Target Practice Recap!

This past weekend was very cool for me. I was given the opportunity to preach to the congregation of my church about a subject that I’m very passionate about…the family!  I believe that the family is God’s greatest passion on the earth behind the heart of the individual.

I preached on God First, Spouse Second and Kids Third!  This topic is rather controversial to a lot of people because they believe in alternate priority patterns.

Here’s a recap of the sermon:

The Problem:

–          We are all perfectly imperfect sinners raising our families in a completely dysfunctional world and that’s why we need a Perfectly Perfect Savior with a completely functional plan to raise our families.

The Solution:

–          God First – Matthew 22:36:40, Deuteronomy  6:13:15

o   God should be the Bulls eye of our lives!

–          Spouse Second – 1 Corinthians 11:3, Ephesians 5:21-25, Ephesians 5:3

o   Our Spouse should be the next best thing behind our relationship with God.

o   God’s plan is for Husband and Wife to unite as one with Him in the center of it.

–          Kids Third – Deuteronomy 5:16, Proverbs 22:6

o   Kids should be welcome editions to the family and not the centerpiece.

o   If you worship your kids they will let you and they make horrible Gods.

o   Your job is to love, nurture, teach, correct, discipline, and prepare them to GO!

How to Practice God First, Spouse Second, Kids Third:

Practicing Making God the Bulls eye:

–          Establish a Relationship with Him,

–          Pray

–          Read His Word – other material that will help you understand better.  

–          Attend church every week and really Worship Him and Thank Him!

–          Serve in the Church

–          Give to the church – time, talent and treasure

–          Attend Bible studies – Attend Men’s and Women’s ministry meetings

–          Attend a Celebrate Life Group

–          Find friends who are in love with God too.

Practicing making your Spouse Second:

–          Date regularly!

–          Communicate with our spouse about everything. 

–          Be unified with your spouse in parenting decisions or for any other decision for that matter.

–          Be intimate with your spouse regularly.

–          Learn each other’s Love Languages.

–          Cherish each other.

Practicing making your Kids Third:

–          Become the primary teacher for your kids spiritual Growth.

–          Limit the number of Extra-Curricular Activities they have.  1-2 limit.

–          Put kids on schedule when they are a baby and when they get older.

–          Have a decent bed time.

–          Don’t let kids sleep with you in your bed!

–          Eat around the dinner table 3 – 6 days a week.

–          Limit their screen time.

–          Feed them healthy foods.

–          Serve with them in the church and outside the church.

–          Lead by example.

–          Know who their friends are.

–          Teach them God First – Spouse Second – Kids Third.

I would love to see life change happen within the families of the community I serve.  I hope this message will help a family or two to consider some changes that I pray will draw them closer to themselves and to God.  

I pray that these families practice aiming at God’s Target and I’m quite sure they will hit the mark!

Brian