at Hebron January 17, 2010 Don’t Forget: Friends/Family Day, Jan.24 Church of Christ

The church as the Family Love FriendshipFidelitySecurity

Pillars of the church Family: We seek security for our: I.Physical Needs II.Emotional/Intellectual Needs III.Spiritual Needs Sec urity

Physical Needs The home is to provide for our physical needs –I Timothy 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. –I Timothy 6:6-11 –Philippians 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

Physical Needs The church can help with our physical needs –Leviticus 11:7—swine as unclean –Leviticus 12:3—eighth day for circumcision –Ephesians 6:3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. –Acts 4:31-37—benevolence (Gal.6:10) –Those who are actively religious were 29% more likely to be alive in a comparative study of more than 40 other studies

Emotional/Intellectual Needs The home should help with our intellectual needs (Proverbs 1:8; 6:20; Ephesians 6:4) – Where do our children get their information? More than ½ of teens report getting some or most of their information about sex from television 83% of episodes of top 20 shows among teens contained some sexual content; 42% of songs on top 10 cds Music videos: 93 sexual situations/hour

Emotional/Intellectual Needs –What do our children do with that information? ¼ of 15-year-old females and around 30% of 15-year-old males have had sex 66% of 18-year-old females and 68% of 18- year-old males We are losing the intellectual battle in our homes

Emotional/Intellectual Needs The home should help with our emotional needs –I Thessalonians 2:7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children

Emotional/Intellectual Needs The church can help with our emotional/intellectual needs –Psalms 73:16-17 When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. –I Thessalonians 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words. – I Thessalonians 5:11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

Spiritual Needs The home should help with our spiritual needs –Titus 2:3-5 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

Spiritual Needs Deuteronomy 6:6-9 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.

Spiritual Needs The church can help with our spiritual needs –The church should be a place of shelter from sin (Revelation 2-3; Ephesians 5:25-27) –The church should be a place of shelter from sinful influence (I Corinthians 5)

The church family should be our refuge Hebrews 6:18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us

The church family should be our refuge Numbers 35:6, And among the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites there shall be six cities for refuge, which ye shall appoint for the manslayer, that he may flee thither: and to them ye shall add forty and two cities. …Then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you; that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any person at unawares. And they shall be unto you cities for refuge from the avenger; that the manslayer die not, until he stand before the congregation in judgment.

Is the church your refuge?