Building Faith Families With Steve Demme

Life can be hard. Personal struggles and difficulties often come with a significant grief component. This painful experience changed my view of the Christian life. I had become a Christian for the perks, heaven, forgiveness of sin, joy, peace, but I didn’t understand suffering. Suffering is accompanied by grief and I didn’t know how to process the pain nor fix the situation, which led to burnout.

Steve shares their family's journey of having a special needs child. Every child will change the chemistry of the home. When you have a child with a disability, life becomes harder. Not only to the family unit, but each member of the family as well. This is our journey and I hope it will encourage you in the difficult experiences you are facing.

The final episode in this series is a compilation of testimonies from parents who have been having times of regular family worship. I hope that as you listen you will be edified and encouraged.

In the podcast 35 we examined the first five possible obstacles in beginning having regular times of family worship in our homes. We will conclude with the final five today.•  I am not qualified to lead my family.•  I won’t be able to be successful.•  What is my husband will not participate?•  Like Moses, I am not a gifted speaker and wish someone else could do it.•  It’s too late to get started as the children are older.These are all questions each of us struggles with to some degree. Facing them and talking through them, robs them of their power to cripple and discourage us. I hope this broadcast will be a help to eliminating these common hurdles.

In the previous 5 episodes we examined ingredients for a successful family worship experience. In this podcast we tackle potential obstacles that I had to face and that may resonate with other families.• For example, the first one is that we may not have grown up in a home where your parents conducted conducted family devotions so we never saw it modeled.• Or perhaps we have been told that we are not qualified to teach the bible since we have not been to bible school or sunday school teacher’s academy.• Maybe we think the job of discipling our children is the job of the church.• “We are too busy” may sound familiar to all of us.These and other objections will be examined in more detail this week. I hope you will be encouraged to press on as you listen to our discussion.

The next four ingredients for a successful family devotions experience are: talk about what you read, keep a record of how God has worked for your family, close in prayer, and just do it.Scripture says that each member of the body of Christ, including all members of your family, have something to contribute to other believers. After we have read the scripture, we now give each member n opportunity to communicate any insights they received that day.I hope parents are in the facilitating mode at this juncture, so each person has an opportunity to speak. Then if we have time, we like to think back at the end of the week, to how God has helped us. We not only focus on being thankful, but on recording our gratefulness in notebooks.Then before we head in our separate directions, we pray and commit what we have learned that day.The final ingredient is to JUST DO IT. And if you are discouraged because you missed several days, do it anyway. I am so encouraged and inspired by Proverbs 24:16 which reads: “A righteous ma

The word remember, or some form of this word, occurs over 200 times in scripture. The Psalmist encourages us to praise the works of God from one generation to another. Psalm 145:4Have you told your children how you came to Christ, or how you met your spouse, or other answers to prayer that you have experienced? Not only are the older folks to recount the mighty acts of God in their own life, it is equally important to record God’s work in the hearts of the children as well.Teach as you would like to be taught. This is the golden rule applied to having worship times in the home. This does not have to be a dry time, but ask God to give you ideas to make the study of God’s word enjoyable. I have a couple ideas I will be sharing in the podcast.If we had time, we liked to sing as part of the worship experience. Worship and the word complement each other. Perhaps your family may consider memorizing some worship songs or hymns. We committed 9 to memory years ago and I still recall many of the verses.“Let the high pr

While we seek to diligently teach our children the word of God, ultimately it is God’s responsibility to reach their hearts.“For a shepherd enters through the gate. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they recognize his voice.” John 10:2-4As we teach and read God’s Word, we also want to make sure that we are presenting the good news of the gospel to your families. We all need grace along with truth. Jesus was the perfect balance of grace and truth.“For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” John 1:17“Loving kindness and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.” Psalm 85:10This is a critical time to explain the forgiveness that only Jesus can extend since He died to take away our sins on the cross. He had no sins of His own and so He could take ours upon H

One of the questions I am frequently asked is “At what ages do we begin having worship times as a family?” Based on these scriptures with Jesus’ instructions to Peter and Paul’s advice to Timothy, I think the sooner the better.“Feed my lambs” John 21:15“For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well” 2 Timothy 1:5“And that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” 2 Timothy 3:15When you begin having regular worship times, the best advice I have is to assemble the family and then turn over the meeting to Jesus. In all of my years reading scripture myself, I am always amazed at how good the Spirit of Jesus is at teaching and applying scripture to each person in the room regardless of age or ability.For where two or three have gathered together in My name, there I am in their midst” Matthew 18:2

God’s divine blueprint for family worship begins with the husband and wife each loving God with everything in them, and then having God’s inspired word foremost in their heart, before they commence teaching their children. We find this plan revealed in Deuteronomy 6:5-7.

In this final episode on the Family That Stays Together, some specific ideas for learning to understand one another and express love for each other.When families are together 24/7, sometimes these skills are not for building family, but for surviving as a family. We will be discussing, personality types, love languages, and a final exhortation to be content with the family that God designed you to be without comparing yourselves to other families.We make a wonderful us, but a lousy anybody else. Comparison is the enemy of vision. Develop your own flavor and chemistry.As Mother Theresa received a Nobel Peace Prize, she was asked, “What can we do to promote world peace?” She replied, “Go home and love your family.”

Shared experiences, such as reading books together, watching movies as a family, learning together, and playing together are instrumental in developing your own family chemistry.When you do things together, you understand each other’s comic references, and provide commonality, which is the basis for relationship. Equally important is safe, open, honest communication in the home.Listen as we share more ideas and stories of how the Demme’s developed their family identity, and an interesting application of the movies Mary Poppins and Saving Mr. Banks.

After discussing strategies for husband and wives, here is what the Demme’s did to love and affirm their children. From birthday celebrations, eating meals together, to working, and worshiping together, I hope this broadcast will stimulate your thinking for ways to love and appreciate children.Psalms 127:3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

As a husband and father, I have more to say about what I have learned in 35 years of marriage and 34 years of being a dad. In this broadcast, I have some tips for ladies. I hope you will find them encouraging, biblically sound, and helpful.

God created and designed men to be husbands and fathers. But the only way we are able to fulfill our calling is bey falling in love afresh with God, laying down our lives for our families, serving them, and using the authority He has granted us to build them up. The best thing men can do for their family is love God and His word. Our individual relationship with God determines how well we build relationships with our family. When each member of the family is each rooted and grounded in Christ, then each are free to be in a healthy relationship with one another. I used to believe the ideal family was: Where each lives for the other and all love for Christ. I now am convinced that it is: Where each is loved by Christ, then we are enabled to love for the other.

God created each member of the family.And God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. Genesis 1:27He sovereignly imbues each of us with value.We are each a unique part of the body of Christ on earth, with gifts to supply to His body, here on earth.Each member of the family is a temple of the Holy Spirit,We are all different. God has shaped, crafted, and fashioned each of us with unique abilities and disabilities.God designed the concept of marriage and family. He created this sacred institution. It is not only a good idea, it is a God idea.Before Abraham was born, before a government had been formed, before Israel was called into being, and before the church was born from above, God created family.Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. Genesis 2:24

This episode is a sampling of the person and work of the Holy Spirit as recorded in the book of Acts, with minimal commentary.Acts 2:4 They were all filled with the Holy SpiritActs 4:8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit,Acts 4:31 When they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy SpiritActs 6:5 They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit,Acts 7:55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,Acts 9:17 “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”Acts 11:24 He was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.Acts 13:52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.Acts 15:28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no gr

We have met the enemy and he is Us!Romans 8:5 For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,Galatians 5:17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.Galatians 5:16 Walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.John 6:63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.Galatians 6: 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

Every teacher is not a parent, but every parent is a teacher.Thank God that He has sent the Spirit of Truth to help us teach. God the Father taught on Mt Sinai, Jesus taught the multitudes and His disciples, the Spirit of truth is still teaching us today. He is bearing witness about Jesus and guiding us into all truth.John 15:26 When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.John 16:13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth,Ephesians 1:17 The God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him.

Today’s episode is a discussion between Steve and Todd Wilson of Family Man Ministries. I hope you will enjoy the discussion between these two kindred spirits who both speak and write about God’s plan and design for the family.