Renewing Families

Objectives

1. Know the authentic design of God for marriage and family.

2. Be empowered to defend marriage and family from the assault by the devil.

3. Choose to restore and renew marriage and family back to God’s plan.

I. Introduction

God is all about family. We can see this through the Holy Trinity. The Triune God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Being Father and Son is a direct familial relationship. In turn, the Holy Spirit is the love that binds the Father and the Son. The essence of true family is love. It all points to the truth that the family is at the center of God’s plan for creation and the world. 

II. God’s Design for the Family

God is family, God created the family and God designed the family. As such, the family can only function well and accomplish its purpose if it conforms to God’s design. 

“God created mankind in his image; in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and God said to them: Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and all the living things that crawl on the earth.” – Genesis 1: 27-28

In these verses, we have the basic elements of the family according to God’s design.

a. Man and Woman have equal worth and dignity because they are created in the Image and likeness of God.

b. There are only two sexes, male and female. 

c. God intends the couple to have children.

III. Families Under Assault

The reality in the world is that the devil opposes the plans and designs of God about the family. The devil intends to destroy the family from the very start. It started with Satan tempting Adam and Eve. 

a. Satan made Eve doubt God and His design.

Today’s culture has discarded what is of God and rejected God’s design for the life of the world.

b. Satan convinced Eve that there would be no dire consequences to disobey God. 

Today’s culture has sidelined God and made Him irrelevant to day-to-day family life. 

c. Satan made Eve desire to be like God.

Today’s culture is acting as if people are God, especially with the advance of knowledge and changing God’s design and will. 

When we do not live out God’s design all wrong things happen. Today we have divorce, disunity, and strife between husband and wife, unholy sex in and outside of marriage. These things will get worse and even more diabolical. 

Man has lost God’s vision and intent for marriage and family. In fact, in today’s dominant anti-life culture, what was good has become bad, and what was bad has become good. 

IV. Renewal of the Family

Society and the world today are in a bad condition. Many situations we face are inane and insane. The threats to marriage, family, and life are tremendous. We desperately need a restoration of God’s vision for the family. What needs to happen?

a. Personal Renewal in Christ

God’s vision about family will happen only if every one of us takes on the mind and hear God. Because there are many nominal Christians, we cannot take this for granted. There is a great need for authentic discipleship and growth to holiness. Christians need to turn to Christ and live lives in the power of the Holy Spirit. 

b. Renewal of husband and wife

Then with personal renewal can come the renewal of marriages. Husbands and wives need to know God’s vision for marriage. Both need to understand the two-fold purpose of marriage. It is for love and procreation. These are the unitive and procreative aspects of marriage. 

c. Renewal of Children

With husband and wife being renewed in Christ and growing in commitment to each other, they can better look to their children and their home. Husband and wife need to see their home as a small church, the most basic ecclesial community, where the people of God are loved, cared for, formed, and raised to be true Christians. Their home is a place where God is worshipped, where Jesus is everyone’s friend, and where the Holy Spirit provides guidance and strength.

V. Conclusion

God makes clear His design and we are to act on it. Today many have embraced the culture of DEATH as the result of the devastation of marriage and family. But God offers life, well-being, blessing, and prosperity in the family. We need to go back to God’s wisdom and God’s eternal plan. 

We as Christians need to choose family and life. The choice we make is the key to the restoration, renewal, and revival of Christian families. 

Discussion Questions:

How can I become a missionary seeking for renewal in my own family?