Are you praying for the lost to the to the Savior?
b. One reason why there is no compelling sense of mission in some of our Christian homes, I believe, is because our prayers are self-serving. Think about it. When we spend so much time praying about “our needs” and so little time praying for lost people, are we not being far too concerned about ourselves.
4. We must seek His face
1. One reason for God’s judgment is to check our priorities. (ILL- In Department store looking at ties)
5. Turn from our wicked ways. God desires His church to reflect His character in the world. The Puritans referred to themselves as “Repenters”. We need to understand this repentance is a path and a means of growth and Christ-likeness.
II. Blessings of Rebuilding
A. God hears us. God hears us because we have met His requirements.
B. We experience His forgiveness. God does not want His children to wallow in guilt. He has made provision for their sin.
1. Our problem is that we so often want His blessing and favor without repentance. But there is no experiential forgiveness without repentance. There is no experiential forgiveness without repentance.
2. The path is this: Confession, repentance and forgiveness.
C. He blesses our environment.