May 29th, 2022

   Family Matters: Healing Broken Families

  May 29, 2022

Charles Billingsley

Because all of us come from different backgrounds and upbringings, we can learn much from each other. What are some ways in which you’ve learned to handle life’s hardest times?

Today we end our series, “Family Matters.” The sermon, from Genesis 3, illustrates our topic of broken or dysfunctional families, as we see that from the beginning of man there have been few people who have been able to live as God created them to. As was pointed out this morning, not only has brokenness affected nearly every family you know outside the church, but also within your church as well. How can they be healed? Psalm 147:3 says, “He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.” We can be healed from brokenness by seeking after God and following His Word with our whole heart.

Embrace the truth

• Read Gen. 3:8. Who was in the garden in this passage? Why did God come? Why did they hide and try to run from God? Read Psa. 139:7-8. Do you ever run from God? Why is it useless?
• When God asked Adam and Eve if they had transgressed His law, what did they each say? Think of the last argument you had with someone (don’t share). Did you try to transfer the blame? What is the reason we all do that? What does it change?
• Read Gen. 3:11-13. We can’t read their body language, but do you pick up on any sense of sorrow from reading these verses? What was their punishment? Do you think they could have been eligible for reconciliation to God if they had fallen on their face in repentance? Why are we so much more blessed than Adam and Eve? Why is it so important that we grab hold of God’s Word and do not turn from it?

Talk to each other

• Read Matt. 5:23-24. How does your family handle “intense conflicts”? Does one of you shut down or build walls so that they are not as hurt when/if it happens again? Read Matt. 18:15. Who has the responsibility to initiate reconciliation during conflict? If you are the one in the wrong, or the one in the right, does it really matter? What does it show for you to be the one to try to “mend the fence”?
• Why is it so hard to say to someone you love, “I’m sorry”? What kind of attitude does it take for us to say that?

Speak the truth to them but do it in love

• Read Eph. 4:26. What are some ground rules that couples need to establish for the times when quarrels will come? Do you have rules established that you can share?
• Why is it important that you restore the relationship, so that you can resolve a conflict? What happens if you do not resolve the conflict on the day that it happens?

Trust each other

• Can someone define trust, as it exists in relationships between two people? How is trust formed? If you have been the victim of someone’s betrayal, how will that affect other relationships in your future?
• What can you do to learn to trust others? Do you trust God? How did you learn to?

Forgive each other

• Read Eph. 4:32 and Matt. 6:12. Why is it crucial that we forgive those who have sinned against us? Why must it be done face to face? What if it’s too late?
• Do you recall the statistics showing how much body language plays into our every day conversations? (55% of facial expressions and 79% of body expressions interpret what our words mean). Why is that critical in this day and age?

Let God do His work

• Read 1 John 4:20. In families where you are aware of great division among siblings, do they claim to be Christians? What does God have to say about that?
• What should they do?

Close:

Do you know anyone who hates admitting they have erred, caused a problem, or taken out their anger on someone else? The idea of denying any wrongdoing and deflecting the blame to another person is almost as automatic as breathing. Yet we are missing out on God’s best if we act as Adam and Eve did in the Garden of Eden.

Paul experienced inner conflict as he wrote Romans 7:14b-25. “I do not understand what I am doing…I do what I hate…nothing good lives in me…the desire to do good is with me but there is no ability to do it…!” Do you often feel like that? We all are broken and full of sin. If you were in the service this morning, or watched it via media, you saw almost the entire congregation stand in groups as Charles asked if certain dysfunctional categories (divorce, abuse, addiction, etc.) had touched their families. That was a very emotional time, as almost everyone testified by standing in front of others, “I am not perfect. I am in your church, worshiping God with you, but I am a broken vessel that God is restoring. He is using me. Our church is a place for sinners who are in need of God’s mercy and grace, not a place for perfect people to come and be glad they are not like others.” It is a hospital for broken spirits, who need Jesus Christ to heal their brokenness, not a country club for social cliques to isolate themselves with their own kind.

Many of us over the past several weeks of this Family Matter series waste moments wishing we could have had these messages preached to us decades ago. However, we can encourage young parents to listen to these sermons through www.trbc.org—it’s not too late for them to hear them. And for the older ones, grandchildren are all around us, like fallow ground that needs the Living Water poured on it. It’s never too late to start.

One last thing: is there anyone in your life that you need to forgive? Someone who wronged you, causing years of pain? If you can, go to them and offer forgiveness. Perhaps they have forgotten you, but they are not the prisoner—you are. Forgive them, and free yourself.