Part 1
We live in broken culture and society that is telling us what a family should look like. Whoever wins the family, wins the culture in the end. Family is a God idea. It is not a human construct. Your family, according to God’s Word, is a gift of God. A Christian family comes in the infinite compassion of the majestic and glorious God. A Christian family is the product of God’s hand and of God’s heart.
For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
Ephesians 3:14-15
Blessed families are strong families. These are families walking in the fruit of the Spirit. God gives us the blueprint and structure of how to build strong families. Families are truly strong when family members are bound in unity by their shared relationship with God.
The blessing of the Lord- it makes [truly] rich, and He adds no sorrow with [neither does toiling increase it].
Proverbs 10:22
How do we attract the blessing of God?
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.
Matthew 5:6
Matthew 5:6 (AMPC) | Blessed and fortunate and happy and [a]spiritually prosperous (in that state in which the born-again child of God [b]enjoys His favor and salvation) are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God), for they shall be [c]completely satisfied!
We need to hunger and thirst for the things of God. Are you hungry for the things of God?
What doesn’t work?
- Legalistic Christianity
Rules without relationship lead to rebellion
For sin is the string that results in death, and the law gives sin its power.
1 Corinthians 15:56
- Lukewarm Christianity
Christ should be the center of our families. We need to create an environment where our family sees God as loving, approachable and involved
But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!
Revelations 3:16
How to create hunger for God in our families
- Involve God in our daily conversations
“Look at how good God has been to us”
- Church is non-negotiable
“Kids don’t want to miss kids and teen church”
- Show how seeking and serving God is fun
“We don’t need to tell our kids to be good when we are pursuing the one who is good”
And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
Joshua 24:15