How to be a real family guy

Message notes from May 6, 2012

Real Help for the Modern Family:

How to be a Real Family Guy

Intro

The problem:  men don’t know how to be men

                        Men are given mixed signals

                        Society picks on men who lead well

I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me.

                                                Philippians 4:13

Man Myths  (taken from You Tube excerpts by Mark Driscoll)

Chauvinists

No Sissy Stuff Sam

 Success and Status Stewart

 Give Em Heck Hank

 I’m the Boss Bob

Cowards

Little Boy Linus

 Sturdy Oak Owen

 Hyper-Spiritual Henry

 Good Time Gary

  

A Real Family Guy Follows Jesus!

Ephesians 5:23  Husbands, love your wives, just as also Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her              

-put her first
-sacrifice, die to self
-totally devote myself to her and my children

Philippians 2:5-6  Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus, who , existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage.

-men, we have great influence, are often leaders by default

-we must use this for the benefit of others

-we must consider others BEFORE we consider ourselves!

-with privilege comes responsibility! 

Am I a real family guy?

What do people say about me?

   Teachers

   Peers

   Pastors

   Friends

   Family

   Employers

   Neighbors

   Restaurant Servers

Psalm 1:3  He is like a tree planted beside streams of water that bears fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.  Whatever he does prospers.  

-is there visible fruit in my life?

-am I prospering spiritually?

                 

John 15:16  I appointed you that you should go out and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.     

-am I producing fruit that lasts?

Fruit =  look more like Jesus, lead people to Jesus   

Family Guy fruit:  children who find and follow Jesus!

If God filed an income tax form, could He legitimately claim you as a dependent?

Interview Jeremiah and Cyndi Brown

www.generationchurch.cc

  

Conclusion

Philippians 4:13  I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me.

                                               

Be A REAL FAMILY GUY!   What is my next right step?

Launcing Kids and Reshaping the Nest

My message notes from April 29, 2012

Real Help for the Modern Family:

Launch Our Kids and ReshapeThe Nest

Psalm 127; Mark 10:6-9

Intro

Philippians 4:13  I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me.

Remember from Last Week…

Parenting = the process of training our child to leave!

-Genesis 2:24  “That is why a man LEAVES his father and mother…”

-Proverbs 22:6  “Teach a youth about the way he should GO; even

    when he is old he will not depart from it.”

-We raise our kids to go and establish their own families

-They will most likely duplicate the home they came from!

Launch them!  (don’t just let them leave)

Psalm 127

1.  Depend on God  vs. 1-2

2.  Receive kids as gifts vs. 3

3.  Release them for a mission  vs. 4-5

Parenting = leading our child to  find and follow Jesus Christ, 

                    so they will lead their children to find and follow Christ!

1 John 5:12  The one who has the Son has life. The one who doesn't have the Son of God does not have life.

Deuteronomy 6:5  Love the Lord your God with all our heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength

-We must launch them towards Jesus Christ

-His will is more important than “our will” for our kids

-True success is when our grandchildren find and follow Jesus!

Launching Kids requires a shift in our role

-From Authority to Advisor

-From hands on, to hands off

After we launch our kids, we must…

Reshape the Nest

Remember the original plan…

-Mark 10:6-9 is a lifelong plan

      Goals for our marriage as we reshape the nest:

            -Enjoyment

            -Example for our kids

Welcome Jerry & Becky Jones (interview)

Remember…

I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me.

                                                Philippians 4:13

Conclusion

What is my next right step?

-Where are you right now? 

    Pre-launch, Post-Launch

    Full nest, empty nest

    Starter nest, long gone nest

-How must I surrender to God?

-Who must I turn to for help?

    -Connection Group, other godly friends

Real Help for the Modern Family: How to raise great kids

My message from April 22, 2012

Real Help for the Modern Family:  How to Raise Great Kids

Intro

Real help starts with God! 

Philippians 4:13  I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me.

We also need help from each other!

-like Lincoln Hall needed after reaching the summit of Mount Everest.  He went crazy due to lack of oxygen.  His sherpas left him because they didn't think he was alive.  Then along came Dan Mazur, who was leading a high paying group to the summit.  He had to make a choice-- continue on or abandon his quest for the summit to save Lincoln's life?

-Dan Mazur chose the greater goal of saving Lincoln’s life

-Sadly, months earlier, over 40 climbers passed by David Sharp as he lay dying.  He did not survive.

    -However, David made several critical mistakes that led to his death—  the “could have been” rescuers

        may not have been able to save him

-Notice then:  We must help unhealthy families!  (Rescue them) 

                         -we must make personal sacrifices to save dying families around us

                      Healthy families need to do the right things to stay safe

                         -we must seek help, prepare for future dangers, do the next right thing

That is the reason for this series….“Real Help for the Modern Family”

Today: How to raise great kids
Genesis 2:24;   Deuteronomy 6:5-10;  Proverbs 22:6

What is a parent supposed to do?

1.  Parenting = the process of training our child to leave!

Genesis 2:24  “That is why a man LEAVES his father and mother…”

Proverbs 22:6  “Teach a youth about the way he should GO; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”

-We must raise our kids, send them out, so they can raise their kids

-Raise Great Kids = Future Great Home!

2.  Parenting = leading our child to  find and follow Jesus Christ

1 John 5:12  The one who has the Son has life. The one who doesn’t have the Son of God does not have life.

Deuteronomy 6:5  Love the Lord your God with all our heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength

How to raise great kids

Deuteronomy 6:6-10

1.  Demonstrate-  live it out, show them how to live for Jesus

2.  Teach- explain, break it down, age appropriate learning

3.  Practice- every moment is a teachable moment!

       -in the car, at the meal table, enjoying entertainment, chore time

Proverbs 22:6

4.  Expect!  

-we get what we aim for, we rarely get more than we aim for

-“the way”  each child has a particular

7 Tips from Making Children Mind Without Losing Yours by Dr. Kevin Leman

-Healthy Authority

-Accountability

-Reality is the Teacher- let my child fail!  (Great teacher!)

-Actions more than Words- follow through, no empty threats

-Keep Going (persevere, modify if needed (only God is perfect!)

-Relationship before Rules (unconditional love)

-Walk my Talk (you can’t lead where you won’t follow)

Remember, we are trusting God to help us do this!

Philippians 4:13  I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me.

How to raise great kids

What is my next right step?

Follow Jesus personally 

Dedicate your kids to Jesus

 -lead them to find and follow Jesus 

Reach out to each other!  

     Who have you encouraged lately?

     Who are the encouraging people you are surrounding your life with?

Get help AS YOU do then next right thing!

-attend worship, join a Connection Group, start serving people somewhere
-turn from wrong behavior and start doing what is right