2. Seven Characteristics Of Strong Families

3. Are Families Getting Stronger Or Weaker?
Pessimism of many individuals
Pessimism of social scientists
Dramatic changes in the past 65 years
But family is still most important

4. What Defines A Strong Family For Us?
Does it endure?
Does it nurture its members?
Does it train up children (if any) in the way they should go?
Does it contribute something to the larger community?
Does it glorify God?

5. First Characteristic Of Strong Families: Commitment
Genesis 2: And Adam said: "This {is} now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man." 24Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

6. First Characteristic Of Strong Families: Commitment
A lifetime commitment, not for just a few years
1 Timothy 5:8 - “But those who won’t care for their own relatives, especially those living in the same household, have denied what we believe. Such people are worse than unbelievers.”

7. Second Characteristic Of Strong Families: Appreciation
Family members should be diamond hunters not injustice collectors (1 Corinthians 13:5)
Courtesy (Proverbs 31:26)
Respect
Privacy
A compliment a day

8. Third Characteristic Of Strong Families: Communication
Husbands and wives need to learn to really listen to each other
Proverbs 18:2 – “Fools have no interest in understanding; they only want to air their own opinions.”
James 1:19 – “…be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.”

9. Third Characteristic Of Strong Families: Communication
And we must work on the communication between parents and children
Deuteronomy 6:7 - “You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.”

10. Third Characteristic Of Strong Families: Communication
We have a word of caution
Proverbs 18:21 - “Death and life {are} in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”
Proverbs 21:23 - “Whoever guards his mouth and tongue Keeps his soul from troubles.”

11. Fourth Characteristic of Strong Families: Time Together
Husbands and wives need time together
Deuteronomy 24:5 – “A newly married man must not be drafted into the army or given any other special responsibilities. He must be free to be at home for one year, bringing happiness to the wife he has married.”
Parents and children also need time together
This is a journey of happiness
Allocating time is a problem for many

12. Fifth Characteristic Of Strong Families: Traditional Roles
Let’s look at Ephesians 5:22-28

13. Ephesians 5: Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. 25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. 28So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself.

14. Fifth Characteristic Of Strong Families: Traditional Roles
The problem in marital happiness today is too many choices not too few
Families were better off when roles were clear
God give us Christian homes!
Let’s read Matthew 7:24-27

15. Matthew 7: "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."

16. Sixth Characteristic Of Strong Families: Strong Values
God’s plan solves problems of jealousy.
The family will be destroyed if we have different value systems.
We can only solve problems when we have common values.
Ephesians 6:14 – “Stand your ground, putting on the sturdy belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness.”

17. Seventh Characteristic Of Strong Families: Strength In Crises
Flexibility
United we stand
Let’s look at Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

18. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 – 9“Two people can accomplish more than twice as much as one; they get a better return for their labor. 10If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But people who are alone when they fall are in real trouble. 11And on a cold night, two under the same blanket can gain warmth from each other. But how can one be warm alone? 12A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.”

19. The Seven Characteristics Of Strong Families
Commitment
Appreciation
Good communication patterns
Spend time together
Traditional roles
Strong value system
Ability to deal with crises