Scripture Texts: Deuteronomy 11:18-21; Exodus 20:10; Luke 12:15;
Ephesians 4:29-32; John 14:23-24

As we begin this study concerning the Christian home, we will find that nothing strengthens the home as much as obeying God's Word and following His plan.
The world has many serious problems. Their solution depends upon the kind of people involved. To produce good people, we must have good homes, Christian homes, homes that actually follow the rules God has given in the Bible. The quality of the world depends upon the quality of the homes. The enemy of souls is striking out in every possible way in our day to destroy the foundation of our homes. In the training of children, the home is first in responsibility. The church can only help. The title of this study might also read: Better Homes for a Better World.

MEMORY VERSE: 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).

Family Worship

Deuteronomy 11:18-21 In learning God's pattern for a Christian home, look back to His command to the Israelites. Ye shall teach them [God's Words] your children, speaking of them when thou sittest ... walkest ... liest down, and when thou risest up. Discuss the Bible in the home often. God attached a promise–their days and those of their children were to be multiplied as the days of heaven upon the earth. God tells us here that if we want our home to be a little piece of Heaven, full of peace, love, joy, and rest, we must love, teach, talk of, and follow God's Word.

The first institution that God set up was the home. The first people were set in a family. A family is a group of people closely related, as are parents and children. A home is the place where the affections and activities of the family are centered. The heart of the Christian home is daily family worship. At this time all else should be laid aside to read the Bible, kneel together in prayer, and perhaps sing a hymn.

God-Given Authority

Exodus 20:10 The fourth of the Ten Commandments forbade any work on the Sabbath day, thou, nor thy son ... daughter ... manservant ... maidservant ... cattle ... stranger ... within thy gates. The Sabbath day is a type of the holy life. Work on the Sabbath day was a type of sin's bondage. To keep the Sabbath, an Israelite must not only keep from work (sin) himself, but he must keep all those under his control from working. To live a holy life, we must not only keep from sin ourselves, but we must prevent the practice of sin by those under our authority in places where we have control. This includes our children and home at all times and our guests, servants, and employees while they are in our home. We cannot save these ones, but it is our duty to remove obstacles from the way to salvation by prohibiting sinful actions. By this authority a parent punishes a child for disobedience. This discipline, if used without love, will embitter and harden and drive away from the Lord. But administered in the gentle kindness of love, it builds godly character. A parent's responsibility extends to the dress, pleasures, reading material, associates, and all activities of the children anywhere, or of anyone in the home. Love makes a happy home. God is love (1 John 4:7-8).

The Invasion of the Home

As man was made in the image of God, so the home was made in the image of Heaven. The dearest name God has given us by which to know Him is "Father," and the dearest name by which we can know each other is "brother" and "sister." The enemy of souls is very much aware of the power of influence of the Christian home. This is why he moves so quickly and works so hard to destroy the heart of the home. Destroy the home and you destroy the church, the school, the nation, society, and civilization. As the image of God in man has been marred by sin, so has the image of Heaven in the home been marred by the same poison of Satan.

Luke 12:15 Beware of covetousness. Covetousness causes many mothers to work outside the home, robbing it of her presence, care, teaching, and training, just to gain material things. God's way, or rule, is that mothers stay at home with the children, teaching, guiding, and loving them. There are exceptions to the rule, but exceptional cases must be worked out with God. We are dealing only with the rule. A home is not built on material things (Proverbs 15:16-17). A good home must have high standards. One of these is that righteousness is the thing to be sought, not material possessions (Matthew 6:33; 2 Corinthians 4:18).

Ephesians 4:29-32 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth ... minister grace unto the hearers. The right example is the best teacher. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God. To offend one of these little ones grieves the Spirit of God (Matthew 18:6). This is serious. Bitterness ... wrath ... anger ... clamour ... evil speaking ... malice easily spring up in a home to ruin it. These are to be put away from you. Only by having the heart cleansed of sin can this be done. These are sins and spring from sinful hearts. Children are not born saved. Christian parents–watchful, loving, guiding–can curb these bad traits and train in better ones. Then as each child is saved and filled with the Spirit of God, the Christian character of the home is perfected. First, in our homes, then in all our relationships, we are commanded to be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another. Only a Christian home can practice these.

Christ, the Heart of the Home

John 14:23-24 Jesus answered ... we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. (Read Revelation 3:20.) No home can be Christian without Christ. To have Him in the home, we must have Him in our hearts. Jesus described the most intimate and precious relationship that we can have–Jesus and the Father living with and in us, each loving the other. We show our love to Him by obeying His Words. Any home where this relationship prevails is a good home. Any home which lacks this falls short.

JUST A THOUGHT

Be content with what you have, but never
with what you are.

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