Shortly after our family
began having nightly devotions--which isn't easy with a precocious 4-year-old
daughter and an impish 2-year-old son--my daughter asked, "Mommy, when
are we gonna get together with Daddy and Austin to talk about God and have
family commotions?" -- Carla Crumley-Forest, Jacksonville Beach, FL.
"Heart to Heart," Today's Christian Woman.
I flew to Washington, D.C., a couple of weeks ago, and sitting beside
me was a woman probably about 60 years of age. She saw me with my legal pad
working on this sermon. She saw at the top the subject "What Children Owe
Their Parents." She asked me what I did, and I told her I was a pastor.
She said, "I can't help but say
that's a very interesting subject."
I said, "We're having a good
time. I'm just sharing with my people concerning the family. Tell me, do you
have children?"
"Oh, I have
grandchildren," she said.
"When do children feel that
they owe something to their parents?" I asked.
She smiled and said, "When they
have their own children." -- John Maxwell, "What Children Owe Their Parents (and
Themselves)," Preaching Today, Tape No. 140.
Scripture
Text:
Acts 16:30 (NIV) He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what
must I do to be saved?" 31 They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus,
and you will be saved--you and your household." 32 Then they spoke the
word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33 At that hour of
the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he
and all his family were baptized. 34 The jailer brought them into his house
and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to
believe in God--he and his whole family.
Who is the family of God?
Mark
3:32 (NIV) A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, "Your
mother and brothers are outside looking for you." 33 "Who are my
mother and my brothers?" he asked. 34 Then he looked at those seated in a
circle around him and said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! 35
Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother."
What
is the Family of God?
Ephesians 3:13 (NIV) I ask
you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which
are your glory. 14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom his
whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out
of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in
your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.
And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power,
together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is
the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that
you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who
is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his
power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in
Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Characteristics of the
Family of God.
We derive our name from our
Father. The name and all that it
stands for.
We are strengthened with
power through His Spirit in our inner beings.
Christ dwells in our hearts
through faith.
We are rooted and established
in love.
Power to experience the love
of Christ.
Filled to the top with all
the fullness of God and with the Love of God.
Giving God the glory in the
church in Christ Jesus throughout all generations.
Pro active—Living and
loving in the Family of God.
- growing
- maturing
- multiplying
- reaching
out
- fulfilling
our calling
- ministering
- serving
- searching
- giving
- loving
- caring
- helping
- mentoring
- supporting
- Permitting
- Encouraging
- completing
- finishing
- Handing
off
- Going
Home!
All this is in the name of
God through the love of Christ, which gives us our power and strength.
Are we fulfilling the calling in the name of God through the love of
Christ? This is the family of God
and the design by which he gives us all our fulfillment.
After helping my three-year-old son, Isaac, dry off after a bath, I
wrapped him in a towel and put him on my lap for a hug. I said, "Isaac,
you're getting so big! What are we going to do when you're too big to fit on
my lap anymore?" He replied, "Then I'm going to hold you, Mom." -- Debra Power, California.
Today's Christian Woman, "Small Talk."