Josh. 24:15 [By Ron Halbrook]

Introduction 1. Josh. 24:15 Leadership depends 1 st on spiritual attitude, condition, & role 3

Introduction 2. If we succeed in other areas but fail in spiritual leadership, we fail in our first responsibility. 3. If we fall short in temporal goals but succeed in spiritual leadership, we succeed in God’s sight! 4

Introduction 4. God makes men into spiritual leaders if we are willing: God made man responsible to lead the family Moral & spiritual leadership grows out of loving God & our fellow man How can we become moral & spiritual leaders in the home? 5

III. How Can We Become Moral & Spiritual Leaders in the Home? D. How Do We Grow in Leading the Family Unit? Phil. 4:6; Eph. 5:23; 6:4 He leads his family in united prayer 6

7 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

D. How Do We Grow in Leading the Family Unit? He teaches his children problem solving with God & gathers the family unit to solve its problems  Matt. 7:12 We lead as we wish to be led 8 12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

III. How Can We Become Moral & Spiritual Leaders in the Home? D. How Do We Grow in Leading the Family Unit? He teaches his children problem solving with God & gathers the family unit to solve its problems  1 Pet. 3:10-12; 5:5-7 We lead by teaching God hears His faithful children in times of trial 9

10 10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: 11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

 1 Pet. 3:10-12; 5:5-7 We lead by teaching God hears His faithful children in times of trial 11 5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

III. How Can We Become Moral & Spiritual Leaders in the Home? D. How Do We Grow in Leading the Family Unit? Eph. 5:28-31; 6:4 He leads the family unit in Bible reading & study 12

Eph. 5:28-31; 6:4 He leads the family unit in Bible reading & study So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

Eph. 5:28-31; 6:4 He leads the family unit in Bible reading & study 14 4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

III. How Can We Become Moral & Spiritual Leaders in the Home? D. How Do We Grow in Leading the Family Unit? Deut. 6:7 He spends quality time with the family—even separate time for each one 15

Deut. 6:7 He spends quality time with the family—even separate time for each one 16

III. How Can We Become Moral & Spiritual Leaders in the Home? D. How Do We Grow in Leading the Family Unit? Eph. 5:28-31; 6:4 His family decisions consider his family’s needs, feelings, & input 17

Eph. 5:28-31; 6:4 His family decisions consider his family’s needs, feelings, & input So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

Eph. 5:28-31; 6:4 His family decisions consider his family’s needs, feelings, & input 19 4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Problems Questions Options Opinions Consequences Faith Prayer Lead! Ignore needs, feelings, & input Temper fits Shout orders Impatient, abusive reactions

III. How Can We Become Moral & Spiritual Leaders in the Home? D. How Do We Grow in Leading the Family Unit? 1 Tim. 5:16; Ja. 1:27 He takes his family to visit & assist the elderly, sick, sad, poor, erring, etc. 20

1 Tim. 5:16; Ja. 1:27 He takes his family to visit & assist the elderly, sick, sad, poor, erring, etc If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed. 27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

D. How Do We Grow in Leading the Family Unit? He uses money carefully, consulting his wife, training the children, guided by divine principles  1 Cor. 16:2 Giving to God is priority not option 22 2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

D. How Do We Grow in Leading the Family Unit? He uses money carefully, consulting his wife, training the children, guided by divine principles  Eph. 4:28 We must work not steal Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

III. How Can We Become Moral & Spiritual Leaders in the Home? D. How Do We Grow in Leading the Family Unit? He uses money carefully, consulting his wife, training the children, guided by divine principles  1 Tim. 6:6-10 God teaches contentment not covetousness 24

 1 Tim. 6:6-10 God teaches contentment not covetousness 25

III. How Can We Become Moral & Spiritual Leaders in the Home? D. How Do We Grow in Leading the Family Unit? 1 Thess. 5:21-22; Eph. 5:15-17 He guides the family to use entertainment media carefully: use moderation, avoid evil influences 26

1 Thess. 5:21-22; Eph. 5:15-17 He guides the family to use entertainment media carefully: use moderation, avoid evil influences Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 22 Abstain from all appearance of evil. 15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

III. How Can We Become Moral & Spiritual Leaders in the Home? D. How Do We Grow in Leading the Family Unit? Acts 5:29; Matt. 19:9; Rom. 1:27 He teaches his family the difference between God’s law & man’s law—we obey God first! 28

Acts 5:29; Matt. 19:9; Rom. 1:27 He teaches his family the difference between God’s law & man’s law—we obey God first! 29

Acts 5:29; Matt. 19:9; Rom. 1:27 He teaches his family the difference between God’s law & man’s law—we obey God first! And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

III. How Can We Become Moral & Spiritual Leaders in the Home? D. How Do We Grow in Leading the Family Unit? Ja. 1:27; 1 Jn. 2:15-17 He teaches his family to keep recreation in proper limits: no compromise with sin, not forsake assembly for sports, not monopolize time, etc. 31

Ja. 1:27; 1 Jn. 2:15-17 He teaches his family to keep recreation in proper limits: no compromise with sin, not forsake assembly for sports, not monopolize time, etc. 32

Ja. 1:27; 1 Jn. 2:15-17 He teaches his family to keep recreation in proper limits: no compromise with sin, not forsake assembly for sports, not monopolize time, etc. 33

III. How Can We Become Moral & Spiritual Leaders in the Home? D. How Do We Grow in Leading the Family Unit? Eph. 6:4; 2 Tim. 2:2 He teaches his family to spread the gospel in every possible way 34

Eph. 6:4; 2 Tim. 2:2 He teaches his family to spread the gospel in every possible way 35 2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. 4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Invitation 1. Josh. 24:15 Leadership depends 1 st on spiritual attitude, condition, & role 36

Invitation 2. If we succeed in other areas but fail in spiritual leadership, we fail in our first responsibility. 3. If we fall short in temporal goals but succeed in spiritual leadership, we succeed in God’s sight! 37

Invitation 4. God makes men into spiritual leaders if we are willing: God made man responsible to lead the family Moral & spiritual leadership grows out of loving God & our fellow man How can we become moral & spiritual leaders in the home? 38

Invitation 5. All of us can be faithful children in God’s family: Gal. 3:26-27 Enter by obedient faith 39

Invitation 5. All of us can be faithful children in God’s family: Acts 8:22 Restored if repent, confess, & pray 40