STRENGTHENING THE FAMILY ( Introduction )
Jer 29:10-15



I. Background
   A. The nation is in trouble because the Family is in trouble
   B. The government, with God's help, can improve the Economic and Terror problems
   C. The Government can not help improve the Family ; only we can with God’s Help
   D. Jeremiah was talking to the Jews that were in Babylonian captivity for 70 years
   E. He is giving the God's Plan  for restarting their lives that we can apply to our lives and Families

II. God's Plan
   A. His plan gives Hope that things will get better if we follow it
   B. Three elements
      i) God is sovereign , faithful , and he knows best
         - Paul told the Greeks that in God we live , move and have our very
being - Acts 17:28
         - God is our King and Lord ; he speaks and we obey because his word brings life
      ii) Man is a sinner and rebels against God
          - all have sinned and fallen short - Rom 3:23
         - our sin nature is a battle we CONSTANTLY must battle and we can win with God's help
         - the Jews are in captivity because of idol worship and intermarrying with non believers
         - many of us rebel because we think we the exception ; God grades on the curve
      iii) When become a Christian we are God's servants under his authority
         - we are eager to do his will
         - we realize there are consequences if we do not
         - we obeyed from the heart ... and became servants of righteousness - Rom 6:17-18

III. Take Homes
   A. We plan to apply these 3 principles to marriage
   B. The key to serving  is submission to God and one another
   C. It is tough to be a Christian but it is much tougher not being a Christian
   D. Remember
      i) when Momma loves Poppa
      ii) and Poppa loves Momma
      iii) and they both love the Lord
      iv) their Family will prosper