What I Would Do Differently
Lesson 2: Family Discipleship, Especially the Responsibility of Fathers
2. HUSBANDS WILL APPRECIATE THEIR WIVES’ PARTNERSHIP IN
DISCIPLESHIP, WHILE BEING READY TO OVERTLY LEAD WHEN THEIR HUSBANDS ARE NOT ABLE TO.
I. Key NT Scripture to review: _______________________________
A. Children are to obey, and parents must give them strictness, while not ___________________________ their spirits by being unfeeling and harsh.
B. Fathers are the focus of having the responsibility to lead their children in the ways of God.
II. EPHESIANS 5:22-33 (AMONG OTHER PASSAGES) TEACHES THAT THE MARRIAGE RELATIONSHIP IN THE HOME TEACHES A GREAT DEAL ABOUT WHAT THE RELATIONSHIP IS BETWEEN CHRIST AND THE CHURCH, AND WHETHER THE GOSPEL IS WORTHY TO BE EMBRACED, OR NOT.
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. 28 So
husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. 30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. 31 “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
33 Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
A. A husband and wife picture the relationship between Christ and the ________________________________.
B. A husband/father pictures Christ and will either
________________________ Christ well or paint Christ in a bad light.
1. The husband is the head of the family.
2. He is not to use this leadership to serve himself, but to ____________________ his wife.
3. Love, nourish, and cherish
4. He is involved in the process of her sanctification.
C. A wife is commanded to _______________________ to her husband.
1. “In everything”
2. “As to the Lord.”
3. If children see their mother _______________________ ignoring the leadership of their father, they are being taught that a Christian doesn’t need to obey Christ either.
4. A wife’s submission should involve supporting a husband’s attempts to lead his family in worship, with a good
________________________ and helpful demeanor.
D. Make sure your kids understand that your marital relationship means a lot.
1. Don’t let your kids’ demands force you to ignore one another.
2. Be _______________________________ with your spouse in front of your kids, in appropriate ways, and show through your attitudes to each other how Christ and the church love one another.
3. Allow your children sometimes to see how you arrive at decisions and how sometimes the Mom submits to Dad, or how Dad desires to bless Mom and bless her instead of doing what will please himself.
4. If there is _____________________________ between you two, and it has become ugly in front of the kids….
III. Fathers, you are most responsible for the discipleship of both your wife and children, as their vigilant and diligent “priest, prophet, provider, and
protector.”9
C. You should conduct family worship as much as possible.
1. Do you have to be gone so long at _______________?
2. Are you trying to be home with your family as much as possible?
(e) Are you trying to get for __________________________ or be home on the weekends as much as you can?
(f) Husbands, for your part, seriously ________________________
the concerns and suggestions of your wives.
D. Wives, _________________________ your husbands’ attempts at being the spiritual leader of your home.
1. When you think family worship or discipline (or anything) in the home should be going differently, please speak to your husband out of earshot of the kids.
2. Be ready to lead family worship when your husband is not present or not a Christian.
DISCUSSION: Talk with your spouse, or someone else if your spouse is not here, about how you and your spouse can work together to disciple your children.
GIVE FIVE MINUTES
SPEAK OUT! Who has something brief you would like to share about today’s lesson and/or all that this series has been covering so far, that God is impressing on you?
REVIEW:
1. Dt. 6, Ps. 78, and Eph. 6 all contain important passages that command parents to be active in the discipleship of their children. Easiest to remember: Dt. 6 and Eph. 6: ________________________
2. Ps. 78 and Eph. 5-6 also especially focus on the role of men as the leaders of their house being ultimately responsible for the discipleship of their wives and
children. Men ought to, therefore, take this responsibility especially seriously, ___________________________ planning family worship and nurturing his relationship with his wife as his partner in this important endeavor.
3. Wives, according to Eph. 5 and other passages, you are expected by God to submit to your husband’s authority, support his role in leading his family in discipleship, including worship, but being ready to lead when he is not able.
PREVIEW:
During the next lesson, we will discuss the who, what, when, and where of family worship and discipleship.
HOMEWORK:
1. KEEP TRACK OF YOUR PROGRESS IN FAITHFULNESS OF A MEANINGFUL TIME EACH DAY IN PRAYER AND/OR
BIBLE/DEVOTIONAL BOOK AND BE READY TO SHARE THAT NEXT WEEK WITH A PARTNER, KNOWING THAT FEEDING YOUR OWN SOUL HAS MUCH TO DO WITH HOW YOU CAN FEED YOUR CHILDREN.
2. SEEK TO HAVE FAMILY WORSHIP AS MANY TIMES AS YOU CAN THIS WEEK, BEING READY TO SHARE WITH A PARTNER NEXT LESSON.
ALSO, BE READY TO DISCUSS WHAT IS WORKING WELL, WHAT IS A STRUGGLE, AND WHAT YOU ARE LEARNING IN THE PROCESS.
3. ALSO, KEEP TRACK OF TIMES WHEN YOU WERE ABLE TO HAVE
“GOD MOMENTS,” POINTING YOUR CHILDREN TO GOD IN THE SPECIAL OR MUNDANE AREAS OF LIFE.
Lesson 4: The Who, What, When and Where of Discipleship,