Rev. David Holwick
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
November 8, 1992
Joshua 24:14-22
WHO DOES YOUR FAMILY FOLLOW?
I. Is Christ in your home?
A. The family has a critical role in passing on the faith.
"The facts show that it is the family which is the main center
of maintaining the religious spirit....
We cannot accept that blind and ignorant people raise their
children in their own image and deform them...
"We cannot and we shall not remain indifferent to the fate of
children on whom their parents -- fanatical believers -- in
reality commit an act of spiritual violence.
We are not indifferent to the fact that, in the Soviet society,
a family is a cell of communist education or a refuge of
backward conceptions."
These words were spoken in 1964 by one of Nikita Khrushchev's
chief deputies.
Khrushchev was reported in the West to be a liberal, but his
attitude toward Christians was worse than Stalin's.
He began an intense persecution that threw thousands of believers
in prison.
The Russians feared Christianity so much they forcibly took
children from their believing parents.
They apparently knew something that many Christian parents
ignore - the family is the key to passing on faith in Jesus.
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B. Many families neglect their duty.
1) Decline of devotions, prayer, even church attendance.
a) Remember how you were brought up in church.
b) Do your children, grandchildren have same commitment?
2) I meet many who vaguely believe in Jesus.
a) Their religious commitment consists of spiritual thoughts,
not real prayer.
b) But they are ignorant of Bible.
c) Their values are shaped by the world, not God.
d) Their beliefs are a hodgepodge of fads and fantasy.
3) Jesus demands a full commitment. Not a "taste."
a) A "smiggin" of religion will not save your family.
C. Church and Sunday School show the signs of decline.
1) Since 1970, 14 million people have dropped off S.S. rolls.
a) 34 percent decline.
b) Ledgewood had a 43% decline since 1970 - 135 to 77.
c) We even began as a Sunday School!
2) Implication - Large numbers of American children are
missing out on religious training.
a) In 1970, 10% of population said they had no
religious training as a child.
b) In 1987, 27 percent responded the same way. #80
3) Results of a Lilly Foundation survey:
"Of all the areas of congregational life we examined,
involvement in an effective Christian education
program has the strongest tie to a person's growth
in faith."
CT,10/8/90,p 29
II. Put God first in your family.
A. Do you know where your loved ones stand spiritually?
1) Are they saved? Are you certain? How do you know?
a) Song "Will the Circle Be Unbroken?" reminds us of the
seriousness of salvation. 2 Tim 1:5
b) It is not something we should put off, or hope for the
best. Call for a commitment. (like Joshua did)
2) Families should not be afraid to talk about God.
a) Especially of a personal nature.
b) Encourage a heart-felt commitment.
3) Families should be very careful how they talk about other
Christians.
a) Some have "grilled pastor" for lunch each Sunday.
b) Your kids pay most attention to the negatives.
B. Develop spiritual habits in your family.
1) Before bed, Sarah insists on prayer, a kiss, and a tuck in.
a) Grace before meals.
b) Christian books.
2) Personal devotions.
a) If you are not growing spiritually, how can you expect
your family to?
b) Share your insights with family members.
C. Church should not be an afterthought.
1) Modern families face a smorgasbord of activities.
a) Commitment to church is harder now. Lots of competition.
1> To be a Christian, you have to go against the flow,
just like Joshua. Josh 24
2> Jesus' family was committed, and attended Passover
every year, though most didn't. Luke 2:41
b) Like any habit, the most benefit comes from consistency.
2) Church can provide some exciting alternatives.
a) Example: numerous families raking leaves for shut-ins.
1> Fun to work together as families and a church.
2> Emotionally moving to see how shut-ins appreciated it,
including "Pharaoh, Pharaoh" serenade.
b) For families that are atomizing, church commitment can
connect us with ourselves and others.
III. Exhibit real faith in your home.
A. Teach spiritual principles as well as the standard stories.
1) Important to pass on generation to generation. 2 Tim 3:14f
2) Integrate faith with life.
a) It is not for Sunday morning only.
b) Too many kids end up with God in a box - a small one -
because they don't know how to think as Christians.
c) God is more than a moral base. He made the world.
3) The world may be teetering, but we have a destiny!
B. Be real - don't make faith yucky.
1) Our children can tell when we really believe something and
when we are giving lip service.
2) Be conscious of sin. Religion is easily manipulated to gain
our own ends.
3) Keep an eternal perspective on life.
From a "Calvin & Hobbes" cartoon a few years ago:
Calvin: Dad, can you get my ball out of the gutter again?
Dad: This is the third time this afternoon!
I thought I told you to play out back!
Calvin: Relax, Dad. It's just a ball in the gutter.
It's not as if I've been embezzling money or
killing people, right?
Aren't you glad I'm not stealing and murdering?
(Dad walks away. Calvin turns toward the reader:)
I always have to help Dad establish the proper context.
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C. Be loving and caring.
1) John Stevens writes:
"Biblical love creates an environment of security in which
problems, differences, and mistakes can be worked
through and overcome.
It creates homes in which each member of the family knows
that whatever happens, acceptance, forgiveness, and
love will never be withheld from him or her."
#2338
2) The greatest gift we can impart is love.
IV. What if your family is divided?
A. Jesus knew this could happen, and warned of its pain. Matt 10:34
B. Paul says a Christian has a sanctifying effect on EVERY
relationship. 1 Cor 7:14
1) Godliness has real power.
2) Pray for them, set a good example. 1 Pet 3:1
3) Jeanne Stewart prayed 40 years, and Jim accepted Christ.
V. Who will lead the way?
A. We need leaders like Joshua, who stood up for what he believed.
B. Will your family commit itself to Jesus today?
