Theme – As children, spouses, siblings, and parents, we face an almost-continual barrage of rejection opportunities inside our families and God’s church. Sometimes the rejection is of us, other times truth or God is being spurned. Either way, it causes deep rifts of pain and isolation in our hearts. David & Eunice each endured spousal rejection but found the Lord sufficient for their pain. Mary Magdalene appears to have been completely outcast in her illness (Luke 8:1-3), but found Jesus to be more than enough for her life needs (19-21). Lydia is likely a single parent and certainly far from family roots, searching for help and truth. She finds in the gospel and in God’s church an opportunity for life and legacy beyond her wildest dreams.

The rampant immorality of our flesh and the world makes for hard sledding. Many Christians have been unfaithful to their marriage vows and thus opened their homes to despair and decay. To halt this epidemic and restore those who have fallen, the Lord gives specific direction and encouragement: 1) Understand the consequences. David opened his home to hellacious forces when he chose to sexually sin. 2) Come clean. 2 Sam 12:13 is a great model. 1 Cor 5 makes it clear that the damage spreads until we (in Wilson’s words) “clean out the corners.” For those who haven’t sinned, this daily battle is critical. For those who have, one can only get as healthy as one is willing to be honest. 3) Restore the fallen. Hosea 3 and Gal 6 teach us that the restoration process requires partners, is hard, and holy. 4) Rejoice in God’s renovation. The response to the Samaritan woman’s life change shows us how richly God can use the sexually deviant who turns to the Lord. 5) Live by grace. The age of grace in Christ means that restoration is full – even from the shame that dogs our hearts. When Jesus chose not to condemn but instead command in John 8, He avoided both scarlet letters and licentiousness. Instead, grace living forgives without excusing sin.

Theme – The family is to establish and maintain a legacy of godliness. This is not for worship of ancestors but in order to bless each successive generation. To that end, families are given a five-fold generative charge: 1) To honor 2) To teach 3) To discipline 4) To let go 5) To love to the end

Life Change Objective – That we generate great legacies in the Lord.

Building Dedication Sunday

Everyone wants a legacy of goodness to follow them in their human and church families. Research & scripture show that such occurs when the family practices 6 regular disciplines: express appreciation, establish good communication patterns, spend time together, commit to family, orient life according to eternal beliefs, deal with crises in a positive manner.

Theme – Six great fears dominate much of our secret ruminations on family: 1) That our kids will make a life-dominating mistake 2) That our children will not “turn out right” 3) That we are failing as a family 4) That we will lose our children to illness, kidnapping, or death 5) That we will be alone in our old age. 6) Rotating fear subject to the popular concern du jour. These fears paralyze us, make us doubt God’s providence, become pushy (often angry) control freaks, and run away from God’s broader family. We become slaves to feelings of guilt, inadequacy, and frustration. To overcome these fears, we must find our God to be bigger. We must learn to fear Him, and then nothing else will be scary. We also must surrender our imaginary control and comparison games for the peace that passes understanding in Christ.

Life Change Objective – That we trust the sufficient & sovereign God.

Theme – Introduction to the family according to the Bible.

Life Change Objective – That we follow God’s picture.