Help For Hurting Homes

Sermon Notes, January 27, 2019 PM

Help For Hurting Homes

Steve W. Reeves

steve@wschurch.net

 

INTROUCTION:

A. An old farmer had a terrible crop. Funds were low and the bills were piling up high.
    Finally, in desperation, the farmer decided his only solution was to rob a bank. He
    bought an old rusty gun, got a bag for the money and wrote a notes that said, “Don’t
    mess with me, this is a stick up.” As he entered the bank he was so nervous his hads
    were shaking. He finally got up to the teller and handed her the gun while point the
    bag at her saying, “Don’t stick with me, this is a mess up.”
    1. Sometimes we all “mess up.”
    2. Sometimes our families become messed up. It may be problems in our marriage. It
        may be problems between parents and children or problems between siblings.
        Every family experiences some bumps along the road of life.
B. There is no such thing as a family without hope. A marriage may seem to be destined
    for divorce but it doesn’t have to happen. A child may seem to be so rebellious that
    reconciliation is impossible but it can happen. How do I know this? The word of God
    says, “With God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).
C. How can you find help for a hurting home? You must come to the realization of three
    fundamental principles.
 
I. THE DESIGN FOR MARRIAGE
    A. I read about a man who bought a landfill. For years it had been the city dump. He
        brought in dirt and bulldozers and covered up the refuse, leveled the land, planted
        grass and trees and built a subdivision. Contractors built houses and developed
        the most charming neighborhood you’ve ever seen. There were nice streets,
        sidewalks, beautiful homes. Young families bought the houses and everything
        seemed ideal. However, after a few years the streets began to buckle, sidewalks
        cracked, homes creaked, foundations began to sink and the entire neighborhood
        experienced serious structural problems. What was the issue? It was built on
        garbage.    
        1. Do you know why so many homes are in crisis? It is because they are bring built
            on the garbage of humanistic thinking rather than God’s design.
        2. Psalm 127:1 says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who
            build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman keeps awake in vain.”    B. hat is God’s design for marriage?
        1. In Matthew 19 Jesus was asked a question about divorce.
            a. Verse 3 says the Pharisees began questioning Him by asking, ““Is it lawful for
                a man to divorce his wife for any reason at all?”
            b. During the century before Jesus was born there was a Jewish Rabbi named
                Hillel who was viewed as one of the foremost scholars of Jewish law. He was
                influential in writing the Mishna and Talmud which were commentaries on
                Jewish law and traditions. There was a popular school named after Hillel.
                Among his teaching was the view that a man could divorce his wife for
                practically any reason.  This view was disputed by another leading Rabbi
                named Shammai, who taught that divorce could only occur in cases of
                infidelity.
            c. Who did Jesus support? His response was to say, “Let’s see what God says.
        2. In verses 4-6 Jesus replied,  “Have you not read that He who created them from
            the beginning made them male and female, ⁵ and said, ‘For this reason a man
            shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall
            become one flesh’? ⁶ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore
            God has joined together, let no man separate.”
            a. Does this sound radical compared with today’s morality?
            b. One fellow said, “I was seeking an ideal that turned into an ordeal and now I
                want a new deal.” 
    C. Jesus went back to Genesis 2:23-24 to recall God’s design for marriage and the
        home. The best carpenter in the world cannot build a house without a design. God
        has left nothing to chance. In His design there are three essential elements.       
        1. Leaving.
            a. A man must leave father and mother.
                1.) I am thankful God places babies within the security of their parents.
                    Babies, toddlers and children need the protection and guidance of their
                   parents. There comes a time, however, when those children leave father
                    and mother.                
                2.) As precious as God intends for the relationship between children and
                    parents to be, there is another relationship that is to take priority. It is the
                    relationship with your husband or wife.               
                3.) A lot of young marriages experience difficultly because children, parents
                    (or both) do not respect the principle of “leaving.” A  young couple
                    sometimes experiences disagreement and one of them runs home to
                    momma. Sometimes parents can’t let go of their children and try to follow
                    them everywhere to keep them under control.
        2. Cleave
            a. This is a word that means “permanently glued” or welded. It is the idea of two
                separate objects being inseparably joined together.
            b. This is why Jesus said, “What God has joined together do not let man
                 separate.”
            c. Why do some couples stay together over 70 years while others divorce after a
                few years. Is it because one has had more trouble than the other? No. It is
                because one has had more commitment than the other.
                1.) Marriage cannot be based merely on romance, sex and happiness.
                2.) It is based firtst and foremost on commitment.
            c. I asked Tami, “Will you love me when Ii am old and ugly.” She said, “I do.”
        3. Become.
            a. The two will become one flesh.
            b. Why does God want two to become one?
                1.) Sexually – procreation.
                2.) Socially – Genesis 2:18, “It is not good for man to be alone.”
                3. ) Spiritually – The relationship between a husband and wife is the pattern of
                    the relationship between Christ and His church (Ephesians 5). There is no
                    sweeter communion than a husband and wife communing together with the   
                    Lord Jesus.
 
II. THE DURABILITY OF MARRIAGE
    A. We live in a time of broken commitments. This is especially true in marriage.
        1. Jesus considered the marriage commitment to be binding.
        2. He made only one allowance whereby a person might divorce their spouse and
            marry another person. In Matthew 19– Mt. 19:9 He said, “And I say to you,
            whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another woman
            commits adultery.”
        3. Earlier, in Matthew’s account of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, ““It was
            said, ‘Whoever sends his wife away, let him give her a certificate of divorce’;
            ³²but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of
            unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman
            commits adultery.”
        4. Why did God make this exception? He is the one who created the two to
            become one flesh. When that oneness is violated it destroys trust.  This doesn’t
            mean a couple has to divorce when infidelity has occurred. The Old Testament
            prophet Hosea had a wife named Gomer who became unfaithful. Hosea sought
            with all of his might to regain her affections. God used this as an example of His
            love for Israel.
    B. What has happened in our culture is an endless cycle of broken homes. Broken
        homes lead to broken people. Broken people lead to broken homes.
        1. People who have been through a divorce will readily testify about the emotional
            pain it causes.
        2. Children of divorced parents will tell you of the pain it causes. A couple should
            never say, “We are divorcing for the sake of the children.”
    C. What creates durability in marriage?
        1. Commitment. “Agape Love.”  
        2. It is not romance that sustains your marriage. It is your marriage that sustains    
            your romance.” .
        3. Love is not feeling. It is a commitment. You cannot command a person to feel
            something. Yet, Paul commanded husbands to “love your wife” in Ephesians
            5:25, In Titus 2:14 older women were told to teach younger women to love
            husbands. Romance is great and emotion is wonderful. Ultimately, it is
            commitment that keeps us together.
 
III. THE DETERMINATION OF MARRIAGE
    A. Studies show that people who divorce because they are “unhappy” are less likely
        to find happiness later in life than unhappy couples who work through their
        problems and remain married.
        1. How do you answer someone who says, “I just want to be happy?”
        2. God is concerned about more than temporary happiness. He is concerned about
            eternal security.
    B. As created beings with a free will we have a remarkable ability to make choices
        and to change the direction of our lives.  A woman consulted an attorney about a
        divorce from her husband. The attorney agreed to arrange everything on one
        stipulation. For one month the woman was to do everything possible to be nice to
        her husband. When she came back to the attorney she has long since given up the
        idea of divorce.
    C. As determined as a person might be it is not always possible for a marriage to
        remain intact. When divorce occurs we need to respond with love. Remember the
        response of Jesus to the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11), “Neither do I
        condemn you, go and sin no more.”
 
CONCLUSION:
A. M.F. “Mid” McKnight wrote a book entitled, Vestebule of Heaven. The home as
    designed by God  is a picture of His relationship with us. It is so important for our
    families to remain strong and vibrant.
B. We are here to assist you and your family with any spiritual need you may have.
 
 
 

Raising Gifted Children

 

 

Sermon Notes, January 27, 2019 AM
Raising Gifted Children
Steve W. Reeves

steve@wschurch.net

 

INTRODUCTION:

A. Every child can be a “gifted child.”
    1. I do not mean that every child has a superior IQ or outstanding physical ability.
    2. I do not mean to imply that a child’s worth is connected to their performance in
        certain areas of life (athletics, music, art, etc…).         
    3. I mean that parents and grandparents have the splendid opportunity of providing
        the precious children with gifts that are truly meaningful.
B. Children are precious to God.
    1. The writer of Psalm 127 recognized this fact. He wrote, “Behold, children are a gift
        of the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward. ⁴ Like arrows in the hand of a
        warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. ⁵ How blessed is the man whose quiver
        is full of them; They will not be ashamed when they speak with their enemies in the
        gate” (Psalm 127:3).
    2. In Luke 18:15-17 we read, “And they were bringing even their babies to Him so
        that He would touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they began rebuking
        them. ¹⁶ But Jesus called for them, saying, ‘Permit the children to come to Me, and
        do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. ¹⁷ Truly I say
        to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at
        all.’”
        a. This passage is not talking about parents bringing their children to Jesus for the
            purpose of salvation. Jesus’ own words in verse 17 testify to this fact.  
        b. The purpose of their coming was to receive a rabbinical blessing. Jesus did not
            hesitate to welcome these precious children.
    3. The apostle John referred to Christians as “little children” seven times in 1 John
        (2:1; 2:12; 2:28; 3:7: 3:18; 4:4; 5:21).     
    4. Peter wrote, “Like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it
        you may grow in respect to salvation” (1 Peter 2:2).
 
The greatest gift for your child is not that they be wealthy, famous, and intelligent but that hey be raised with faith.
 
It’s easy to have a gifted child if you are willing to give them the gifts.  Let me share five gifts ou can give your children.
 
I. A GODLY EXAMPLE
    A. How do children learn?
        1. Those of you who are in the educational field study and teach various theories
            about the process of learning.
        2. Some people think a person learns by memorizing facts and being able to recall
            them on a test.
        3. One of my best teachers in graduate school gave tests that were all essay
            questions. He wanted us to know more than facts. He wanted us to utilize those
            facts in our reasoning and express them in writing.
        4. Many of the greatest lessons we learn in life are those that come from the
            examples set before us.
    B. Children learn more from your lifestyle than your words.
        1. The familiar Jewish “Shema” of Deuteronomy 6:4-5 says, ^“Hear, O Israel! The  
            Lord is our God, the Lord is one! ⁵ You shall love the Lord your God with all your
            heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”
        2. Where was this to be taught? In Sunday school? In church? Notice verses 6-7,
            “These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. ⁷ You
            shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in
            your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when
            you rise up.”
    C. There are many lessons a child will not learn in school.
        1. They will not learn them from reading a textbook.
        2. They will not develop them by listening to a lecture.
        3. They will see them modeled in the lives of those closest to them.
        4. These are character traits such as contentment, courage, courtesy, friendliness,
            generosity, gentleness, helpfulness, honesty, humility, kindness, obedience 
            patience, persistence, self-control, and thankfulness.”
 
II. GRACIOUS LOVE
    A. Do you know the one gift many children never receive?
        1. It’s not the latest electronic game.
        2. It’s not the latest fashion, fad or fancy.
       3. It is love. Unconditional love.
    B. In Luke 15 Jesus told the parable of a father with two sons. The younger son
        became rebellious, demanded his inheritance and left home. The older son stayed
        and worked. The younger son lived a life of rebellion squandering his money.
        When his party was over he became hungry. The only job he could find was
        feeding pigs. He said, “I will go to my father and tell him I was wrong.” When the
        father saw the son coming he ran to greet him, hugged him, brought him home and
        threw a party. The older brother wasn’t very happy about this. He had worked hard
        and never received a party. The father loved both of them unconditionally. He
        loved the older son who was entitled to all of his father’s blessings. He loved the
        younger son who had been lost but was now found. It wasn’t what the sons did but
        what the father did. 
    C. Some parents make poor choices in communicating love to their children.
       1. Some tell their children, “I love you because… pretty, athletic, intelligent.
        2. Some tell their children, “I’ll love you if… behave, do good, mind.”
        3. What type of love does God have for us? Romans 5:6-8, “For while we were still
            helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ For one will hardly die for
            a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to
            die. ⁸ But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet
            sinners, Christ died for us.”   
    D. George Strait sang, Love Without End. “Let me tell you a secret about a father’s
        love. A secret that my daddy said was just between us. He said, “Daddy’s don’t just
        love their children every now and then, it’s a love without end amen.”
 
III. GENEROUS ENCOURAGEMENT
    A. Children need encouragement like a houseplant needs water. What happens when
        a child does not receive encouragement? Their spirit dries up.  
    B. The writer of Hebrews said, “Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of
        you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. ¹³ But encourage
        one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you
        will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”
    C. When was the last time you caught your children doing something – right – and
        commended them for it? Many years ago I was in a meeting with a group of men
        who began pointing out my faults. Then they pointed out my family’s faults and told
        me my dog had fleas. I certainly have faults – but not once did they mention
        anything I was doing right. I cannot describe in words the demoralizing effect that
        meeting had on me. It has been twenty years ago and I still remember how it hurt.
    D. Some children live with this type of treatment every day. Make sure you give your
        child the gift of encouragement.
 
IV. GODLY EDUCATION
    A. When Paul wrote to Timothy he commended him on his knowledge of scripture.
        Where had Timothy learned these things? Notice 2 Timothy 3:14-15, “You,
        however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of,
        knowing from whom you have learned them, ¹⁵ and that from childhood you have
        known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to
        salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
    B. The writer of Proverbs 22:16 noted, “Train up a child in the way he should go,
       Even when he is old he will not depart from it.”
        a. Children do not always do the right thing.
        b. When you instill a seed within their heart it does not go away.
    C. Paul wrote, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in
        the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).

V. A GLAD ENVIRONMENT
    A. Do you need to be firm? Yes. Do you need to be fair? Yes. You also need to be
        fun!
        1. My dad and I played golf together.
        2. My mother loved to play “Chinese checkers, “Rook” and “Uno.”
        3. Our family enjoyed going out to eat together. When Tami and I were raising our
            kids we loved to take them to the playground, cook hot dogs, go swimming, and
            watch movies together.
    B. With every laugh, giggle and squeal you are making a memory. Proverbs 15:13
        reminds us, “A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, but when the heart is sad, the
        spirit is broken.”

ONCLUSION:

. You can have a gifted child if you provide the right gifts.  God wants your children to
    be blessed. He wants to use you to bless them. Are you ready for the task?
B. The greatest gift you can give your children is the gift of faith. Do you have faith in
    Jesus Christ as the Son of God? Have you submitted to His will?  Why not come to
    Him in faith, repentance and baptism today?  
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

   

 

What Do You Hear?

Sermon Notes, January 20, 2019 AM

What Do You Hear?

Steve W. Reeves

(steve@wschurch.net)

INTRODUCTION:
A. In the 1890’s a British artist, Francis Barraud, inherited the estate of his late brother,
    Mark. Included in the inheritance was a cylinder phonograph along with several
    recordings of Mark’s voice. Also included was a terrier mix dog named, “Nipper.”
    Barraud noticed how “Nipper” would stop and listen intently whenever a recording of
    his late master’s voice was played. Inspired by the scene, the artist painted a picture
    which would become an iconic business trademark around the world.  In 1899 Emile
    Berliner, founder of a new phonograph company, “The Grammophone Company”
    bought the rights to the painting after commissioning Barraud to paint over the
    cylinder phonograph and replace it with one of Berliner’s newly invented “record”
    models. In 1901 Berliner sold his business to an associated named Eldridge Johnson
    who formed a new company, the Victor Talking Machine Company, utilizing “His
    Master’s Voice,” as their logo. Victor went on to become the leading manufacturer of
    phonographs in the United States. Even after the company was acquired by RCA in
    1929 “His Master’s Voice” remained as the company’s trademark.
B. May I ask you, “What do you hear?”
    1. I am no talking about the type of music that suits your taste whether it is The
        Beatles, the Bangles, The Beach Boys, Beethoven, Bach, or Brooks.
    2. I am not talking about the endless noise that surrounds our society and clutters our
        culture.
    3. I am asking, “Whose voice are you following?”: “Whose words set the pattern for
        your life?”
        a. It can be very confusing because we live in a world of competing voices that
            clamor for our attention.
        b. If you are going to have any spiritual success there is a voice that must cut
            through the noise of the world and speak clearly to your heart. It is the voice of
            the Lord Jesus Christ.
C. How do we know that we should listen to the words of Jesus?
    1. In today’s multi-cultural, pluralistic society why can’t we listen to the words of
        Mohammad, Buda, Joseph Smith or some New Age movement?    
    2. In Luke 9:28-36 there is a real life account of God’s personal instruction to listen to
        Jesus.
                     
I. THE EVENT
    A. As Jesus was wrapping up His ministry in Galilee (northern Israel) and preparing
        to travel to Jerusalem He took three of His disciples up to a mountain to pray.
        1. Luke gives us more instances of Jesus’ prayer life than any other Gospel writer.
        2. On this occasion we do not know which mountain is described.
            a. Some claim it is Mount Tabor, located eleven miles west of the Sea of Galilee.
                In the early 20^th century Franciscan monks built a church building on this site
                and named it “The Church of The Transfiguration.”
            b. Another possible site is Mount Herman located in the extreme northern part of
                Palestine. This is more probable since Jesus and His disciples had been in
                Caesarea Philippi which is located at the base of this mountain.
            c. A third possibility is Mount Meron, located about halfway between Caesarea
                and the Sea of Galilee.
        2. Peter, James and John comprise an inner circle who accompanied Jesus on
            several occasions when other disciples were not present.
            a. Luke 8:51 – “When He came to the house, He did not allow anyone to enter
                with Him, except Peter and John and James, and the girl’s father and
                mother.”
            b. Luke 9:28 – “Some eight days after these sayings, He took along Peter and
                John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray.”
            c. Mark 14:33 – “And He *took with Him Peter and James and John, and began
                to be very distressed and troubled.”
        3. I am thankful Jesus took these three men to the mountaintop. Life is full of
            mountains and valleys. We all need spiritual mountaintops where our faith is
            strengthened and our hope is anchored.
    B. On this mountain a tremendous event occurred. The text says Jesus was
        “transfigured.” The word here is the same word from which we get
        “metamorphosis.” This word is found four times in the New Testament. This is the
        only time it is used to describe a change in physical appearance. The physical
        characteristics of Jesus changed.
        1. His clothes became brilliant white – whiter than they could possibly be bleached
        2. Matthew adds that his face shone as the sun.
        3. Luke says his clothes were as bright as a flash of lightning.
            a. The theological term for this scene is a “Theophany” which means a visible
                display of the glory of God.
            b. When Moses went up on the mountain of God in the OT he came down and
                his face was radiant. 2 Cor. 3 says that Moses would cover his face with a veil
                so people would not see the fading glory.
    C. The appearance of Moses and Elijah.
        1. What an amazing scene this was as these two Old Testament figures appear
            with Jesus in glorious splendor. It is interesting the Peter, James and John
            recognized them.
        2. Why was it Moses and Elijah who appeared? There were many illustrious
            characters from Old Testament history. Why not David and Daniel or Joseph
            and Jeremiah?
        3. Moses was the great law-giver and in this scene he represented the Old
           Testament law.
        4. Elijah was Israel’s greatest prophet and represented all of the prophets.
        5. Together they represented the law and the prophets – all of Israel’s history that
            had pointed to the coming of the Messiah was summed up with this term – the
            law and the prophets.
        6. Luke adds a couple of glimpses into this scene not found in Matthew or Mark.  
           a. Luke is the only Gospel writer who tells us the topic of conversation. In verse
                31 he says, “They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to
                fulfillment at Jerusalem.” They were encouraging Jesus as He began the
               journey to Jerusalem. If God’s son needed encouragement we certainly do.
           b. In verse 32 he said, “Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when
                they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with
                him.
    D. Have you ever been to Mount Rushmore in South Dakota? Can you imagine
        looking at the faces of Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Roosevelt when all of a
        sudden there was a bright light of glory and George and Abe started talking to one
        another? What if Teddy started saying “Bully,” of if Tom began quoting the
        Declaration of Independence? Can you imagine how Peter, James and John
        must have felt on this occasion?
 
II. THE EXCITEMENT
    A. Have you ever been so excited you couldn’t help but say something? This was
        particularly characteristic of Peter.
        1. Earlier in Luke 9:20 when Jesus asked, “Who do you say I am,” Peter
            responded, “The Christ of God.”
        2. In verse 33 he said, ““Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three
            tabernacles: one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not realizing
            what he was saying.”
        3. Have you ever said something and immediately asked yourself why you said it?
               Two friends hadn’t met in quite a while. “How is you wife,” asked one.” “She’s
            gone to heaven.” “I’m sorry to hear that. – Er… No, I’m glad to hear that. Well, I
            certainly am surprised to hear that.”
        B. Peter recognized the importance of Moses and Elijah. It is understandable that
            He wanted to do something to memorialize the occasion. It seemed like the right
            thing to do and the right thing to say.
 
III. THE EXCLAMATION
    A. Suddenly a cloud began to descend upon the mountain where these six men were
        standing. Then, through the mist and fog of the cloud came the unmistakable voice
        of Almighty God saying, “This is my beloved Son, hear Him.”
        1. Was Moses important? Was Elijah important?
        2. Jesus was the fulfillment of the law and the prophets.
            a. In Hebrews 1:1-3 the writer said, “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers
                in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, ² in these last days has
                spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom
                also He made the world. ³ And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact
                representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His
                power.”
    B. The statement heard by Peter, James and John is one that you and I need to hear
        today, “This is My Son, hear Him.”
        1. Through the roar of the crowd we need to hear Jesus.
        2. Through the noise of our culture we need to hear Jesus.
        3. Through the heated rhetoric of politics we need to hear Jesus.
        4. Through the shouting of violence and hatred we need to hear Jesus.
  
CONCLUSION:
A. There’s a room in south Minneapolis, Minnesota, that is called the “quietest” room in
    the United States. The longest anyone has survived in the ‘anechoic chamber’ at
    Orfield Laboratories is just 45 minutes. The room absorbs 99.9% of sound.
    According to the Guinness Book of Records it is the world’s quietest place. A person
    sitting by himself in the room hears nothing at all at first. Then as the auditory
    senses become more alert they can actually hear their heart beat, the lungs expand
    and contracts and the sounds of your stomach and digestive tract.  These sounds are
    always present but in the normal noise of daily life we do not hear them.
B. Our Master’s Voice is always speaking to us. Whether life is good or bad, whether
    we are healthy or sick, prosperous or in need, He speaks to us. Sometimes in the
    midst of the competing noise we do not hear Him.  
    1. What is God saying to you today?
    2. Can you hear Him calling?
C. As we sing, “Softly and Tenderly,” we welcome you to come to Jesus, accept Him as
    Lord of your life through obedient faith, repentance and baptism. If you have strayed
    away from Him listen to His loving call and return to your first love as we sing.