OUR WORSHIP LIFE
- Our need for daily contact with the Word of God.
1 Peter 5:8-9 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith…
The evil influence of the unbelieving world around us is powerful—not to mention the influence of the media and of unbelievers.
- Our Need for getting together with fellow believers to build up each other.
Exodus 20:8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
Acts 2:41,46 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts.
Hebrews 10:25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
A) Worship B) Bible Study C) Fellowship
- Our need for frequent use of the sacrament
1 Corinthians 11:23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
We receive this sacrament for the forgiveness of sins and the strength to lead a Christian life.
- Our need for family devotions
Ephesians 6:4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
A) God wants us to feed our faith with his Word
B) Set aside a certain time everyday to do this.
C) Pick a course of study that you will pursue.
- Read a certain book of the Bible 2. Use a devotional booklet
D) Begin the spiritual training of your children when they are very young.
- Read to them from Bible stories that have many pictures. 2. Talk to them about what you have read.
E) The Staggering Statistics About Divorce.
National Divorce Rate Regular Church Goers Daily Devotions
1 out of 3 1 out of 40 1 out of 400
To do on your own…
- My relationship to Jesus Christ is…(complete)
- My chief goals in life are… (complete)
- I am promoting the spiritual growth of myself & my partner by…(complete)
For thought and discussion:
- In what ways can it help to be active in a church organization?
- In what ways could it be troublesome to be active in church organizations?
- If you should have a mixed marriage (different religions), what is the best way to cope?
- Should you change churches for convenience?
- What special obligations does one have for a spouse who has changed churches?
- How can family devotions be beneficial to your marriage?
- What are potential problems that would hinder family devotions?
- A young married couple attends church once a month and receives communion on the average of two to three times a year. What effect does this have on their relationship?
- How may this pattern influence their children?
- What importance should prayer have in your life as husband and wife?
FAMILY AND IN-LAW RELATIONSHIP PRINCIPLES
Ephesians 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
Whose advice and consent should be sought when considering marriage?
Genesis 2:24 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
In marriage, to whom does our primary allegiance belong?
Matthew 10:35-36 [Jesus said] For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—36 a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.
What effect may a relationship with Jesus have on your relationship with some relatives?
Titus 2:4-5 [re: older women] Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.
Why should “young marrieds” heed the advice of parents and in-laws?
1 Timothy 5:4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God.
What responsibility do married children have to parents and in-laws?
For thought and discussion:
- If, at the first big argument, man or wife “runs home to mother”, what does this do to the marriage partner? To relations with the in-law?
- What about living with parents? How do you establish your own family identity and traditions?
- If there is constant interference by some parent, who should do something? What?
- How might the feelings of one set of parents easily be hurt? What are some practical steps to insure continuing good relations?
WORK, TIME AND RESOURCES PRINCIPLES
Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
In what practical ways should we trust God regarding family finances?
Mark 6:31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
No matter how busy they are, for what must a husband and wife take time?
Ecclesiastes 9:9 Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love…
What basic principle should govern the use of our leisure time?
Romans 13:7-8 Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue… 8 Let no debt remain outstanding…
What is our Christian obligation regarding taxes, debts, time payments, etc.?
1 Corinthians 16:2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.
About what should we be systematic?
For thought and discussion:
- The first family argument often concerns money. Why would that be? What must both husband and wife learn to consider? What are the areas that most easily cause conflict regarding money? Why can a budget be a big help? How do we arrive at one?
- What problems can arise if husband or wife spends too much leisure time apart from the other? Should there be leisure time apart? What’s bad about being a “workaholic”? Is working different shifts a good idea for husband and wife?
- If both are working, how should they handle their income? Is it good to have the money divided between “yours” and “mine”?
- How should we plan for a major purchase? What needs to be considered before deciding to buy anything “on credit”?
- How is it possible to give regularly and richly to the Lord when we’re young and definitely not rich?