Category: Family

Family

Family Chats (1)

“My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.” James 1:19-20 (NIV) Communication is vital for the home and family to operate in a way that pleases God. Relationships deepen as communication strengthens. The more effective we are in communicating understanding and communicating love within our home, the more effective our witness for Christ will be. God magnifies the witness of the family that communicates effectively within the home. Your home becomes a testimony before the Lord. When it comes to communication, how well do you listen? Are you intentional in listening empathetically and compassionately? Do you seek to understand and communicate that understanding? “Then Samuel said, ‘Speak, for your servant is listening.’” 1 Sam 3:10 (NIV) “He who answers before listening–that is his folly and his shame.” Prov 18:13 (NIV) Let’s commit to be quick to listen. Remember, God has given us one mouth and two ears. What would happen if we intentionally listen twice as much as we speak? Our level of effective communication may very well increase. Thank God for the listening ears He has sprinkled throughout your life to help you along the way. People who came alongside you with a compassionate ear are worthy of your thanksgiving. Now be that kind of person in the lives of others for the glory of God. Start with your family and become a good listener. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Family Mission Statement

Family Business (7)

“‘My food,’ said Jesus, ‘is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.’” John 4:34 (NIV) Jesus focused His life on God’s agenda. He didn’t allow anyone or anything to distract Him from living a life pleasing to God and a life faithful to God’s work. We should employ no less focus on the family business God has blessed us with. Does your family have a mission statement? Use the following content as a guide to formulate a family mission statement. Family Mission Statement We The _________________ Family Hereby Declare That We exist as a family to please God and to bring glory, honor, and praise to His name. (1 Corinthians 10:31; Colossians 3:17-4:1; Joshua 24:15) We exist as a family to love each other unconditionally in an atmosphere of acceptance and trust. (Isaiah 32:18; Ephesians 4:29-5:2; Colossians 3:12-17; Philippians 2:1-11) We exist as a family to learn, live and model Christian values and a biblical worldview. (Deuteronomy 6:4-6; Matthew 5:13-16; Acts 1:8) Signed By ________________________________ On The Day Of _________________________ Personalize this family mission statement to fit your family. Seek input from your family members so that they can be part of the process. Enjoy the fruit of your strategic thinking. Ask God to enable your family to focus on His agenda. Be a model for other families to follow for God’s glory! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Family Mission Statement

Family Business (6)

“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” 1 Cor 11:1 (NIV) Your home should be a place to run to, not run from. God wants your home to be an oasis. Your home should be the safest place on earth to be yourself. Trust is essential. In fact, without trust there is no relationship. Without trust, your home will not be an oasis. Relationships are built on trust. Your love relationship with Jesus is in your response to your trusting in Jesus alone for salvation. God has entrusted you with the gospel message and spiritual gifts to serve others. God has demonstrated His trust in you which makes your unbroken fellowship with God possible. In order to be trusted by others, you must be trustworthy. To create an environment of trust within your home, the members of your family must be trustworthy. Living a life of integrity elevates the level of trust within your home. “Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.” 3 John 1:11 (NIV) “Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you.” Phil 3:17 (NIV) You can be the example for other family members to follow. If you want to be encouraged, spend a few moments thanking God for the family members who have modeled Christ before you. You may even consider sending them a note or an email expressing your gratitude for their example in your life. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Family Mission Statement

Family Business (5)

“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” Romans 15:7 (NIV) What kind of home environment did you grow up in? Was your home a safe place where love was extended unconditionally and where acceptance was granted freely? Do you recall if your home was filled with an atmosphere of trust? We exist as a family to love each other unconditionally in an atmosphere of acceptance and trust. What about now? What’s your home life like? Have you nurtured an atmosphere of acceptance? When you accept God’s acceptance of you, every relationship takes on a new dimension. Drawing from what God has done in your life, you will be able to extend acceptance of others. When you accept others, it does not mean that you condone their behavior or affirm inappropriate conduct. Rather, you are demonstrating that your acceptance of them is not based upon performance. “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” Col 3:12-14 (NIV) Clothe yourself with the garment of God’s love and acceptance. Treat your family members the way God has so graciously treated you. God has already given us so much more than we deserve. God simply wants us to let His life flow through us to influence our home for His glory! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Family Mission Statement

Family Business (4)

“My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.” Isaiah 32:18 (NIV) We exist as a family to love each other unconditionally in an atmosphere of acceptance and trust. Now that statement is loaded with meaning and with life giving principles. Is your family characterized by love? Does your family consistently extend unconditional love? Love is the mark of a mature follower of Jesus Christ. If our home and family are going to bring honor to God, love must be the supreme demonstration. The unconditional love God has shown us in Christ is to be duplicated in our home. Love is also a fruit of the Spirit which is evidenced through our treatment of others. “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Eph 4:29 (NIV) “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Eph 4:32 (NIV) Seize opportunities within your home this week to demonstrate the unconditional love of God. Whenever you go through seasons of not wanting to love that way, just remember how God has lavished you with His unconditional love. God is not asking us to do anything He has not already done for us in Christ. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Family Glory Mission Statement

Family Business (3)

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Cor 10:31 (NIV) What motivates you to live the Christian life? Do you live the Christian life to get others to think highly of you or to generate words of affirmation? No, you live the Christian life to bring glory to God. The same is true for your family business. Your family exists to bring glory to God. It gets personal when you begin to assess the reason for your family’s existence. Your family does not exist to accumulate wealth and parade personal acclaim. Instead, your family exists to operate in such a fashion as to bring glory to God during every season of family life. Think about your home. Does your home bring honor to God? Is your home life a testimony to God’s faithfulness and holiness? Maybe you are the only believer in your home or maybe your entire family has known the Lord. As a unit, would you say that your family brings glory to God? Examine your home life this week and take note of ways that your family honors God. If you identify areas of your life at home that dishonor God, confess those things to God and ask for His help in bringing everything under His care. Make the smile of God the goal of your home and family! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Family Mission Statement

Family Business (2)

“So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.” 2 Cor 5:9 (NIV) Have you ever wondered what the purpose of your family is? Have you discovered why you exist? God wants your family to maintain a vertical orientation. You exist to please God. In his letter to the church at Corinth, Paul reminded the church family that their goal was to please God. Are you a God pleaser? The enemy assaults the family. You have to fight for your family and you have to guard your passion to please God. You will have to combat the attempts the enemy makes to diffuse your focus on pleasing God. You have a choice to make. Joshua faced the onslaught of attacks which sought to erode the commitment to God embraced by the children of Israel. On behalf of his family, Joshua made the right choice. “‘But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.’” Josh 24:15 (NIV) Will you lead the way for your family to please God? Will you make the bold commitment to serve the Lord? Let me encourage you to keep your eyes on Jesus. Stay vertical! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Family Mission Statement

Family Business (1)

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” Gen 1:27 (NIV) God designed the family and God defines the family. The family business is God’s business. God created Adam and Eve in His image. God created them for His pleasure. He blessed them and commanded them to fill the earth and subdue it (Gen. 1:28). Their assignment was to love God, to love each other, and to be fruitful and increase in number. What comes to your mind when you think of the word, family? You may have warm feelings of special memories that where made in the context of a loving environment. Perhaps the concept of family for you may surface feelings that are less desirable due to neglect or fractured relationships. Think about your current reality. What does your current family scenario look like? God has a plan for you and for your family. His plan includes your need for loving relationships. God’s desire is that you know Him personally and then express His love within your family and to a lost world. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Accountability Faith Family Protection Sincerity

Sincere Faith (3)

“What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you–guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.” 2 Tim 1:13-14 (NIV) As you seek to impart your sincere faith, expect opposition. As a follower of Jesus Christ, you will be a threat to Satan and his agenda. Fight to protect that faith. Your faith is worth fighting for. The faith of your family is worth fighting for. As you impart your faith to those in your sphere of influence, you will be impacting their lives for time and eternity. Because of the value God places on your sincere faith, Satan seeks to distract you. “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.” 1 Tim 4:1 (NIV) “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God–having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.” 2 Tim 3:1-5 (NIV) Protect the faith God has given you. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Family

Family is God’s idea. God is pro-family. Regardless of your upbringing, whether you grew up in a stable Christian environment or a broken home, you can be adopted into God’s spiritual family. “from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name.” Eph 3:15 (NIV) God’s family is known as the Body of Christ, the church. God’s desire is for you to believe in His Son, Jesus. Once you place your faith in the completed work of Jesus on the cross, you become part of God’s family. As you examine God’s global family, you will detect instantly that God loves variety. He specializes in using all kinds of people to reach all kinds of people. What kind of family member are you being within God’s family? Are you adding value to what God is doing? Have you discovered your God-given gift mix and are you serving through ministry of God’s local family, the church? There is so much more that God wants to do through you than you can imagine. Begin asking God to reveal to you the next step that He wants you to take. Once God reveals the next step, be willing to obey instantly. It just may be something that will cause you to totally and completely depend upon His provision. God always provides for those He guides. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care