A Christian family redeems the desert that has come because of our eviction from the garden. With Christ, our home becomes a place of permanent surrender of all we are so that Christ is beautifully reflected and ultimately shown
Open: Describe your past and present family dynamic: What challenges do you see? What is working well?
Read: Genesis 1-3; Ephesians 5:15-6:4
Discuss:
1. What effect did the fall of man (sin) have on the purpose and value of family? Describe the 3 separations: How have these “separations” caused a growing resistance and attack on the family? How do you see this practically in your life? What are some things that cause you concern as you think about your current family situation?
2. Describe the specific statements in Ephesians 5 that demonstrate the roles of marriage and family and how they relate to the glory of Christ: Why do you think Paul, the writer of the letter to the Ephesians, puts a statement about Christ in every statement he makes regarding family? How does this prove that Christ is the focus of the family?
3. How should focusing on the glory of God affect our marriage and family? Why do you think we spend so much time trying to fix everything in our relationships instead of giving glory to Christ?
4. How would you rate your “glory to Christ family scale” (in other words, are you giving glory to Christ through your family, if so how would you rate it)? What are some ways that you can help your marriage and family better bring glory to Christ?
Pray: Pray that your family focus would be the glory of Christ
Memorize/Meditate: “…submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ." Ephesians 5:21
