Modern views towards family

• Family is a constraint; cohabitation is reassurance.
• Family is just for the two of us. Children are unnecessary and even burdensome.
• Expectations on children: there is no comprehensive plan on raising children, but they are expected to have academic achievements, which will eventually bring successful careers.
• Men go out to work and women stay at home, resulting in a distant relationship between children and their fathers after they grow up.

This world is full of...

• Children born by accident
• Children raised without a plan
• Single-parent family
• Youths extending their false beliefs about family to their next generation

Family is the core of society

Contemporary research tells us that the 'family factor' could very possibly be the fundamental core of the adolescent problem.

This is a generation where beliefs about family is being challenged and confronted. We need to have beliefs about family.

What is a belief?

• Beliefs are firm ideas.
• Beliefs are only effective with 'insistence'.
• Beliefs are firm ideas which you insist to hold.

Core beliefs about the family

1. The family needs to have visions and goals
• Build up a vision-driven atmosphere in the family.
• Explore the vision for parents, children and the family.
• Husband shepherds the wife.
• Parents equip children with vision and goal.
• Family should be prioritised as your primary subject of ministry. (1 Timothy 3:1-5)
• Family should be your primary and most important site of ministry. (1 Timothy 3:5)
• Husband is responsible to lead the family and coach your children.

2. The husband and the wife are inseparable
• Matthew 19:4-6
• Matthew 19:9
• It is impossible to give up a marital relationship

3. The husband is to lead and love the wife
• Ephesians 5:21-33

4. Family is my happy-spot
• Developing a positive and fun atmosphere for the family.

5. Coaching your children is parents' indisputable responsibility
• Family is the most effective venue for discipleship. (Proverbs 22:6)
• It is better to teach with your actions than your words. (Luke 6:43)
• A stable family builds up successful children. (Matthew 7:24-27)

6. Time is the key to build up life
• How much the man values the family can be easily seen on how much time he devotes to his wife and children
• If we believe that 'life impacts life', we would spend time to develop the life of our children.
• If we believe that the best way to learn is modelling, we would no doubt teach our own children by ourselves.

Beliefs about raising children

1. Love is the most important thing.
2. Rule-abiding: lead your children to respect and abide rules.
3. Be respectful, obedient and teachable.
4. What's inside the heart is more important than the outlook.
5. Bring the good out of your children.
6. Try bravely.
7. Be proactive.
8. Be active.
9. Trust that God will help.
10. It is more blessed to give than to receive.
11. God will provide – there's no need to worry.
12. Spend sensibly.
13. Develop your interest in art

Beliefs about Family