Summary: To have a spiritually healthy church, Paul recognizes the need to address family issues. Even in today’s culture that gives a warped family view, these are the principles that will guide your family into a relationship with God that will strengthen not o

The Family Pleasing to God

Colossians 3:18-21

I. Wives (v. 18; Titus 2:3-5)

a. Love the husband and children

b. Homemakers

c. Submissive to the husband’s leadership (Ephesians 5:22, 24; 1 Peter 3:1-6)

II. Husbands (v. 19; Ephesians 5:23, 25-33)

a. Love the wife (1 Peter 3:7)

b. Lead the family (1 Corinthians 11:3)

III. Children and Discipline (v. 20-21; Ephesians 6:1-3)

a. Obey and Honor the parents (Proverbs 6:20, 23:22)

b. Parents must teach God’s statutes (Deuteronomy 6:7)

c. Basic training/discipline will do the trick (Proverbs 22:6)

REFERENCE NOTES

Titus 2:3-5— 3Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, 4so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.

Ephesians 5:22, 24— 22Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.

24But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.

1 Peter 3:1-6— 1In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, 2as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior. 3Your adornment must not be merely external--braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; 4but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. 5For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands; 6just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear.

Ephesians 5:23, 25-33— 23For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body.

25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. 28So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; 29for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, 30because we are members of His body. 31FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND SHALL BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH. 32This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. 33Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.

1 Peter 3:7— 7You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

1 Corinthians 11:3— 3But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ.

Ephesians 6:1-3— 1Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER (which is the first commandment with a promise), 3SO THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH.

Proverbs 6:20, 23:22— 20My son, observe the commandment of your father

And do not forsake the teaching of your mother;

22Listen to your father who begot you,

And do not despise your mother when she is old.

Deuteronomy 6:7— 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.

Proverbs 22:6— 6Train up a child in the way he should go,

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