Heaven Help The Home!

"Heaven Help the Home!"

Author: Dr. Neal Gray

Passage: Psalm 127:1, KJV

Purpose: Unless God builds our home, we labor in vain. The Lord must be at the center, both individually and as a family. Then God will make our roles of husband, wife, and children, very clear and joyful. Heaven will help our homes! The Lord will help our homes! Amen.

INTRODUCTION

Opening

I admit it: I’m a Christian. And it is Christ, His desire, and His gospel that motivate my actions. Okay. And I care for people’s well-being, too.

I also understand that the Christian family home is the most dynamic means of spreading our Christian faith. A Christian home stands out in bold relief in a pagan society. Christian families produce Christian children much better than unbelieving families. I love it when a person tells me, "Pastor, I’m a 3rd generation Christian." Paul knew of such a person, Timothy:

"When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also." (2 Timothy 1:5)

Friends, God can save pagan, unbelieving children--but He shouldn’t have to! Our homes must--really must--provide the distinctive Christian environment for our children. The disappearance of such homes from the scene alarms me. It ought to shake us awake. We can be helped only when we realize that it is God who must build our homes.

Scripture

Our Scripture is as follows:

"(A Song of degrees for Solomon.) Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain." (Psalm 127:1)

A FEW FAMILY "STORIES"

Introduction

Your family life can be, and should be, a life that includes many fun and rewarding things. Besides the wonderfulness of the husband/wife relationship, children are so rewarding. Here are a few jokes, or maybe true stories!

You Be Jesus!

A mother was preparing pancakes for her sons, Kevin, 5, and Ryan, 3. The boys began to argue over who would get the first pancakes off the griddle.

Their mother saw a teaching opportunity for a moral lesson. So Mom chimes in: "If Jesus were sitting here, He would say, ’Let my brother have the first pancake. I can wait.’"

Kevin turned to his younger brother and said, "Ryan, you be Jesus!"

Why Did God Do That?

A father was at the beach with his son, a four-year old. As they walked together on the shore, they came to where a seagull lay dead in the sand.

"Daddy, what happened to him?" the son asked.

"He died and went to heaven," the dad replied.

After a few moments of thought, the boy asked, "Did God throw him back down?"

A Wife is Good?

At Sunday School they were teaching how God created everything, including human beings.

Little Johnny, a boy in the kindergarten class, seemed especially intent when they told him how Eve was created out of one of Adam’s ribs.

Later in the week, his mother noticed him lying as though he had a stomach ache, and said, "Johnny, what is the matter?"

Little Johnny responded, "I have a pain in my side. I think I’m going to have a wife."

Ask the Real Blessing

The pastor’s wife invited some people to Sunday dinner after church. At the table, she turned to their six-year old daughter and said, "Would you like to say the blessing?"

"Mommy, I don’t know what to say," the girl replied.

"Just say what you have heard Mommy say when she talks to God," the wife answered.

The daughter bowed her head. "Lord," she started out so solemnly, "why on earth did I invite all these people to dinner?"

Take My Allowance

After the church service one Sunday morning, a little boy walked up to the Pastor. "Here, Preacher, I want to give you half of my allowance this week," and he put two quarters in the pastor’s hand.

A bit stunned, but gratified as the little boy’s generosity, the Pastor replied, "Well, thank you, Tommy. But why?"

Tommy quickly answered, "Because my Daddy says you are one of the poorest preachers we’ve ever had."

THE ART OF FAMILY LIVING

Introduction

Okay, well, let’s take a stab at preaching, shall we?

The Lord is waiting for us to get more serious about our family lives. As unhappy as the news is, I tell you today that your family and your children are at risk.

For example, I cry to think how common it is today for your child to be made to feel "unusual, strange, or different" from others at school, just because he or she is a Christian.

Parental Rejection Taught as Normal

So common it is today for the basic foundations of Christianity be at odds with even the teaching given at public schools. One of my seminary professors told the story of his daughter hearing such things.