1. Evaluating our relationships Severe – Abusive, Devastation – Fear and intimidation Serious – Damages emotions Power plays, Withdrawal Struggling – Uncomfortable, Erodes trust Defensiveness, Superficial communication Normal, Healthy – Love, Joy, Peace, Apologies, conflicts resolved, openness Perfection – Just Jesus. Just Heaven! Love and Respect Fear and Manipulation

2. Knowing what to require of children (Colossians 3:20-21) Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. {21} Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged. (Ephesians 6:4) Fathers, do not exasperate (provoke to anger) your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

3. Why God won’t hear our prayers (Isaiah 59:1-2) Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. {2} But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. (1 Peter 3:7) Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

4. God goodness in spite of bad leaders Israel – God sovereignly does good things, even through unhealthy people around me. Jonathan – I am not doomed to repeat the character of leaders who have hurt or failed me. Me – With God’s help I can change the harmful/unhealthy ways I have treated the people I love.

5. Relationships that aren’t working Severe – Abusive Serious – Damaging Struggling – Uncomfortable Normal, Healthy – Love, Joy, Peace Perfection – Just Heaven! Love and Respect Fear and Manipulation

6. Relationships that are working Severe – Abusive Serious – Damaging Perfection – Just Heaven! Love and Respect Fear and Manipulation Struggling – Uncomfortable Normal, Healthy – Love, Joy, Peace

7. 1 John 1:6-9 – Transparency – Don’t deny sin, Confess it 1 John 2:9-11 – New Attitudes – Stop hating and bitterness 1 John 4:16-21 – No emotional games – Don’t use fear or manipulation. God motivates with love not fear. Severe – Abusive Serious – Damaging Perfection – Just Heaven! Love and Respect Fear and Manipulation Relationships that are working Struggling – Uncomfortable Normal, Healthy – Love, Joy, Peace