HOW TO HAVE A PERFECT FAMILY EVEN WHEN YOU'RE NOT PERFECT, PART 1 OF 2

HOME IMPROVEMENT, PART 1 OF 2
HOW TO HAVE A HAPPY FAMILY
EVEN WHEN YOU'RE NOT PERFECT
Randal L. Ross
10/31/99
PSA. 127:1-5 GEN 4:1-8, 25


INTRO:

ILL. WHAT IS YOUR SECRET TO A HAPPY FAMILY? THEY
SEEM NORMAL.

1. WE ARE NOT ALWAYS HAPPY, MY CHILDREN DO NOT
THINK WE ARE NORMAL.

2. BUT GOD HAS BLESSED US! OUR FAMILY IS FOLLOWING
GOD. UNITED

A. THAT QUESTION HOLDS A TWO-EDGED SWORD

1. FIRST IT SAYS THAT ARE FAMILIES ARE UNDER GREAT
STRESS, ATTACK,

ILL. GOD HAS COME TO HEAL FAMILIES, TO EMPOWER
THEM, NOT DESTROY THEM

a. WE KNOW THAT FAMILIES ARE UNDER ATTACK BUT WE
ALSO KNOW THAT GOD IS OUR VICTORY, ABLE

2. SECONDLY THERE IS CONFUSION; WE KNOW THAT WE
NEED SOMETHING BUT WE ARE NOT SURE WHETHER WE
ARE DOING RIGHT OR WRONG.

B. THERE IS SOMETHING OFTEN MISSING IN OUR
RELATIONSHIPS; WE NEED HELP

1. for all the teaching on the family, marriage, the LOSS
FACTOR IS GETTING GREATER NOT LESS

2. for the first time in modern history "CHRISTIAN FAMILIES"
ARE DIVORCING AT SAME RATE AS "NON CHRISTIAN".

C. THE PROBLEM OF GUILT

1. the first CHALLENGE WE HAVE IS TO GET BEYOND OUR
GUILT AND PAIN.

2. WE ARE VERY SENSITIVE ABOUT OUR FAMILIES,
OFTEN ENORMOUS GUILT AND AVOIDANCE. WE HATE TO
DEAL WITH IT BECAUSE WE HURT ENOUGH.

3. WE HAVE ENOUGH PAIN IN THE WORLD. WE DO NOT
ENJOY GOING TO CHURCH AND HEARING MORE ABOUT
WHAT WE ARE DOING WRONG...

ILL. HOW TIMES HAVE CHANGED.

1. 20 YEARS AGO HAD FAMILY DAYS. THE CELEBRATION
OF THE FAMILY! GOD'S GREAT BASIC UNIT OF
RELATIONSHIPS. (great attendance)

2. 12 YEARS AGO STOPPED. PEOPLE QUIT COMING! TOO
MUCH PAIN. ANGER.

ILL. I DIDN'T HAVE A FATHER, MY MARRIAGE FAILED AND
THIS IS TOO PAINFUL. MY CHILDREN ARE LOST AND I AM
NOT COMING. DON'T DO THIS.

1. WE HAD TO STOP CELEBRATING AND STANDING FOR
WHAT IS GOD'S CREATION BECAUSE OF OUR PERSONAL
FAILURE AND PAIN.

D. THERE I ...

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