Course Overview and Objectives
Family is God’s foundation for society and His Church!
“For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father, from Whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.”
– Ephesians 3:14-15
In Genesis 2:22-25, we see God establishing the first couple, the first marriage and the first family. This couple represents the genesis, or the beginning of all other marriages. A marriage is sacred in God’s eyes, and it represents in one finite sense, God’s relationship with His bride: the Church (Eph. 5:32). Additionally, in Genesis 1:28, we see God giving Adam and Eve an outline of what a healthy marriage should do… produce something! “And God blessed them and God said, ’Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’” In short, couples are to be fruitful, which includes raising children and influencing the world for the Kingdom of God! Family is God’s foundation for society and His church. Ephesians 3:14-15 says, “For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father, from Whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.” A strong sense of community is seen in healthy, functioning families and was also seen in Hebrew society. For example, in the Hebrew culture, the “father’s house” (bait house or bet ab father’s house) was the “life center” for all family members, even extended family. The family was the unit that society was built around, and individuals found their place in society through the family and its extensions.
In the New Testament church, family is still very important, and great care is taken to explain the importance of family members (Ephesians 5:25-33, 6:4 and Colossians 3:21). The family of God is key to our flourishing as well. We are all created on purpose, with a purpose, and God will use our families whenever possible to mold us into His image to fulfill His purposes. In this course you will see the purpose of this powerful prescription for human flourishing called the family!
Course Objectives
- Introduce God’s design for people, marriage, children and family.
- Explain why family is God’s foundation for society, the Church and the gospel.
- Examine why mothering and fathering are important in the formation of healthy children and why they have rights to both parents.
- Show how God uses godly families to help kids in need through adoption and other interventions.
