1. OPENING PRAYER

2. JANUARY - THE COURAGEOUS FAMILY: IMPACT OF FAMILY VALUES ON THE QUALITY OF RELATIONSHIPS FEBRUARY - SEMINAR RECAP: KEY LEARNING POINTS - “BLESSING” A POWERFUL VALUE : THE IMPORTANCE & POWER OF PARENTAL BLESSINGS MARCH - IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF OUR RELATIONSHIPS Family Life Ministry Q1 Theme FAMILY VALUES & QUALITY OF RELATIONSHIPS Q2 Theme Effective Family Finance Management

3. Focus on the Family Topics: Improving the quality of our Relationships 1 Peter 3:8-12

4. 8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: 9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. 10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: 11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.the righteous Text: 1 Peter 3:8-12 (KJV)

5. What is Relationship Relationship as defined in dictionary.com is a connection, association or involvement. Relationship is a connection between persons by blood or marriage. Relationship is an emotional or other connection between people. Relationship could also mean an affair.

6. What are the different types of Relationships?

7. What are the Types of Relationships For ease, I’ll divide relationships into 4 categories namely; A Relationship between Christ and the church B Relationship in the family C Relationship between business partners D Relationship between leaders and the people. 1Jesus Christ and the Church 1Peter5:6-7, Ephesians5:23 2Husband and Wife 1Peter3:10, Ephesians 5:33 3Parent and Children 1timothy3:12, Ephesians 6:1,

8. What are the Types of Relationships 1Pastor and Congregation Exodus 32:7-14, Deuteronomy 10:6, 1Peter5:2-4, 1Peter4:11 2Siblings 1Peter3:8,9 3Friends (David and Jonathan) 1 Samuel 18:3, 1Samuel23:16 4Employer and Employee 1Peter3:15 5Teacher and student Proverbs23:12(good news version says pay attention to your teachers and learn all you can)psalm25:12 6Leaders and the people1Peter2:13-15

9. For tonight’s teaching, we shall be focusing on the family Relationship. What is a Family? Dictionary.com defines family as: A basic social unit consisting of parents and their children, considered as a group, whether dwelling together or not: It also defines family as all those persons considered as descendants of a common progenitor. Therefore family relationship can be defined as a basic social unit consisting of parents and their children, considered as a group whether dwelling together or not but having connections between persons by blood or marriage.

10. Relationship can be classified into two groups, namely: Healthy and Unhealthy relationship. What is an unhealthy relationship?

11. An unhealthy relationship is a relationship that is sick… It is an unhappy relationship. It is a relationship that is not sound. It is a weak relationship. It is an abnormal relationship not in a state of good or normal health; in an unsound, weak, or morbid condition.

12. What are the causes of unhealthy relationships?

13. 1Never admitting wrong doing (Saul) 2Taking the other person for granted 3Not being responsive to the feelings of the other person 4Not spending time together 5Always wanting to have your way 6Always talking and not listening 7Lack of trust 8Lack of integrity 9Lack of tolerance 10Pride 11Superiority complex 12Lack of Christ

14. What are the consequences of unhealthy relationship?

15. 1Divorce 2Bad behavior 3Lack of communication 4Repression of feelings and thoughts 5Selfishness 6Secrecy 7Disobedience 8Anger 9Judgmental 10Hatred 11Abuse (verbal, emotional,physical) 12Unanswered prayers 1 peter3:7 13Death

16. How do we improve our relationship?

17. 1Don’t be a mind reader 2Say sorry 3Don’t take the other person for granted 4Be reasonable in the method of teaching (headship is not making all the decisions) 5Be responsive to the feelings of the other party 6Spend time together (there is something more than making a living, it is sharing lives) 7Don’t be judgmental 8Respect each other

18. How do we improve our relationship? 9Give gifts (not necessarily expensive) 10Love each other (1peter 1:22b) 11Talk and allow the other to talk also 12Putting our knowledge into action (we like to learn new ways but refuse to put what we have learnt into action). 13Live peaceably (it is the duty of a Christian not only to embrace peace when offered, but to seek and pursue it when it is denied). 14Putting on the grace of God ( the longer we wear the grace of God, the brighter and better God’s grace is on our lives.

19. What is a Healthy Relationship?

20. My definition of a healthy relationship is a relationship that is one minded, compassionate, tenderhearted, courteous, full of love, life, good days, no evil, no deceit, a relationship that doeth good, is peaceful it is an answer to prayers. Is this kind of relationship possible? Yes…1Peter 3:8-12

21. How can we sustain a healthy relationship?

22. 1Have respect for each other not fear 2Talk about your goals, challenges, etc. 3Discuss successes and failures easily without fear or shame 4Keep doing whatever works for your home, don’t compare your home with others 5Pray together How can we sustain a healthy relationship?

23. Brethren, if we can adhere to 1 Peter 4:8 which says; “And above all things have fervent love for one another, for LOVE WILL COVER A MULTITUDE OF SIN” I believe the Lord is telling us today that there is something more than making a living, it is sharing lives. In conclusion; The reasons for sick (unhealthy) relationships can NEVER be so great that we CAN NEVER have stronger reasons to (have a healthy relationship)!

24. Audience Q&A What questions do you have about today’s teaching?

25. Prayer & Closing If your relationships are healthy, pray that God will continue to bless your relationships and keep them improving on an ongoing basis If you can identify some relationships that you are in that are unhealthy, pray that God will restore good health to those relationships