Mothers Day 22nd March 2009 The family in needs of Christ Jesus

2. Times have changed and the
family is facing great danger
today.
Today on Mother’s Day, this
sermon focuses on the family
as it faces the problems of
change in today’s world of
2009

3. THE FAMILY YESTERDAY.
A. LIFE WITHIN THE FAMILY.
The goals of life were family goals,
being happy at home, not busy in
work was the true desire of people.
Many families have risked the
unknown dangers of a new land to
seek freedom for their families and a
better life.

4. THE FAMILY YESTERDAY.
A. LIFE WITHIN THE FAMILY.
The role of the individual was clearly
defined, the father, the mother and
child, and each contributed to the
needs of the family as a whole.

5. THE FAMILY YESTERDAY.
A. LIFE WITHIN THE FAMILY.
Family ties were strong and intimate.
Members were secure in mutual
support and concern.
There were always two parents at
home, to give guidance and love.

6. B. THE FAMILY IN THE COMMUNITY.
1. The community was to the family what
the family was to the individual
members.
The fortunes and misfortunes of life were
shared within the community, often
called the “community spirit,” when we
cared for each other.

7. B. THE FAMILY IN THE COMMUNITY.
2. The Church was central in the
community life, where all people
went, to learn and share their morals, as
spiritual activities were central to the
family life.

8. B. THE FAMILY IN THE COMMUNITY.
3. The sanctity of marriage and the
protection of the home were protected
by common commitment to Christian
values and biblical principles.

9. B. THE FAMILY IN THE COMMUNITY.
4. The care and nurture of children was
the common responsibility the family, of
the school, and the Church.

10. THE FAMILY TODAY.
A. CHANGES WITHIN THE FAMILY.
There is a different attitude towards the marriage
relationship today.
Marriage today is now so often seen as a quot;dealquot; instead of
a “spiritual union.”
When one fails to give what the other expects, it is a quot;dirty
dealquot; and divorce follows.
This also brings a lack of relationships and intimacy
between family members.
Each does his or her quot;own thingquot;.
Home is just a base of operations.
There is little real communication.
In the office of the marriage counsellor, one often hears
one spouse say to the other, quot;But you never told me you
felt that way.quot;

11. THE FAMILY TODAY.
B. CHANGES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
Families live in isolation from neighbours and seem to
prefer it this way.
What happens to others is not their concern.
There is also public unconcern over the elements and
forces that are destructive to family life and the welfare of
children.
Who knows the ultimate cost of these trends and changes?
We have the uneasy feeling that we are losing something
that we cannot do without, and cannot get back.
The Church today is like quot;the voice of one crying in the
wilderness.”
For few hear and few pay attention to.

12. THE FAMILY TOMORROW.
A. WE MUST SEE THE PROBLEMS OF THE
DAY, AS SPIRITUAL PROBLEMS CALLING FOR
SPIRITUAL ANSWERS.
We need to identify these destructive
forces for what they are; quot;For we wrestle not
against flesh and blood, but against
principalities, against powers, against rulers
of the darkness of this world, against spiritual
wickedness in high placesquot; Ephesians 6:12.

13. THE FAMILY TOMORROW.
B. CHRIST JESUS IS STILL THE ANSWER TO
THE NEED OF THE FAMILY.
The Christian faith is a quot;family affair,”
so the family members must be saved.
Joshua said, quot;As for me and my house, we
will serve the Lordquot; Joshua 24:15.

14. THE FAMILY TOMORROW.
C. THE HOPE OF THIS NATION IS A
CHRISTIAN HOME.
The home more than the Church is
the main authority over the people, for
you spend most of your time in the home.
Yet the Church must move to restore the
family to its spiritual responsibility under
God.

15. THE FAMILY TOMORROW.
D. GOD'S INSTRUCTIONS TO FAMILIES.
Moses reminded the people of Israel to
love God and to teach His Commandments to
their children (Deuteronomy 6:47). Paul the
apostle was referring to the teaching tradition
of the home when he reminded
Timothy, quot;From a child you have know the
Scripturesquot; 2 Timothy 3:15. For quot;Christianity is
more caught then taught.”

16. CONCLUSION:
Christian homes within the Church community
must shine as quot;lighthousesquot; for the people lost in the
sea of change. We are to be the quot;salt of the earthquot;
Matthew 5:13.
As christians, what can we offer the
unbeliever? We can only offer an unchanging Christ
Jesus, for quot;He is the same yesterday, today, and
foreverquot; Hebrews 13:8.
We offer to you an unchanging Christ as your
answer in a quot;changing world.”