BehindClosedDoors

INTRODUCTION

• How does your home appear to others?• Is it a testimony for your Christian

values?• Is it a witness to discord and

selfishness?

INTRODUCTION

• What do you feel when you walk into the house or around each other?–Team–Partnership–Harmony

INTRODUCTION

• A piercing question in 2 Kings 20:15.–Then in Isaiah 38:1 – “put your house

in order.” • New Bible Commentary puts Hezekiah’s

age at 39.• Anyone ever tested for or diagnosed with

a fatal disease has a good idea of what was running through Hezekiah’s mind.

INTRODUCTION

• A piercing question in 2 Kings 20:15.–Then in Isaiah 38:1 – “put your house

in order.” • Hezekiah’s thoughts (Read Isaiah 38:2-3)• Read Deut. 6:10-12 – the lesson

“remember you were slaves.”•Where were Hezekiah’s descendants

heading? (Isaiah 39:7)

INTRODUCTION

• A piercing question in 2 Kings 20:15.–Then in Isaiah 38:1 – “put your house in

order.” • Deut. 6:4-8 and our attitude toward our children• If you have children in your home, are you

active or passive about teaching them about God?• Do you personally teach them, or do you mostly

leave it to the church?

INTRODUCTION

• A piercing question in 2 Kings 20:15.–Then in Isaiah 38:1 – “put your house

in order.” • If a stranger were in your home for two

days, what would the stranger see regarding treatment of and among family members?

INTRODUCTION

• Guard hearts and those of your family (priorities, electronics, outburst, conflict resolution, home is one arena of “daily operations of Christianity”.(Eph. 6:1-4)

WHAT IS THE MISSION OF YOUR HOME?

• Successful businesses have a Mission Statement that drives the entire business• The Church has a Mission Statement

with 3 components: Evangelism, Edification and Limited Benevolence (1 Ths. 1:8; Eph. 4:12; 1 Cor. 16:1-2).

WHAT IS THE MISSION OF YOUR HOME?

• What is the Mission of Your Home?–Why are you married?–What are you trying to do?

WHAT IS THE MISSION OF YOUR HOME?

• What is the Mission of Your Home?–Example: “The Mission of this home is to

nurture and nourish the mind, body and spirit of all who enter by creating a warm and welcoming refuge and an atmosphere of love, learning, simplicity and order so that our own family and guests alike will leave here feeling refreshed, encourage and well-loved”

WHAT IS THE MISSION OF YOUR HOME?

• What is the Mission of Your Home?–Start with: • Our mission is to…• by doing….• so that …

WHAT IS THE MISSION OF YOUR HOME?

• Follow this with Goals that fall within this mission. These are targets you want to achieve.• Then, what activities fit within the

Mission and Goals? What does not fit?• This is a Bible concept (Heb. 12:1, 2).

AS GOES THE HOME, SO GOES THE CHURCH

• The home, like the church, can be sidetracked from its’ mission by dealing with activities and behaviors that are counterproductive to its’ mission, goals, and activities.

AS GOES THE HOME, SO GOES THE CHURCH

• Some examples:– Immorality (1 Cor. 5) – Hurt people hurt

people–A family of secrets– Seeking a way out, giving up, making

marriage an endurance rather than a home

AS GOES THE HOME, SO GOES THE CHURCH

• Some examples:–Erosion from the mission and goals• Intimacy stops• Communication is limited• Honesty stops• Bitterness starts consuming• Any issue is a reason to argue• Cut downs vs building up (edifying each

other)

MARRIAGE STYLE

• Open vs closed family systems• Two positive examples– The Virtuous Woman – freedom and trust (Prov.

31:10-31)• Looks well to the ways of her household• Made independent decisions (real estate, made

clothing for merchants)• Husband is supported by her conduct• Her children honor her (call her blessed)

MARRIAGE STYLE– Abraham and Sarah (1 Peter 3:1-7; Genesis snapshot)• “Time to move”• “Move again” to Egypt – a bad decision• “Sported” – some romance• Agreed to lie twice (consequences each time).• Problem solving (Hagar and Ishmael being sent off)• Abraham the Spiritual leader and became “father of

the faithful” (Gal. 3:7; Heb. 11:8-19)• There are no perfect marriages, BUT bad directions

when corrected can help a marriage to mature and grow.

NOT ALL HOMES ARE HAPPY

• Subjection Vs. Little Tyrant (Eph. 4:22- 6:4)

• Low Simmer Homes • Avoidant Or Ignoring Homes– Home is a filling station– Ships in the night – Issues keep building (Eph. 4:31)

NOT ALL HOMES ARE HAPPY

• Explosive Homes • Domestic Violence/Abuse (Eph. 5:22-

6:1-4; Col. 3:21)• Blended Families

CONCLUSION

• What needs to happen to “put your house in order”?

• What is the mission of your home?• What happens behind closed doors? • What have they seen in your house?