The subject of the home is never an untimely one. Throughout the history of the world, it has always been a subject of great importance. The home is timeless and should never have reason to change.
The home is not just a place to eat, sleep and "hang your hat." Many people live in houses but don't realy live in a home.
The Bible speaks about the home. God instituted the home. And only God has the right to determine how the home is meant to function.
Relationships that exist in the home
- Husband ---> Wife (Ephesians 5:25,28,29)
- Wife ---> Husband (Ephesians 5:22-24)
- Child ---> Parent (Ephesians 6:1-3)
- Parent ---> Child (Ephesians 6:4)
Families with a Spirit of Unity
Joshua's house (Joshua 24:15). Joshua knew that much of Israel was determined to disobey God. Joshua and his family took a different stand.
The household of Cornelius (Acts 10:2). He and his family came into the church in unity.
Lydia (Acts 16:13-15). Lydia's family was also added to the church along with her.
The jailer (Acts 16:19-33). He, along with his family, obeyed the gospel in the same night.
Someone once said that two things are essential for a successful family:
1) A good work ethic. Parents should have it and children should be taught it.
2) The influence of the Bible. The Bible is the bread of life. When this standard is taken away from the home, then it is no wonder that a home is likely to fall apart.The incentive to work and the influence of the Bible do not happen by accident. This is where the roles of the parents are so vital (2 Timothy 1:5).
The role of wife and mother ---> nurturer.
The role of husband and father ---> backbone and guide.Things children need from their parents
1) Love and understanding. Every child has feelings. Every child wants to know that their feelings are understood and that they are loved.
2) Instruction. The child needs, and wants, guidance. A child feels secure when he or she is told what to do and what not to do.
3) Discipline. What is the motive of discipline? Correction! Without correction taking place, discipline has no meaning! (Proverbs 13:24; Proverbs 22:15; Proverbs 29:15)
In administering discipine:
1) Don't use crude or rude language.
2) Don't discipline your child in the presence of others. If you do so, the child will likely be thinking about embarrasment of the moment and not about the real reason they are being punished.
3) Never slap a child in the face. This is nothing more than humiliating. God has given a proper place for a strike with the hand.4) New adventure. Wise parents will provide healthy excitement and adventure for their children. Unfortunately, too many children have found their adventure on their own.
Ephesians 5:25,28,29
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church.Ephesians 5:22-24
22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.Ephesians 6:1-3
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
2 Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;
3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.Ephesians 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
Joshua 24:15 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.
Acts 10:2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.
Acts 16:13-15
13 And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.
14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.
15 And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.Acts 16:29-33
29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,
30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.2 Timothy 1:5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.
Proverbs 13:24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
Proverbs 22:15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
Proverbs 29:15 The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.
