Lecture Notes: Against the Tide - The Importance of Family

Introduction

• Title: "Against the Tide"
• Focus: Importance and challenges of families.
• Key Point: Family is God's first institution and is vital to His plan.

God's Purpose for Families

1. Procreation and Filling the Earth
   • Commandment to Adam and Eve (Genesis 1:27-28).
2. Understanding Relationships and Unity
   • Genesis 2:24 – Joining of man and wife.
   • Families teach us how to love difficult people.
3. Channel of God's Love
   • Families help understand and demonstrate God's love.
4. Discipleship and Godly Legacy
   • Deuteronomy 6 – First discipleship is in the family.
5. Glorify God
   • 1 Corinthians 10 – Families are to glorify God.

Challenges Facing Families

• Scriptural Examples of Family Challenges:
  • Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, and Solomon.
• Modern Attacks on Family:
  • Distractions: Materialism, Idolatry, Pleasure, Wrong Friends, Worldly Goals, Unresolved Conflicts.
  • Deception: Feelings over commitment, "Family is hopeless," "You deserve better," "Let go of toxic family members."
  • Division: High divorce rates, solo parents, children moving away.
  • Destruction: Loneliness, depression linked to family issues.

Building a Strong Family

• Message: Build a strong family.
• Acronym: FAM
  • F: Founded on God's Truth.
  • A: Apply God's Truth.
  • M: Make God's Truth Known.

Founded on God's Truth

• Strong foundation needed for decision-making and responding to difficulties.
• Example: Daniel and friends resisted cultural pressures.
• Scripture References: Deuteronomy 6:4-6, Psalms 1:1-3.
• Importance: Family must have a unified foundation in God’s truth.

Apply God's Truth

• Prove Integrity: Consistency between actions and teachings.
• Scriptural Emphasis: James 1:22-25 - Be doers, not just hearers.
• Example: Daniel’s adherence to God’s laws despite pressure.

Make God's Truth Known

• Purpose: Serve God as a family, be a blessing to others.
• Scriptural Charge: Teach children diligently (Deuteronomy 6:7-9).
• Focus: Greatest inheritance is teaching love for God.

Practical Application

• Testimony: Weng and Tiff’s family journey.
  • Struggles with job, financial issues, parenting, and marriage.
  • God’s transformation through commitment and applying His Word.

Conclusion

• Encouragement: Despite challenges, God wants to strengthen and restore families.
• Call to Action: Be founded on, apply, and make known God's truth.
• Prayer: For family restoration and strength.