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Saturday, June 6, 2009
Part 1 of The Happy Family Series
Key Passage for the Series: Psalm 128:1-4
How joyful are those who fear the Lord – all who follow His ways!
You will enjoy the fruit of your labor. How joyful and prosperous you will be!
Your wife will be like a fruitful grapevine, flourishing within your home.
Your children will be like vigorous young olive trees as they sit around your table.
That is the Lord’s blessing for those who fear him.
Background Passages: Ephesians 4, 5, 6; Titus 1, 2
Key Verse(s): Ephesians 4:16
Opening Word
In this first lesson in the series of The Happy Family, we will set a foundation of what a joyful, thriving, God-designed family looks like. Families come in various shapes and sizes, from different backgrounds and heritages, with different traditions and beliefs. In our class, there may be “broken” families, “blended” families, young families, older families, those with and without children, and those whose children are grown. But for every family, God has a purpose and design He has laid out in His Word. And a joyful family comes from fearing the Lord, as we see in our Key Passage for this series Psalm 128:1-4. We do that by acknowledging God as the authority in our family, by understanding what He commands us to do, and by following those commands.
Knowing Your Roles
The Bible is our guidebook, even when it comes to family life. In fact, the first institution God set in place was the family (see Genesis 2). Just as each body part has a different but complimentary function, so it is with members of a family – and we don’t have to look far for God’s instructions on family roles. Just as rules and guidelines in other areas of life keep us on the right path – and from getting into trouble - knowing our family roles will help each member flourish, and the unit as whole will be functional and joyful. We can find that truth in scripture:
“Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint; but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” –Proverbs 29:18 (ASV)
The NLT puts it this way:
“When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is joyful.” (There are probably many parents who can relate to that phrase, “run wild”!)
Directions for each family member can be found in Scripture, and it may be helpful to discuss the guidelines found in the following verses:
Wives / Mothers / Women – Eph 5:22-24, Titus 2:3-6
Husbands / Fathers / Men – Eph 5:25-30, 6:4, Titus 2:2, 6-8
Husband & Wife – Eph 5:31-33
Children – Eph 6:1-3
Knowing Your Purpose as a Family
When each person in the family is fulfilling his/her role, the whole unit works together to accomplish great things! God uses the family to fulfill His purposes in the earth.
Read what the Word says about this:
“Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit,
binding yourselves together with peace.” - Eph 4:2-3
“He makes the whole body [family] fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing, full of love.” - Eph 4:16
Great joy can come from working as a team towards a united purpose. And this needs to be done on purpose! It is never too late for a family to renew their vision and re-set their course to become united towards God’s divine purpose for that particular family. And this helps us each take the focus off of ourselves in this very self-absorbed world. Well-known pastor, author, and speaker John Piper has notoriously led his family to love missions. Other families have spent their summer or Christmas vacations serving on mission trips or in helping in urban ministries. Some families have decided to live simply in order to give much to the Kingdom of God. Each family will be different. What is your family’s purpose? Now may be a great time to evaluate your goals. You may discuss some of the following verses to provide inspiration as you seek God for His plan. Maybe one of these verses will become your family’s mission statement!
“Use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need.” – Eph 4:28
“Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.” – Eph 4:29
“So be careful how you live… making the most of every opportunity in these evil days.”
- Eph 5:15-16
“…Instead be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing songs and hymns and spiritual songs, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything…” – Eph 5:18-20
“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn how to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
– Romans 12:2
