Family Matters: Real vs Ideal

FAMILY MATTERS: LIVING IN THE REAL WHILE STRIVING FOR GOD’S IDEAL

God _______________________________ for our families.
Genesis 1:27-28

From Ephesians 5/6
Husbands:
Wives:
Kids:
Parents:

Three key ideals from Ephesians 5 and 6 here:
_________________ _________________ _________________

What it would look like if your family was deeply marked by these three ideals?

*Jesus pointed people __________________________________________.
Matthew 19:3-8
*Jesus refused to ____________________________________________.
John 8:3-11

Question we must answer:
Will we strive for God’s ideal in our family even though our reality doesn’t measure up?

*Some material taken from Andy Stanley’s “Future Family” series.

This Week’s Family Challenge

Families: Set aside an hour this week as a family (or an individual) to consider your reality. Those with young children may need to simplify the questions a bit.
Individuals: You may need to consider these questions with regard to your family of origin, or perhaps within your closest friendships/relationships right now.

What things are good about our family? How are you living out God’s ideals as a family? Make a list of AS MANY AS YOU CAN! THINK OF!
What would you say are your best 3 qualities? Why?
Talk about the 3 ideals taken from Ephesians 5 and 6. First ask: How well do you feel your family demonstrates each of these qualities? Then ask: Would it look in your family if each one of them things were more evident :
Love
Respect
Cooperation.

There are always ways we can grow to become more of what God intended for us, whether as individuals or as a family. What are 3 most important things you would change about your family if you could? In other words, what 3 areas would you like see improve?
Is there one of these areas that you could agree to work on as a family this week?  What steps could you take?

Pray for God’s help to grow in this area, and to become a better family in the weeks ahead during our FAMILY MATTERS series.