i. god's purpose for marriage and family

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Series: Ephesians

BUILDING BLOCKS FOR A HEALTHY FAMILY, Pt.2

 Scripture teaches that the primary purpose of marriage and family is to

Pastor Jeff Gilmore February 16, 2014

present to the world the images of God, the gospel, and the church.

Building Blocks for Successful Relationships REVIEW: I.

I. GOD’S PURPOSE FOR MARRIAGE AND FAMILY

A. The Family Presents a Portrait of God Himself. “For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named.” Ephesians 3:14-15

FIGHT BY THE BOOK A.

Speak Truth that Edifies (Eph. 4)    

All relationships are fueled by communication. The foundation of communication is trust. Communication comes from the heart. Edifying communication is positively honest.

“But Jesus answered them, ‘My Father is working until now, and I am working.’ …‘Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of His own accord, but only what He sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows Him all that he Himself is doing.’” John 5:17-

“Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.” Ephesians 4:25 “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Ephesians 4:29 II.

MUTUAL SUBMISSION (Eph. 5:21-24) A.

 

 The divine image is stamped on our families as a clue to divine treasure.

Requires an attitude of unselfishness. (c.f. Phil. 2:3-4) The motivation is reverence for Christ. The object is one another.

Sacrifice and Respect in Marriage 

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Lesson & Application:

Submission 

B.

20a

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 It keeps us from viewing our mates or children as _____________.

(Eph. 5:25-33)

Husbands are to give their wives the gift of unselfish sacrifice.  Sacrificial love is a commitment of the will to your wife and children’s best, regardless of what it costs or what you feel. This kind of love always demand a death. Wives are to give their husbands the gift of unselfish respect.  Giving respect is gratefully placing your life under the care of your husband or father. It is a position of strength, grounded in creation, and motivated by redemption.

As a Christian the goal of our relationships is NOT marriage or children!   

Application of this truth:

Marriage is not the final destiny of any human. (Mark 12:25) Jesus, the most fully human person who ever lived, was not married. The Bible celebrates celibacy because it gives extraordinary opportunity for singe-minded investment in ministry for Christ. (1 Cor. 7:7) Paul renounced marriage for the sake of the kingdom of God. (1 Cor. 9:5, 15) Paul calls singleness a gift from God. (1 Cor. 7:7, Matt. 19:12) Jesus promises that forsaking family for the sake of the kingdom will be repaid with a new family, the church. (Mark 10:29-30) God is sovereign over who gets married and who doesn’t. (Job 1:21, Psalm 84:11, Romans 8:32) God is sovereign over the fruitfulness or barrenness of the womb. (Gen. 29:31, Psalm 113:9)

 It keeps us from viewing our mates or children as _____________.

 It keeps us from ____________ or ____________ our mates and children.

B. The Family Presents a Portrait of the Gospel (Ex. 4:22-23) 

Jesus taught us to pray to “Our Father in heaven.” (Matt. 6:9)

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Reminds us not to be anxious about food and clothes because “your heavenly Father knows that you need them.” (Matt. 6:32)

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Jesus promised us that His Father would not abandon us as orphans. (John 14:18, 23)

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.” 1 John 3:1

II. GOD’S MINISTRY FOR A MARRIAGE OR FAMILY

Truth Applied: 

A. Marriages and Families Minister to the Local Church.

 “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.’” Ephesians 5:1-2

“If I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth..” 1 Timothy 3:15

 “As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear Him..” Psalm 103:13 “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” Luke 11:13

C. The Family Presents a Portrait of the Church 1 Peter 4:17, 1 Tim. 3:15

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1) Discipleship

Being united to Christ (Eph. 2:1-10) means that we have been united to one another (Eph. 2:11-20) like adopted brothers and sisters. Application:

“Do not rebuke an older man, but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, youner women as sisters, in all purity. 1 Timothy 5:1-2

2) Leadership “He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?” 1 Timothy 3:4-5

3) Community

1 Timothy 5:1-2

 A well-ordered family is a powerful, God-ordained, universal witness to the church of what it ought to be.

B. Marriages and Families Minister to the World.

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Men with children must prove themselves able managers in their own homes before they can be elders in the church. (1 Tim. 3:4-5)

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (ESV)

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All Christians are to love our fellow church members as siblings.

 The church desperately needs to present to the world the Biblical portrait of a family so that the Gospel is as accessible as possible to people all over the world.

“Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Romans 12:10  So husbands and wives, moms and dads, take great encouragement at the work going on in your homes—you are training, by God’s gracious choice, disciples and church members. And you are setting an example in your homes for how church members are to relate to one another, and to God.

Application: We should view building strong vibrant families as a form of ministry, and opening our homes to non-Christian friends as an increasingly valuable evangelistic opportunity.