Work & Family
Key Takeaways
All honest labor that helps people is God's work through human hands.
Working for Christ frees you from people-pleasing and makes you a better worker.
Fathers (and all parents) must not provoke their children but actively nourish them to maturity through emotional presence and regulation.
Children must obey and honor parents, and adult children must continue to honor even imperfect parents.
Christian leadership means going first in repentance and repair when relationships rupture.
You can only give what you've received; emotional health and joy flow from gospel transformation.
Study Questions
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How does viewing your daily work as service to the Lord rather than just a job change your motivation and attitude toward even the most mundane tasks?
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How does the reality that God feeds, shelters, and cares for you through the ordinary work of others change the way you treat people that work and serve that you encounter throughout your week?
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The sermon suggests that some of the most damaged families are those that pretend everything is fine. How can embracing the brokenness in your family actually open the door to gospel healing?
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What would change in your parenting if you truly believed that repenting often to your children was an act of Christian leadership rather than weakness?
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How does the image of God wearing the ruined shirt and boasting about his daughter challenge or expand your understanding of how your heavenly Father views your imperfect offerings of love?
Seeking God’s Face Devotional
This year, we’ll be using the devotional “Seeking God’s Face” for our personal daily discipleship. Also, please join us for our Sunday Morning Class, “Whole-Life Discipleship,” every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. following the 9 a.m. worship service.
This Week’s Liturgy
Call to worship
Psalm 103:19-22
Leader: The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.
All: Bless the Lord, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word! Bless the Lord, all his hosts, his ministers, who do his will! Bless the Lord, all his works, in all places of his dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul!
Confession of FAITH
New City Catechism Q & A #23
Q: Why must the Redeemer be truly God?
A: That because of his divine nature his obedience and suffering would be perfect and effective; and also that he would be able to bear the righteous anger of God against sin and yet overcome death.
Confession of sin
Most Merciful Father, we confess that we have not served you as our true Lord. We have given our best only when watched, and have used our work to serve ourselves. We have provoked those in our care and dishonored those above us. Forgive us, and by your grace, free us to serve Jesus Christ, our True Lord, with joy from our hearts. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
Psalm 103:8-12
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
This Week’s Playlist
Looking Ahead
Invite a friend and join us next week as we continue our sermon series with Ephesians 6:10-24.