What is ‘Family’ to you?

Children

Parenting

Biblical Manhood/ Womanhood

Motherhood/ Fatherhood

PrioritiesCommunication

Love

Time together

Some might say:

What God says:

• ‘Family’ presents a series of 3 images

1) God’s triune nature ( a picture of God)

2) gospel ( a picture of our salvation)

3) the church

But.

• In light of sin

• We naturally form a positive vision of the

family “by contrast”. (J.I. Packer, Knowing God)

• Trust God’s ability to redeem our families, and

make them images of eternal truths!

1. Revelation of God Himself

• The relationship between heavenly Father and Son is the ultimate reality.

Matthew 3:17; 17:5

“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named” (Eph. 3:14-15)

‘Father and Son’

• “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does” .

John 5:19

2. The gospel

But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of

sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ‘Abba, Father.’ So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.

(Gal. 4:4-7)Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. (Heb 2:11)

In our daily lives:

• Addressed as sons in times of trial• God’s fatherly discipline • Awards us a share in the Son’s inheritance• A Father who knows• God’s instruction

iii. the church

• ‘family of God’, ‘God’s household’

• Qualifications of an elder• Being devoted to each other in church

• Cultivating how relationships should be like in the church – at home.

If Family is all that…

Family IS precious

More than social glue/ unit of procreation

Family IS ministry

God imbues families with the divine image so

that we can worship our families Him

Discussion

1) What is family to you?2) Which of the 4 wordly portraits of ‘family’ do

you tend to lean towards ?- Trophy, Tool, Obstacle, ‘nothing significant’

Ephesians 5: 18-21

18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,

19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus

Christ. (Pls refer to Macarthur’s sermon notes on last slide for added

notes/comments)

Reflection i

• ‘Spirit-filled’ (v 18)–Is the Word of Christ dwelling richly in

you daily?

Reflection ii

• speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit– From the perspective of your family members, is

there joy in your life? Where does that joy appear to stem from/ be derived from?

Reflection iii

• Thanksgiving– List 5 things you’re thankful to the Lord for, in the

lives of each of your family members.– (note difference between a general sense of

gratefulness vs. thankfulness to the Lord)

Reflection iv

• Submission– What will submission look like in the context of

your family?

Final comments:Hope this session was helpful and relevant for you. From the leaders’ debrief, we found the group sharing sessions heartfelt and genuine. I hope we treasured the time we had with our groupmates and fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Let not our sharing be the end of it all. Continue to pray for and encourage one another in love and truth.May God help our biological families and our church family to be households of faith who will choose to serve the Lord, together.

References:

• http://www.capitolhillbaptist.org/we-equip/adults/core-seminars/parenting/

• http://www.gty.org/Resources/Sermons/1943A_A-Plan-for-Your-Family-Gods-vs-the-Worlds-Part-1