Parents,

We’ve just wrapped up our series of Sunday messages on caregroups. I am sure these messages have helped you become a more effective caregroup member. I think the these messages translate to family life pretty easily: our church is a community that is seeking to please God, so are our families. The statements and ideas we were introduced to over the last four weeks can be easily adapted to family life. Here are some of the main ideas of the last couple messages, modified to apply to family life:

• 1/7, Mark, Gospel-Centered Families. Substitutionary atonement is the heart of the gospel. We must never assume the gospel or relax our grip on the gospel. Families are application factories; every family needs to have a functioning gospel. Come to family dinner ready to share a gospel-related Scripture.
• 1/14, CJ, Application. Grace-motivated obedience is what counts. Families are a strategic means of applying the truth. We need to help each other connect “one bit of Scripture to one bit of life.” Patience is critical in this: we need to remember how far we’ve come and how long it’s taken us. A two word summary of the Christian life: “gospel applied”.
• 1/21, Kenneth, Fellowship. Walking in the light is not sinless fellowship, but it is transformational fellowship. Walking in the light means not waiting for others to come to me wiht observations. We must be humble in this: proud people minimize or defend their sin, and never change. Humble people are suspicious of themselves and ask family members for help. Families cultivate fellowship by creating a culture of love.
  
• 1/28, Mark, Relationships. You were made for relationships… for the purpose of mutual edification.  Family relationships grow through asking good questions.  Are we better at reciting lines from movies than talking about God from Scripture?  Relationships are guaranteed to be messy.  If the gospel is functioning in your family, grace wins!

Parents, please consider reviewing these messages as a family.  At a minimum, please make good use of the questions that were handed out!  They are valuable!

Categories: Thursday Thoughts For Parents, five15 blog