Accepting Your Responsibility

“The Resolution”

Session 1 – Accepting Your Responsibility

Welcome to the blog post for Session 1 of “The Resolution”.

We all have different backgrounds, different family situations, and different parenting styles. Even with all those differences, I think we all have one thing in common; we want more for our family. No matter your background and experience, Theresa and I are glad that you’re here.  It takes courage to be here but it will be worth it!

Q:  Imagine that your family is about to move into a new home. Before you occupy it, what steps must be taken?

Lots of details to buy a new home… real estate agents, contracts, home inspections, financial agreements, lawyers, etc… All that BEFORE you even move!

We can all easily list the things that are required to occupy a home… Have you ever thought about what is required for a child to LEAVE that home? What do our children need to possess by the time they need? What kind of people should they be?

As parents, how are we making sure that they have all they need to thrive once they are gone? Unfortunately more time is spent, preparing to occupy a house than turning it into a home. Making a house a godly home starts with recognizing our God-given roles and responsibilities.

Q:  How do you think the majority of moms and dads would define “successful parenting”?

In a recent survey, here is how 1200 respondents measured their parenting success:

Having good values                            25%

Being happy adults                             25%

Finding success in life                         22%

Being a good person                           19%

Graduating from college                      17%

Living independently                           15%

Being godly or having faith in God          9%

Families are taking their cues from culture. You may be here attuned to Scripture’s teachings or you might be clueless about God’s thoughts on parenting. Regardless of where you are, this eight week journey has the potential to change your life! The decision is yours! You will be challenged to get out of your comfort zone, work through the hidden issues from your past, and make some sacrifices for the sake of your family!

Are you up to the challenge of raising that 9% statistic related to raising children of faith? It all starts with you and your relationship with God!

Q:  Why was “good enough” not good enough for Adam? How did his friends react?

In this clip, Adam Mitchell was raising the bar and accepting the stewardship the God had given him to mold the lives of his children. Later in the movie, Adam’s resolve would be expressed by this bold affirmation… “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord…” This part of Adam’s resolution is found in the Old Testament book of Joshua…

As the book of Joshua begins, Moses has died and Joshua took over as the leader. God charged Joshua to be strong and courageous (Joshua 1:6-9). Fought in many battles and his courage allowed Israel to take back what was theirs…

Now, fast forward to Joshua 23 – 24. The war for the land was over but the war for the family was just starting. Joshua had a team huddle. He gave the people one final challenge before this next phase in their life.

Let’s look at Joshua 24:14:24

¹⁴ “So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord alone. 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.”

¹⁶ The people replied, “We would never abandon the Lord and serve other gods. ¹⁷ For the Lord our God is the one who rescued us and our ancestors from slavery in the land of Egypt. He performed mighty miracles before our very eyes. As we traveled through the wilderness among our enemies, he preserved us. ¹⁸ It was the Lord who drove out the Amorites and the other nations living here in the land. So we, too, will serve the Lord, for he alone is our God.”

¹⁹ Then Joshua warned the people, “You are not able to serve the Lord, for he is a holy and jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins. ²⁰ If you abandon the Lord and serve other gods, he will turn against you and destroy you, even though he has been so good to you.”

²¹ But the people answered Joshua, “No, we will serve the Lord!”

²² “You are a witness to your own decision,” Joshua said. “You have chosen to serve the Lord.”

“Yes,” they replied, “we are witnesses to what we have said.”

²³ “All right then,” Joshua said, “destroy the idols among you, and turn your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.”

²⁴ The people said to Joshua, “We will serve the Lord our God. We will obey him alone.”

                                                       Joshua 24:14-24 (NLT)

Q:  What did Joshua want to happen among the families that day?

He wanted the people to follow and obey God and get rid of all the other gods that they had accumulated along the journey.

Q:  What factors from the past make it hard for you to lead your family spiritually like Joshua did?

Someone must take the lead and set the direction in your home. Paul makes it clear in the book of Ephesians.

Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.”

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.

                                                 Ephesians 6:1-4 (NLT)

Paul is encouraging the children to obey their parents. By honoring their father and mothers, children will receive the blessings of God. Notice in verses 1-3 Paul is speaking to the fathers and the mother, but in verse 4, he raises the standard for the men! Since the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3) to many men have stood passively by instead of standing for holiness in their homes alongside their wives!

Q:  In Ephesians 6:4, what did Paul command fathers to do and not to do?

Application:  What would these things look like in your home?

Q: What would happen to the next generation of children if fathers around the world took this command seriously in their homes?

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Q:  How does Adam’s speech illustrate his desire to live out Ephesians 6:4?

Q:  How will you respond to the challenge?

Personal Growth for the week:

Commit to Memory:

“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

(Joshua 24:15, NASB)

READING:

Men:

“Why We Need Men of Resolution” (pp. 11-23)

“Resolve to be a Man of Responsibility” (pp. 55-69)

Women:

“The Resolution Revolution” (pp. 1-7)

“The Secret” (pp. 17-22)

“Purposely Feminine” (pp. 31-48)