My Pulpit Message Notes Re-centre your definition of family My Pulpit Message Notes are transcribed from the sermon preached at the Nairobi Baptist Church (NBC) Ngong Road on Sunday 6th November 2022. Preacher: Reverend Nick Korir. Scripture: Genesis 2:2-23. Topic: Re-centre your definition of family
The whole book of Genesis is punctuated with birth narratives, marriage sto- about how to re-centre our marriages. ries, family genealogies, narratives of death, communicating the centrality of family from the first book of the Bible and continues to go on.
Four components of family
When the Bible begins, it starts with the biological family / the home, just to underscore the importance and the value of the family unity in Scripture. It is unfortunate that today marriage is dismissed. Many people consider marriage to be irrelevant. It’s being redefined, ridiculed, demeaned, discouraged and in some instances denounced. We live in an age of the disposable -: disposable cups, plates, spoons, bottles etc. Have we come to the place where we now have disposable marriages? Marriage is not a cultural invention. I learnt this the hard way. Immediately after our honeymoon, 19 years ago, we got home and were settling into our new home. I don’t know how many have carried forward the image and character of our parents. My dad was very predictable. I could tell what my dad did from the moment he got home. He would walk to the door, remove his shoes, his socks, put his socks inside the shoes and put the shoes to the side, he would walk into the living room, go straight to his couch and sit. Immediately after he would clear his throat to announce that he has arrived into the house, someone would bring him tea and place it on the side, either myself of one of my sister and he would sit and immediately put on the TV. And he would sit and drink tea. After that when it is time for dinner he would stand up, go to the table, we would sit together, pray and eat. When he finishes eating, he would stand, go and take a shower and if he’s tired you would not see him come back. If not he would come back he would watch the news and after that he would sleep on his couch, a significant amount after news and after that he would go to bed. Predictably every single day. When we got married, I followed the same pattern without even knowing. I didn’t even notice it. So one day after having a meal, I left my plate on the table and walked to back to sit. And I did that the next three days. The fourth day my wife stopped me and asked me the question, how do you think this plate will move from this table into that sink? Just explain it to me like a two year old. Immediately after that she said okay, second question, how do you think that plate in that sink will get clean and move from that sink into that cupboard so that tomorrow it’s clean enough for you to be able to use it? I looked at her and thought, what is the big deal? And she said let me show you how: she held my hand and the plate, she walked with me to the sink and placed the plate in the sink, and she said, that is lesson number one. Tomorrow we will do lesson number two. Those lessons have been going on for a while.
1. 2. 3. 4.
The likeness of family - Gender The fullness of family - Garden The harness of family - Guide The oneness of family - Goal
The likeness of family - Gender (Genesis 2:7, 18-23) 7 Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. 18 The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” God made Adam, and God also made Eve. Then He brings Eve to Adam. He immediately we see God beginning to paint the picture of the Biblical concept of family. One man and one woman committed to each other before God for life. That is the Biblical image that God gives us. Marriage is between a man and a woman, nothing more, nothing less. It is only a woman that is God says is fit/suitable for a man. Adam looked around all of creation and he found nothing that was suitable for him. So God created one that was suitable for him. A woman to be his companion/partner/helper who is suitable because God made her for him. God officiated this first wedding in the garden of Eden. We see God becoming the first anaesthetist where Adam falls into a deep sleep (v21). Where God becomes the first cardio-thoracic surgeon as He takes out that rib and forms woman out of it. Then we see God becoming the first matchmaker where He brings Eve to Adam and He brings them together and they begin this new union. God is the One Who thought up marriage. It is God who thought up gender. It is God who thought up sex. It is God’s idea. It’s not ours. The only union that has God’s stamp of approval is the union between one man and one woman in a marriage union so that they can start a family together. Male and female are both made in the very image of God. They are equally valuable to God, but they are different in how God made them. God did not clone Adam. God made Eve specifically to compliment Adam. He made a complimentary companion so that together they can form the beautiful family unit that we see today. Men and women are made to compliment each other
I love a statement that Mathew Henry the commentator makes. He said, ‘God made a wife from Adam’s rib for a particular reason. God did not make a woman from Adam’s skull so that Adam does not rule over. He did not make woman from Adam’s foot so that Adam would not trample over her. He made woman Marriage is not a cultural invention. Culture did not invent marriage and so it from Adam’s rib so that Adam could be able to put his arms around her and should not dictate marriage. recognise his primary role is to protect her and care for her as someone dear. We see that very clearly from the beginning, the very picture that God brings Marriage is a gift from God. It is God’s idea. It is God Who invented marriage. out in family. As we reflect of re-centering our definition of marriage we need to go back to the Creator of marriage, the Creator of family and allow Him to challenge us My culture had already defined marriage for me and there are many instances that I could speak about.
TT 176 | November 8th - November 14th | 2022
