Tag Archives: family
A Spiritually Healthy Family (A Study of the Epistle to Titus) (Part 4 of 5)
God’s Word has so much to say to families today! All 66 books of the Bible can provide tremendous truth and help in raising our families and forming our families into God-honoring units before a lost and dying world!
I am looking forward to Family Camp at Camp Elim in Woodland Park, Colorado, on May 25-27. There I will get to preach five messages — and I’ve chosen to study the epistle to Titus from the perspective of the spiritually healthy family. Let’s read carefully the second chapter of Titus once again:
We have already seen that the spiritually healthy family cares deeply about the local church (1:1-9) and that, secondly, it recognizes false teaching in its many forms and opposes it (1:10-16). In our last post we saw that the spiritually healthy family appreciates and applies the clear instructions of God’s Word (2:1-10).
Let’s notice fourthly in this chapter that —
The spiritually healthy family —
IV. Allows God’s Grace to Have Its Full Power in Their Lives! (vv. 11-15)
[I have to confess that this passage — Titus 2:11-15 — is one of my favorites!]
We learn in this passage that God’s Grace —
I. Is a Salvation-Bringing Grace (v. 11)
Salvation is the rock-bottom foundation for a spiritually healthy family!
II. Is a Teaching Grace (v. 12)
Note both the negative and the positive aspects of grace’s teaching.
III. Is a Waiting Grace (v. 13)
How is the deity of the Lord Jesus shown here?
IV. Is a Purifying Grace (v. 14)
What is the logical expression of our gratitude for God’s purifying grace?
V. Is an Encouraging Grace (v. 15)
If you study the so-called five love languages, words of affirmation is a critical way to encourage others!
(We will conclude this five-part series in our next post)
A Spiritually Healthy Family (A Study of the Epistle to Titus) (Part 2 of 5)
Family Camp at Camp Elim in Woodland Park, Colorado, is taking place on May 25-27. We’re thinking through the five messages that I will share with those families who attend.
The Bible, of course, has much to say 
about being spiritually healthy. We are a health-obsessed culture, aren’t we? I love the little book by Dave Barry entitled Stay Fit and Healthy Until You’re Dead! But what about our spiritual health?
God’s Word has so much to say to individuals and families about being spiritually healthy. If all 66 books of the Bible are the Word of God, and if God cares about our families, then it is reasonable to pick any book of the Bible and ask, “How can the truths of this book help me lead and develop a spiritually healthy family?” We read in 2 Timothy 3:
Let’s take a second look at the first chapter of Titus:
We have already seen that the spiritually healthy family cares deeply about the local church. Let’s notice a second truth from this passage and it is this —
The Spiritually-Healthy Family —
II. Recognizes False Teaching in Its Many Forms and Opposes It (vv. 10-16)
A. Not All Will Believe the Truth of the Gospel (v. 10)
How we respond to unbelievers is critical! We are here for them — but we protect ourselves from their rebellion by being faithful to the Word.
B. Disruptive Error Must Be Confronted and Corrected (vv. 11-14)
Those who are moving on in spiritual maturity must confront false teaching among God’s people, because ideas have consequences!
C. Unbelief Corrupts! (vv. 15-16)
Unbelief in God’s family is not innocuous. Those who claim to know God must be trained in the truth.
(We will continue this five-part series over the next few days)
Rantings of an Old Curmudgeon! (Social Media)
Okay. Okay. So I just turned 67. I don’t feel 67. Some days I don’t feel older than, say, 62. But I’ve got a lot of life left in me. And a lot of things get me goin’!
Today’s topic is . . . MEDIA. Much of the media I see isn’t very social! My wife and I went out for supper the other night, yes, around 4:30 or 5 pm (I can’t remember which), and we watched other couples at this restaurant. Guess what they were doing? Husband, wife — they were both checking their phones. They weren’t talking to each other. What’s SOCIAL about that?
Even worse is when there’s a child involved. Instead of talking with their child, explaining how people ought to behave in public, their child is playing video games on a $600 tablet. Head down (not in prayer), but in battle strategy. No one’s talking to each other. That just ticks me off — makes me want to go over there and say something like, “Are you people a family? 
Excuse me. Now that I have your attention. Do you people live in the same house? Why aren’t you talking with one another? If you pay for our dinner (we share one entree), we’ll come over and show you how it’s done.”
I would then say, “If you won’t invite us over, at least let me show you how to FaceTime each other.”
“The First Thing You Have to Do This Morning . . .”
My wonderful wife Linda got a great deal on a real, adult-size, 
“Hello, Kitty” costume. Here’s a picture of her wearing the costume at our granddaughter Mary’s third birthday party:
Ever being the entrepreneur, my wife just sold the costume on Ebay.
Giving me my list of things to do today, Linda said, “Now the first thing you need to do this morning is box the head and ship it!”
That’s not something you hear everyday!
If You Could Have Dinner with Anyone . . . (Family)
What a fascinating interview! (Loved the last line of one of the children: “What are we having for dinner?”) Our culture seems to be strategically targeting families and their time together. Whether it’s racing to sporting events, dance or art classes, or some form of scouts, our children — and our grandchildren — are at risk of missing a critical time for family conversation — dinner!
What ideas have helped you as a mom or dad to safeguard that time with your children?
Please post your comments!
Time for a Great Cartoon! Playing house!
Questions:
1. What patterns are you and I establishing for our children when it comes to our homes?
2. Do you and your family have dinner together at least three or four times a week? How do you deal with the out-of-control demand of activities on you and your family?
Dr. Larry Dixon
larrydixon.wordpress.com 