Josh. 24:15 [By Ron Halbrook]

Introduction 1. Josh. 24:15 Leadership depends 1 st on spiritual attitude, condition, & role 3

Introduction 2. If we succeed in other areas but fail in spiritual leadership, we fail in our first responsibility. 3. If we fall short in temporal goals but succeed in spiritual leadership, we succeed in God’s sight! 4

Introduction 4. God makes men into spiritual leaders if we are willing: God made man responsible to lead the family Moral & spiritual leadership grows out of loving God & our fellow man How can we become moral & spiritual leaders in the home? 5

III. How Can We Become Moral & Spiritual Leaders in the Home? B. How Does a Man Grow in Leading His Wife? Eph. 5:28-31 He leads his wife in prayer 6

7 28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

III. How Can We Become Moral & Spiritual Leaders in the Home? B. How Does a Man Grow in Leading His Wife? 1 Pet. 2:1-3; Eph. 5:23 He leads his wife in Bible reading & study 8

9 1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, 2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. Christ teaches the church God’s will A husband teaches his wife God’s will

III. How Can We Become Moral & Spiritual Leaders in the Home? B. How Does a Man Grow in Leading His Wife? 1 Pet. 3:7 He treats her in a godly manner: show respect, affection, & gratitude 10

1 Pet. 3:7 He treats her in a godly manner: show respect, affection, & gratitude 11

III. How Can We Become Moral & Spiritual Leaders in the Home? B. How Does a Man Grow in Leading His Wife? Eph. 5:28-31; 1 Pet. 3:7 He communicates: opening his heart to her & listening to her heart 12

Eph. 5:28-31; 1 Pet. 3:7 He communicates: opening his heart to her & listening to her heart So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

14 Eph. 5:28-31; 1 Pet. 3:7 He communicates: opening his heart to her & listening to her heart

III. How Can We Become Moral & Spiritual Leaders in the Home? B. How Does a Man Grow in Leading His Wife? Heb. 13:4 Sexual fidelity & purity help him lead by building trust, security, & respect 15 4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

III. How Can We Become Moral & Spiritual Leaders in the Home? B. How Does a Man Grow in Leading His Wife? His skill in leading the family unit impacts the wife 16

III. How Can We Become Moral & Spiritual Leaders in the Home? C. How Does a Man Grow in Leading His Children? Eph. 6:4 He leads his children in prayer 17 4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

III. How Can We Become Moral & Spiritual Leaders in the Home? C. How Does a Man Grow in Leading His Children? 1 Pet. 2:1-3; Eph. 6:4 He leads them in Bible reading & study 18

1 Pet. 2:1-3; Eph. 6:4 He leads them in Bible reading & study 19 1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, 2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

III. How Can We Become Moral & Spiritual Leaders in the Home? C. How Does a Man Grow in Leading His Children? Acts 17:11; Eph. 6:4 He helps them prepare for their Bible class lessons 20

Acts 17:11; Eph. 6:4 He helps them prepare for their Bible class lessons These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. 4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

III. How Can We Become Moral & Spiritual Leaders in the Home? C. How Does a Man Grow in Leading His Children? Eph. 6:4; Col. 3:21 He treats them in a godly way by showing respect, affection, & gratitude 22

Eph. 6:4; Col. 3:21 He treats them in a godly way by showing respect, affection, & gratitude Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. 4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

III. How Can We Become Moral & Spiritual Leaders in the Home? C. How Does a Man Grow in Leading His Children? Eph. 6:4 He communicates: opening his heart to them & listening to their hearts 24 4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

III. How Can We Become Moral & Spiritual Leaders in the Home? C. How Does a Man Grow in Leading His Children? Eph. 6:4; Heb. 13:4 He provides their sex ed with God in the picture 25

Eph. 6:4; Heb. 13:4 He provides their sex ed with God in the picture 26 4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. 4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

III. How Can We Become Moral & Spiritual Leaders in the Home? C. How Does a Man Grow in Leading His Children? Eph. 6:4; Heb. 12:6-11 He provides discipline: balanced & consistent 27 4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Eph. 6:4; Heb. 12:6-11 He provides discipline: balanced & consistent 28 6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

Eph. 6:4; Heb. 12:6-11 He provides discipline: balanced & consistent 29 9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

III. How Can We Become Moral & Spiritual Leaders in the Home? C. How Does a Man Grow in Leading His Children? He teaches them to give as we prosper cheerfully  Eph. 4:28; 6:4 He teaches we make a living by honesty & diligence, then we give to God 30

 Eph. 4:28; 6:4 He teaches we make a living by honesty & diligence, then we give to God 31 4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

III. How Can We Become Moral & Spiritual Leaders in the Home? C. How Does a Man Grow in Leading His Children? He teaches them to give as we prosper cheerfully  1 Cor. 16:2; 2 Cor. 9:7 He teaches we worship God by giving as we prosper cheerfully 32

 1 Cor. 16:2; 2 Cor. 9:7 He teaches we worship God by giving as we prosper cheerfully 33 2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

III. How Can We Become Moral & Spiritual Leaders in the Home? C. How Does a Man Grow in Leading His Children? His skill in leading the family unit impacts the children 34

Invitation 1. Josh. 24:15 Leadership depends 1 st on spiritual attitude, condition, & role 35

Invitation 2. If we succeed in other areas but fail in spiritual leadership, we fail in our first responsibility. 3. If we fall short in temporal goals but succeed in spiritual leadership, we succeed in God’s sight! 36

Invitation 4. God makes men into spiritual leaders if we are willing: God made man responsible to lead the family Moral & spiritual leadership grows out of loving God & our fellow man How can we become moral & spiritual leaders in the home? 37

Invitation 5. All of us can be faithful children in God’s family: Gal. 3:26-27 Enter by obedient faith 38

Invitation 5. All of us can be faithful children in God’s family: Acts 8:22 Restored if repent, confess, & pray 39