Embracing Orphans and Strengthening Families in Faith
Summary
The sermon begins with the pastor emphasizing the importance of helping the fatherless, as seen throughout scripture. He shares a personal experience from 32 years ago when a verse in the Bible led him to connect with individuals building orphanages in Mexico. This experience changed his perspective and thinking. He then highlights the efforts of two families in their church who have taken on the burden of ministering to orphans in Ethiopia and helping children in foster care find Christian homes. The pastor encourages the congregation to get involved and mentions a fundraising event happening that afternoon.
The pastor then emphasizes the importance of caring for orphans, referring to the book of Hosea. He highlights the story of a young man named Luke who was advocated for by the church and has now found his forever home. The pastor then introduces a young lady named Jaa, who shares her story and expresses her desire to be adopted and have a forever family. The pastor invites the congregation to help Jaa find her forever family by sharing her story through social media.
The pastor then transitions to discuss the importance of strengthening marriages and preventing the disintegration of marriage. He refers to a previous message where his sister and brother-in-law shared their story of recovering their marriage, highlighting the power of their testimony. The pastor encourages both men and women to join marriage groups, assuring them that it will be a beneficial experience.
The pastor then discusses the importance of supporting families who have answered the call to foster or adopt children. He invites the congregation to join the chosen Ministry at Highridge by serving on a care team or joining the events team. The pastor emphasizes that generosity is at the heart of this ministry, and giving directly to the chosen fund provides financial support to families as they navigate the challenges of fostering and adoption.
The sermon concludes with the pastor reflecting on his childhood growing up on Wilder Street. He describes the lively atmosphere of his neighborhood, with 23 boys within a four-year age gap living on his street alone. The pastor's father recognized the need to be involved with the boys in the neighborhood, especially the family without a father figure. He acted as a referee during disagreements and fights, and even created a game called "kill the man with the ball" where the boys would compete to catch the football and run to one of the four trees in the front yard. The pastor fondly remembers his father's wise sayings, such as encouraging them to stop crying because it would affect their muscles.
Key Takeaways:
- The pastor emphasizes the importance of helping the fatherless, as seen throughout scripture. He shares a personal experience from 32 years ago when a verse in the Bible led him to connect with individuals building orphanages in Mexico. This experience changed his perspective and thinking. He then highlights the efforts of two families in their church who have taken on the burden of ministering to orphans in Ethiopia and helping children in foster care find Christian homes. [01:15:00]
- The pastor emphasizes the importance of caring for orphans, referring to the book of Hosea. He highlights the story of a young man named Luke who was advocated for by the church and has now found his forever home. The pastor then introduces a young lady named Jaa, who shares her story and expresses her desire to be adopted and have a forever family. The pastor invites the congregation to help Jaa find her forever family by sharing her story through social media. [01:30:00]
- The pastor then transitions to discuss the importance of strengthening marriages and preventing the disintegration of marriage. He refers to a previous message where his sister and brother-in-law shared their story of recovering their marriage, highlighting the power of their testimony. The pastor encourages both men and women to join marriage groups, assuring them that it will be a beneficial experience. [01:45:00]
- The pastor then discusses the importance of supporting families who have answered the call to foster or adopt children. He invites the congregation to join the chosen Ministry at Highridge by serving on a care team or joining the events team. The pastor emphasizes that generosity is at the heart of this ministry, and giving directly to the chosen fund provides financial support to families as they navigate the challenges of fostering and adoption. [02:00:00]
- The sermon concludes with the pastor reflecting on his childhood growing up on Wilder Street. He describes the lively atmosphere of his neighborhood, with 23 boys within a four-year age gap living on his street alone. The pastor's father recognized the need to be involved with the boys in the neighborhood, especially the family without a father figure. He acted as a referee during disagreements and fights, and even created a game called "kill the man with the ball" where the boys would compete to catch the football and run to one of the four trees in the front yard. The pastor fondly remembers his father's wise sayings, such as encouraging them to stop crying because it would affect their muscles. [02:15:00]
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. James 1:27 - "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world."
2. Deuteronomy 24:17-18 - "You shall not pervert the justice due to the sojourner or to the fatherless, or take a widow's garment in pledge, but you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you from there; therefore I command you to do this."
3. Hosea 14:3 - "Assyria shall not save us; we will not ride on horses; and we will say no more, ‘Our God,’ to the work of our hands. In you the orphan finds mercy."
### Observation Questions
1. According to James 1:27, what does pure and undefiled religion before God involve?
2. In Deuteronomy 24:17-18, what are the three groups of people mentioned that we should not pervert justice for?
3. How does Hosea 14:3 describe the source of mercy for orphans?
4. What personal experience did the pastor share that changed his perspective on helping the fatherless? [05:20]
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does James 1:27 emphasize visiting orphans and widows in their affliction as a mark of pure religion?
2. How does the command in Deuteronomy 24:17-18 to remember being slaves in Egypt relate to the call to help the fatherless and widows?
3. What does Hosea 14:3 suggest about the limitations of human and governmental efforts in providing for orphans?
4. How did the pastor’s personal experience with orphanages in Mexico influence his views on ministry and helping the fatherless? [05:20]
### Application Questions
1. Reflecting on James 1:27, how can you personally get involved in visiting or helping orphans and widows in your community?
2. Deuteronomy 24:17-18 reminds us to remember our own past struggles when helping others. How can recalling your own experiences of hardship motivate you to assist the fatherless and widows?
3. Hosea 14:3 indicates that true mercy for orphans comes from God. How can you rely on God’s guidance and provision when engaging in ministry to the fatherless?
4. The pastor shared stories of families in the church who have taken on the burden of ministering to orphans and foster children. What steps can you take to support or join such efforts in your church community? [07:03]
5. The pastor encouraged the congregation to help Jaa find her forever family by sharing her story through social media. How can you use your social media platforms to advocate for orphans and foster children? [28:37]
6. The pastor discussed the importance of strengthening marriages to prevent disintegration. How can joining a marriage group benefit your relationship, and what steps will you take to get involved? [02:50]
7. The pastor emphasized the role of generosity in supporting families who foster or adopt. What specific financial or practical contributions can you make to support these families in your church? [31:58]
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing the Call to Serve the Fatherless
God's heart for the fatherless is evident throughout scripture, and as His followers, we are called to reflect this love. Thirty-two years ago, a verse in the Bible led to a life-changing experience of connecting with individuals building orphanages in Mexico. This experience, along with the inspiring efforts of two families in our church who are ministering to orphans in Ethiopia and helping children in foster care find Christian homes, serves as a powerful reminder of our calling. [01:15:00]
James 1:27 - "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."
Reflection: How can you personally respond to God's call to serve the fatherless? Is there a specific action you can take today?
Day 2: Advocating for the Orphaned and Vulnerable
The book of Hosea underscores the importance of caring for orphans. The story of Luke, a young man who found his forever home through the advocacy of our church, and Jaa, a young lady longing for a forever family, are poignant reminders of the transformative power of love and advocacy. [01:30:00]
Hosea 14:3 - "Assyria cannot save us; we will not mount warhorses. We will never again say ‘Our gods’ to what our own hands have made, for in you the fatherless find compassion."
Reflection: Who in your life or community could benefit from your advocacy? How can you use your influence to help them?
Day 3: Strengthening Marriages as a Pillar of Society
Marriage is a sacred institution that needs to be nurtured and protected. The story of a couple in our community who recovered their marriage is a testament to the power of commitment and God's grace. Joining marriage groups can be a beneficial experience for both men and women, providing support and wisdom. [01:45:00]
Ecclesiastes 4:12 - "Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."
Reflection: How can you contribute to strengthening your own marriage or the marriages around you? Is there a specific step you can take today?
Day 4: Supporting Families in the Journey of Fostering and Adoption
Fostering and adoption are beautiful, yet challenging journeys. As a community, we are called to support families who have answered this call. Generosity is at the heart of this ministry, and giving directly to the chosen fund provides financial support to these families. [02:00:00]
Deuteronomy 10:18 - "He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing."
Reflection: How can you support a family in your community who is fostering or has adopted a child? Can you offer help in a practical way today?
Day 5: The Impact of Positive Male Role Models
Growing up in a lively neighborhood with 23 boys within a four-year age gap, the importance of a father figure was evident. The father's role in resolving disputes, creating games, and imparting wisdom had a lasting impact. This underscores the importance of positive male role models in our communities. [02:15:00]
Proverbs 27:17 - "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another."
Reflection: How can you be a positive role model for the younger generation in your community? Is there a specific way you can invest in a young person's life today?
Quotes
"We want to do everything we can to help marriages get stronger and to look more and more like the way in which God designed them to look." #!!02:50!!#
"I want to encourage you to get into a marriage group. Men, you won't regret it. Ladies, I want to encourage you to be a part with your husband, husbands with your wives, to be a part of a marriage group because I want to do all we can to help and strengthen marriages." #!!03:18!!#
"It's up to us, the hands and feet of Jesus, to care for orphans." #!!27:54!!#
"Having a forever family to me would be like the perfect life because I feel like every child really needs someone to be there for them." #!!29:19!!#
"Here it is we step in and help on behalf of the lord we step in the people of God we're God's hands and feet it's not that he can't do it he can do anything but he's allowing us to get in on the fun he's allowing us to participate and there's lots of way it can happen here you can foster you can adopt you can help those who have I love the number of grandmas and grandpas that we have that are helping foster care and adoptive families by running errands by by picking up and P ping in on on uh on stuff that needs to be done I love it it's called wraparound so there's lots" (#!!26:01!!#)
"Listen we can't say the government's going to do it or just people that have have extra money on hand should do it no it's us it's us we're the ones called to help the fatherless the people of God we're his hands and feet we make a difference when quite often there's no way for a difference to be made in you" (#!!27:15!!#)
"Our events team serves and supports our Foster and adoptive families through Gatherings provided by Highridge community outreach such as Pregnancy Center volunteering and events to support our local chosen Ministry Partners." #!!31:23!!#
"Your generosity provides much needed resources such as counseling licensing or adoption fees home studies and Basic clothing groceries or supplies for the children coming into their homes although we may not be able to do everything we can all do something." #!!31:58!!#
"I connected with a couple of guys out of Arlington Texas building orphanages in Mexico and ministering to orphans in Mexico and it changed my life... I've never been the same." #!!05:57!!#
"This is already going on... I just want to stir up everybody else to enjoy the fun as well." #!!07:03!!#
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