Greetings Church,
The family is God’s gift to us and a reflection of God himself.
Questions for Small Groups:
To start your group, have everyone share something that God is doing in your life this past week.
A. 3 Things a marriage needs.
Proverbs 2:16-17. So you will be delivered from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words, who forsakes the companion of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God;
Proverbs 5:18-19. Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, 19 a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love.
In the sermon we said there are three things a marriage needs: Covenant, Friendship, and Romance.
1. Why does God require that marriage be a lifelong covenant? How does this reflect God himself?
2. How does the covenant actually keep the friendship and romance in marriage alive?
B. 3 things children need.
Proverbs 4:10-13. Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many. 11 I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness 12 When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble. 13 Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life.
Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 23:26. My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.
Proverbs 22:15. Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
Proverbs 3:11-12. My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline or be weary of his reproof,
12 for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.
3. In the sermon we said that children need instruction, discipline, and delight. Which of those three stands out to you? If you are a parent, which of those is easiest for you? Most difficult?
4. Read Proverbs 23:26 and 3:11-12 again. What do these verses teach us about the importance of having a loving relationship with children as the foundation for instruction and discipline? How does this image the way God parent’s us?
5. Why do children need discipline (22:15)? Why must parents be the authority for their children? (Remember “rod” means scepter and implies authority). If you are a parent, what makes it hard for you to discipline your children?
6. Children need delight. What are ways that you can delight in the children in your life? How does delighting in children image God?
C. Three ways to honor your parents.
Proverbs 23:22-25. Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old. 23 Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.24 The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him. 25 Let your father and mother be glad; let her who bore you rejoice.
Proverbs 20:20. If one curses his father or his mother, his lamp will be put out in utter darkness.
7. In the sermon we listed 3 ways to honor your parents: a) Listen to them, b) Let them see their wisdom in you, c) Forgive them.
Which of these stand out to you? What is a specific way you could show honor to your parents?
Is there something that you need to forgive your parents for? Are you still being controlled by your parents by not forgiving them?
D. Three ways Jesus sets our hearts free.
8. First- Jesus is our ultimate spouse and he reconciles us to our ultimate father. How did the cross of Christ bring us into the family of God?
Take a minute and go back over some of our Proverbs- how does Jesus and God the Father fulfill these truths in our lives now?
9. Second- Jesus frees us from the idolatry of family. In what ways have you made your spouse, children, or parents into an idol? Think about how you might be overly dependent upon them or trying to be set free from them.
How does the trinity fill our hearts so that we no longer have to elevate our family above God?
10. Third- Jesus brings us into our eternal family. The church is our forever family. God is our forever Father. Jesus is our forever spouse. We find our true life’s purpose through the church. Do you see Grace Baptist as your family? How can you begin to treat your church like family- like brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers?
Are you allowing Jesus through the church to fill a void in your life? How can you as the church, be Jesus to others and fill voids in the hearts of others?
