Part 4: Positive Parenting
Discussion following the sermon from 2/27/22
"Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death. "Unless you people see signs and wonders, " Jesus told him, "you will never believe." The royal official said, "Sir, come down before my child dies." "Go, Jesus replied, "your son will live." The man took Jesus at his word and departed. While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, "Yesterday, at one in the afternoon, the fever left him." Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live." So he and his whole household believed. This was the second sign Jesus performed after coming from Judea to Galilee. John 4:46-54
- FOCUS ON THEIR DEEPEST NEEDS
"There was a government official in nearby Capernaum whose son was very sick. When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged Jesus to come to Capernaum to heal his son, who was about to die." John 4:46-47
Discussion Question: What are the deepest needs of your children or others in your life? If you don't know, what will you do to figure them out?
- FIND PARTNERSHIPS ALONG THE WAY
"Jesus asked, "Will you never believe in me unless you see miraculous signs and wonders?" The official pleaded, "Lord, please come now before my little boy dies." John 4:48-49
Discussion Question: Who are you looking to partner with while bringing up your children/working on relationships?
- FOLLOW GOD'S PARENTAL LEAD
"Then Jesus told him, "Go back home. Your son will live!" And the man believed what Jesus said and started home. While the man was on his way, some of his servants met him with the news that his son was alive and well. He asked them when the boy had begun to get better, and they replied. "Yesterday afternoon at one o'clock his fever suddenly disappeared!" Then the father realized that that was the very time Jesus had told him, "Your son will live." And he and his entire household believed in Jesus. This was the second miraculous sign Jesus did in Galilee after coming from Judea." John 4:50-54
Discussion Question: What part of God's character do I need to follow while raising children/working on relationships?
Part 3: Home Security
Discussion following the sermon from 2/20/22
Psalm 127:1 Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted. Unless the Lord protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good.
ENEMIES OF THE HOME:
- BUSYNESS.
- SELF-CENTEREDNESS.
- BITTERNESS.
- LAZINESS.
- PERMISSIVENESS.
Discussion Question: Which of these "enemies" do you need to work on?
ELEMENTS OF A SAFE HOME:
1. THERE IS OPENNESS IN COMMUNICATION.
"Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed…" James 5:16
"So encourage each other and build each other up…" 1 Thessalonians 5:11
2. THERE IS LOYALTY TO EACH MEMBER.
"A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken." Ecclesiastes 4:12
“Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.” Ephesians 6:2–3
3. THERE IS FORGIVENESS FOR FAILURES.
"Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you." Ephesians 4:31–32
4. THERE IS A STANDARD TO LIVE BY.
"Our children will also serve him. Future generations will hear about the wonders of the Lord." Psalm 22:30
"The godly walk with integrity; blessed are their children who follow them." Proverbs 20:7
5. THERE IS A WILLINGNESS TO SACRIFICE.
"…submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." Ephesians 5:21
6. THERE IS LOVE THAT IS UNCONDITIONAL.
"Love suffers long and is kind; love…bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails." Corinthians 13:4, 8
"This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you." John 15:12
Discussion Question: Of these six points, which do you need to work on to create a safe home?
Part 2: How to Heat Up Your Home
Discussion following the sermon from 2/13/22
Hebrews 13:4 Honor marriage, and guard the sacredness of sexual intimacy between wife and husband. God draws a firm line against casual and illicit sex.
1 Corinthians 7:2–4 It’s good for a man to have a wife, and for a woman to have a husband. Sexual drives are strong, but marriage is strong enough to contain them and provide for a balanced and fulfilling sexual life in a world of sexual disorder. The marriage bed must be a place of mutuality—the husband seeking to satisfy his wife, the wife seeking to satisfy her husband. Marriage is not a place to “stand up for your rights.” Marriage is a decision to serve the other, whether in bed or out.
HER NEEDS:
1. PROVIDE FOR AND PRESERVE HER.
Song of Solomon 1:16-17 “How handsome you are, my beloved, And so pleasant! Indeed, our couch is luxuriant! The beams of our houses are cedars, our rafters, cypresses.”
Song of Solomon 1:9–11 “To me, my darling, you are like my mare among the chariots of Pharaoh. “Your cheeks are lovely with ornaments, Your neck with strings of beads.” “We will make for you ornaments of gold with beads of silver.”
2. NOTICE AND NEED HER.
Song of Solomon 4:1–2,7 “How beautiful you are, my darling, how beautiful you are! Your eyes are like doves behind your veil; Your hair is like a flock of goats That have descended from Mount Gilead. “Your teeth are like a flock of newly shorn ewes Which have come up from their washing, all of which bear twins, and not one among them has lost her young. . . “You are altogether beautiful, my darling, and there is no blemish in you.
3. PROTECT AND PARADE HER.
Song of Solomon 2:4 “He has brought me to his banquet hall, and his banner over me is love.
Discussion Question:
Men, are there some of these points that you need to "up your game" on? Which ones do you do well?
HIS NEEDS:
4. ADORE AND ADMIRE HIM.
Song of Solomon 1:2–3 Kiss me and kiss me again, for your love is sweeter than wine. How pleasing is your fragrance; your name is like the spreading fragrance of scented oils. No wonder all the young women love you!
5. CARE FOR AND COMPLEMENT HIM.
Genesis 2:18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.”
6. INFLUENCE AND INSPIRE HIM.
Proverbs 31:10–12 Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies. Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
Discussion Question:
Women, what are unique ways you can apply these principles in your marriage?
Part 1: Foundational Repairs
Discussion following the sermon from 2/6/22
"Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash." Matthew 7:24–27
How To Fix My Family Foundation:
- Plan today for storms tomorrow.
"Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world." John 16:33
Discussion Question: What possible storms are on the horizon and how should we start preparing for them?
- Pick carefully the best place to build.
"But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:15
Discussion Question: Do we need to find a new place to rebuild? If so, where?
- Prioritize and practice God’s word in my home.
"And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." Deuteronomy 6:6–9
Discussion Question: What are some ways we can practice God's word in our homes?
- Pray and praise through the storms when they come.
"I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are helpless take heart. Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together. I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears." Psalm 34:1–4
Discussion Question: How do I respond during storms? Am I responding in a way that is indicative of Jesus in me?