Faith

God’s Design for Raising of Children

Ephesians 5:1 (ESV)

“be imitators of God, as beloved children.”

1.      The biblical environment of the home is full of grace. 

2.      Standards in the home are for the child's future not for the parents temporary convenience.

Colossians 1:2,3:20 (ESV)
“Grace to you and peace from God our Father…Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.”

1 Timothy 3:4-5 (ESV)
“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?”

Ephesians 6:4 (ESV)
“bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

3.      The biblical home is familiar with the discipline.

Deuteronomy 8:5 (ESV)
“as a man disciplines his son, the Lord your God disciplines you.”

Hebrews 12:5-7 (ESV)

“’My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
                  nor be weary when reproved by him. 

For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
                   and chastises every son whom he receives.’

It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.”

Lessons from God about discipline

• Discipline is not punishment 

Hebrews 12:10-11 (NIV)
“God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”

• Discipline is for correction

Galatians 6:1 (NIV)
“Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted”

Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

Proverbs 23:13-14 (NIV)

“Do not withhold discipline from a child;
                   if you punish them with the rod, they will not die.

Punish them with the rod
                   and save them from death.”

• Discipline is Love

Christ is King

God’s Design for the Woman in the Family

Genesis 2:18,21-24 (ESV)
“The Lord God said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.’”

“So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said,

’This at last is bone of my bones

       and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called Woman,

       because she was taken out of Man.’

Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”

Ephesians 5:22-24,33 (ESV)
“Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.”

“let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.”

1.     A godly wife is a help to their husband. 

Proverbs 14:1 (NIV)
“The wise woman builds her house,
    but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.”

2.     Godly wives respect their husbands.

3.     Godly wives are to be oriented towards their homes.

Proverbs 31:15-16 (ESV)

“She rises while it is yet night

       and provides food for her household
                   and portions for her maidens.

She considers a field and buys it;
                   with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.”

Titus 2:3-5 (ESV)
“Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.”

Proverbs 31:27 (ESV)

“She looks well to the ways of her household
                    and does not eat the bread of idleness.”

4.     Godly wives are discerning.

5.     Godly wives are resilient.

Joshua 1:5 (NIV)

“…As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

2 Timothy 2:13 (NIV)

“if we are faithless,

      he remains faithful,

      for he cannot disown himself.”

6.     Godly wives are generous.

Romans 8:32 (ESV)

“He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?”

7.     Godly wives need strengthening and healing.

1 Peter 5:7 (ESV)

“Cast all your anxieties on him because he cares for you.”

Family

Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV)
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you...”

Mathew 19:4-6 (ESV)

“Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh.” What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”

God’s design for man in the family. 

Ephesians 5:23,25-33 (ESV)

“the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church…Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself...”

1.     Husbands are the head of the family. 

2. Husbands should be in love with Jesus more than anything or anyone. 

Luke 14:25 (ESV)

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.”

3. Husbands are to take responsibility.

4. Husbands are to protect. 

Isaiah 62:6 (NKJV)

I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem;

They shall never hold their peace day or night.

You who make mention of the Lord, do not keep silent,

5. Husbands are to provide 

1 Timothy 6:17 (NIV)

“...God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.”

The New Covenant of God’s Grace

Romans 8:1-4 (NIV)

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”

God’s Covenant of Grace has judged you.

1.       NOT GUILTY!

Romans 8:1 (NIV)

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”

Romans 8:23-25 (NIV)

“all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith.”

2.      Righteous

2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV)
“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Philippians 3:9 (NIV)

“[I am] found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. “

1 John 2:1-2 (NIV)

“My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”

3.      Free from the slavery to sin

Romans 8:2 (NIV)

“because through Christ Jesus the law of the spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” 

Romans 6:23

“the wages of sin is death.”

No Condemnation

• When we don’t live up to our identity in Christ
• In marriage problems
• In parenting struggles
• In suffering
• When others try to condemn me
• Now and forever 

Family

Self

Church

Family

Government

Genesis 1:27 (ESV)

"God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”

Mathew 19:4-6 (ESV)

“Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh.” What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”

Marriage

Acts 17:28 (ESV)
“In him we live and move and have our being”

Ephesians 5:31 (ESV)
“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.

Saving The World

Colossians 2:15 (NIV)

“having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”

Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Acts 2:36 (ESV)
“Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

 How to save the world

1. Be patient
2. Be confident

Matthew 7:29 (NIV)

“He taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.”

Luke 6:26-28 (NIV)

“Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets. ‘But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.’” 

3.     Be faithful to the house of God

Hebrews 10:23-25 (NLT)
“Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”

1 John 5:4 (ESV)
“For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.”

4.     Be considerate of the next generation

Proverbs 13:22 (ESV)

"A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children”

The Church and The Kingdom Pt. 2

Four Realms of Authority

Self 

Church 

Family 

Civil Life 

What does Christ expect from the church? 

Submission to Jesus’ authority 

Live a life aimed at loving service 

Unity - Submitting to one another 

Realize: Christianity is not just about you

Context: Historic Theological Views of the Church’s Role 

Dominance Theology 

Escapism Theology

Engagement Theology

Model’s of Church

The Attractional Model 

The Intentional Model 

How Does The Kingdom Advance? 

The Kingdom Advances Through Influence. 

Matthew 16:19 ESV

“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

How Do You Gain Influence? 

Influence is gained through: Prayer, Being Equipped, and Serving

Pray Like This 

Pray For Your City

Matthew 6:9-10 ESV

“Pray then like this: 

Our Father in heaven, 

hallowed be your name. 

Your kingdom come, 

your will be done, 

on earth as it is in heaven.”

You cannot change that which you do not love. - David Powers 

Jeremiah 29:7 ESV

“But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.”

Pray for the Holy Spirit’s Power

Acts 1:4-8 ESV

“And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 

So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Pray for God’s strategy

Be Equipped Like This 

Ephesians 4:11-16 NLT

“Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.”

Proverbs 22:29 ESV

“Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.”

Serve Like This

Mark 10:45 NLT

“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Jesus’ Model of Serving 

Mark 10:45 NLT

“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

John 13:3-5 ESV

“Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.”

Luke 15:1-7 The Message

“By this time a lot of men and women of questionable reputation were hanging around Jesus, listening intently. The Pharisees and religion scholars were not pleased, not at all pleased. They growled, “He takes in sinners and eats meals with them, treating them like old friends.” Their grumbling triggered this story. 

“Suppose one of you had a hundred sheep and lost one. Wouldn’t you leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the lost one until you found it? When found, you can be sure you would put it across your shoulders, rejoicing, and when you got home call in your friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Celebrate with me! I’ve found my lost sheep!’ Count on it—there’s more joy in heaven over one sinner’s rescued life than over ninety-nine good people in no need of rescue.”

Luke 4:43 ESV

“But He said to them, “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, for I was sent for this purpose.”

Mark 10:46-52 The Message

“They spent some time in Jericho. As Jesus was leaving town, trailed by his disciples and a parade of people, a blind beggar by the name of Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus, was sitting alongside the road. When he heard that Jesus the Nazarene was passing by, he began to cry out, “Son of David, Jesus! Mercy, have mercy on me!” Many tried to hush him up, but he yelled all the louder, “Son of David! Mercy, have mercy on me!” 

Jesus stopped in his tracks. “Call him over.” They called him. “It’s your lucky day! Get up! He’s calling you to come!” Throwing off his coat, he was on his feet at once and came to Jesus. Jesus said, “What can I do for you?” The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” “On your way,” said Jesus. “Your faith has saved and healed you.” In that very instant he recovered his sight and followed Jesus down the road.”

The Church and The Kingdom

Four Realms of Authority

1.     Self 

2.    Church 

3.    Family 

4.    Civil Life 

“Church”

The church = A local gathering of Believers  

The Church = Every person who has decided to follow Jesus in every geographical place. 

Kingdom of God - Gods ways and will expressed on the earth.

Matthew 13:33 (ESV)

“He told them another parable.’“The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.’” 

Matthew 13:45-46 (ESV)

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.”

Isaiah 9:6-7 (NASB)

“For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of Hisgovernment or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.”

Psalm 145:11-13 (NKJV)

“They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom and talk of Your power; To make known to the sons of men Your mighty acts and the glory of the majesty of Your kingdom. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And Your dominion endures throughout all generations.”

Daniel 

 What does God Expect of Us?

5.    Submission to Jesus’ Authority - Voluntary

Matthew 6:9-10 (NASB)

“Pray then like this: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

Matthew 7:21 (NASB)

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

6.    To Live a Life Aimed at Loving Service

Ephesians 5:1-2 (NASB)

“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…“

Cue: Growth Track Slide - AV Has this ready

7.    Be Unified - Submitting to One Another

Zechariah 14:9 (NASB)

“And the Lord will be king over all the earth. On that day the Lord will be one and his name one.”

John 17:22-23 (ESV)

“The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. “

Ephesians 4:1-7 (ESV)

“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.”

8.    Realize: Christianity Is Not Just About You

Ephesians 2:13-22 (ESV)

“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.”

Christ’s Authority and the Church

Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV)

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Acts 1:9-11 (ESV)

“And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.’”

Three Biblical spheres of government:

1. Family
2. Church
3. Civil

Ephesians 4:11-12 (NIV)

“Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up…”

Acts 17:7 (ESV)

“they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.” 

1 Corinthians 10:31 (ESV)

“whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."