Family is the foundational institution of society ordained by God. It is constituted by marriage and is composed of persons related to one another by marriage, blood, or adoption.

1. The family is constituted by marriage

Marriage is ordained by God.
Marriage must be between one man and one woman.
Marriage is a picture of the relationship of Christ to the Church – Ephesians 5:22-32

2.God has commissioned and blessed humanity with the charge to be fruitful and multiply – Genesis 1:28

The ordinary privilege and responsibility of married people is to have and rear children – Genesis 1:28 and 1 Timothy 2:15
The special privilege and responsibility of Christian parents is to bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord, that they may come to know Christ – Ephesians 6:4

3.Parents have the primary responsibility and God-given authority to teach their children

Parents are responsible for their children’s general education – Galatians 4:1-2
Parents are responsible for their children’s spiritual and theological education – Deuteronomy 6:6-9 and Proverbs 1:7

4. Responsibility of each member of the family – Colossians 3:18-21

Wives, submit to your husband
Husbands love your wives
Children obey your parents – Colossians 3:20

5. For a successful family, learn to:

Love one another
Pray together
Forgiveness – Colossians 3:13
Respect one another
Unity, commitment, compassion and communication.

Is the relationship I have with my family a proper reflection of God’s design?

How will you thank God for His goodness in your past, present, and future? Knowing that God in heaven is our Father should increase our wonder, joy, and sense of privilege at being His children and being given the ‘hotline’ of prayer for communication with him. For though he is “Lord of the worlds – we always have his full attention whenever we call on Him. Marvelous! But have we really taken it in? (Quote from J. Packer)