Speaker: David Horner, Senior Pastor of Providence Baptist Church, Raleigh, N.C.
Live blogger: Kim Davidson
This (family ministry) is not a six-step program.
1 Thessalonians 4:1
‘We want to excel still more’ We are doing well at ministry, but we want to excel still more. What do we need to think about and process to make the connection of family and ministry within the church? We shouldn’t have any interest in doing church just for the sake of doing church. There has to be more to it.
Family ministry is not a new concept. This must be something that resonates at the core of who we are. This is a life-long process: we are seeking to relationally take people deep into the Scriptures. We don’t have to juice it up or make it relevant. We must come back to a simple way of communicating Christ to the next generation.
Scripture makes it simple, yet so profound, that it takes our whole lives to figure it out. ‘Live it out in front of somebody.’ Give authenticity to it. Put words to it.
Once we get over the idea that the goal of youth ministry is not the programs, rallies, cool names, events or people ‘getting there,’ perhaps we can recognize that it’s about something more: the glory of Jesus. Our task is to show them the reality of Jesus. Our goal is not building programs.
Our desire is Christ-likeness (Col 1.28). We need to introduce them to Christ and help them grow in maturity in Christ. The goal for the church and the family is the same plan.
In the church and family, God’s plan converges:
1. The purpose is that God may be glorified.
2. The purpose is that the nations may be blessed (Gen 12, 15).
3. The purpose is that your joy may be full.
In church and family, God’s pattern is compelling:
1. Complementary, not conflicting roles
a. Family: involvement
b. Church: integrity
i. The church needs to know that there needs to be time in the family’s schedule for discipleship and ministry to take place in the home. We want to build strong families. We don’t need to weigh them down with ‘stuff.’
c. Representative, not contradictory, functions
i. Spiritual leadership: consistent character
ii. Spiritual maturity: continuous consecration
iii. Spiritual priorities: common calling
The one-anothers of Scripture need to be played out both in the church and in the family.
In church and family, God’s passion connects:
1. Psalm 145:3-5
2. 1 Thessalonians 4:1
An Enduring Partnership of Authenticity for Christ.
This partnership emerges from:
a. An intentional culture. Numbers aren’t the only thing that matter. We want to build up others in Christ.
b. An integration of principles instead of innovative gimmicks and imposed guilt. Not silos, but an intentional culture in the whole church — like redwoods all rooted together — to present everyone built up in Christ.
c. The principle-based approach.
Matthew 7:24. What is happening so our families aren’t reflecting our culture, but reflecting God’s love to the culture? Do we want poster-children for the book of Ecclesiastes or solid followers of Christ? Ecclesiastes 2:10-11. 2 Peter 1:3-4.
d. 2 Timothy 3:16-17. This is the foundation for the youth of our churches. 2 Peter 1:3.
The partnership produces:
a. A contagious and dynamic relationship with Christ.
i. More caught than taught.
ii. More attractive than arranged.
iii. More authentic than just words.
iv. More loving than demanding.
b. A consistent and supportive relationship with each other.
i. Consistency at home (Deut 6:5-9). Personalize this.
ii. Support at church (Acts 20:17-32).