Sept 17 Mon - Deut 6

Sept 18 Tues - Mt 7

Sept 19 Wed - John 15

Sept 20 Thr – Mt 6

Sept 21 Fri - James 1-2

Sept 22 Sat – Ex 20

PRAYER: A - Adoration (prayer of centering; focus on God's goodness)

C - Confession (prayer of repentance and asking for God's forgiveness)

T - Thanksgiving (prayer of gratefulness, content, joy, avoiding pessimism)

S - Supplication (prayer for others; then pray for yourself)

S - STOP and listen... give God some time to speak to you --- end with the LORD'S PRAYER

A. Effective families have learned how to put 1st things 1st

- "If you build your life on the wrong things, you will have no life at all"

- "Things which matter most, ought never be at the expense of what matters least

- You're worse off if you Take Steps up the Ladder, w/Ladder on the Wrong Wall

- How do you know your ladder is on the right wall?

1) 2 options: Subjective (your culture) vs. Objective (God's Word)

C. God's Word continually makes point that Cultural/Society Norms are Unhealthy

- This is why there is so much marriage and family dysfunction today - we (humanity) refuse to live/love God's way (Mt 7:13, "Gate that leads to destruction is wide; and many go through it"; 7:15-20, "a rotten tree cannot produce good fruit)

- Narrow Gate/Path = Leaning against the RIGHT wall/build on RIGHT foundation

D. Effective Families Put 1st Things 1st = Priorities/Foundation Built on Rock

- The Structure/Foundations of our Lives

Surface - Everyday tasks, hobbies, weather, sports, etc

Values/Priorities - The things that are important to you

Ultimate Concerns - The underlying assumptions that drive you

- Ultimate Concerns for Most of Society are:

I. Items - your life is driven by the abundance of your possessions

D. Duties - your life is driven by your accomplishments/work

O. Other People - your life is driven by "comparing yourself" to others

L. Longings - your life is driven by a future "fix"

S. Sufferings - your life is driven by what happened to you in the past

- Effective Families have healthy Ultimate Concerns (Ex 20:3, "... no other gods"

E. Why is idolatry bad for you and your family (your marriage, your kids, etc)?

- If materialism drives your family, how healthy can you be? If work drives your family, how healthy can you be? If comparing your life to others drives you, etc.

- The Biblical Challenge to Society's Norms:

1) Mt 7 - take the narrow path; build house on rock; bear fruit of the Vine, Jn 15

2) Deut 6:1-7, "Teach/Live them at home, that it may go well for you/your family

F. Godly Priorities (Narrow Path, Putting 1st Things 1st living)

#1 Your daily walk with Jesus; #2 Your Spouse; #3 Your kids; #4 everything else

G. A Biblical Model = Sabbath Holiness - Ex. 20:8, "On the Sabbath, you shall not work - not you, nor your sons and daughters": The Point?

- Often a huge disconnect between what we SAY we value (my marriage, family) and what we actually value (I.D.O.L.S.). Answer? Sabbath Holiness = a good start