Be a Man with Your Family

I. MAN OF GOD

1. Follow Jesus FIRST.

Colossians 1:15–18 ESV

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

Because of who Jesus is, He should have first place in our lives. From Him, every part of our lives are affected.

Before we anything to anybody, we have to get this right: Follow Jesus. Before you are a husband, father, or leader in any capacity, you must follow Jesus first.

Our relationship with Jesus affects our daily walk with Him. Our relationship is what we have; our walk is our daily pursuit of Him.

2. Everyone around you BENEFITS from you pursuing JESUS.

ILLUSTRATION: “When the leader gets better, everyone gets better.” - Craig G.

When we as men are serious about following Jesus, our focus will be right. Therefore, our lives will be aligned right.

NEXT STEP(S) TO BECOMING A MAN OF GOD:

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II. HUSBAND

1. Love your wife SACRIFICIALLY.

Ephesians 5:21–33 ESV

21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. 22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. 25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Following Jesus first will enable you to love your wife right. What’s right? Sacrificially. WE MUST UNDERSTAND THIS.

Jesus is our model. As Jesus gave Himself totally, so should husbands for their wives. This is daily. Sacrificing means we do not have a life. It’s hers. This doesn’t meant that we get “rolled over” by our wives, but that she knows the husband is their to serve Jesus first and her.

Q - Does your wife know that you want to serve her?

One of the easiest ways to fulfill this is to do what she asks of you. Right then.

ILLUSTRATION: “When it comes my spouse/family, some of you will lose.” - Dan Reeves

2. UNDERSTAND your wife.

1 Peter 3:7 ESV

7 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

Learn her.

Seasons change. Keep learning her.

NEXT STEP(S) TO BECOMING THE HUSBAND GOD HAS CALLED YOU TO BE FOR (your wife’s name):

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III. FATHER

*This relates to investing in the next generational in general

1. Demonstrate a life of DEVOTED to Jesus.

Deuteronomy 6:4–9 ESV

4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Illustration: “Lessons are caught more than taught.” Fathers to children, Grandfathers to grandchildren

2. Model a Christ-centered MARRIAGE for your children.

Sons & Daughters need to see what it means for Dad to love Mom and Mom to love Dad.

3. Be a TEAM with your wife to raise up the next generation to put their HOPE in God.

Psalm 78:5–8 ESV

5 He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, 6 that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, 7 so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments; 8 and that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God.

Unified goals in parenting & discipleship.

Children & teens understanding of this unified effort.

Intentionality

NEXT STEP(S) TO BECOMING THE FATHER GOD HAS CALLED YOU TO BE:

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