“Family Matters”

2 Kings 4:13
“Elisha said to Gehazi, “Tell her, ‘We appreciate the kind concern you have shown
us. What can we do for you? Can we put in a good word for you to the king or to the commander of the army?’” “No,” she replied, “my family takes good care of me.” (NLT)

I. Family Strategies
Listed below are plans families should have for their household.

1. Every family should have a plan for for those in their household.
Deuteronomy 11:18-19
“So commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these words of mine. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. 19) Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road,
when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.” (NLT)

2. Every family should have a plan for for those in their household.
1 Chronicles 28:10-11
“So take this seriously. The Lord has chosen you to build a Temple as his sanctuary. Be strong, and do the work. 11) Then David gave Solomon the plans for the Temple and its surroundings, including the entry room, the storerooms, the upstairs rooms, the inner rooms, and the inner sanctuary—which was the place of atonement.” (NLT)

3. Every family should have a plan for for those in their household.
2 Kings 4:1, 5-7
“One day the widow of a member of the group of prophets came to Elisha and cried out, “My husband who served you is dead, and you know how he feared the Lord. But now a creditor has come, threatening to take my two sons as slaves.” 5) So she did as she was told. Her sons kept bringing jars to her, and she filled one after another. 6) Soon every container was full to the brim! “Bring me another jar,” she said to one of her sons. “There aren’t any more!” he told her. And then the olive oil stopped flowing. 7) When she told the man of God what had happened, he said to her, “Now sell the olive oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on what is left over.” (NLT)

4. Every family should have a plan for for those in their household.
Luke 2:52
“Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.” (NLT)

5. Every family should have a plan for for those in their household.
Joshua 24:15
“But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.” (NLT)

II. Family Difficulties
Listed below are typical adverse situations Christian families can experience.

1. It is not uncommon for Christian families to experience .
John 11:1, 20-21
“A man named Lazarus was sick. He lived in Bethany with his sisters, Mary and Martha. 20) When Martha got word that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him. But Mary stayed in the house. 21) Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.” (NLT)

2. It is not uncommon for Christian families to experience .
1 Samuel 31:1-2
“Now the Philistines attacked Israel, and the men of Israel fled before them. Many were slaughtered on the slopes of Mount Gilboa. 2) The Philistines closed in on Saul and his sons, and they killed three of his sons—Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malkishua.” (NLT)

3. It is not uncommon for Christian families to experience .
Mark 9:17-18
“One of the men in the crowd spoke up and said, “Teacher, I brought my son so you could heal him. He is possessed by an evil spirit that won’t let him talk. 18) And whenever this spirit seizes him, it throws him violently to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast out the evil spirit, but they couldn’t do it.” (NLT)

4. It is not uncommon for Christian families to experience .
1 Samuel 30:3-4, 6
“When David and his men saw the ruins and realized what had happened to their families, 4) they wept until they could weep no more. 6) David was now in great danger because all his men were very bitter about losing their sons and daughters, and they began to talk of stoning him. But David found strength in the Lord his God.” (NLT)

5. It is not uncommon for Christian families to experience .
Job 1:13-19
“One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting at the oldest brother’s house, 14) a messenger arrived at Job’s home with this news: “Your oxen were plowing, with the donkeys feeding beside them, 15) when the Sabeans raided us. They stole all the animals and killed all the farmhands. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.” 16) While he was still speaking, another messenger arrived with this news: “The fire of God has fallen from heaven and burned up your sheep and all the shepherds. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.” 17) While he was still speaking, a third messenger arrived with this news: “Three bands of Chaldean raiders have stolen your camels and killed your servants. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.” 18) While he was still speaking, another messenger arrived with this news: “Your sons and daughters were feasting in their oldest brother’s home. 19) Suddenly, a powerful wind swept in from the wilderness and hit the house on all sides. The house collapsed, and all your children are dead. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.” (NLT)

III. Family Victories
Listed below are vital elements needed for families to overcome household issues taken from Elkanah and Hannah.

1. to the Lord can help families overcome householdissues.
1 Samuel 1:9-11
“Once after a sacrificial meal at Shiloh, Hannah got up and went to pray. Eli the priest was sitting at his customary place beside the entrance of the Tabernacle. 10) Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the Lord. 11) And she made this vow: “O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, if you will look upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you. He will be yours for his entire lifetime, and as a sign that he has been dedicated to the Lord, his hair will never be cut.” (NLT)

2. of the Lord can help families overcome household issues.
1 Samuel 1:19
“The entire family got up early the next morning and went to worship the Lord once more. Then they returned home to Ramah. When Elkanah slept with Hannah, the Lord remembered her plea.” (NLT)

3. with the Lord can help families overcome household issues.
1 Samuel 1:19
“The entire family got up early the next morning and went to worship the Lord once more. Then they returned home to Ramah. When Elkanah slept with Hannah, the Lord remembered her plea.” (NLT)

4. for the Lord can help families overcome household issues.
1 Samuel 1:21-23
“The next year Elkanah and his family went on their annual trip to offer a sacrifice to the Lord and to keep his vow. 22) But Hannah did not go. She told her husband, “Wait until the boy is weaned. Then I will take him to the Tabernacle and leave him there with the Lord permanently.” 23) “Whatever you think is best,” Elkanah agreed. “Stay here for now, and may the Lord help you keep your promise.” So she stayed home and nursed the boy until he was weaned.” (NLT)

5. towards the Lord can help families overcome household issues.
1 Samuel 1:27-28
“I asked the Lord to give me this boy, and he has granted my request. 28) Now I am giving him to the Lord, and he will belong to the Lord his whole life.” And they worshiped the Lord there.” (NLT)

IV. Family Ministries
Please list programs or initiatives that you would like Berean to offer that would appeal to families.

(MULTILINE)