OceanSide church of Christ

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JUST ONE SOUL

 

SAVING SOULS IN OUR HOMES

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    Our theme this year is:  “Just One Soul.”

1.      Our previous lesson connected with our theme was:  “Just One Soul…Includes My Soul.”  In this lesson, we noted that it is essential that each of us saves our own soul.

2.      In today’s lesson, we venture out a little farther.  We will discuss:  “Saving Souls in Our Homes.”

 

B.      We do not have to go far to find the lost often times.  They are often within the four walls of our own home.

 

I.                   THE HOME

 

A.    The home has always been closely aligned with God.

1.      He created the home (Gen. 2:21-24)

2.      He ordered the home (Eph. 5:22-33).

3.      God has revealed the rules of the home for husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, and children throughout the entire Bible.

 

B.      NOTE:  Any home that excludes God and deviates from His plan for the home will never be all that it should be.

 

II.                THE HOME’S MINDSET

 

A.    Mindset:  The thoughts that permeated the minds of all that are in the home.

 

B.      Three mindsets to develop in our homes.

1.      We will faithfully serve God together (Josh. 24:15).

 

And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell:  but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

 

2.      God and His Word will always be first in our home (Matt. 6:33).

 

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

 

3.      God’s authority is final.

a.      I Corinthians 11:3

 

But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is the man, and the head of Christ is God.

 

b.      Abraham was commended for the manner in which he led his family in the ways of God (Gen. 18:19a).

 

For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment…

 

III.             THREE ABSOLUTE MUSTS FOR SALVATION IN OUR HOMES

 

A.    Truth

1.      All are familiar with John 8:32.

 

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

 

a.      Truth is the Word of God (John 17:17).

 

Sanctify them through thy truth:  thy word is truth.

 

b.      If it is not obeyed, individuals will be lost (Rom. 2:8).

 

But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath.

 

2.      NOTE:

a.      Opinions, creeds of men, the books of world religions, and feelings do not equate with truth.

b.      Goodness, benevolence, morality, kindness, generosity, hard work, and other positive virtues are not substitutes for the truth.

 

B.      Parents who will teach their children.

1.      Two verses that show Christianity is a taught religion.

a.      John 6:45

 

It is written in the prophets, And they shall all be taught of God.  Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

 

b.      Romans 10:14

 

How shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?  and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?  and how shall they hear without a preacher?

 

2.      A parent needs to understand that God EXPECTS him/her to teach his/her children the truth.

a.      Fathers (Eph. 6:4)

 

And ye, fathers, provoke not your children to wrath:  but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the truth.

 

b.      Mothers (Prov. 1:8)

 

My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother.

 

c.       NOTE:  Parents are to be the PRIMARY teachers of their children.

3.      Three things parents need to do well.

a.      Daily study sessions with their children:  Bible reading and teaching, memorization of Scripture, songs, stories, crafts, and prayer.

b.      Constant use of the church as a support system.

c.       Have the ability to constantly teach your children life lessons in the car, at home, at the park, before going to bed, at the dinner table, on the sports field (Deut 6:6-7, Ex., at the zoo looking at snakes).

1)      Satan became a serpent in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:1).

2)      Job said God formed the crooked serpent with his hand (Job 26:13).

3)      The words of wicked men are compared to the poison of serpents (Ps. 58:4).

4)      Alcohol is said to bite “like a serpent” (Prov. 23:32).

5)      God wants His children to be wise as serpents (Matt. 10:16).

6)      Jesus called the evil religious rulers of his day serpents (Matt. 23:33).

7)      The Bible prophesied that the seed of woman (Jesus) would crush the head of the serpent (Satan) (Gen. 3:15).

 

C.     Parents who live the Christian faith.

1.      If we want our children to truly embrace the Christian faith, we must live it with meaning, purpose, and enthusiasm.

2.      If we teach it, but fail to live it, we will not be nearly as effective.

3.      This was one of the problems of the Jews.

a.      Romans 2:17-18a

 

Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, and knowest his will…

 

b.      Romans 2:24

 

For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.

 

c.       Romans 2:21-23 (Their lives did not measure up to their words).

 

IV.             THINGS THAT HINDER SALVATION IN THE HOME

 

A.    If sin is pervasive in the home, it will hinder the salvation of all in the home.

1.      Examples:

a.      Dads who drink, curse, and smoke

b.      Mothers who gossip and defy their husbands

2.      Children within the home know some things about Christianity.

a.      It demands holiness (I Thess. 4:7).

 

For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.

 

b.      Christianity is to be lived in harmony with Christian principles (James 1:22-25).

3.      The reasons it is hard to save the children in a sinful household:

a.      They see the hypocrisy.

b.      They want to practice the sins of their choice just like mom and dad do.

 

B.      If ungodly attitudes are found in the home, it can hinder the salvation of family members.

1.      Anger, criticism, rudeness, complaining, belittling, fighting, long periods of silence, harsh discipline

2.      The home should reflect all that is positive in living the Christian life (Eph. 4:31-32).

 

Let all bitterness and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you will all malice:  and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

 

3.      If Christ does not live within us, then our children will ask:  “What’s the use?” 

4.      They may see some parents in the world who are nicer and kinder than their own parents.

 

C.     If the home is disconnected from the local church, salvation efforts will fail in the home.

1.      The church is the place where the saved are found (Acts 2:47).

2.      It is the place wherein the save worship God and from which they serve others (Eph. 3:21).

3.      God has given each member responsibilities one to another in the church (I Cor. 12:12-27).

4.      Think of this:  A saved person who is not really concerned about the body of the saved.  That is an odd thought.

5.      Our children will wonder:  “Why be saved if the saved really do not matter?”

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    After we save ourselves, we need to concentrate on our homes.

 

B.      “Just One Soul” could come from within the walls of our own home.

 

C.     You can start by doing the three things we have discussed:

1.      Put the right mindset in the home.

2.      Make certain truth, parents who teach, and parents who live the truth are in your home.

3.      Get rid of sin, bad attitudes, and any neglect of the church.

 

D.    It is awful to gain the whole world and lost your own soul.  It is just as awful to gain the whole world and lose the souls of those in your home.