THE FAMILY CONNECTION
Deuteronomy 4:5 See, I have taught you statutes and rules, as the LORD my God commanded me, that you should do them in the land that you are entering to take possession of it.
Deuteronomy 4:6 Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, 'Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.'
Deuteronomy 4:7 For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the LORD our God is to us, whenever we call upon him?
Deuteronomy 4:8 And what great nation is there, that has statutes and rules so righteous as all this law that I set before you today?
Deuteronomy 4:9 Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children's children—
Too often, we bemoan the fact that the United States of America has gotten away from God. When we look at our roots as a nation, we can easily see the influence from godly Christians and the foundation that our nation was built on. How is it that we, as a nation, have gone so far from being a nation that fears God?
It begins with verse 5. Moses reminds the children of Israel that they are to do the commandments of the Lord that he has taught them. Somewhere along the way, we settled for knowing God’s commands without doing them. The Church in America set out on quest for knowledge of God’s Word and missed out on the transformation that comes from letting the Word get into their hearts as well as their minds. Charts, graphs, timelines and fascinating details tickled the ears of believers to the point that they forgot that the purpose of God’s Word isn’t to inform, but to transform. As a nation, we settled for knowing God’s Word and we stopped short of doing God’s Word.
Moses reminded the people that concerning God’s commands, they are to “keep them and do them.” Moses then gives a warning in verse 9. “Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life.” When we settle for information, rather than transformation, we drift from our personal relationship with God. Moses reminds us that the danger is that we tend to drift from God to the point that we even forget the things He has done in us and through us. Instead of a personal God who works in our lives, He becomes a theoretical being who does His work out there somewhere. Moses then tells them that it is their responsibility to pass their faith on to their children and their grandchildren. “Make them known to your children and your children’s children.”
Basically, the reason we have drifted from God as a nation is because we have failed to make the family connection. From the beginning, it has been God’s design that the family would be the primary place God’s Word is taught and the faith is passed on. In Genesis, God gave His Word to Adam who was responsible for giving it to Eve. When God’s Word was broken, it was Adam who was held responsible. I agree that America has drifted from God. When we read quote from founding fathers such as Patrick Henry who said, "It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” then realize that today many schools will not allow public prayer at events, we can see how far we have drifted.
The breakdown, though, isn’t in our government. The breakdown has been in the family. As the family goes, so goes the church. As the church goes, so goes the nation. This summer let me urge you to make the family connection once again. Let’s follow the pattern given to us in Deuteronomy:
Know and do what God’s Word says.
Remember what God has done in and through us.
Pass on a living faith to our children and our grandchildren.
Serving Him,
Pastor Larry
“Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. He will see to it that all the work related to the temple of the Lord is finished.”
I Chronicles 28:20
“Leading people into a life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ by loving God deeply,
serving one another willingly, and sharing the Gospel of Christ unceasingly.”
Connection Groups
In September, we will have some new connection groups forming. The Connection Groups are designed to promote Authentic Community through Accountability, Belonging and Caring and Spiritual Growth through Loving God Deeply, Serving One Another Willingly, and Sharing the Gospel Unceasingly. If you haven’t taken the next step in connecting, you will want to make sure you get connected with one of these groups.
Email connections@fbccloudcroft.org, if you are interested in joining one of these groups.
Discovering Church Membership
Sunday, July 11th · 4:00pm
This class is designed to help you take the next step in committing to the life and ministry of First Baptist Church Cloudcroft. The four-fold purpose of this class is:
· To help each new or prospective member understand more about First Baptist Church–Cloudcroft, its history, purpose, and vision.
· To help insure that each new or prospective member understands the nature of the covenant relationship he or she is entering as a member of this local church and that he or she is committed to it wholeheartedly.
· To help each new member gain a basic understanding of, and commitment to, the specific privileges and responsibilities of membership in the church he or she has joined.
· To help each new member become a growing participant in the life and ministry of the Christian fellowship which he or she has joined, so that he or she may bear an increasingly effective Christian witness to the world.
If you haven’t been able to attend this class in the past, make plans to attend, beginning July 11th.
