Friday First: Four Basics for Family Relationships

Over the last few weeks we’ve been talking extensively about marriage and family. Now as we move into July we are shifting our focus to family relationships. The basis for every relationship we have is found in Ephesians 5.18-21. The principles found in these verses are the foundation for happiness, success, and blessing in the family.

Family life is where you live out your Christianity. It is the environment where your spiritual strength, devotion, and consistency are revealed… and demanded. The home is the truest test of your spiritual life. Your family is the one you are together with, seeing you in every possible circumstance, in every trial and difficulty, in your relaxed moments… they see the real you… not the image you portray in public/social life. They will see more than anyone, the width and breath of any inconsistency and whether there is any hypocrisy present in your life. And they will also see your heart and your commitment and your trust in Jesus as you grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord.

God’s wonderful design for the family will not work where there is sin. When sin is present, life can become miserable and unfulfilling. Many people feed on a steady diet of personal pride and self fulfillment and find themselves and their family members crushed. We must not allow the world to inundate our lives.

On Sunday we will talk about four basic principles for every family relationship:

• Be filled with the Spirit.
• Be filled with praise.
• Be filled with thankfulness.
• Live a life of submission.

We will also briefly talk about two ways Satan attacks these principles, through pride and human philosophy.

As you prepare for worship, please think about these questions.

1. How is the amount of your spiritual strength, devotion, and character revealed inside the family?
2. What happens when sinful attitudes are interjected into family relationships? What can we do to restore balance?
3. What does it mean to be filled with the Spirit?
4. Do you find it hard to get into an argument with a person who is truly thankful? Explain.
5. What does Jesus teach us about submission?

OPENING / WELCOME
Kody Pritt

SONG LEADER
Mark Ringle

PRAYER OF PRAISE
Titus Sullivan

LEAD LORD'S SUPPER
Jeremy Price
 
SCRIPTURE READING
Brayden Grushon
Ephesians 5.18-21

PREACHING
Matthew Allen

CLOSING PRAYER
John Skidmore

CLOSING COMMENTS
Russ Robins

WELCOME CENTER
Connie Walker / Diann Coffman

USHERS
Bob Hoopes / Kevin Elkins

CLOSING THE BUILDING
Josh Childers