Turn to Matthew 6:19-21 and Philippians 1:21 and join Dave and Bethlie as the continue their discussion on Building A Chrisitian Family.

Here are some practical diagnostic questions for parents:

• When did you last skip an activity (beach, TV, a purchase, a look/fashion choice) because God comes first?
• Do your kids see you pray, read Scripture, and make decisions on the basis of faith rather than convenience?
• Personal example: host's daughter prayed for two years before the family took a scaled-back Disney trip, modeling "seek the Lord first" over just charging it to a credit card.

"Priorities are demonstrated by actions (money, calendar, speech, treatment of others), not just by stated beliefs."

In this "From The Archives" episode, we revisit this popular series entitled Seven Vital Steps to Building a Christian Family, based on Deuteronomy 6. God charged Israel to live distinctly from surrounding culture and to actively pass that faith down to children and grandchildren. This is a multi-generational, slow-built process rather than a quick fix.

Step One: The Fear of the Lord
Psalm 33:8, Psalm 33:18, Psalm 34:7, Psalm 111:10, Proverbs 1:7, 1:29, 8:13, 10:27, 14:27 — Fearing God is tied to wisdom, knowledge, protection, and a fuller life.

Practical ways to cultivate reverence in kids

• Congregational singing as an act of worship and awe
• Daily gratitude and prayer at meals
• Careful, deliberate use of God's name in the home
• Creating "awe" experiences

Dave and Bethlie finish up the second part of this Overcoming Challenging Events series.

3. Keep growing

1. 1. Only God can bring beauty out of ashes
      1. Satan wants to increase the ash heap
      2. God wants to grow beauty from the ash heap
   2. He does it as we grow in Him
      1. Stay in the Word
         1. Read it daily
         2. Listen to it read aloud
            1. You Version
            2. Blue letter bible
            3. Etc
      2. Pray a lot
      3. Keep trusting God
      4. Remind yourself of truth
         1. Sin is bad
         2. Sin is the reason for all the wrong in the world
         3. God is good
            1. God is continually working to enable us to overcome the wrong

4. Be prepared for people

1. 1. When they forget
   2. When they say the wrong thing
   3. When they let you down

In this episode, Dave and Bethlie launch a new mini-series on overcoming the challenging events of life. Whether it's the death of a loved one, a church split, a battle with cancer, or the pain of divorce we all encoutner challenging events. Part 1 of this mini series focuses on the importance of maintaining daily rhythms and staying connected both spiritually, and relationally, and through honest conversation. Even when everything in you wants to shut down.

• What do we mean by challenging events of life?
• • A death
  • A church split
  • A cancer
  • A divorce or betrayal
• Pastor Bill Prater call it How to get through what you can't get over

So how do you overcome all of this?

We can make these suggestions:

1. Keep going
   1. Practically
      1. Remember to eat
      2. Remember to sleep
      3. Try to exercise
      4. Maintain responsibilities
         1. Work
         2. Chores
         3. Family
   2. Spiritually
      1. Stay in church
      2. Play psalms hymns and spiritual songs
   3. Relationally
      1. Keep talking
      2. Stay connected
      3. Seek counsel
   4. Illustration of Joseph in the OT
      1. Called by God to be a leader
      2. Sold into slavery by his brothers
         1. Leads Potiphar's household
         2. Winds up in prison unjustly
         3. Leads the prison (is there for 12-13 years)

1. Keep talking
   1. Talk to God

1. 1. 1. Be honest
      2. Be real
      3. Stay in the Psalms a lot
         1. They are raw
         2. They are honest
         3. They always point to truth

1. 1. Talk to each other

1. 1. 1. God designed us to talk to each other
      2. Sharing our emotions with a trusted friend can help bring cleansing
         1. It allows our brain to process the emotions - especially if you are a man
         2. It cleanses our brain - especially if you are a woman
      3. Sharing our emotions with a counselor can allow them to point us to truth

We're finishing this mini-series on Overcoming Pitfalls of Family and Ministry!

3. Please God wholeheartedly

1. 1. In ministry we were/are all in

1. 1. 1. We served as a family
      2. We have gone soul winning as a family
      3. We have sung as a family
      4. We have worshiped as a family
      5. We have sat together as a family in church
      6. We have had family devotions
      7. We have had long talks about life and godliness
      8. We have prayed together and seen God do great things as a result

1. 1. In family we were/are all in

1. 1. 1. We have Trained - it never stops until they are adults on their own
      2. We have done a ton of teaching - it never stops either
      3. We have played - we did a lot of this
         1. Games
         2. Walks
         3. Movies
         4. Fun Family Fridays
         5. Beach days
         6. Coffee shops
         7. We have been to Disney, Busch gardens, and Cedar Point
         8. We have hiked in Nevada, Arizona, California, Tennessee, Ohio, Michigan
         9. We have been to the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, The Gulf of America (or Mexico :)) and all of the Great Lakes
         10. Dr. Dave Teis - spend money having fun with your kids
      4. We also attended church some 300 nights each year in revival services, conferences, and camps

So how do you overcome the pitfalls of family and ministry?

Dave and Bethlie make three suggestions:

1. Have ONE priority
   1. GOD IS EVERYTHING
   2. I know that we are taught that Family is First
      1. Bethlie and I perhaps take a different approach
      2. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, all these things will be added unto you.
         1. All these things:
            1. Refers to God's blessings and favor and provisions
         2. The kingdom of God encompasses all of our Christian lives and responsibilities
            1. Our walk with God - that is a priority
            2. Our family - that is a priority
            3. Our ministry - that is a priority
         3. This doesn't have to be about 1, 2, 3
            1. It has to be about living our lives each day doing the right thing in the right way
         4. His righteousness:
            1. What does He want?
            2. What is right according to Him?

1. Pursue all responsibilities passionately and intentionally
   1. Dr. Bob Jones Sr. famously said - Duties never conflict.
      1. Like any saying that can be challenged - it isn't the Bible
      2. But he has a point
   2. Duties must be fulfilled
      1. God doesn't want us to give up one for the other
      2. He wants us to live our life and win on all fronts
   3. Ministry is not above family
      1. Serve the Lord - with your family
   4. Family is not above ministry
      1. Serve the Lord - with your family
   5. Both are life and and both are God given responsibilities
   6. Win at both

We're wrapping up this Overcoming Fear series!

6. Fear can be overcome

1. 1. It takes power
   2. It takes love
   3. It takes a sound mind