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? A. Personal Spiritual Growth Is Foundational Acts 2:38; Rom. 6:14 We must obey the gospel if we are to lead others spiritually 6

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III. How Can We Become Moral & Spiritual Leaders in the Home? A. Personal Spiritual Growth Is Foundational 1 Pet. 2:1-3 Engage in private personal Bible study 8

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III. How Can We Become Moral & Spiritual Leaders in the Home? A. Personal Spiritual Growth Is Foundational Matt. 6:6; Phil. 4:6 Draw close to God in private personal prayer 10

Matt. 6:6; Phil. 4:6 Draw close to God in private personal prayer 11 6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

III. How Can We Become Moral & Spiritual Leaders in the Home? A. Personal Spiritual Growth Is Foundational Heb. 10:23-25 Attend public worship faithfully with interest & enthusiasm 12

Heb. 10:23-25 Attend public worship faithfully with interest & enthusiasm 13

III. How Can We Become Moral & Spiritual Leaders in the Home? A. Personal Spiritual Growth Is Foundational Acts 2:42; 1 Tim. 2:8, Participate in worship according to ability 14

Acts 2:42; 1 Tim. 2:8, Participate in worship according to ability 15

III. How Can We Become Moral & Spiritual Leaders in the Home? A. Personal Spiritual Growth Is Foundational Acts 17:11; 2 Tim. 2:15 Prepare Bible lessons for classes 16

Acts 17:11; 2 Tim. 2:15 Prepare Bible lessons for classes 17

III. How Can We Become Moral & Spiritual Leaders in the Home? A. Personal Spiritual Growth Is Foundational Be courteous, kind, & considerate:  Matt. 7:12 Follow the Golden Rule 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? A. Personal Spiritual Growth Is Foundational Be courteous, kind, & considerate:  Matt. 22:39 Practice this with all men 19

III. How Can We Become Moral & Spiritual Leaders in the Home? A. Personal Spiritual Growth Is Foundational Be courteous, kind, & considerate:  1 Pet. 3:7 We surely must apply this to our wife 20

 1 Pet. 3:7 We surely must apply this to our wife 21

III. How Can We Become Moral & Spiritual Leaders in the Home? A. Personal Spiritual Growth Is Foundational Be courteous, kind, & considerate:  Col. 3:19-21 This is godly character & conduct in family life 22

 Col. 3:19-21 This is godly character & conduct in family life 23

III. How Can We Become Moral & Spiritual Leaders in the Home? A. Personal Spiritual Growth Is Foundational Matt. 5:13-16 Be a good example in attitude, word, & deed—avoid profanity, pornography, gambling, drinking, immodesty, etc. 24

Matt. 5:13-16 Be a good example in attitude, word, & deed—avoid profanity, pornography, gambling, drinking, immodesty, etc. 25

26 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matt. 5:13-16 Be a good example in attitude, word, & deed—avoid profanity, pornography, gambling, drinking, immodesty, etc.

III. How Can We Become Moral & Spiritual Leaders in the Home? A. Personal Spiritual Growth Is Foundational Matt. 7:12 Show respect to all others in speech & in conduct 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? A. Personal Spiritual Growth Is Foundational 1 Tim. 5:8 Provide family’s physical needs 28 8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

A. Personal Spiritual Growth Is Foundational Matt. 7:12; Col. 3:9 Keep your word 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. 9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

III. How Can We Become Moral & Spiritual Leaders in the Home? A. Personal Spiritual Growth Is Foundational Matt. 7:12; 22:39 Show a proper attitude to people outside the family: be helpful, avoid gossip, bitterness, bad temper, etc. 30

Matt. 7:12; 22:39 Show a proper attitude to people outside the family: be helpful, avoid gossip, bitterness, bad temper, etc 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? A. Personal Spiritual Growth Is Foundational Rom. 6:17; Eph. 6:10-11 Be strong in the Lord, serve him willingly 32

Rom. 6:17; Eph. 6:10-11 Be strong in the Lord, serve him willingly 33

III. How Can We Become Moral & Spiritual Leaders in the Home? A. Personal Spiritual Growth Is Foundational Rom. 13:1-7 Maintain a right relationship to civil government 34

Rom. 13:1-7 Maintain a right relationship to civil government 35 1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:

36 4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. 5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. 6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. 7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

III. How Can We Become Moral & Spiritual Leaders in the Home? A. Personal Spiritual Growth Is Foundational Eph. 6:5-9 Maintain a right relationship to employer or employees 37

Eph. 6:5-9 Maintain a right relationship to employer or employees 38

III. How Can We Become Moral & Spiritual Leaders in the Home? A. Personal Spiritual Growth Is Foundational Rom. 12:14-18 Maintain a right relationship to all people in your local community 39

Rom. 12:14-18 Maintain a right relationship to all people in your local community Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. 15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. 17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

III. How Can We Become Moral & Spiritual Leaders in the Home? A. Personal Spiritual Growth Is Foundational Talk to all men about the gospel, invite them to church, & arrange Bible studies  Eph. 5:23; 6:4 Try to convert your own family  Acts 8:3-4; Phil. 2:15-16 Reach out to all men 41

 Eph. 5:23; 6:4 Try to convert your own family For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

 Acts 8:3-4; Phil. 2:15-16 Reach out to all men 43 3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. 4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.

 Acts 8:3-4; Phil. 2:15-16 Reach out to all men 44

III. How Can We Become Moral & Spiritual Leaders in the Home? A. Personal Spiritual Growth Is Foundational 2 Cor. 8:21; Rom. 12:17 Be honest, sincere, & above reproach with all men 45

2 Cor. 8:21; Rom. 12:17 Be honest, sincere, & above reproach with all men Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 21 Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

III. How Can We Become Moral & Spiritual Leaders in the Home? A. Personal Spiritual Growth Is Foundational Matt. 6:24; Heb. 13:5 Be content with your role & possessions—avoid materialism 47

Matt. 6:24; Heb. 13:5 Be content with your role & possessions—avoid materialism 48 5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

III. How Can We Become Moral & Spiritual Leaders in the Home? A. Personal Spiritual Growth Is Foundational Matt. 7:12; Eph. 4:1-3, Be patient toward your family and all men 49

Matt. 7:12; Eph. 4:1-3, Be patient toward your family and all men 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.

Matt. 7:12; Eph. 4:1-3, Be patient toward your family and all men 51 1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Matt. 7:12; Eph. 4:1-3, Be patient toward your family and all men Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Invitation 1. Josh. 24:15 Leadership depends 1 st on spiritual attitude, condition, & role 53

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! 54

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? 55

Invitation 5. All of us can be faithful children in God’s family: Gal. 3:26-27 Enter by obedient faith 56

Invitation 5. All of us can be faithful children in God’s family: Acts 8:22 Restored if repent, confess, & pray 57