2. Ephesians 5:15,16 ESV “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.”

3. Forces Attacking the Family Philosophies  Humanism  Secularism  Evolution  Situation Ethics Man is the measure of all things Rejects supernaturalism Ignore anything religious Life descended from lower forms No objective standards Decide at the time

4. Forces Attacking the Family  Materialism  Sexual promiscuity  Homosexuality  Divorce  Public policy  Children’s rights movement  Abortion  Euthanasia  Entertainment Media  Educational system  Welfare state

5. Forces Attacking the Family We can serve God faithfully in our families!

6. Daniel 3 - Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.” - Dan. 3:16 “…let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up." - Dan. 3:18

7. They had been serving God before the test arrived ! That is the key for the survival of our families today !

8. What is “Serving God” ? “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15 to work (in any sense)

9. “If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will [my] Father honour.” John 12:26 2 Corinthians 8:5. “And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.” We “serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear” - Heb. 12:28.

10. How does “Serving God” Help? It builds faith “And this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” - 1 Jn. 5:4,5 Eph. 6:10,11 - put on the whole armor of God - stand against the devil Heb. 11:33,34 - examples of what men of faith have done

11. How does “Serving God” Help? It builds Genuine Character 2 Pet. 1:5-11 - Christian Graces gives strength Paul prayed “…strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man” - Eph. 3:16 1 Cor. 15:58 “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”

12. “Serving God” builds deep Relationships in the family “…the effective working by which every part does its share” - Ephesians 4:16 NKJV Rom. 1:12 “That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.” Romans 15:1 “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, …”

13. “Serving God” builds Courage Without courage we are lost 1 Corinthians 16:13 “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.” Ephesians 6:13 “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

14. We must make up our minds which side we are going to serve. We cannot conquer sin while compromising with it.

15. We can serve God faithfully in our families !

16. Sermon by Arthur Pigman Evans Church of Christ 515 Gibbs Road Evans, Ga. 30809 706-855-1249evanscoc@bellsouth.netwww.evansgachurchofchrist.org Sunday Morning August 18, 2013