God’s Design for the Family
The New Normal – Part 5
August 29-30, 2020
Dr. Jeffrey Allen Love, Pastor Steve Tanner
“Then the Lord God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him’… This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” Genesis 2:18, 24 (p.4)
“…You are members of God’s family.” Ephesians 2:19 (p.896)
- God Made Me for Family.
- A family is a safe place.
“Those who fear the Lord are secure; he will be a refuge for their children.” Proverbs 14:26 (p.490)
“You are either in a crisis, just getting out of a crisis, or headed toward a crisis.”
3 Types of Crises we face:
- Change
- Failures
- Rejection
“Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble… A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (p.507)
My Response: Demonstrate My Love
- A family is a training place.
“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4 (p.898)
“Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and all the people.” Luke 2:52 (p.782)
3 Things We Take From Family:
- Relationships
- Character
- Values
My Response: Evaluate My Values
Next Step: _____ This week I will focus on demonstrating love in my family as I also take time to evaluate my values.
Download the Family Mission Statement
Discussion Guide from the Weekend Talk
From the Weekend Talk of August 29-30, 2020
The New Normal – Part 5: God’s Design for the Family
We encourage you to use this guide with your family, or over the phone or online with friends.
Life Groups use these questions to go deeper into what we talked about this weekend. Dig into them so you will be ready for the discussion at your Life Group. Our Fall Life Groups are now meeting, but you still have time to get in a group. You can find out more at alivechurch.com/groups.
Conversation Starters
What was your family like when you were growing up?
What is one helpful thing you have learned since the pandemic began?
Talk about some things that have become your “New Normal” over the last few months.
Quick Review
Looking back at your Talk Notes, was there anything you heard in the service that stood out or maybe even confused you?
Discussion Starters from the Weekend Talk
Refer to the Talk Notes and related Bible verses from this Weekend’s Talk Notes.
This week Pastors Jeff Love and Steve Tanner leaned into One Thing to remember from this Talk:
“God Made Me For Family.”
- Read Genesis 2:18-24 (p.4*) and Ephesians 2:19 (p.896*)
- Who do you consider to be your family?
- Why is it important to know what God’s Design is for family?
Jeff and Steve focused on a couple of basic elements that are necessary for healthy families:
- A Family Is A Safe Place. My Response: Demonstrate my love. (Proverbs 14:26 (p.490*); Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (p.507*)
- For whom is the Lord a refuge?
- What are the benefits of friends and family as described in Ecclesiastes 4:9-12?
- Who has been a close friend to you, one who you know will always “have your back?” Whose “back” do you have?
- How do you demonstrate love?
- 3 Types of Crises We Face: Talk about a time when you faced each of these three and how you came through each one:
- Change
- Failures
- Rejection
- A Family Is A Training Place. My Response: Evaluate my values. (Ephesians 6:4 (p.898*); Luke 2:52 (p.782*))
- What are some things you learned from your family?
- What do you want your family to learn from their family experience?
- How do we sometimes provoke to anger—exasperate (NIV)—our children? Did you ever feel provoked to anger by your parents? How?
- Why is it significant for us to pay attention to Luke’s brief reference to Jesus’ growing up?
- 3 Things We Take From Family: Think of an example of each of these three things from your own life. Was your “bag packed” in a helpful or harmful way? How have you helped “pack the bags” for your family?
- Relationships
- Character
- Values
Digging Deeper
Isaiah 43:19 has been our Series Key Verse. Take a look at Isaiah 43:14-19 (p.550*). The context is that the Israelites have been exiled in Babylon for about 60 years. They are nearing the end of that captivity.
- What does God say about His work with His people (Israel) in verses 14-17?
- What are a few key moments in your life that you remember?
- Why would God then tell them what He says in verse 18?
- Does this mean we should not remember what God has done before?
- How does verse 18 set up verse 19?
Next Step
Next Step: ____ This week I will focus on demonstrating love in my family as I also take time to evaluate my values.
Pray
Pray for each member of your group as they demonstrate love for their family. Pray for God to create rivers where there are dry wastelands in each other’s lives.
What’s Ahead
Our Fall Life Groups Semester has begun. If you are not yet in a Group, you can still sign up. Find out more at alivechurch.com/groups.
This weekend we begin a new Talk Series: Live Like You’ve Never Been Hurt. It’s a series on forgiveness. In this series, we’ll learn how God helps us choose forgiveness even when we’re hurt.
We continue to be Alive Church Online through our various channels and platforms: alivechurch.com; Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Roku, and Apple TV. Invite your friends! Share our posts! Let’s get more and more people connected through Alive Church Online!
To see our Re-Entry Plan, go to alivechurch.com and click the link.
All of these notes are also in our App. To get our FREE App just text “ALIVEAZ APP” to this number: 77977 and follow the instructions. If you need help, we’ll help you!
* The Life Transformation Bible is the New Living Translation of the Bible, including many useful tools to help you better understand God’s Word, including our own Alive Church Life Transformation Discipleship Plan. They are available FREE. Let us know if you’d like to have one.