Family Means of Grace

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 Principles of Christian Living

This sermon, delivered by a guest speaker in Pastor Martin's absence, focuses on the 'family means of grace,' bridging the gap between private and corporate spiritual disciplines. Drawing primarily from Deuteronomy 6:6-7, Ephesians 6:4, and various Proverbs, the speaker identifies family devotions (prayer, Scripture reading, singing) and the religious instruction and moral training of children (including discipline) as key family means. He emphasizes the husband's spiritual leadership and the wife's role in instruction, highlighting the benefits of these practices for spiritual growth and the dangers of neglecting them or allowing them to become mere ritual.

4 illustrations in this sermon

Introduction to Family Means of Grace

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Semi-private hospital room

In this part of the sermon: The sermon introduces the concept of 'family means of grace' as a bridge between private and public spiritual disciplines, setting the stage for its importance.

The speaker humorously rejects the term 'semi-private' for family means of grace, comparing it to a hospital room, to clarify that the term refers to family, not a medical setting.

I was going to refer to it as semi-private, but no one would understand what that meant. They'd think it was a hospital room, so. It's not referring to that. It's referring to the family means of grace.

1:56 - 2:09 Read in full sermon

The Principle of Regularity and Reinforcement

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Learning Greek through repetition

The point: Approach your responsibilities, especially family devotions and instruction, decently and in order, not haphazardly.

The difficulty of learning Greek by studying once a week versus daily repetition is used to illustrate the necessity of regular, consistent instruction for children to retain religious truth.

So that's why I've used the word regular family devotions and regular religious instruction of our children. And those of you who are involved in teaching, I cannot help but think of teaching Greek in this regard. What is it that is the most helpful with respect to teaching Greek? It is repetition.

31:58 - 32:19 Read in full sermon

Hindrances to Family Means of Grace

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Living without a phone in the 1700s

The point: Turn off your phone during family devotions to avoid interruptions.

The speaker challenges the excuse of phone interruptions by asking how people managed emergencies before telephones, suggesting that families can manage without a phone for a short period of family devotions.

Very well. What would you have done during the 1700s if there were an emergency call? Throughout all of history without a phone, how did people ever exist without telephones?

41:01 - 41:12 Read in full sermon

person anecdote

Family that prays together stays together

The point: Use the lack of regular family worship as a 'thermometer' to check for underlying relational issues with your spouse or God, and then deal with what's wrong.

The old adage is referenced to explain that family prayer necessitates reconciled hearts, thus promoting family unity and addressing underlying relational issues.

You see why the old adage says a family that prays together stays together? You know why that's so? Because prayer, perhaps the greatest hindrance to family prayer is a disruption of heart, ill will, hurt between husband, wife or a disruption between you and your God. That's perhaps the greatest hindrance to regular family prayer and instruction of your children.

44:52 - 45:24 Read in full sermon

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