Unless the Lord Builds The House

1
Unless the Lord Builds The House

• The Making of Godly Families

2
Introduction

• This nation has some alarming trends that are
  disintegrating the moral fiber of our society
• Number of children born per household 1.7-1.8
  (need 2.1 to sustain U.S. population).
• Families are the smallest in this nations
  history 3.15 persons in a home.
• Out-of-wedlock birth rate among the highest in
  this countrys history currently 35.8 of all
  births.
• The culture of marriage disappearing in this
  country.

3
Introduction

• More alarming is the influence this culture is
  having on many Christian based families.
• If Christians are going to reach the gospel to
  this darkened world it has got to be conformed to
  the culture of Christ, not the world.
• There needs to be a complete contrast between a
  life given to Christ and those that are not.
• We must live according to the teachings of
  Christ, not the philosophies of this world.
• The starting point of reflecting Christ and His
  will is seen through the family that belongs to
  Him.

4
Introduction

• This lesson is the beginning in a series of
  lessons aimed at modeling our families after the
  Lords waysnot our own. Psa. 127
• We shall look at the vain ways we are building
  our families, thinking we are in harmony with
  Gods will, yet are in direct opposition to what
  His word reveals.
• Then we will look briefly at areas that we need
  to address if our families are to surrender to
  the Lords way of building our families.

5
Building Our Families In Vain

• The value of our families are manifested each day
  by the kind of time and energy we place into
  them. Cp. Gal. 67
• Provide the best school, extra tutoring for an
  excellent education but where is the spiritual
  knowledge?
• Give them the best health, dental, and mental
  carebut where is the spiritual shelter?
• Shower upon our spouses and children all the
  amenities our countrys wealth has to offer
  where are the true and heavenly treasures?

6
Building Our Families In Vain

• Our lifestyle regarding family life bears similar
  fruit to the world, but with a Christian flavor.
  cp. Matt. 620-24
• The practice of birth control is no longer a
  matter of question, but which kind is acceptable
  to God.
• Large families are often viewed as strain on
  society and poor stewardship, even frowned upon
  by many Christians.
• Dating is so prevalent it is not a question of
  practice, but how pure it can be practiced.
• Roles among spouses and between parent/child
  relationships are so blurred that many Christian
  families arrange their families the way the world
  doeswith a Christian environment.

7
Building Our Families In Vain

• The fruit we have born are nothing more than
  vanity.
• The fruit of birth control the Lord gives
  Christians over to the smaller families. cp. Psa.
  1273
• The fruit of smaller families will rear its ugly
  head, especially when combined with a lack of
  evangelism.
• The fruit of dating unnecessary pressures,
  emotional scars, children out-of-wedlock.
• The fruit of confusing family roles chaos, and
  eventual discontent.

8
Having the Lord to Build Our Homes

• Those whose minds are set on this world will
  despise what the Bible reveals about the various
  principles surrounding the family.
• How many would be happy with a quiver full of
  children? Psa. 1274-5
• How many view the keeping of their children under
  their roof/authority until their daughter is
  given in marriage or until their son leaves and
  cleaves to his new spouse? Gen. 224 cp. Matt.
  2438
• How many graciously accept Gods ordained roles
  of women staying at home? 1 Tim. 514 Tit. 24

9
Having the Lord to Build Our Homes

• But, those who are transformed by the renewing of
  our minds to leave the worldly ways and follow
  the heavenly pattern will seek to harmonize every
  aspect of family life.
• Viewing the marriage covenant and the raising of
  children with all holiness and reverence.
• Practicing purity from your fathers house to
  that of your spouse being given in marriage and
  the practice of leaving and cleaving.
• Creating disciplined children who listen and obey
  the first time you speak.
• Creating an environment of love among siblings.
• Being content with less so you can give them
  morefor heaven.
• Training up our children for eternal salvation,
  with less focus on secular education.

10
Conclusion

• As noted, there are definitive areas where many
  of our Christian families are not being fully
  built by the Lord and His ways.
• The following lessons seek to address numerous
  areas we are lacking and provide specific ways in
  which we surrender our ways in favor of the
  Lords ways to build our homes.