The Building Phase

Intro: What goes into the building phase?

Text. Heb. 11: 7 / Ge. 16: 1

2 approaches to building proactive OR reactive

Examine 3 truths concerning families

Ill: Great Truths from Small Children

When your mom is mad at your dad, don’t let her brush your hair.

If your sister hits you, don’t hit her back.

They always catch the second person.

You can’t trust dogs to watch your food.

Don’t sneeze when someone is cutting your hair.

Puppies still have bad breath even after eating a tic tac.

Ask Why until you understand.

Don’t say that the "Last One is a Rotten Egg" unless you’re absolutely sure there’s a slow kid behind you.

If you don’t like the birthday girl, don’t go to the party.

Your room gets smaller as you get bigger.

Ask where things come from.

Don’t nod on the phone.

3 truths:

1) No Perfect Family

Panel of Women debated on what they thought was a perfect man, a guy who was ’with it ’. You would have thought they would have decided upon some actor or athlete even a wealthy tycoon. They decided that the perfect man was MR POTATO HEAD. 4 Reasons: ’He`s tan, he`s cute, he knows the importance of accessorizing, and if he looks at another girl you can

rearrange his face.

2) Problems In Every Family

Young Boy sitting on the steps to the entry of his home with hands over his face when Dad comes walking up to the house from work Dad asks what’s wrong.. Boy: Having a hard time getting along with your wife too!

3) God Has Provided A Family

The bible says: joined together, built together, heirs together, held together, and will be caught up together

Gen - God said " it is not good for man to be alone" we are created for community, fashioned for fellowship, and formed for a family

In each individual there’s a need to belong

‚ Why some turned to gangs

‚ Relationship after relationship

Different types of Families:

Soldiers } Band Of Brothers

Firefighters } Brothers

Gangs/ Prison Gangs

Church} Family of Faith

Eph 1:5 His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave him great pleasure. New Living Translation

What goes into Building a Strong Family?

I. INVESTING

The best things in life are not things

Invest:

a) TIME

quality + quanity

An individual will give time to which that person thinks is important to him/her

b) FINANCES

Financial planning

should take into account 3 items

1> Fun

2> Future

3> Family

c) SPIRITUALLY

Don’t go to church- take church home

1SA 2:12 Eli’s sons were wicked men; they had no regard for the LORD.

appears there was no spiritual investment taking place with Eli

(the priest)

Building a strong family:

II. INTERCEDING

Power of a praying Wife, Husband, Parent

Latest: Power of a praying single ( joke)

Lk 18: Men ought always to pray and not give up

3 areas we should pray about saved or not:

PROTECTION

PROVISION(why - unsaved) goodness leads to repentance

PHYSICAL HEALTH

III. INTIMACY

1 Cor 8: 1 We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up

How to express intimacy within our homes?

Lk 15: 20 "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

vs. 20 saw him

I. THE LOOK OF LOVE

3 Looks that are given within the home:

Look down - Doesn’t meet our expectation(D’s instead of A’s )

Look Around - pay no attention to them

Look Through - See the need, hurt, heart

LK 15:22 "But the father said to his servants, `Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

II. THE LANGUAGE OF LOVE

each of us have one language we speak

In this passage we see two demonstrated

5 Languages we speak

1} WORDS OF AFFIRMATION

2} QUALITY TIME

3} RECEIVING GIFTS

4} ACTS OF SERVICE

5} PYHSICAL TOUCH

two are demonstrated in Lk.

best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.

1) RECEIVING GIFTS

For this son of mine

2) WORDS OF AFFIRMATION

he didn’t say -> this wicked son,

WE express Intimacy through: The Look + The Language

Desire To Build ?

INVEST

INTERCEED

INTIMACY

....not up to par? Come....