Rev. David Holwick ZF
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
September 13, 1992
Genesis 19:27-36
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I. Recent debate over family values.
A. Endless speeches, ads, cartoons. (Emmy Awards)
1) Who reflects real values - Democrats or Republicans?
2) Neither - I do.
B. Families under great social and economic pressures.
1) Divorce is up 700% this century, thus many single parents.
2) Both spouses working.
a) Harvard Prof. Armand Nicholi II - kids always suffer.
b) Government and day-care (non-religious, of course).
3) Non-traditional groupings seek recognition.
C. Society is paying a price.
1) Crime, drug use and poverty are directly linked to
disintegrating families.
2) Disintegrating families pass on their troubles to next
generation.
II. What is a family?
A. Biological foundation.
1) Primary purpose of families - to produce and raise kids.
a) Role model is Adam & Eve and their kids.
2) There is obvious strength in a complete family.
a) Male & female influence.
b) Where one has failings, other can have strengths.
3) Murphy Brown debate addresses this.
a) We will always defend an individual parent.
b) But generally, single parents have a tough time.
c) Murphy Brown supporter in Newsweek:
"Mountain of data on difficulties of broken families."
4) Some conservatives argue traditional biological families
are only kind with God's blessing.
B. Nurturing foundation.
1) Not biology, but caring relationships.
a) Love is thicker than blood.
2) Traditional image of family is carry-over from TV ideal.
C. The Bible stresses relationships.
1) Extended families (clans) were the norm.
2) It also describes many non-traditional groupings.
a) Ruth and Naomi. Ruth 1:16-17
b) Paul and Timothy. Phil 2:2; 1 Tim 1:2
3) Broken families should not despair.
a) God can bless your relationships.
b) Jesus himself probably spent his teen years with only
one parent.
1> Joseph never appears after he is twelve.
2> Assumption is that he died.
c) But not every family grouping is acceptable.
III. Where the real battle lies.
A. Definition of a family is not as important as its values.
B. Everyone has values.
1) Our values are shown by our priorities and decisions.
a) Material things, or people?
b) Are we guided by absolutes, or convictions of jello?
2) Our priorities are not always what we say they are.
a) Kids are important (we just never spend time with them).
b) Do we love our wife - or Monday night football?
C. Society as a whole has a hard time agreeing on values.
1) Moral relativism is infecting many.
2) Only absolute is that society is to blame - for everything!
3) But we can choose the values our families will have.
IV. Where does your family get its values?
A. Society can set the values for you.
1) The sad story of Lot.
a) Hero of the faith? 2 Peter 2:7-8
1> Story surprised me as a young Christian.
2> Awkward to read in a church service.
b) Lot chose the easy life. Genesis 13:10
1> Attracted to the wicked city.
2> Kept his faith, but lost his family.
c) Even though they survived the destruction, they carried
the local morality with them.
1> This explains the behavior of his daughters.
2> Their children became the perpetual enemies of Israel.
2) Many families fail because they have lost their moral bearings.
a) If you don't give your kids values, others will:
b) Television, movies, school...
B. Families can set their own values. Joshua 24:15
1) Joshua - "As for me and my family, we will serve the Lord."
2) Fathers: do you set values for your family?
V. Values Christian families should have.
A. Commitment to love.
1) Positive actions.
a) Spend time together.
b) Family traditions, ties.
2) Time together.
3) Offer forgiveness in a moral context.
4) Through sickness and health, poverty and plenty.
B. Commitment to standards.
1) Live by Ten Commandments.
a) Rules, sense of right and wrong.
b) Set boundaries and have expectations.
2) Promises (vows) are kept.
C. Commitment to faith.
1) "Family Strengths Project" identified faith as a major
unifying force of families.
a) Spiritual values override material ones.
b) Does pursuit of lifestyle suck up family life?
2) Is Christ honored in your family?
a) Prayer for one another, grace at meals, Bible reading.
3) Timothy's godly upbringing. 2 Tim 1:5; 3:14-15
VI. God is very concerned about families.
A. In a sense, He is the father of all families.
B. He wants to be the glue that holds us together.
C. Is God in YOUR family?
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