A Sermon on Family Life
Key Text: Ps. 133:1
Introduction
- What does family mean to you? What was/is your family like?
- There are two faces of the family.
- The first is the face of the family as a haven of rest
- Haven from an uncaring world
- A place where love and security prevail
- There is support under all circumstances
- A place Flourish and thrive
- The second face is that of family as a major location of violence in society
- 25% of all murders in the USA happen in the family
- Most frequent calls for police help are from families fighting
- More police officers (22%) are killed intervening in families than in other line of duty!
- 6 million women are beaten/year
- 25-50% of women in the USA report being physically abused by spouses at some point in their married lives.
- Wife beating occurring 1/18 sec is considered by FBI to be the most frequently occurring crime in the USA.
- In many parts of the world, divorce rates are reaching all-time highs.
- Clearly, many families are not happy.
- But there is hope, if we follow God’s family guidelines
Discussion
- Marriage is a big undertaking and accordingly needs adequate preparation (Luke 14:28)
- The basis of happiness in marriage is love, commitment to the welfare and well-being of others, (Phil. 2:1-4). As human being we do not naturally have love within us. What we have in abundance is selfishness. We need to tap into the God, the great fountain of love (1 John 4:8, 16).
- God’s ideal for marriage is that it be monogamous, one husband and one wife. No extramarital affairs or any such things (Mal. 2:13-16).
- Another of God’s ideals is that marriage should be heterosexual, marriage should be between a man and a woman (Gen. 2:18)
- By God’s design, marriage should be permanent, for as long as life (Matt. 19:8).
- A marriage is between two people, as such it is an exclusive relationship. Family members should not meddle in the relationship of these two (Gen. 2:24).
Family Principles
- No family can succeed without the following three principles:
- Effective communication. This means there should be effective and consistent utilisation of the laws of speaking and listening (Col. 4:6; James 1:19)
- Quality time together. One of the most important things missing in many families, is quality time together. Our lives are so busy such that without careful planning, it is easy to go for long periods without spending quality time together. In such a case, people begin to drift apart emotionally. One of the benefits of the Sabbath command is that it provides for time with God and also time with family (Exod. 20:8-11). Relationships and all things that matter in life require time.
- Ability to resolve conflicts speedily and peacefully (Eph. 4:26, 27). All families and relationships experience conflict. It is not a sin to be angry, but anger should not be a license to sin (do wrong) either. Conflicts do not just go away, they need to be resolved quickly and with mutual respect. If not resolved, conflicts give the devil a foothold in just about any family. How are you dealing with conflicts in your family?
Appeal
- A successful and happy family calls for total commitment to the Lord and to one another
- Is it your desire to so commit to God and to others within your family so as to make your home a haven of love?
Prayer: Dear Lord, I cannot not make it on my own, please be with me as I do my part to make my family a happy place for all in it. In the name Jesus Christ I pray. Amen!
Love at Home
1
There is beauty all around, When there’s love at home;
There is joy in every sound, When there’s love at home.
Peace and plenty here abide, Smiling fair on every side;
Time doth softly, sweetly glide, When there’s love at home.
Refrain
Love at home, love at home;
Time doth softly, sweetly glide,
When there’s love at home.
2
Kindly heaven smiles above, When there’s love at home;
All the earth is fill’d with love, When there’s love at home.
Sweeter sings the brooklet by, Brighter beams the azure sky;
O, there’s One who smiles on high When there’s love at home.
3
Jesus, make me wholly Thine, Then there’s love at home;
May Thy sacrifice be mine, Then there’s love at home.
Safely from all harm I’ll rest, With no sinful care distress’d,
Thro’ Thy tender mercy blessed, When there’s love at home.