Pastor Lawton's Sermon

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July 18, 2010 -

"Family Matters: The Christian Home

Sermon Outline

Family Matters:
Family Matters: The Christian Home
Ephesians 6:1 – 4 (p. 829)

Parenting with Purpose

1. Our Goal is to produce children who thrive in healthy relationships with Christ and others.
2. Show unconditional love
1. See the innate value in children
2. Unrealistic expectations on our children can anger them
3. Provide realistic expectations with grace
3. Give spiritual nurture
1. Creating an atmosphere that encourages a relationship with Christ
1. Educate in spiritual matters
2. Remove stumbling blocks (Mt. 18:5)
3. Pray for you and your children
4. Discipline with purpose
1. We can anger and discourage our children when the discipline is too harsh
2. Part of any training
3. More than behavioral conditioning
4. Teaching obedience to Christ – our ultimate authority
5. The ultimate solution is salvation not the perfect parenting method
1. With Christ the power of sin is broken (Romans 6:6)
2. There is a heart change

The Child’s Response

1. Obedience is expected
1. There is right and wrong behavior based on truth
2. Obedience creates a healthy respect and trust for authorities in our life
3. Obedience is for the child’s protection 

1. Brings discernment and wisdom
2. Pleases the Lord (Colossians 3:20)
1. Benefit of honoring our parents
1. Long life (v.3)
2. Disobedience is destructive to individuals and a society

Honor and Respect are for a Lifetime

1. As adults…
1. Obedience will always be part of our relationship with Christ
2. Honor our parents by taking care of them (1 Timothy 5:8)
3. Respect our parents
1. Understanding grows over time
4. Never too late to begin
5. Honor and respect is not based on their performance as parents

The Christian Home
A place of training and learning, not just about life, but about life in Christ.

1. A proper relationship between parent and child
1. Leads to a right understanding of a relationship with Christ
2. Is a reflection of our relationship with Christ

GOING DEEPER

1. Be intentional about talking about God with your children this week.
2. Reflect on your own attitude towards obedience and how accepting Christ as your Savior has changed it.
3. How can we begin honoring our parents today?

1. Read Deuteronomy 6:4 -9.  What are some practical ways we can teach our children about God?  Are there ways to do this even with our adult children?

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