The Home from God
  1. Introduction
    1. Today’s subject has always been an important part of the bible.
      1. It has been since the beginning Gen 3:16

        2. (Gen 3:16 KJV) Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

      2. It has provided a foundation for many others subjects
        1. "Homes are the building blocks of civilization" – Arnold Toynbee
        2. Using the same figure – Godly home is the building blocks of a sound church.
    2. Intended purpose during this Bible study to:
      1. Consider what the home is
      2. Impress upon our minds what the home has become today
      3. Remind us of some attributes that are found in a Christian or Godly home.
  2. What is Home
    1. What is home to us?
      1. Is it a place where we sleep at night?
      2. Is it the place where we grew up?
      3. Is it the house you own?
    2. Various people through the years have described the home in poetry and literature.
      1. A very familiar is – Home is where the heart is. - Pliney
      2. It is told that Robert Frost "Home is the place where, when you have to got there, they have to take you in."
    3. Home is defined by Webster as:
      1. One’s dwelling place; the abode of one’s family
      2. The social unit or center formed by a family living together
    4. Realize that things that men say about the home maybe true but it is more important to consider what God says of the home.
  3. But first, let’s consider the way the world sees the home
    1. Worldly home is opposite of God’s Home
    2. The world’s view of home
      1. Two mothers, two fathers
        1. Homosexual lifestyle
        2. Bible forbids such in passages as Rom 1:26-27
      2. Single Parents Home
        1. World applauds women who decide not to marry but want to have children and raise a family – Not God’s plan
        2. Not saying that unwed women with children can not go to heaven – Example: those who made mistakes in life and are doing their best in difficult circumstances
        3. Nor criticizing those who through no fault of their own – are placed in a difficult situation (man leaves)
      3. Remember young widows are encouraged to marry
        1 Tim 5:14

        4. (1 Tim 5:14 KJV) I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

        1. Not saying everyone must be married
          1. Paul wasn’t
          2. If possible that is better
        2. But marriage and not fornication 1 Cor 7:2

      (1 Cor 7:2 KJV) Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

    3. Immorality of the world has destroyed the home, as God would have it.
    4. Man and women were made to be together Gen. 2:23-24
  4. The scriptures give us a numerous passages that deal with the home
    1. Not to count the number of books written by Christians.
    2. There are many ways to approach this subject.
    3. Let us examine the scriptures for ideas of what type of place is a Godly home.
    4. First, the scriptures shows a Godly home is a place of lawful relationships
      1. Main relationship is Husband & Wife – must be a lawful relationship.
        1. Lawful not only from the laws of men but also according to the Law of God
        2. There are unlawful relationships ref. Mark 6:18
          1. Unlawful for him to have her as a wife.
          2. May not been unlawful for someone else
        3. The law of men may say it is ok, but that does not fit the law of God
        4. Lawful relationship is the joining of man and woman who have the right to be married (God’s law and Man’s Law)
      2. Subsequent relationships exist in the Home
        1. Parents to Child
        2. Child to Parent
      3. The home of God begins the lawful relationship
    5. Next, the scriptures shows a Godly home is a place of Instruction
      1. "What children learn from their parents will stay with them always – what parents fail to teach their children can never be taught by someone else." – Family Circus Comics
      2. Reminds me of Prov 6:22

        3. (Prov 6:22 KJV) When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.

      3. Example – in Timothy and his home(family)
        1. 2 Tim 3:14-15
        2. 2 Tim 1:5
      4. This puts a responsibility on the parents to:
        1. Know the word of God – Deut 6:6, 11:18
        2. And to teach it to their children – Deut 6:7, 11:19
        3. Eph 6:4
      5. And it doesn’t end their – Joel 1:3

        6. (Joel 1:3 KJV) Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation.

      6. But not only do parents instruct in the home We have examples of others teaching in homes also.
        1. Paul while spreading the gospel instructed not only in synagogues and public places but also "house to house" Acts 20:20

      (Acts 20:20 KJV) And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have showed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house,

    6. Thirdly, the scriptures shows a Godly home is a place of prayer
      1. It has been said "A family that prays together stays together"
        1. Christians are taught to pray always – 1 Thess 5:17
        2. And that good comes from prayer – James 5:15-16
      2. Why should we be surprised of the importance of prayer in our families?
        1. Seen on day of Pentecost Acts 2:42-46
        2. Cornelius household Acts 10:2,30
    7. Last for our consideration the scriptures shows a Godly home is a place of hospitality
      1. Also here every child of God is given to Hospitality –
        Rom 12:13, 1 Peter 4:9
      2. Maybe no better place to show a fondness for guest than the home.
      3. Practice is seen in NT
        1. Lydia example – not only cares for family members
        2. But also those who are in need Acts 21:8 in Philip’s house
  5. Our home’s compared to God’s
    1. Having seen things that are a part (according to scriptures) of a Godly Home, consider how does it compare with your home?
      1. Is it founded on a lawful relationship?
      2. Is it guided and instructed by the word of God?
      3. Is prayer a part of your home as it is in God’s home?
      4. Is your home given to hospitality?
    2. Does your home exhibit these and other characteristics of God’s home?
    3. Much more can be taught from scriptures on the subject of the home.
      1. What is its purpose?
      2. The relationships of the Home
      3. The responsibility of the Home
      4. And such.
  6. Conclusion
    1. The home is a basic foundation, It has been from the beginning
      1. Man with immoral ways has perverted the home that God established.
      2. Let us determine like Joshua did in Josh 24:15

      (Josh 24:15 KJV) 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.

    2. This lesson was intended for children of God
      1. It was not designed to teach the lost the way to salvation
      2. However we always want to give those the opportunity to obey the gospel
        1. If you believe that Jesus is the Son of God like Philip told the eunuch in Act 8:37
        2. If you are willing to Repent of sins as commanded in Acts 3:19
        3. And are willing to Confess your faith before men – Matt 10:32
        4. Then be baptized for the remission of your sins
          1. 1 Peter 3:21

            2. (1 Pet 3:21 KJV) The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

          2. Mark 16:16