A Biblical Family Portrait

2)     A Biblical Family Portrait 

Ephesians 5: 22- 6:4 

 

4)     Marriage Goal: to serve each other as a living picture of salvation for your children and the world to see

5)     Parenting Goal: to train your children so as adults they will walk with Jesus and lead others to Him   

6)     Primary Colors in the Family Portrait–

1.     Your spiritual life and your marriage are inextricably linked

2.     The most important thing in your child’s life is the strength of your marriage.

3.     A child learns to submit to God by learning to submit to parents.

4.     Parenting must purposefully point to Jesus.        

Encouragement for the Faithful

Two BIG Ideas

1)     Continued, faithful service is hard

2)   There is strong encouragement to continue

 

Reasons Why Serving Is Wearisome

1)     Against the grain in a fallen world

2)   Done in our strength

3)   Pursuing things OTHER than the Lord’s work

4)     Weight of sin

5)     Just half doing—no ownership

 

Three Strong Truths for Encouragement

First Truth: Jesus provides victory—we’re off the hook

“Therefore”…”Not in vain”

 

Second Truth: “Be”

You only have to worry about your character, not comparisons, competitions, results, etc.

Steadfast

Immovable

Always abounding

 

Third Truth: The freedom of focus

“The work of the Lord”

 

Extreme Budget Makeover Home Edition

Budget Exercise: building a Godly character

 

Exercise yourself towards Godliness… but Godliness is profitable for all things …

1 Tim. 4:7-8

 

Profitable? - Proverbs 3

 

budget plan

diligence

Godly character

fruits of wisdom/God’s rewards

 

Examples:

 

Following budget –

wise character that protects and guides - Prov 2: 6-11

 

Tithe/firstfruits –

Godliness, heart for God He blesses - Prov 3:9-10

 

Giving –

a generous spirit God blesses - Prov 11:24-27

 

Accomplishing your goals –

hopeful, confident perspective - Prov 13:12, 19

 

Goal-setting with spouse –

marital oneness - Prov 13:12, 19; 24:3-4

 

Investing for the future –

Future/eternity perspective - Prov 3:16

 

Creating emergency fund/ safety net –

Preparation, peace - Prov 10:15; 6:6-11

 

Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasure with trouble. 

Prov 15:16

 

Test: Luke 18:18-23

 

 

 

 

 

EBMHE - Power of Purposefulness

Extreme Budget Makeover: Home Edition
Power of Purposefulness

The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, but those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty. Prov. 21:5
Plans/diligent – matters of character
Lead – fruit; sowing/reaping (Gal. 6:7-9)
Surely/everyone – faith
Hasty – emotions = enemy

A man who wanders from the way of understanding will rest in the assembly of the dead.
Prov. 21:16

The exercise of pursuing the correct goal produces character.
I Timothy 4, 6
Phil. 3:12-16
Colossians 3:1
Hebrews 12

Budget = spiritual “Total Gym”
Elements:
giving to the Lord
saving “Addison” corp.
emergency fund
goals
saving for large purchases
daily living
family fun

Less than you make;
accountability.

10% - Lord’s money (may be a goal to work towards. Start somewhere – 100 for 100 challenge)
10% - savings to the “Addison” corporation
80% - living

Debt
Pay cash, not credit – become careful and wise with debt.
Rules for debt: must always pay them – always a dedicated revenue stream;
Prov. 22:7 ”slave to the lender”- financial bondage; not for emergencies – should have already saved
for them.
Only for appreciating, value added purchases
Avoid foolish risks
Never to fund emotional purchases- equips your greatest struggle, reverses character development
Wisdom = Savings, not debts

Plans of the diligent develops:
discipline
delayed gratification
faith in process of growth
proper priorities
wisdom
mindset of a “builder”, etc.

Examples:
Goal-setting – marital oneness
Saving for the future – see the future, gives an eternal mindset
Saving for kids’ college – invests you in casting vision for kids
Results produce contentment (1 Tim. 6: 6)
Diligence: what you are passionate about, you pass on
Giver becomes generous
Plenty strengthens faith in God’s work