Sermon: Model Your Relationship With God For Your Family
I Thessalonians 1:4-7
For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.
II Thessalonians 2:9-12
The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.
There is an old story about a small boy who closely watched a neighboring pastor building a wooden deck. The boy did not say a word the entire time that he watched. Pleased at the thought that his work was being admired, the pastor finally said to the boy, “Well, son, trying to pick up some pointers on gardening?” “No,” replied the boy, “I’m just waiting to hear what a preacher says when he hits his thumb with a hammer” (from Linda Belleville).
The truth of that story is our actions speak louder than our words. This is especially true with our families. We can talk a good game about faith, but unless we really live what we say we believe, we will have little influence on our loved ones spiritually. The Apostle Paul was a role model of faith. He spoke God’s Word and taught people how to live pleasing to God. But it was in his actions that he demonstrated the faith most powerfully. He was able to say, “be an imitator” of me because he truly lived out what he taught. Can you sincerely say to your children, grandchildren and loved ones, “be an imitator of me” in my walk with the Lord? Do you role model your faith in God in your actions?
This coming Sunday we will give three rules that must be followed in order to spiritually influence our loved ones as we begin a new sermon series entitled, “All in the Family.” Hope to see you then!
