8. Raising Godly Families - Zac Poonen (தேவ பக்தியுள்ள குடும்பங்களை எழுப்புவது)
Tuticorin Conference 2016 For more videos, please visit www.cfcindia.com
Summary
The sermon emphasizes that building the church requires building the family, citing 1 Timothy 3 to establish qualifications for an elder, including being above reproach and managing one's own household well. The speaker stresses that in the New Covenant, a godly family life is crucial for leadership, contrasting this with the Old Covenant where family life was not a qualification. Ultimately, the message calls for believers to raise their children to be born again and to discipline them according to God's example.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Qualifications of an elder regarding family and testimonyAn overseer must first have a good testimony in his neighborhood and workplace, and second, he must manage his household well and keep his children under control.
Children of elders must be believersTitus 1 states that an elder's children must be believers and not accused of dissipation or rebellion, refuting the excuse that parents cannot expect their children to follow the Lord.
Comparing Old and New Covenant family expectationsIn the Old Covenant, great prophets and leaders often had failing or unmentioned family lives because the Holy Spirit was not yet given, but the New Covenant emphasizes godly family life.
The father's primary responsibility for the childrenEphesians 6 places the responsibility of bringing up children on the father rather than the mother, meaning if a child goes astray, the father is primarily at fault for failing to lead.Ephesians 6:4
The husband as a Christlike head of the bodyA husband must not rule like a harsh corporate boss, but like the head of a body that both controls and tenderly cares for every need of the wife.
Living with your wife in an understanding wayHusbands must recognize their wives as weaker vessels emotionally and physically, giving them honor as equal heirs of the grace of life so that their prayers are not hindered.
The powerful example of Moses' motherDespite having only seven years before Moses went to Pharaoh's palace, his mother drilled into him that he was an Israelite and taught him to reject the passing pleasures of sin.
Timothy's upbringing by his mother and grandmotherTimothy was raised by his mother Eunice and grandmother Lois to have a sincere faith in God, demonstrating how mothers can pass on faith even when fathers are ungodly.
Children learn character and habits at homeChildren absorb character and speech patterns by watching how their parents talk and live, making it crucial to confess past failures and build a respectful home atmosphere.
Building fellowship through the Bible and family lifeParents should read Bible stories with their children, ask simple questions to spark interest, and teach them to turn to God in every trial.
Exercising strict control over media and modern technologyParents must strictly supervise what children watch, limit computer games, and guard them against the spiritual dangers of excessive cell phone and social media use.
Substituting worldly entertainment with wholesome time togetherInstead of merely forbidding things, parents must substitute them with clean activities and spend dedicated time walking and talking with their children on a regular basis.
Closing prayer for godly familiesThe speaker ends with a prayer asking God to help parents raise children in godly ways, heal struggling families, and grant faith to those with difficult children.
