Making God Real in our Orthodox Christian Home

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Making God real in ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN Home
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• Strong Christian home is foundation of effective,
  genuine, and spiritual service
• True relationship with Jesus reflects in our
  behaviour at home
• Easy to behave well or be polite in public
  places church, school, work but difficult at
  home
• WHY?

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• Take loved ones for granted spouses, children,
  parents, brothers/sisters
• No outsiders see good deeds, no praises, no
  recognition no effort needed
• Become like PHARISEES, do things only to be seen
  by men
• We praise, worship, build churches for God, but
  often dont bring Him home
• We fail to bring Gods love, forgiveness,
  patience ... to our loved ones
• We must have our own church at home

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• WHY must we bring JESUS home in personal
  spiritual life?
• To have an effective Service, with conviction
  spiritual power
• If were going to help others, must help
  ourselves first
• Healthy family unit is foundation of any
  Healthy society, community, church

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• How to bring JESUSinto our home?
• 1) Prayer
• Regular prayer, personal with family
• For where two or three are gathered together in
  My name, I am there in the midst of them.
• (Matthew 1820)
• We want God to be in our midst
• Sit at the Lords feet to Restart, Replenish
  Reset
• Pray in the morning, at night, driving in car
• Carry God with us wherever, whenever

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• 2) Bible
• Read daily, alone with family
• Meditate, reflect self-examine, apply messages
• Spiritual books, lives of saints
• Read with family (children) nourishes them,
  bonding time
• St. Paul tells Timothy "But you must continue in
  the things which you have learned and been
  assured of, knowing from whom you have learned
  them, and that from childhood you have known the
  Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise
  for salvation through faith which is in Jesus
  Christ (2 Timothy 314-15)

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• 3) Ministering at home
• Call check-up, to say hello to lonely or sick
• Make home inviting/welcoming to all
• Help neighbours in need
• St. Paul says Walk in wisdom toward those who
  are outside, redeeming the time (Colossians 45)
• Spend time with your spouses, children
• Need godly influence on family
• HG Bishop Suriel (Australia)
• 1960's 1) Family, 2) Church, 3) Friends, 4)
  School
• 1980's 1) Friends, 2) Family, 3) Media, 4)
  School
• 1990's 1) Media, 2) Friends, 3) School, 4)
  Family
• Church dropped off list!

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• 4) Purity
• Christian homes pure, free from
• Sinful worldly pleasures, lusts, gossip, bad
  company, evil words, thoughts, pride,
  self-righteousness
• Guard ourselves our homes, dont let garbage
  in Gods temple
• Be careful
• Internet, TV, music, games
• Inappropriate images/messages, bad role model,
  drinking, unhealthy food
• Words (conversations/phone)

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• 5) Avoid Laziness
• Idleness wandering thoughts, waste of time,
  lead to sin
• Prioritize put God first, before all else
• Reading, praying, working, ministering
• St. Paul See then that you walk circumspectly,
  not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time,
  because the days are evil (Ephesians 515)
• Serve your own family, helpshare the burden
• Must be Mary Martha

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• 6) Strive for Orthodoxy
• Always strive to increase knowledge of church
• Be firmly grounded in faith, to pass on torch
• Spiritual books, listen/meditate on liturgy,
  sermons, songs, hymns
• St. Paul Therefore, brethren, stand fast and
  hold the traditions which you were taught,
  whether by word or our epistle (2 Thessalonians
  215)
• When I call to remembrance the genuine faith
  that is in you, which dwelt first in your
  grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am
  persuaded is in you also (1 Timothy 15)

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• 7) Make Home Holy
• Pictures of Jesus, St. Mary, and saints on walls
• Spiritual atmosphere, encourages holiness
• Blessings
• The world bombards us with worldly reminders
• Christians should be filled with reminders of
  holiness godliness

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• If servant does not have a strong Spiritual life
  at home
• Service church a burden
• No enjoyment in praying, reading Bible, or
  serving
• In Sunday School, often feel insecure
  uncomfortable
• Sensitive or defensive (comments or criticism
  related to service)
• Often looks for attention recognition
• Seeks popularity with children they serve
• Drawing children to themselves instead to God
• Hypocritical in behaviour (different home vs
  church)
• Lack true humility, worry about external
  appearances
• Unable to be a good role model
• Lose focus of the real meaning of service
• Serving with little effectiveness no spiritual
  power

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• If servant has a strong Spiritual life at home
• Serve with conviction effective spiritual power
  from the Holy Spirit
• St. Peters sermon on Pentecost, and the
  disciples ministry
• Confident shine in service, have real spiritual
  impact
• True humility, dont seek own glory or
  recognition from anyone but God
• St. Paul For it is the God who commanded light
  to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our
  hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the
  glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2
  Corinthians 46)
• Draw people to Christ, a reflection/image of
  Christ
• Service will be fruitful, despite hardships