A Threefold Cord for Our Families

Summary

This midweek service falls during the church's season of fasting and prayer for families. The first preacher opens in John 10, where Jesus says His sheep hear His voice and no one can snatch them from His hand, and testifies that if he had to sum up his whole life in a single word, it would be the mercy of God.

From Paul's letter to Titus, a second message reminds every believer that the character God requires of church leaders belongs just as much in our homes, where each of us serves as a priest to our own family. Children copy what they see, so parents who walk with God leave the deepest mark. Looking at Abraham and at Joseph and Mary, we see God entrusting His promises to faithful families, and Jesus' pledge not to leave us as orphans but to send the Holy Spirit, who still works in us and changes us today.

A closing message draws on Ecclesiastes 4:12 - a cord of three strands is not quickly broken - and on Job, who rose early to sanctify and pray over each of his children one by one. Giving, prayer, and fasting are the three strands that overcome greed, pride, and the flesh; our true offering is our own life laid down, and our only hope is the blood of Christ that makes us clean.

Key Points

• If you had to describe your whole life in one word, let it be the mercy of God.
• The character God requires of church leaders is the same character He wants in every home.
• At church we can hide almost anything, but our family sees who we really are, and children become what they watch us be.
• God entrusted His promises to faithful families - Abraham, and Joseph and Mary - and He still keeps His word today.
• Jesus did not leave us as orphans; the Holy Spirit reminds us of His words and leads us into the full truth.
• A cord of three strands is not quickly broken: giving defeats greed, prayer defeats pride, fasting defeats the flesh.
• Like Job, rise early and bring each member of your family before God by name.