God's Purpose for the Family
The Concept of Family originates from God. It was all God's idea from the beginning. God Created man and women in his image and anticipated that man and woman would be joined together. He called this union of man and women "Becoming one flesh (Genesis 2:24)". In spite of what people think of the institution of marriage today, it is clear that marriage and family is a God created institution and relationship. When God created the family, He gave them distinctly different characteristics as well as different responsibilities. Although there are differences in physique, character, attitude, and personality. God admonishes the members of the family to nurture, honor, and obey one another as harmony must exist in the home. |
God's Purpose for the Church
God has always enlisted communities to be accountable for one another, to help one another to emphasize, sympathize with one another and to love one another. Jesus answered one of the Pharisees with a provocative response, "Love thy neighbor as you love thy self (Matthew 22: 36-40)". Scripture also teaches "How can you love God whom you cannot see yet you do not love your fellow man whom you do see (1 Johns 4:20)". God also stated in Genesis, that man should not be alone. Community happens when to, or more individuals can commune with one another, building each other up, cooperating with another, and forming a chain link that nurtures the true essence of community. An analogy of the community of faith could also be understood by what scripture teaches "For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ (1 Corinthians 12: 12)." Each member of a community serves distinctive purposes making the said community perform at it's equilibrium. |
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Biblical Guidelines for Parents
The ministry of the parent is that of training, educating, teaching and disciple to follow Christ as mature disciples. Scripture puts a high emphasis on parents to train their children in the ways of the Lord. As a matter fact, 37 verses talks about the roles and responsibilities of parents. One of which says to "Train Up a Child in the way it should go (Proverb 22:5)". Children ought not to train children, but more importantly, adults must also be cognizant of their ministry to their children as well as the youth in general. Scripture teaches that parents ought not to provoke their children to anger. A child can be provoked to anger at parents who neglect, abuse, or become absentee parents. Below are a few scriptures that focus on training and equipping our children the fear of the Lord, the Commandments, and covenants:
- Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate. - Psalm 127:3-5
- And so train the young women to love their husbands and children. - Titus 2:4
- Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. - Psalm 37:11
- You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. - Deuteronomy 11:19
- He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments. - Psalm 78:5-7
- You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. - Deuteronomy 6:5
- Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.- 2 Timothy 2:15
- Know then in your heart that, as a man disciplines his son, the Lord your God disciplines you. - Deuteronomy 8:5