Call to Presence and Invocation And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (ESV)

Leader: Passing on the faith is an important calling. Our relationship with God existed before birth and can continue to be nurtured in many and unique ways throughout one’s lifetime. This lifelong journey is nurtured when the congregation and home become intentional in teaching, modeling, and encouraging all in their faith journey.

Congregation: We are grateful for the freedom and opportunity we have to nurture faith. We confess that we often take this privilege for granted. Guide us oh Lord as we seek to make faith nurturing a priority in our homes and congregations.

Leader: The congregation and the home intentionally partner together to shape faith in people of all ages. Persons living in households: We need the congregation to train, support, and provide spiritual care for us as we attempt to follow Christ faithfully in our homes and daily life.

Christian educators (teachers, education committee members, club leaders, etc.) Because it takes more than Sundays alone to grow in relationship with God, we need homes to partner with us in this task by taking time for God every day of the week.

Leader: The congregation has a primary role to strengthen and support families and households in their faith-shaping responsibilities. Christian educators: We will teach with passion and conviction. We will do our best as we prepare our lessons. We will strive to get to know our students and engage them in the learning process.

Children and Youth: We will respect our teachers and look forward to learning about God and God’s ways for us. We will respect our teachers and risk learning in ways that help us to grow as Christian disciples. Leader: The Christian home has the primary responsibility to form faith in children and youth.

Parents of Children and Youth: We accept this awesome responsibility and commit ourselves to share our faith with our children and teenagers. We will talk about God when we are at home and when we are away – at mealtime, at bedtime, during car time, during playtime, during sick time – anytime and all the time.

All: And God calls us to a lifelong adventure. This year we want to commit ourselves to growing in our understanding of that call and living out that calling in ordinary and extraordinary ways.

Luke 2:41-52 and Proverbs 22:6 Antioch Children

Call to Worship “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”

Brethren, we have met to worship and adore the Lord our God; Will you pray with all your power, while we try to preach the Word? All is vain unless the Spirit of the Holy One comes down; Brethren, pray, and holy manna will be showered all around. “Brethren, We Have Met to Worship”

Brethren, see poor sinners round you slumbering on the brink of woe; Death is coming, hell is moving, can you bear to let them go? See our fathers and our mothers, and our children sinking down; Brethren, pray and holy manna will be showered all around. “Brethren, We Have Met to Worship”

Sisters, will you join and help us? Moses’ sister aided him; Will you help the trembling mourners who are struggling hard with sin? Tell them all about the Savior, tell them that He will be found; Sisters, pray, and holy manna will be showered all around. “Brethren, We Have Met to Worship”

Let us love our God supremely, let us love each other, too; Let us love and pray for sinners, till our God makes all things new. Then He’ll call us home to Heaven, at His table we’ll sit down; Christ will gird Himself and serve us with sweet manna all around. “Brethren, We Have Met to Worship”

Sharing Of Praises and Concerns Prayer

God, give us Christian homes! Homes where the Bible is loved and taught, Homes where the Master's will is sought, Homes crowned with beauty Your love has wrought, God, give us Christian homes! 504“God, Give Us Christian Homes”

God, give us Christian homes! Homes where the father is true and strong, Homes that are free from the blight of wrong, Homes that are joyous with love and song, God, give us Christian homes! “God, Give Us Christian Homes”

God, give us Christian homes! Homes where the mother, in caring quest, Strives to show others Your way is best, Homes where the Lord is an honored guest, God, give us Christian homes! “God, Give Us Christian Homes”

God, give us Christian homes! Homes where the children are led to know Christ in His beauty Who loves them so, Homes where the altar fires burn and glow God, give us Christian homes! “God, Give Us Christian Homes”

Offertory Prayer Giving of Tithes and Offerings 2 Corinthians 9:6 “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.”

253 Doxology Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Scripture Reading 1 Samuel 30 Rev. Eddie Thompson

How To Fight For Your Family Rev. Eddie Thompson

Introduction “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Matthew 13:44 (ESV)

“Don’t collect for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But collect for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21 (HCSB)

The Treasure Principle You can’t take it with you— but you can send it on ahead.

I. Compounding Joy

The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. Psalms 24:1 (NIV) The silver is mine and the gold is mine,' declares the LORD Almighty. Haggai 2:8 (NIV)

But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today. Deuteronomy 8:18 (NIV)

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV)

Treasure Principle Key # 1 God owns everything. I’m His money manager.

The Responsibility of the steward is to find out what the owner wants done with his assets, then carry out his will.

Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. Romans 14:10, 12 (ESV)

Each one must give as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7 (ESV) Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Philippians 4:4 (ESV)

Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 2 Corinthians 8:2 (NIV)

Giving isn’t a luxury of the rich. It’s a privilege of the poor.

they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. 2 Corinthians 8:4 (NIV)

"But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. 1 Chronicles 29:14 (NIV)

So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. 2 Corinthians 8:6 (NIV)

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9 (NIV)

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15 (NIV)

Giving draws us closer to God—it’s an act of worship— it jump-starts our relationship with God—it opens our fists so we can receive what God has for us—it makes us thankful—it infuses life with joy!

II. Eyes On Eternity

For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done. Matthew 16:27 (NIV)

Will your life be tragic or triumphant? Will you have eternal rewards?

Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account. Philippians 4:17 (NIV)

Revelation 21:1-6

Many Christians dread the thought of leaving this world because they have stored up their treasures on earth, not in heaven.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21 (NIV)

Treasure Principle Key # 2 My heart always goes where I put God’s money. Are you despairing or rejoicing the closer you get to eternity?

Would You bless our homes and fam’lies. Source of life who calls us here; In our world of stress and tension Teach us love that conquers fear. Help us learn to love each other With a love that constant stays; Teach us when we face our troubles, Love’s expressed in many ways. 507 “Would You Bless Our Homes and Families”

When our way is undemanding, Let us use the time that’s ours To delight in simple pleasures, Sharing joys in gentle hours. When our way is anxious walking And a heavy path we plod, Teach us trust in one another And in You, our gracious God. “Would You Bless Our Homes and Families”

From the homes in which we’re nurtured, With the love that shapes us there, Teach us, God, to claim as fam’ly Ev’ry one whose life we share. And thro’ all that life may offer, May we in Your love remain; May the love we share in fam’lies Be alive to praise Your name. “Would You Bless Our Homes and Families”

Let us reach beyond the bound’ries Of our daily tho’t and care ‘Till the fam’ly You have chosen Spills its love out ev’ry where. Help us learn to love each other With a love that constant stays; Teach us when we face our troubles, Love’s expressed in many ways. “Would You Bless Our Homes and Families”

Benediction

Go Forth with the Family Of God Postlude