What's Coming Up Next
Modern Family
The 20th century witnessed an increasingly intense focus on the structure, dynamics, and purpose of family life. We still hear it today with arguments over traditional family values and protecting the family. Why such focus? Because healthy families raise healthy people, and these healthy people help make a healthier world. This was a reason that the apostle Paul started so many Christian communities in homes. A family grounded in the life of Christ, would raise Christ centered children who would help fill other with new life that Christ offered.
Every family, in every generation has encountered challenges to building healthy relationships. Modern families a must fight an uphill battle with technology, time commitments, job demands, and social pressures. In the same way, seeking Christ is full of these challenges. The “Modern Family” series will be exploring these challenges, applying scriptural truths to help guide, and looking to Christ as the foundation of the family.
May 6th – “Who’s leading who?”
- Every family deals with leadership issues. For some there is a lack of leadership, no role models to learn from.
For others there is too much leadership, conflicting directions that end up leaving us more confused than
clear. The apostle Paul shared with congregations that with the right mix of leadership and collaboration, the
family thrives. The same issue is present in the family of Christ, the church. When there is the right mixture of
leadership and collaboration, the church thrives. Are the actions, words, and decisions for a family being led
by Christ or by culture?
May 13th – “What do I do again?”
- Unfortunately, parenting does not come with an instruction manual. There is no hand out job description.
The voices of common culture will create expectations that are unattainable, unsustainable, and downright
insane. Through the gospel the expectations are cut away to reveal the truth of what God expects from each
us and how Christ calls together the family.
May 20th – “I just want a normal family”
- The language of “traditional” family gets thrown around a lot. Politicians debate over legislation that would
protect or unravel the traditional family. Schools classify students based on whether they are a part of a
traditional or non-traditional family. Even personalities within the Christian faith claim a need to get back to
traditional family values. So what the heck is the traditional family? How did Christ understand his family,
how did understand a traditional family, is the family of Christ traditional?
May 27th -”When my family hurts”
- Every family has encountered pain, hurt, grief, loss, and challenges. What really matters is the response of the
family, how the family addresses the bumps and bruises of life. The easy road is avoidance, ignoring the
problem with the hope that it will resolve itself. But Christ was not an avoider, Christ addressed hurt and pain
head on! So how does God equip each of us to build up and heal in times of pain? What direction does the
message of Christ give for those who need hope?
June 3rd – “The wired family”
- Advances in technology have always forced families to reconsider how they communicate. The last decade
has witnessed an unprecedented explosion of technology. This tech revolution has caused all of us to be
more connected, receive information faster, and have unprecedented access to content. Powerful when used
responsibly, disastrous when used wildly. Families are constantly battling over time spent on these devices,
what is being seen through them, and how we are communicating with them. Can the gospel shape our use
of technology? Is it possible to connect the family, Christ, and technology?\
June 10th – “Let’s Party”
- Time passes, we grow older, and every now and then come upon a celebration. Markers on the road of life that are worth stopping at and enjoying. Graduations, weddings, and child birth are some of the bigger examples. It is easy to get caught up in the excitement. But these celebration moments of the family are also opportunities to go deeper. Chances to share how Christ can guide another through a new stage of life.
