Sermon Overview
Scripture Passage: 1 Corinthians 6:19

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says, “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore, glorify God in your body...”

We have been commanded to treat our bodies as temples to maintain and dedicate to God for His glory. Our bodies are carefully crafted, finely tuned machines, and our maintenance manual is the Word of God.

There are some reasons why we have physical ailments that are not in our control; but whatever we can control, we are responsible for maintaining.

There are four principles to remember as we work on our family fitness.

1. Family fitness is a matter of discipline.
1 Corinthians 10:31 says, "Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."

We must be disciplined in our diet and exercise, which extends our life expectancy and improves our wellbeing. In a world of fad diets and quick fixes, we are called to consume natural, real foods, within the right portions. There needs to be discipline in how we rest. Psalm 127:2 warns us: “It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; for He gives His beloved sleep.”

2. Family fitness is a matter of disposition.
Choosing to express positive emotions should be part of our family fitness regime. Adrian Rogers says, “Hardening of the attitudes is just as bad as hardening of the arteries.” Stress will derail us physically; it will cripple our thinking, weaken our bodies, and reduce our efficiency. We must guard our hearts and minds against hatefulness and stress.

3. Family fitness is a matter of devotion.
When we love God and serve Him in the church as we should, we can experience an increase in health.

4. Family fitness is a matter of decision.
We will not stumble across family fitness, physically, mentally, or spiritually. It takes work to gain and maintain, work that we decide to do intentionally. Our families should stand out by our faith and our fitness, recognizing our responsibility to maintain our bodies as unto the Lord.

Apply it to your life
Do you recognize any areas in your health, or your family’s health, that could improve? Make the decision to maintain your family’s health, physically and spiritually.

Sermon Overview
Scripture Passage: Psalm 128

God created families to satisfy the deepest longings of our hearts—to give and receive love. Families were designed to provide a safe and secure environment in which to nurture, teach, and love our children.

Psalm 128 gives us a description of the ideal family: “Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord; who walks in His ways. When you eat the labor of your hands, you shall be happy and it shall be well with you” (v. 1-2).

One of the signs that God has blessed our homes is the presence of laughter, which is why we should get serious about having family fun.

Adrian Rogers says, “Man is the only creature who can do three things: weep, blush, and laugh.”

Family fun is not careless or irresponsible; in fact, fun and efficiency coincide perfectly. Leisure time is time we permit ourselves to enjoy without guilt, to make memories with our children while they are children.

There are three reasons why family fun is crucial to the spiritual health and growth of our families.

Family fun refreshes.
Work is necessary, but we cannot be too busy making a living that we forget to live. Just as there is a time to work, there is also a time to rest as well. We cannot always be more interested in our finances than in our fun, nor put our labor over our laughter.

Family fun repairs.
There is so much stress in this stretched-thin society. Our attitudes and emotions can have some control over our physical health. A grim and solemn spirit doesn’t just break the health of an individual, but the family as well. Joy and happiness are incredible medicines, and laughter can release the tension from a broken home.

Family fun remains.
The laughter we create in our homes lingers and echoes throughout our lives; it goes on and on, even after we leave this earth. Adrian Rogers says, “We are building for our children a museum of memories, and memories are our landmarks—they keep us from getting lost.”

Apply it to your life
Is your home marked with laughter and your leisure time full of family fun? Remember: family fun refreshes us when we’re weary, repairs us when we’re broken, and remains after we’re gone.

Sermon Overview
Scripture Passage: 1 Timothy 6:5-10, 17

It could be said that money is the root of a majority of the problems in our homes. The enemy’s plan is to keep families in financial bondage, but 1 Timothy 6 provides wisdom regarding family finances.

A lack of wealth cannot take away genuine contentment.

“But godliness with contentment is great gain…” (v. 6). Contentment is an inner sufficiency that keeps us at peace in spite of outward circumstances. If we depend on natural and material things for contentment, we will never have it. Our basic needs consist of food and clothing (v. 8); our desire for more than the basics truly makes us unhappy.

Personal value, virtue, and victory are measured not by money, but by godliness. Adrian Rogers says, “We need to add up everything that we own that money cannot buy and death cannot take away, and praise God for that.”

The loss of wealth is inevitable.

“We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out” (v. 7). We will not take any of our earthly riches with us after death. We must consider what we will leave behind in the hearts and lives of our loved ones after we are gone.

The love of wealth is dangerous.

“But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (v. 9-10).

If our desire is to be rich, we are headed for serious trouble. Though the Bible teaches productivity and making wise investments and warns against slothfulness, we cannot prioritize riches.

The luxury of wealth brings responsibility.

“Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy…” (v. 17). We are stewards of our wealth, not owners; if we do not see our riches as a loan from God, we will suffer, no matter how much money we have. Our responsibility is to be humble, trustful, joyful, and generous.

Apply it to your life
What are you leaving behind in the hearts and lives of your children? Accept your responsibility as a steward of wealth, and be humble, trustful, joyful, and generous.