Build faith at home through prayer, Bible study and church
1. THE FAMILY SETS THE STAGE FOR EVERYTHINGI!!
Culture of Faith
Choose for yoursetves this day whom you witt serye... But as for me and my househotd
we witl serve the Lord." Joshua 24:15
ls there enough evidence in your home for you to be convicted of fottowing Jesus
Christ? This is a choice that God gives us, a choice to center our home around faith or
a facade. What happens behind the doors of your home? ls your home an incubator for
faith? lndeed, your ministry begins at home. When your faith works at home, you have
the credibitity to export it to other environments. lt is your taboratory for tiving.
This does not mean you are without probtems, conflicts, and chattenges at home. On
the contrary, it is when your faith sustains you through famity difficutties that it
becomes a competting reason for others to fotLow Christ. The question for the head of
the home is, are you the spirituat [eader? As a singte parent or the father or mother in
the home, do you model prayer and Bibte study? Does the fruit of the Spirit ftow from
your character? Are you invotved with a community of betievers in a [oca[ church?
Betief in God is a choice, so what are some wise choices you can make to buitd your
househotd of faith? Begin by devetoping an intimate retationship with Jesus Christ.
Once you are born again, you have a tremendous opportunity and responsibitity to grow
in your faith. Learn the Bibte, appty it to your [ife, and tet God change you from the
inside out.
Next, chattenge your famity to do the same. Create a cutture of prayer that becomes a
catatyst. for their time with Christ. Famity devotions, smatl groups with other betievers,
and journaling are a few ways to feed the faith appetite of your loved ones. Take your
famity to church. This sets the stage for a week of faith and obedience.
Perhaps you read a chapter in Proverbs over dinner. Pray with your spouse. Turn off
the tetevision one night a week for 30 minutes, then discuss God's word or act out a
2. Bibte story in a ptay and then pray for one another. Teach your chitdren to pray for the
sick, the [ost, and the hurting. Modet for them the joy of generous giving and serving.
Show them how to serye the homeless, orphans, and the etderty. Attow your kids to
experience summer camps. This witt gatvanize their faith. lt is a financial sacrifice but
it is an investment that witt keep throwing off dividends throughout their lives.
Tatk with your famity about your own struggtes and faitures and God's faithfutness to
answer prayer and.take care of you in spite of your mistakes. Your famity needs to see
you as much vutnerabte as they do confident. lndeed, facititating faith in your home is
a daity choice; this fs one reason Jesus prayed...
"Give us each day our daity bread', (Luke 11 :3).
Am I a catatyst for christ in my home? Do t serve the Lord with my famity?
Related Readings: Genesis 18:19; zKings23:24: John 4:53; Acts 1g:1g
t ),'Y i 7
A CODLY LEADER
But o goodleoier plnns rc do good, and those good things
mal<e him a gootl leuler'
Ivti,rh .Jl',1 N()
ur world neecls Christian leaders rvho
willingly honor God with their words and
the.ir deeds, but not necesstrrily in that
irrder.
If you seek to be a godly leader, then you must
begin by being a worthy example to your family, to
your friends, to your church, and to your community'
Aft6r ail, your words of instruction will never ring
true unless you yourself are willing to follow them'
- Are you the kind of leader whom you would want
to follow? lf so, congrarulations. Bur if the answer to
that question [s no, then it's time to improve yc-rur
leadership skills, beginning wit[ the words that
you speak and the example rhat you set, but not
necessarily in that order.
The goal of leadership is to empower the whole people
of God to discem and to discharge the Lord's will'
.stcrnlcr (ireni
-A DAILY PROVERB-
Loqe and truth fonn a good leadet; sowd.leadership is
fomded onlouingintegriry'
PrDcerb-s 20:2g MSC
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