July 21, 2024
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Ephesians 3:14-21
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family
What’s the answer to the question, “Who dealt this mess?” We did. That’s the answer. That’s why we worry so much about it. Because we know that much of the mess, if we’re truly honest, is our own fault. Yet no matter how hard we try to have the perfect family, we’re still ending up with crazy chaotic and well, messy. And this often leaves us feeling exhausted and feeling like failures.
But what if we’re aiming at the wrong thing? What if we stop aiming at having the perfect family and instead aim at having a family that lives and even thrives under God’s blessing? What if we prayed, “God bless our mess.” In the book of Ephesians, the apostle Paul prayed that believers would experience God’s blessing on the family.
December 31, 2023
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family, heaven, hope, new jerusalem, one year bible, revelation
“And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” (Revelation 21:2 ESV). I’m on my annual study retreat this week and I’ve been working on a sermon series about heaven for Spring 2024. So when the New Testament reading from the One Year Bible yesterday was
July 24, 2022
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Ephesians 4:15-16
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communication, family
How are you and your family doing with communication? If you’re single, do you have good communication with your parents and siblings? What about with close friends? Do you ever feel lonely with no real family to talk to? If you are married, are you and your spouse experiencing the joyful oneness and intimacy that God designed for marriage? Is there unity in your family with mutual understanding?
How can we learn to communicate for mutual understanding in our families?In the apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, he taught them to communicate for mutual understanding as the family of God. We can communicate for mutual understanding in our families.
July 17, 2022
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Ephesians 3:14-21
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family
How has your family life marked you today? Some of you had a great family life growing up, but some of you are still trying to find healing from growing up in a dysfunctional family. And to be clear, no family is perfect. Every family has problems and challenges. Regardless of the kind of family you grew up in, there is hope and healing in Jesus!
In the book of Ephesians, the apostle Paul prayed that believers would experience God’s blessing on the family. We can experience God’s blessing on our families.
August 5, 2021
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family, family meals, fellowship, meals, small groups, together
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” – Revelation 3:30 (ESV). “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” –
July 16, 2021
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children, Christian parenting, family, parenting
“Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward.” – Psalm 127:3 Every Summer we try to offer a three or four week sermon series on a topic for the family. This year we’re looking at what the Bible has to say about parenting. We’ve titled the series, “Parenthood.”
July 12, 2020
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Ephesians 3:14-21
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family, marriage
The definition of marriage and family are being deconstructed and redefined. For those who care about God’s plan for the family, these are troubling statistics and trends. If you’re married with kids, you’re probably worried about your kids’ future. If you’re divorced and a single parent, you don’t want your family to be another statistic. If you’re single, especially if you’re a single woman, and you want to get married, you’re starting to panic that it won’t ever happen because of the decline of available, marriageable men. How can these statistics and trends be reversed? One heart and one family at a time.
In the book of Ephesians, the apostle Paul prayed that believers would experience God’s blessing on the family. We can experience God’s blessing on our families.
July 28, 2019
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Genesis 2:18-25
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family
The family was originally God’s idea. He created us and ordained the first family. And He offers to be the Builder of our families when we make Him Lord. Who is the “builder” of your family? What activities are given top priority for your family? How is your family doing? How is your marriage? Your parenting? Your teens? Have you made God its Builder?
In the book of Genesis, Moses wrote that God was the builder of the very first family, creating Adam and Eve and establishing them as the parents of all the living. We can trust God as the builder of our families.
July 23, 2017
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Ephesians 4:15-24
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communication, family, unity
“Oneness” as it relates to the family refers to the state of being in complete unity with one another and with the Lord. Why don’t we see the oneness that God intended at creation and that Christ came to give with our salvation? Why are so many families and marriages fractured and broken? One of the main problems is poor communication.
In the apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, he taught them to seek oneness in Christ as the goal of their family communication. We can make oneness in Christ the goal of our family’s communication.
July 16, 2017
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Ephesians 3:14-21
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Christian parenting, family
You matter to God and your family matters to God. After all, the family was God’s idea. Yet, today families have strayed from God’s design and intent. In the book of Ephesians, the apostle Paul prayed that believers would experience God’s blessing on the family. We can experience God’s blessing on our families.