Where Does It Hurt? Society Series

WHERE DOES IT HURT?

Text: Ephesians 5:22-6:4

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 5:22-6:4

INTRODUCTION:

1. In this series we have tried to discuss some of the attributes of families and the individual responsibilities of each family member.

2. We have looked at these areas:

a. We defined the family

b. We looked at the foundation for the home, submission

c. We looked at role of the husband/father

d. We looked at the role of the wife/mother

e. We looked at the role of the children

f. Now we want to put all of this together and see what exactly a family is.

3. To do this we will see two aspects:

a. The family in the social setting

b. The family in the religious setting

4. These two are separate entities but interdependent.

TRANSITION: Let’s begin with the family in the social setting.

I. Families in the social setting

A. To begin with, let us notice that this was important in the rearing of our savior.

1. Luke 2:52, "And Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man."

2. This could easily be the text for this lesson because it introduces both of our issues for discussion.

3. Jesus grew in favor with man.

4. This is the idea of teaching the child to be socially acceptable.

5. He was taught this and it is mentioned by Luke because it is important.

B. "Well," you say, "We are not home here; we are strangers and pilgrims here."

1. That is right, but you try to exist somewhere else.

2. God created this earth to care for us and we must live on it until we are taken to our eternal home.

3. We need to learn to live within its rules and regulations while we abide here.

4. Jesus’ family taught him how to do that. They taught him how to live among people and cooperate with them and get things done.

C. One of the jobs of the family is to socialize children.

1. Socialization is defined as the process of instilling in children the values and beliefs that govern behavior.

2. See, this definition includes the teaching of societal rules by which a culture is governed.

3. In other words, teaching your children how to get along in society.

4. That is different for different cultures.

a. In Ohio if you ask for a Coke you get a Coca Cola. In Mississippi they ask you, "what kind?"

b. In certain Arabic cultures women do not show their faces in public, it is the same as walking around naked in the United States. (Which is not as shameful with some as it should be)

c. Some Asian countries bow instead of shaking hands.

d. In some European countries men kiss the cheek of other men as a greeting. Walk up to someone at Buck’s 66 in Corinth and kiss him and see what happens.

5. Families teach these types of skills to their children.

D. See families are seen as social systems.

1. The structure of families is composed of parts, each having a specific function.

2. Society also has five parts that correspond.

3. For the society these parts are:

a. Family

b. Economics

c. Religion

d. Government

e. Education

4. For the family these parts are:

a. Procreation

b. Socialization

c. Care and protection

d. Help in adapting to changes in society

e. Providing ability to love and be loved

5. Strong family leaders will see these functions and use them to help their family continue to grow.

6. Each part is completely dependent on the other parts.

a. Without procreation socialization cannot occur because there is no one to socialize.

b. Without Socialization, care and protection are difficult because the child does not know the rules for safety in the society.

c. Children cannot love and be loved unless they feel that care and protection and get the needed guidance.

E. Families are important in the social arena for 5 reasons (according to Stephen Barton):

1. Represents what is traditional and stable

2. Most intimate social organization

3. Ubiquitous (Always there)

4. Ties to moral and political concerns

5. Link with religion and higher order of life

F. Families are the foundation for what we learn as we grow.

TRANSITION: Families are important social institutions, but there is more to it than that.

II. Families in religions settings

A. Families were established by God from the very beginning of woman.

1. She was the helper suitable for Adam.

2. She had corresponding aspects that made her the perfect compliment to man and completed the package

3. Man was from that time on to leave father and mother and to cleave to his wife and they would become one flesh.

4. This was the start of the family in the world.