The Cornerstone of Civilization: Preaching on Family

The family is the cornerstone of any civilized society. It is the basic unit of social organization and the foundation for a healthy and productive society. The family provides us with love, support, and guidance, and it helps us to develop our values and learn about the world around us.

The Importance of Family

Strong families are essential for the well-being of individuals and society as a whole. Children who grow up in strong families are more likely to be successful in school, have healthy relationships, and make positive contributions to their communities. They are also less likely to engage in risky behaviors, such as drug use and crime.

The Challenges Facing Families

Unfortunately, many families today are facing challenges that make it difficult for them to thrive. These challenges include poverty, divorce, and the breakdown of traditional family structures. As a result, more and more children are growing up in single-parent homes or in homes where both parents are working long hours.

The Role of the Church

The church can play a vital role in supporting families and helping them to overcome the challenges they face. The church can provide families with a sense of community, support, and guidance. It can also offer programs and services that can help families to strengthen their relationships, improve their parenting skills, and cope with stress.

How to Preach on Family

When preaching on family, it is important to focus on the positive aspects of family life. Preachers should emphasize the importance of family and the benefits that it can bring to individuals and society as a whole. They should also provide practical advice on how families can overcome the challenges they face.

Outline of a Sermon on Family

Here is a possible outline for a sermon on family:

1. Introduction: The importance of family
2. The challenges facing families
3. The role of the church
4. How to preach on family

Here are some additional tips for preaching on family:

• Use personal stories and examples to illustrate your points.
• Be positive and encouraging.
• Avoid judgment and condemnation.
• Provide practical advice that families can use to improve their lives.

Stories About Family

Here are three funny stories (not a joke) about families that I have heard that can be used to illustrate the joys and challenges of family life:

1. A woman was driving her husband to the airport when he asked her to pull over. He got out of the car, walked around to her side, and gave her a big kiss. "What was that for?" she asked. "Well," he replied, "I just saw a survey that said that 98% of all car accidents are caused by drivers who are distracted while talking to their passengers."
2. A man was watching his wife struggle to iron a shirt. "Honey," he said, "let me try that." He took the iron and proceeded to burn a hole in the shirt. "Oh, I'm so sorry!" he exclaimed. "Well, don't worry about it," his wife replied. "I was just going to use that shirt for a patch anyway."
3. A little boy was playing in the living room when he accidentally knocked over a vase. His mother rushed in and asked him what happened. "I'm sorry, Mommy," he said. "I didn't mean to do it." His mother smiled and said, "That's OK, honey. Accidents happen." The little boy looked up at her and said, "Yeah, and I'm sure glad that one did!"

What We Can Learn from These Stories

These stories show us that family life is full of both joys and challenges. There will be times when we laugh and times when we cry. There will be times when we make each other crazy and times when we can't imagine our lives without each other. But through it all, our families are there for us, providing us with love, support, and guidance.

Tables About Family

Here are three tables that provide some useful information about family:

Tips and Tricks for Preaching on Family

Here are some tips and tricks for preaching on family:

• Use humor to lighten the mood and make your sermons more engaging.
• Use personal stories to illustrate your points and make your sermons more relatable.
• Be positive and encouraging. Avoid judgment and condemnation.
• Provide practical advice that families can use to improve their lives.
• Keep your sermons short and to the point. People are more likely to listen to a sermon that is 15 minutes long than one that is 30 minutes long.

Resources for Advanced Study

Here are some resources for advanced study on family:

• The National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia: https://www.marriageproject.org/
• The Institute for Family Studies: https://ifstudies.org/
• The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy: https://aamft.org/

Comparison of Pros and Cons

Here is a comparison of the pros and cons of preaching on family:

Pros:

• Preaching on family can help to strengthen families and improve the lives of individuals and society as a whole.
• Preaching on family can help to create a sense of community and support within the church.
• Preaching on family can provide practical advice that families can use to overcome the challenges they face.

Cons:

• Preaching on family can be challenging, especially for preachers who have not experienced strong family relationships themselves.
• Preaching on family can be controversial, especially in churches that have a wide range of views on family issues.
• Preaching on family can be time-consuming, especially if the preacher wants to do a thorough job of covering the topic.

Call to Action

I urge you to preach on family in your church. Family is the cornerstone of our society, and it is essential that we do everything we can to support families and help them to thrive.