G. T. Ministries
Building a Family That Last
Descripción
Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2359736/fan_mail/new] Strengthening the Family Message #2: "Building a Family That Lasts" Text: Matthew 7:24-27 “Therefore, whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” Introduction: The Difference Between a House and a Home Anyone can build a house, but only God can help build a home. A house is made of: * Wood * Brick * Concrete * Nails A home is built with: * Love * Faith * Prayer * Commitment * Forgiveness * God's Presence Jesus tells a story about two builders. Both built houses. Both faced storms. Both experienced wind. Both experienced rain. Yet one house stood while the other collapsed. The difference was not the storm. The difference was the foundation. The same is true for families today. Every family faces storms: * Financial storms * Health storms * Marital storms * Raising children * Grief and loss * Temptations and pressures The question is not whether storms will come. The question is: What foundation are we building upon? 1. A Strong Family Is Built on Christ Matthew 7:24 Jesus said the wise man built on the rock. Christ is that Rock. Many families build on: * Money * Success * Education * Popularity None of these are strong enough to hold a family together. Illustration When an earthquake strikes, weak foundations crack first. When life's earthquakes come, only Christ can keep a family standing. 2. A Strong Family Makes God First Matthew 6:33 Families often put: * Careers first * Sports first * Entertainment first But strong families put God first. Joshua said: "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." When God is first, everything else finds its proper place. Short Story A professor filled a jar with large rocks and asked if it was full. Then he added smaller stones and sand. The lesson: Put the big things in first. God must be the first rock in every family. 3. A Strong Family Communicates with Love Ephesians 4:29 - . Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. Many homes suffer not from lack of love but from lack of communication. Words can: * Build * Heal * Encourage * Destroy Illustration A nail driven into a fence leaves a hole even after it is removed. Words spoken in anger can leave lasting scars. Strong families speak life to one another. 4. A Strong Family Prays Together James 5:16 - Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Prayer invites God's power into the home. Families that pray together learn to depend on God rather than panic. Story A mother once said: "I couldn't stop every storm from reaching my children, but I could pray for them before the storm arrived." Prayer reaches places we cannot go. 5. A Strong Family Practices Forgiveness Colossians 3:13 - bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. No family survives without forgiveness. Every member will make mistakes. Forgiveness does not excuse wrong. Forgiveness releases bitterness. Illustration Holding unforgiveness is like drinking poison and expecting someone else to die. Strong families learn to let go. 6. A Strong Family Protects Its Children Proverbs 22:6 - Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it. Children need more than food and clothing. They need: * Guidance * Discipline * Encouragement * Godly examples Joshua understood that every generation must be taught to know God. Illustration A young tree requires stakes and support. Without guidance it grows crooked. Children need loving direction while they are young. 7. A Strong Family Worships Together Psalm 95:6 - Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. Worship changes the atmosphere of a home. Families that worship together learn to keep God at the center. Short Story One family began reading a Psalm before dinner every evening. Years later their children said those moments became some of their strongest memories. Small spiritual habits create lasting spiritual impact. 8. A Strong Family Leaves a Legacy 2 Timothy 1:5 - when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. Paul spoke of the faith first found in Lois and Eunice before it reached Timothy. Faith was passed down. Strong families think beyond today. They ask: "What will our children remember about our walk with God?" Illustration A relay race is won when the baton is successfully passed. Every generation must pass faith to the next generation. Conclusion Jesus never promised families would avoid storms. He promised that families built on Him could survive them. The wise builder and foolish builder faced the same storm. The wise builder stood because he built on the Rock. The question for every family today is: "What foundation are we building on?" If we build on Christ: * We can survive the storm. * We can overcome the pressure. * We can leave a godly legacy. Let us determine today: "We are not merely building houses. We are building families that will stand for generations." Because families built on the Rock are families that last. 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