FAMILY FIRST: Our Heritage 6-2-24

FAMILY FIRST: Our Heritage 6-2-24

 

INTRODUCTION

 

As a family, we have been through a lot lately.  

 

Seeing family a lot over the last few months.  

 

It was at a family reunion that a lot of pictures were taken. When the lady took them to the photo place she asked if they could be touched up, “wrinkles and such.” “Yes” he said: Well she said: “Could you take about 30 pounds off of me?” “Yes” he said: And she said: “Could you put them on my sister?” That is not what we call a united family.

           Skip Alexander, Sermon Central, June 30, 2008.

 

Family is so important.  Family is so important for us.  Family is so important for the Kingdom.

 

I.  FAITH OF OUR FATHERS

 

“I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.”

           2 Timothy 1:3-5 NIV

 

   A.  Ancestry

          B.  Faith of our Ancestors

           C.  Our faith

 

II.  FAMILY FAITH

 

“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.”

        Hebrews 11:8-12 NIV

 

           A.  Our faith; our life.

                    1.  What you do

                      2.  Why you do

 

“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.”

         Hebrews 11:8-9 NIV

 

           B.  Our life; their example.

 

“For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.”

         Hebrews 11:10 NIV

 

           C.  Our faith; their hope.

 

“And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.”

        Hebrews 11:12 NIV

 

"A child’s relationship to Jesus thrives in direct relation to the obedience which he gives to his parents. An obedient child is therefore a happy child. The child who knows exactly how far he can go is relieved of a heavy burden.

 

"A child may test his parents’ authority, to see how far he can go. But deep down he wants to know that the parents’ authority will stand firm, that he can depend upon it. A child may strain at parental authority, but he will rebel even more against a lack of parental authority.

 

"Every parent has become exasperated and burst out, ’You’re just asking for a spanking!’ If only the parent realized how literally true that is. The child’s discontent is related to disobedience; he is too young and weak to command this obedience himself, but must look to his parents for it.

 

"Every child will know a deep contentment of spirit when he is helped to walk in the ways of obedience. For this is the focus and expression of his relationship with Jesus. The obedient child is living according to Divine Order."

           Larry Christenson, The Christian Family.

 

III.  FUTURE FAMILY FAITH

 

“So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

       Galatians 3:26-29 NIV

 

           A.  Our faith

           B.  Our heritage

 

Grandpa walked into the family room and found his little grandson, Jeffy, standing up in his playpen, crying.

 

He looked so pitiful, standing there in his little baseball T-shirt and diaper. His face was red and tear-stained from crying. When Jeffy saw his grandpa, his face lit up in a way that smote the old man’s heart. He immediately reached up his chubby little hands in supplication.

“Out Papa, out!”

 

What grandpa could resist such a plea? Not this one! He walked over to the playpen and reached down to lift his little buddy out of captivity and distress.

 

Just then, however, Law and Order stepped into the room.

 

Jeffy’s mother walked out of the kitchen with a dishtowel in her hand and spoke sternly. “No, Jeffy! You are being punished. You have to stay in bed! Leave him right there, Dad.”

 

Oh, fine. Now what’s a grandpa to do? His grandson’s tears and reaching little hands tugged mightily at his heart- but he didn’t want to interfere with a mother’s discipline either.

 

He couldn’t stand staying in the same room with the boy, reading his newspaper and pretending to be aloof. Nor could he turn around and walk out the door without feeling like a betrayer to his little pal. What could he do?

 

Love found a way.

 

Since Grandpa couldn’t take Jeffy out of the playpen, he climbed in with him. “If you’re in the playpen, Buddy, I’m in the playpen. What’s your sentence? How long are you in for?” And finding a big, jolly grandpa suddenly filling his little prison cell, the little boy found comfort even in his captivity.

           Dennis Lawrence, Sermon Central, April 6, 2001.

 

CONCLUSION

 

Faith of our fathers.  Family faith.  Future family faith.  

 

INVITATION

 

It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word.  You may want to follow Jesus.  You may want to proclaim your faith.  You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things).  Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Possibly, if you have already responded to God’s call in these ways, you would like to become a member of Kenwood Church.  If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, you can come forward now.  If you would like, I would be honored to speak with you following the service about what God is doing in your life.