OPENING PRAYER

JANUARY- THE COURAGEOUS FAMILY: IMPACT OF FAMILY VALUES ON THE QUALITY OF RELATIONSHIPSFEBRUARY- SEMINAR RECAP: KEY LEARNING POINTS - “BLESSING” A POWERFUL VALUE : THE IMPORTANCE & POWER OF PARENTAL BLESSINGS MARCH- IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF OUR RELATIONSHIPS

Family Life Ministry Q1 Theme

FAMILY VALUES & QUALITY OF RELATIONSHIPS

Q2 Theme Effective Family Finance Management

Focus on the Family

Topics: Improving the quality of our Relationships

1 Peter 3:8-12

8Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: 9Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. 10For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: 11Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. 12For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

Text: 1 Peter 3:8-12 (KJV)

What is Relationship

Relationship as defined in dictionary.com is a connection, association or involvement.

Relationship is a connection between persons by blood or marriage.

Relationship is an emotional or other connection between people.

Relationship could also mean an affair.

What are the different types of Relationships?

What are the Types of Relationships

• For ease, I’ll divide relationships into 4 categories namely;

A Relationship between Christ and the churchB Relationship in the family C Relationship between business partners D Relationship between leaders and the people.1 Jesus Christ and the Church 1Peter5:6-7,

Ephesians5:232 Husband and Wife 1Peter3:10 , Ephesians 5:333 Parent and Children 1timothy3:12 , Ephesians 6:1 ,

What are the Types of Relationships

1 Pastor and Congregation Exodus 32:7-14 , Deuteronomy 10:6 , 1Peter5:2-4 , 1Peter4:11

2 Siblings 1Peter3:8,93 Friends (David and Jonathan) 1 Samuel 18:3 ,

1Samuel23:164 Employer and Employee 1Peter3:155 Teacher and student Proverbs23:12(good news

version says pay attention to your teachers and learn all you can)psalm25:12

6 Leaders and the people1Peter2:13-15

For tonight’s teaching, we shall be focusing on the family Relationship.

What is a Family? Dictionary.com defines family as:

A basic social unit consisting of parents and their children, considered as a group, whether dwelling together or not:

It also defines family as all those persons considered as descendants of a common progenitor.

Therefore family relationship can be defined as a basic social unit consisting of parents and their children, considered as a group whether dwelling together or not but having connections between persons by blood or marriage.

Relationship can be classified into two groups, namely:

Healthy and Unhealthy relationship.

What is an unhealthy relationship?

An unhealthy relationship is a relationship that is sick…•It is an unhappy relationship.•It is a relationship that is not sound.•It is a weak relationship.•It is an abnormal relationship

not in a state of good or normal health; in an unsound, weak, or morbid condition.

What are the causes of unhealthy relationships?

What are the causes of unhealthy relationships?

1 Never admitting wrong doing (Saul)2 Taking the other person for granted 3 Not being responsive to the feelings of the

other person4 Not spending time together5 Always wanting to have your way6 Always talking and not listening7 Lack of trust8 Lack of integrity9 Lack of tolerance10Pride11Superiority complex12Lack of Christ

What are the consequences of unhealthy relationship?

What are the consequences of unhealthy relationship?

1 Divorce2 Bad behavior3 Lack of communication4 Repression of feelings and thoughts5 Selfishness6 Secrecy7 Disobedience8 Anger9 Judgmental10Hatred11Abuse (verbal, emotional ,physical)12Unanswered prayers 1 peter3:713Death

How do we improve our relationship?

How do we improve our relationship?

1 Don’t be a mind reader2 Say sorry 3 Don’t take the other person for granted4 Be reasonable in the method of teaching (headship

is not making all the decisions)5 Be responsive to the feelings of the other party6 Spend time together (there is something more than

making a living, it is sharing lives)7 Don’t be judgmental8 Respect each other

How do we improve our relationship?9 Give gifts (not necessarily expensive)10 Love each other (1peter 1:22b)11 Talk and allow the other to talk also12 Putting our knowledge into action (we like to learn

new ways but refuse to put what we have learnt into action).

13 Live peaceably (it is the duty of a Christian not only to embrace peace when offered, but to seek and pursue it when it is denied).

14 Putting on the grace of God ( the longer we wear the grace of God, the brighter and better God’s grace is on our lives.

What is a Healthy Relationship?

What is a Healthy Relationship?

My definition of a healthy relationship is a relationship that is one minded, compassionate, tenderhearted, courteous, full of love, life, good days, no evil, no deceit, a relationship that doeth good, is peaceful it is an answer to prayers.

Is this kind of relationship possible?Yes…1Peter 3:8-12

How can we sustain a healthy relationship?

1 Have respect for each other not fear2 Talk about your goals, challenges, etc.3 Discuss successes and failures easily

without fear or shame4 Keep doing whatever works for your

home, don’t compare your home with others

5 Pray together

How can we sustain a healthy relationship?

Brethren, if we can adhere to 1 Peter 4:8 which says; “And above all things have fervent love for one another, for LOVE WILL COVER A MULTITUDE OF SIN”

I believe the Lord is telling us today that there is something more than making a living, it is sharing lives.

In conclusion;The reasons for sick (unhealthy) relationships can NEVER be so great that we CAN NEVER have stronger reasons to (have a healthy relationship)!

Audience Q&A

• What questions do you have about today’s teaching?

Prayer & Closing

• If your relationships are healthy, pray that God will continue to bless your relationships and keep them improving on an ongoing basis

• If you can identify some relationships that you are in that are unhealthy, pray that God will restore good health to those relationships