1. Proverbs 20:7 (NKJV) 7 The righteous man walks in his integrity;
His children are blessed after him.

2. If The World Had A Front Porch
Proverbs 20:7

3. IF THE WORLD HAD A FRONT PORCH
Tracy Lawrence “If the world had a front porch” was released in 1995.
The chorus of the song goes like this:
If the world had a front porch like we did back then
We'd still have our problems but we'd all be friends
Treating your neighbor like he's your next of kin
Wouldn't be gone with the wind
If the world had a front porch, like we did back then.
The song is about family values and how you treat people.

4. Family Values Genesis 6:5-8; 11-12; 17-22
Noah set a great example for his family.
Think about Sodom and Gomorrah.
Abraham intercedes for Sodom
Genesis 18:16-33
Genesis 19:1-10
Noah had strong family values.
Joshua had strong family values.
Joshua 24:15 “As for me and my house we will serve the Lord.”

5. Family Values Parents leave two things for their children.
An example and heritage.
Children are highly perceptive.
They notice many things and learn from them when adults may think they are learning nothing.
It has been said that we teach some by what we say, we teach more by what we do.
Heritage is the background of life which tells us who and what we are.
Like the genes that determine our physical characteristics, the heritage molds character.
Children of righteous parents receive a rich heritage.

6. Family Values The Goal: An Ideal home Ephesians 5:21
1 Peter 3:8- Compassionate, loving, tenderhearted, and humble.
Happiness is a frame of mind. Our attitude towards others and our relationships with them determine our happiness.
1 Peter 3:9- No retaliating or reviling.
1 Peter 3: He that would love life and see good days.
Peter quoted from the Psalmist and summed up their ideal picture in the beauty of poetry.
When individuals fulfill their specific roles in life with joyous spirit and a proper attitude, they are blessed by the Lord.
Ephesians 5:22-33; 6:1-4

7. Family Values 1 Cor. 11:3; 1 Peter 3:7; Eph. 5:23; Proverbs 22:6
There is an old saying that "one father is more than a hundred school masters".
While almost any man can father a child, there is so much more to the important role of being dad in a child’s life.
Fathers are central to the emotional well-being of their children; they are capable caretakers and disciplinarians.
Your child’s primary relationship with his/her father can affect all of your child’s relationships from birth to death, including those with friends, family members and spouses.

8. Family Values
Girls will look for men who hold the patterns of good old dad, for after all, they know how “to do that.” Therefore, if father was kind, loving, and gentle, they will reach for those characteristics in men.
Boys on the other hand, will model themselves after their fathers. They will look for their father’s approval in everything they do, and copy those behaviors that they recognize as both successful and familiar. Thus, if dad was abusive, controlling, and dominating, those will be the patterns that their sons will imitate and emulate. However, if father is loving, kind, supportive, and protective, boys will want to be that.
Deut. 6:1-9

9. Treating your neighbor like he’s your next of kin
Imagine how the world would be if everyone treated their neighbor like he’s your next of kin.
Luke 10:29-37
Samaritan- Because the Israelite inhabitants of Samaria had intermarried with the foreigners and adopted their idolatrous religion, Samaritans were generally considered “half-breeds” and were universally despised by the Jews.
Ephesians 4:25-32; 5:1-2; John 15:12

10. Love
1 John 3:11-18;4:7-19
What greater example can we have than the love that God has exhibited to us?
He has made us his children; He sent His Son into the world to die for our sins; He makes Himself known to us in many ways through His blessings and providential care that we are made to say with John, “God is Love.”
It is through family relationships that we can best understand what love really means.
Children need the care and comfort of loving parents.
This is what John meant when he referred to the love God has for us calling us His children.

11. Love Results of Love- 1 John 3:11-18; 4:12-17
Death to life (1 John 3:13-15)- Christianity is not a way of doing certain things but a certain way of doing everything.
Death reigns when hate rules. But when love enters one’s life, everything changes.
A person whose life is overflowing with love seems seldom to have a dreary day.
Willing sacrifices- Loving sacrifices are expected of us. Where love rules, demands need not to be made. The greater the love, the more gracious the sacrifice.
Loving Care (1 John 3:16,17)-Love expresses itself in a thousand different ways, but never more beautifully than the caring for and ministering to others.

12. Love
Demands of love (1 John 3:18)- We can conclude that love makes many demands on our lives.
Two people pledge their love to one another in marriage and assume obligations and responsibilities.
Parents bring children into the world and they love them, and their love makes demands on their lives.
It is an easy thing to talk freely about God and love one another, sometimes without any realization of the obligations which love imposes upon one.

13. Love
A contradiction of love ( 1John 4:19-21)-John said that we have God’s love as an example, and we respond to the great love he has shown us.
How can we claim to love God whom we have never seen when one has not learned to love his brother with whom he associates daily.
John commanded all who claim to love God to be sure they love their fellowman also.
If God commands it, it can be done.

14. Love
Love developed- First impressions are usually rather strong, and often lasting. How to love others?
Determine to love- Man is responsible his actions and thoughts.
Be understanding-Everyone bears burdens most of them we know nothing about. Philippians 2:4
Look for the good- We are to think of the good things, for the evil things tear down and destroy. Philippians 4:8-9; Titus 3:2
Pray for them- Prayer changes more things than we ever dream of, but mostly it changes the one who prays.
Render positive services- Galatians 6:10 When we invest something of ourselves in the lives of others, we naturally have a greater interest in them.

15. Love 1 Corinthians 13:8- “Love never faileth”
Paul told us that love never fails.
God’s love sets the example for us.
We may wander far from God and do many things that are displeasing to him, but His love never fails.
The Prodigal Son- Luke 15:11-32

16. Salvation is available to all
Consider a world in which the possibility of Salvation doesn’t exist.
How does it feel when you know you are going to win?
The end result is victory.
Hear- Rom. 10:17; Matt. 17:5; Matt. 28:18
Believe- John 8:24; John 3:16
Repent- Isaiah 59:2; Luke 13:3; Acts 3:19
Confess- Rom. 10:9-10; Matt. 10:32; Acts 8:37
Baptized- 1 Peter 3:21; Acts 22:16; Rom. 6:3; Gal. 3:27; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38
Remain Faithful- Rev. 2:10; 1 John 1:7