Thank you for the opportunity to share with you today. I am glad to be a part of the family of God. From Canada to Key West to California and across the globe, the bond of the Christian family is similar to blood families and sometimes even stronger.

I like the theme you have chosen for today: "Living as Disciples in Our Homes". Hmmm... Disciples in our home. What is a disciple? The dictionary says it is a "follower of". A head knowledge that he is the Savior is not enough. I must be a follower; I must let him be my leader in all things.

I commend each one here today, because you have followed God's Word – Heb 10:2. You have not neglected to assemble yourselves together today in the house of the Lord for worship and encouragement of one another. How many of you here today are followers (disciples) of Christ? Raise your hands. It wasn't hard to admit our allegiance to Jesus here, today, among other Christians. But what about the other 165 hours in the week? Have we fulfilled our obligations as disciples by coming to church this morning? ...No.

More of the week is spent in our homes than at church. What does Jesus expect of us the rest of the week? Heb 5:9 tells us that He expects obedience. ("being made perfect, he [Jesus] became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him" – italics added for emphasis). How can we obey him if we don't know what he's told us to do? Jesus said, "Search the scriptures" (John 5:39).

My grandson has a busy mind. I give him instructions, but when he starts off, he often turns back and says, "Um, Grams, what did you tell me? I was thinking about my puzzle." Sometimes he gets into trouble because he doesn't pay enough attention to instructions. Adults say, "You are responsible for the instructions that were given to you." You see, when he doesn't listen to instructions, he finds it impossible to be obedient to them. If we don't know God's instructions, we are in the same boat. How can we be obedient to something we don't know about?

The Bible says that salvation is to those who obey. Jesus says ‘search the scriptures'. It is questionable, then, that one is a disciple of Christ if they do not read from God's Word on a regular basis. If one can't read well or doesn't like to read or is terribly busy, they can even get the Bible on cassette tapes. If you have tried to read the Bible bu t couldn't understand it, try a different translation. Many are available in modern English, and at different reading levels. You will understand it and you'll find reading the Bible can be exciting and even fun! And let's not kid ourselves, a disciple reads their Bible at home as well as at church.

As obedient followers of Christ, we must also "Pray without ceasing" (Thess 5:17). Do I, do you, consciously talk to God each day, throughout the day? Do we talk to him at all besides the blessing at mealtime and maybe the kids' bedtime prayers? If Jesus, who was God in the flesh, needed to go apart to pray, how much more must we need this communication with the Father!

Should we bother God (the creator of the universe) with our little problems throughout each day? Well, let's see what our great big God has to say about it. From Phil 4:6 we read, "Don't worry about anything; instead pray about everything; tell God your needs and don't forget to thank Him." Don't forget to praise and thank Him!

To summerize what we've said so far, let's consider Psalm 119:11. "Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee." The Bible is GOd's love letter to us. He leads and speaks to us through the Bible more than any other way. He has given us the answers to our problems. They are in His Word. This includes anger, depression, attitudes, marriage, child raising, etc.

For example, in many homes when there is disagreement people can become hateful, thinking and even saying such things as ‘I hate you', ‘I wish you were dead', ‘I'm going to get even', or ‘I'm going to leave you'. Ephesians 4:26 tells us that we may "be angry but sin not". God knows that frustrations come, but our behavior to all, including those in our homes, should be Christ-like. We mustn't be deliberately cutting or cruel.

Help comes through prayer. If we let Him, God will direct our attitudes. I'll use myself as an example. When I was a young bride and a new Christian as well, I though that we, Harv and I, would agree on everything. Well, lol, we didn't. I would get upset, and cry and fall into self-pity, but I would also eventually pray. Through prayer God brought new thoughts into my mind. "Aren't you being selfish", "does it really matter so much", "aren't you over-reacting", and "Have faith – I [God] will work it out in my own way and my own time." Sometimes I needed to ask for forgiveness from God and Harv. But always I could leave my place of prayer with peace of mind and a new perspective...I could once again be happy and cheerful.

God is love. Surely, as his disciples we should be congenial, even loving, at home and elsewhere.

A word of warning. There is an Enemy. He's a hard worker and has many in his employ. The scripture calls the enemy the devil and his crew are demons. Would they be so bold as to invade the disciples home? Yes, they are and do!!!!

How? Whatever you feed into yourself effects you. TV and movies are full of violence, anger, revenge and actions which God and the Bible condemn. And yet television and movies have great influence on society and can be tremendously detrimental. Toys and games can also have bad to devastating results if they glorify and make attractive un-Christlike attitudes and actions. How a child plays can impact heavily on what kind of person they grow into becoming.

We disciples have a grave responsibility for what is seen, heard and played in our homes. What individuals allow before their eyes, ears and minds actually makes subtle and not do subtle changes in our earthly life and spiritual life. Consider and be obedient to Phil 4:8. "Whatsoever things are: true, honest, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous and praiseworthy, think on these things." (underlining added for emphasis)

Consider who, or what, is your God. Who, or what, do you spend your time truly following? It could be TV, movies, pornography, social life, drugs, alcohol, or even your job or your home. For real joy and peace in our home life, even in the midst of terrible problems, what we need is faith in and obedience to the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is so helpful to always be conscious of God's invisible presence by our side. Keeping the communication lines open between the Lord and ourselves helps us to say, do and be more Christlike, to be true disciples.

And we know that Romans 8:28, "All tings work together for good to them that love God." Life is so much more pleasant and easier because Jesus is walking with me!