THE UNION OF TWO INTO ONE

I.       MARRIAGE

Marriage is a union of two hearts, two minds, two souls in one God and one faith.

A.     God Instituted Marriage

1.        The meaning of husband and wife [Ge 2:18, 23, 24]

2.        To raise a family [Ge 1:27-28]

3.        To help each other [Ge 2:18]

B.      One Man, One Wife

1.        Monogamy [Mt 19:4-6]

2.        Godly children [Mal 2:15]

3.        Marry within God's family [Ne 13:25-26]

4.        The Lord hates divorce [Mal 2:16] 

C.     Partnership in Livelihood

1.        Mutual understanding and support [Ecc 4:9-11]

2.        A family:  Parents and children; young and old

3.        Bear consequences together [Ge 12:5; Heb 11:8; Pr 14:1]

4.        Unity of the flesh [1 Co 7:1-5]

D.     A Partnership in Faith

1.        The relationship is built upon love, care, and mutual respect [Eph 5:31-33]

2.        Wives to submit to husbands [Eph 5:22-24; 1 Ti 2:13;  1 Pet 3:6 Sarah obeyed Abraham]]

* The virtuous wife [Pr 31:10ff]

3.        Husbands love your wives [Eph 5:28-29; 1 Pet 3:7]]

4.        Mutual love and respect [Eph 5:33]

5.        Aquila and Priscilla [Ac 18:1-3, 26; Ro 16:3-5a]

6.        Christ will come back to marry His perfect Bride [Rev 19:7-9]

II.    A GOD-LOVING FAMILY

A.     Household of God

1.        Abraham circumcised Isaac as God had commanded him [Ge 21:4]

2.        Practice the word of God [Ps 101:2; Jn 14:15]

3.        Jesus loves Lazarus, Mary, and Martha [Jn 11:5]

 a.      Lazarus - new life (resurrected after four days)

 b.      Mary - devotion

 c.      Martha - service

B.      Christ is the Head of the Family

1.        Love God [Dt 6:5; Mt 22:37]

2.        Build on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ being the corner stone [Eph 2:20]

3.        Seek God's kingdom [Mt 6:33]

4.        Love permeates the family [1 Jn 4:19; Jn 13:34]

C.     Build up Family Altar

1.        Abraham built altar to call on the Lord [Ge 12:6-8; 13:18]

2.        Religious education [Dt 6:5-9]

3.        Parents should lead [2 Ti 1:5]

D.     Family is a Component of the Church

1.        The household of God [Eph 2:19]

2.        Promote spiritual growth of the church [Ac 2:42, 46-47]

3.        Increase membership [Ac 10:44, 48 {Cornelius}; 16:31-36 {The jailor}; 18:7-8 {Crispus}]

4.        Increase financial resource [Ac 2:44-45; 4:34-35, 36-37]

III. RELATIONSHIPS IN THE FAMILY

A.     Children-Parents Relationship

1.        Fifth Commandment [Ex 20:12; Dt 5:16]

2.        Obey your parents [Eph 6:1-3; Col 3:20]

 a.      Do your share in the house

 b.      Fulfill your obligations (e.g. complete your education, no squandering, etc.)

 c.      Behave in everywhere (do not bring shame to your family by misbehaving)                           

B.      Parents-Children Relationship

1.        Parents teach their children when they are young [Prov 22:6]

2.        Do not provoke your children to wrath [Eph 6:4]

3.        Do not discourage your children [Col 3:21]

4.        Avoid favoritism.  [E.g.:  Esau and Jacob; Joseph and his brothers]

C.     Relationship Among Siblings

1.        Do not offend each other [Pr 18:19]

 a.      Jacob and Esau; Absalom and Amnon.

2.        A brother is born for adversity [Pr 17:17b]

 a.      Joseph forgives his brothers [Ge 45:5-8]

 b.      Joseph loves his brothers [Ge 45:15]

 c.      Joseph reassures his brothers [Ge 50:15, 17, 19-21]

IV.  FAMILY CONCERN AND CARE

A.     Provide for Family Needs

1.        Provide for the household [1 Ti 5:8]

2.        The example of Elimelech [Ru 1:1-5]

3.        The good example of Isaac [Ge 26:1-13]

4.        God rewards the god-fearing family [Ps 128:1-6]

B.      Examples of Faith and Families

1.        The example of Eli and his two sons [1 Sa 2:22, 29]

2.        The example of Samuel and his two sons [1 Sa 8:1-3]

3.        The good example of Abraham - Isaac - Jacob [Ex 3:6, 16; Mk 12:26-27]

4.        The good example of Philip and his daughters [Ac 21:8-9]

5.        God intents the entire family be believe in Him [Ge 18:19]

C.     Care and Concern for the Family

1.        For spouse [Ge 2:18]

(a)     Aquila and Priscilla [Ac 18:1-3, 26; Ro 16:3-4]

2.        For parents [Pr 23:22-25]

(a)     Joseph [Ge 43:27; 45:3; 48:21-22]

3.        For children [Pr 22:6; 19:18; 13:24]

(a)     Lydia brought her entire household to the Lord [Ac 16:14-15]

(b)     The jailor brought his whole family to be baptized [Ac 16:32-34]

V.     CARE AND CONCERN FOR THE CHURCH

A.     Family is the Basic Unit of the Church

1.        The household of God [Eph 2:19]

2.        A spiritual house [1 Pet 2:5]

3.        We are joined together into a holy temple [Eph 2:21-22]      

B.      Care for Fellow Brethren

1.        Do good to all, especially those in the same faith [Gal 6:10]

2.        Widows and orphans [Ps 68:5-6; Mt 9:36]

3.        Those who are sick [Mt 8:14-15; Mk 1:29-31]

4.        The weak [Mt 12:20; Ro 14:1; 15:1-7]

5.        The little [Mt 10:42]

6.        The poor [Mt 25:35-40; Lev 19:9-10]

7.        The lost [2 Ti 2:24-26; Gal 6:1-3]

8.        The bereaved [Ro 12:15; Jn 11:35, 43; Lk 7:12-15]

9.        The married [Ro 12:15; Jn 2:1-11]

10.     Fellow holy workers [1 Ti 5:17; 1 Th 5:12-14; Php 4:15-17]

C.     Concern for the Holy Work

1.        Jesus was concerned with the Father's business [Lk 2:49; ref Ps 137:1-6]]

2.        Preach the Word to all nations [Mt 28:19-20; Mk 16:16; Lk 24:47-48; Ro 10:14-15; Ac 1:8]

3.        Shepherd the "sheep" [Jn 21:15-17; 1 Co 3:6]

4.        Pray for the holy workers [Eph 6:18-20; Col 4:2-4]

5.        Pray for all man [1 Ti 2:1-3]

6.        Exercise the gifts for the unity of faith [Eph 4:11-16]

7.        Follow-up and pastoring [Lk 9:1-6; 10:1-11]

8.        Paul's deep concern for the church [2 Co 11:28-29]