There is something especially beautiful to me to see an entire family worship God together.

When I was a young boy, I remember a man who worshipped with the church at home whose wife was a member of a denomination. Each week the family would leave home in separate cars, the man and wife going to different places of worship. Their daughter was pulled between the two.

My own father was not a Christian and he either remained in bed on Sunday morning while we all went to worship, or, as often was the case, expressed his displeasure at our going. The fact that he was not saved tore at our hearts and kept us from being a close family. There was a barrier there that was never removed and sin finally tore the family asunder.

It takes strength and character to keep a family together in Christ. There are strains and stresses that would pull it apart if possible. A husband has problems that are different from a wife’s and understanding is required. And there must be a common bond that binds stronger than the stresses that would tear apart. A family that has Christ as its center is stronger than a family without Him. I admire Joshua’s attitude when he said, “As for me and my house, we will serve Jehovah” (Joshua 24:15). I admire Cornelius who gathered his household together and said, “We are all here present in the sight of God, to hear all things that have been commanded thee of the Lord” (Acts 10:33).

Husbands and fathers have a special responsibility before the Lord. They are to be heads of their households and guide the family in the way it should go. When a man abdicates this place and fails to lead his family in God’s way, he will have much to answer for in the Judgment. Men, are you facing up to your place of responsibility?

Women are often the strength in the family. Especially is this so when the men are not Christians. But even where men are Christians, it is often the woman who determines whether or not a family will be faithful. It is often left up to the wife to prepare breakfast, get the children ready, and do the multiple chores that are necessary if a family is to be able to attend.

When a wife sleeps late, doesn’t prepare, or doesn’t want to attend, it is extremely difficult for the husband to get everything ready and leave. He can do it, but it is hard. Wives, are you helping or hindering your family in its service to God?

Children can make worship pleasant or a chore. If they are allowed to dominate a family with their whims and dislikes, an hour or two in worship becomes a battle. It is hard to get them ready and then wrestle with them when they had rather stay home and play. As children get older, sullenness can set in and a poor attitude can destroy any worshipful attitude. Young people must come to realize that they are spiritual as well as physical and it is wrong to spend all their time on purely physical pleasures. They must be taught to feed the soul. Young people, do you help matters at home by your attitude or are you part of the problem?

If you haven’t been doing so let me encourage you to worship together as a family this Lord’s Day. Read this article in the presence of the entire family and discuss your hindrances. If each of you will determine to put the Lord first, you can be closer to one another. Don’t let the problems of life short-change your happiness, now or hereafter.

Husbands, wives, children: serve God as a family. Which member(s) of your family are you content to see drift into hell? Do you sit across the breakfast table from a loved one who is lost? Talk humbly and lovingly to him (her) about it. Let them know that your love for them won’t let you sit idly by while they are lost. Do you have young people who are drifting away? Let them read this so they will know you care. Reach out. Fight. Don’t give up. Don’t stop caring. Shed some tears. Pray about it. Determine to remain faithful all alone if you have to, but let them know you don’t want to. You want your family to be in the Lord’s family.

Again, as a young boy, I remember the first Bible class teacher I had, long before I became a Christian. She was faithful but her husband was not a Christian. Year after year, she taught class and lived as she should, teaching her children until they all became Christians. It took over thirty years, but she lived to see the day her husband became a Christian. Thirty years means somewhere in excess of 1,500-1,600 Lord’s Days when she went to worship without her husband. But she lived to see him baptized into Christ. And that is what she wanted all along. Do you want it badly enough to do the same?

-Watchman Magazine, Feb. 1, 2003

Top

You can find the complete outline of this sermon plus PowerPoint and MP3 Audio files at BIBLE ANSWERS

1. Respect is vital to every successful relationship (cf. marriage, 1 Pet 3:5-7).
2. “You don’t respect me” is frequently said by both children and parents.

I. WHAT IS RESPECT?

  A. Respect is Not… (Lev 19:32; Matt 15:4-5; 1 Tim 5:8)
  B. Respect is… (Lk 2:51; Matt 7:9-11).

II. A RESPECTFUL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PARENTS AND CHILDREN BEGINS WITH BEING RESPECTFUL TO GOD, Eccl 12:13.

  -Respect for God Means Giving Him His Rightful Place of Honor and Homage, cf. Exo 20:1-7; Psa 115:1-2, 9-13; Heb 12:5-6.

III. CHILDREN: HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER, Eph 6:2 (Exo 20:12).

  A. Willingly Honor and Obey Them, Eph 6:1-2 (Exo 20:12; Lev 19:3); Deut 27:16.
  B. Children Show Respect by Listening to, Learning from and Following the Teaching of their Parents, Eph 6:1-2; Deut 21:18; Prov 1:8-9; cf. 1 Sam 2:22-25; Col 3:20; Heb 12:7-10.

IV. FATHERS: RESPECT YOUR CHILDREN & DO NOT PROVOKE THEM, Eph 6:4; Col 3:21.

  A. Parents Show Respect for their Children when their Goal is the Child’s Spiritual Profit, Heb 12:5-6. Provocation leads to either:
    1. Wrath (enraged), Eph 6:4, or
    2. Discouragement (lose heart), Col 3:21.

Conclusion
     “It’s your fault” will not improve parent/ child relationship. Prov 9:10

Top

Outgoing New Mexico governor Bill Richardson decided Friday not to grant a pardon to the notorious outlaw “Billy the Kid” (aka Henry McCarty and William H. Bonney), who was gunned down by lawman Pat Garrett in 1881. At issue was whether the territorial governor had promised him pardon in exchange for testimony before a grand jury of a killing he witnessed.

It seems incredible that after 129 years this issue was visited by a sitting governor. Yet, the rule of law allowed for it. Richardson judged the evidence too sketchy to issue clemency to Bonney.

This reminds us we live under the rule of law – the law of Christ (1 Cor 9:21; Gal 6:2). Sin is the violation of God’s law and the omission of His revealed will from our lives (1 Jno 3:4; Jas 4:17). All of us have sinned; we all need pardon (Rom 3:23).

Jesus “was manifested to take away our sins” (1 Jno 3:5). We are pardoned, not for lack of evidence, but because God is rich in mercy and love (Rom 3:23; Eph 2:4-5). Sinners are saved “by grace through faith”, that is, sinners must respond in faith to God’s grace by obeying His commands (Eph 2:8-9; Mk 16:15-16; Acts 2:37-41). Not earned, pardon is freely given to all who trust and obey (Rom 3:2; Gal 3:22; Heb 5:9).

This also reminds us we will not escape righteous judgment (Rom 2:1-6). Each of us will stand before the Judge (Christ), giving answer for our lives and receiving impartial justice (2 Cor 5:10; Rom 2:7-11).

What will your answer be?

Top

The Spirit's Sword is a free, weekly publication of the Mt. Baker church of Christ, Bellingham, WA
Send all questions, comments and subscriptions to the editor at: ssword@bibleanswer.com