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Healthy Relationships: Family

Pastor Scott Applegate

“Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them…” Psalm 127:3-5 NIV

Why is it so important to have a healthy family?

• Healthy families produce healthy people

“Teach children how they should live, and they will remember it all their life.” Proverbs 22:6 GNT

• From our families we learn or have learned:

 How to handle conflict

 How to handle our emotions

 How to handle loss

 Our value system

The ingredients of a healthy family:

1. God

“Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.” Psalm 127:1 NIV

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Proverbs 9:10 NIV

“…But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15 NKJV

2. Time

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” Deuteronomy 6:4-9 NIV

 Training and teaching (2 Timothy 1:5, 2 Timothy 3:14-15)

 Talking

 Togetherness

3. Grace

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.” 2 Peter 3:18 NIV

Healthy families need:
 Grace-filled communication and encouragement

 Grace-filled discipline

 Grace-filled direction

4. Trust

“Friends love through all kinds of weather, and families stick together in all kinds of trouble.” Proverbs 17:17 MSG

 Creates commitment

 Creates unity

 Creates security