God's Help For Happier Families - Part 1 Series

God's Help for Happier Families - Part 1

Luke 2:40-52

Sermon by Rick Crandall

(Prepared July 4, 2023)

BACKGROUND:

*The Bible is the Word of God, and the best thing it can ever do for us is save our souls. That's what God's Word will do, if we hear the good news about the cross of Jesus Christ, and put our trust in the Risen Savior. If we will receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, then God will forgive all of our sins, give us eternal life, make us a part of His family, and give us a home in Heaven.

*But all of this can only come through the Word of God. That's why 1 Peter 1:23-25 tells Christians that we have:

23. . . been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,

24. because "All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away,

25. but the word of the Lord endures forever.'' Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.

*Church: If saving our souls was the only thing the Bible ever did for us, that would be more than enough forever! But the Word of God can do so much more. It can guide us in every area of life, and that certainly includes our family life. So, today's message is "God's Help for Happier Families."

*But you need to know that most of God's wisdom in today's Scripture is not just for couples with children. There is something here for everybody, so this message could be called "God's Help for a Happier Life." Please think about that as we read Luke 2:40-52.

MESSAGE:

*King Duncan told the story of another child who got left behind on a family trip. He was a five-year-old boy from Texas, and his name was Tyler Payne. Tyler went to the rest room at a gas station in Nashville, Tennessee. But the door got stuck, and young Tyler couldn't get out. Meanwhile, his family continued their trip home.

*The Payne's were a good family, with good parents. Dad was an engineer for General Dynamics. They normally took a head count of their six boys and one girl, but that time they didn't, and they forgot Tyler.

*A few hours later they stopped at a Wendy's in Jackson, Mississippi. That's when Tyler's family realized that he was missing. Back in Nashville, a woman had heard Tyler screaming and opened the door for him. He wanted his Mommy!

*Tyler was completely safe with the police in Nashville. They gave him teddy bears, coloring books, and candy while they waited. When Tyler saw his mom again, he grabbed her tight and said, "I'm never going to the bathroom again." (1)

*This story reminds us that even good families have problems. And today's Scripture shows us that even if our children were as perfect as Jesus, we would still have some family problems. So when it comes to families and children, we all need more wisdom, and we can find it by looking at the Lord's family. Their story shows us some very wise things to do.

1. FIRST: WE MUST HELP CHILDREN DISCOVER GOD'S BEST FOR THEIR LIVES.

*We should help as many children as possible discover God's best for their lives, and today's Scripture shows us what this means. For example, in vs. 40, the Child Jesus "grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him." We also see God's best for children down in Luke 2:52, where "Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men."

*Roger Thomas explained that "the 4 areas of Jesus' growth show us what every Christian should want for children, and for ourselves. Jesus grew in wisdom, and that means much more than just a good education. Biblical wisdom means having humble reverence for the Lord, and living accordingly.

*Jesus not only grew in wisdom. He also grew in stature. Physical health matters to God, and kids need to know that. They need to know that our bodies are a gift from God, and He wants us to take good care of them." (2)

*Jesus also grew in "favor" or "grace" with God: That's spiritual growth. Not that Jesus ever needed God's grace to be saved like all of the rest of us do. But that as Jesus grew up, He always lived a perfect life in His human body. Jesus was always pleasing to His Heavenly Father. So when the Lord was baptized, Matthew 3:17 says: "Suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, 'This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.'"