GOD LOVES FAMILIES GOD CREATED THE PHYSICAL FAMILY

"GOD LOVES FAMILIES!"

GOD CREATED THE PHYSICAL FAMILY. . . • • • 1. He instituted marriage between man and woman - Mt 19: 4 -6; Ro 7: 2 -3; Mt 19: 9 - Designing it to be for life and divorce only fornication. 2. He thus provided the ideal arrangement for children - in which they are to grow and be reared (benefiting from what both sexes have to offer) 3. His love for family extends to when families are broken • He is a father of the fatherless, a defender of widows - Psa 68: 5 • He relieves the fatherless and widow - Psa 146: 9 • He charges that families provide for their widows - 1 Ti 5: 4 • He describes such care as pure and undefiled religion - Ja 1: 27

GOD CREATED A SPIRITUAL FAMILY. . . • • • 1. He offers Himself as a loving Father - 1 Jn 3: 1 -2 2. He provides a wonderful Elder Brother for our salvation - He 2: 9 -13 3. He sent His Spirit so we could be born into this family - Ti 3: 4 -7; Ro 8: 15 -17; Jn 3: 5 4. He revealed His Word so we can be born again - Ja 1: 18; 1 Pe 1: 2225 5. He designed the church to be an extended family with many mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters - Mk 10: 29 -30; 1 Ti 3: 15

THE IDEAL FAMILY THAT GOD LOVES • A. WHERE HUSBANDS TREAT THEIR WIVES. . . • • 1. With love and without bitterness, as Christ loved the church - Co 3: 19; Ep 5: 25 -29 2. With understanding, honor, tenderness, and as fellow heirs - 1 Pe 3: 7 • B. WHERE WIVES RESPOND TO THEIR HUSBANDS. . . • • 1. With love and obedience - Ti 2: 4 -5 2. With submission, as the church is to submit to Christ - Co 3: 18; Ep 5: 22 -24

THE IDEAL FAMILY THAT GOD LOVES • C. WHERE FATHERS REAR THEIR CHILDREN. . . • • • 1. Without provoking them to wrath - Co 3: 21; Ep 6: 4 a 2. In the nurture and admonition of the Lord - Ep 6: 4 b 3. With proper discipline when needed - Pro 13: 24; 19: 18; 29: 17; He 12: 7 -10 D. WHERE MOTHERS REAR THEIR CHILDREN. . . 1. With love - Ti 2: 4 2. As homemakers, managers of the home - Ti 2: 4; 1 Ti 5: 14; cf. Pro 31: 10 -31

THE IDEAL FAMILY THAT GOD LOVES • • • E. WHERE HUSBANDS PROVIDE FOR THE FAMILY. . . 1 Ti 5: 8; 2 Thes 3 F. WHERE CHILDREN RESPOND TO THEIR PARENTS 1. With obedience - Co 3: 20; Ep 6: 1 2. With honor - Ep 6: 2 -3; cf. Pro 31: 28

THE IDEAL FAMILY THAT GOD LOVES • G. WHERE ALL ARE DEDICATED TO SERVING GOD. . . • 1. Having a genuine faith from one generation to another cf. 2 Ti 1: 5 • 2. With devotion to the Lord that surpasses even devotion to one another - Mt 10: 37