1. A few years ago I was invited to speak at a "communion breakfast" at a liberal Baptist church in Queens Village. I asked the man who invited me what subject he would like for me to preach.
2. He said to preach about the family, and so I did.
3. A few days after the meeting I called him up and asked him how it went. He told me that some of the ladies were unhappy with the message. In fact he didn’t know any that liked it. But he told me he thought it was pretty good.
4. I was not surprised because that church was deader than last week’s lunch. I do not think any of them were even saved.
5. But I will try preaching that message again tonight.
6. I have entitled this message: "God’s Formula For a Happy Family."
7. Spurgeon said: "When home is ruled according to God’s Word, angels might be asked to stay with us, and they would not find themselves out of their element."

I. WIVES: BE SUBMISSIVE (5:21,22; cf. Col.3:18).

1. I would like to preface my remarks by stating that all Christians should have a meek, submissive spirit (Eph.5:21). However, God is a God of order (cf. I Cor.11:3).
2. This is not a very popular subject these days, but nevertheless the Bible is clear – wives are to be submissive to their husbands (Eph.5:22). This does not mean that women are inferior to men any more than it means that Christ is inferior to God the Father (I Cor. 11:3).
3. God’s plan goes back to creation (Gen.3:16; cf. I Cor.11:8,9; I Tim. 2:9-14).
4. God has a plan, an order. And when this plan is violated there is chaos and confusion (Eph.5:22-25; 6:1-4). When God’s plan is followed, there will be peace and harmony.
5. I realize Biblical submission is very difficult in some cases because oftentimes the husband is not saved, or is a drunkard, abusive, etc. The Bible says if the husband is not saved the Christian wife can win him to the Lord by her godly testimony (I Peter 3:1-6; Titus 2:3-5).
6. The worst thing a Christian wife can do is start nagging because that will drive him further from the Lord (cf. Pro.21:9,19; 27:15).
7. I heard about a man who was always arguing with his wife. It was getting so bad that it was affecting him physically – he was actually getting sick. His doctor told him to jog ten miles a day and call him up in a week and let him know if things improved. After a week he called and said: "Sure things have improved. I’m 70 miles from home!"
8. I realize that God’s program is not popular today but we can plainly see that the world’s way is not working. I believe we ought to stick with God’s plan.

II. HUSBANDS: BE LOVING (Eph.5:25; Col.3:19).

1. Both these Scriptures are wonderful and very instructive. In Ephesians we see God’s high standard for love – we are to love our wives "even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it" (Eph.5:25).
2. By using the Christian home as an illustration of our relationship with Christ, the apostle Paul has lifted married love to the highest level possible (Eph.5:23-33).
3. And in Colossians 3:19, the Bible says: "Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them." Why does God have to tell us to love our wives? Because we men often take our wives for granted.
4. And why does God tell us not to be "bitter against them" (Col. 3:19)? Because God knows this is often the case.
5. I recently heard of an abusive husband who was secretly recorded by his wife during one of his violent rages. She did this because no one in their church would believe her accusations. (I would have believed her because I know the rascal.)
6. We ought to be grateful to God for good Christian wives (cf. Pro. 18:22; 19:14; 31:10-12,28-31).

III. CHILDREN: BE OBEDIENT (Eph.6:1-3).

1. "For this is right" (Eph.6:1) and this "is the first commandment with promise" (6:2; cf. Ex.20:12).
2. And "this is well pleasing unto the Lord" (Col.3:20).
3. If children do not obey, parents have a responsibility to discipline them (cf. Pro.13:24; 19:18; 22:15; 23:13,14; 29:15,17).

IV. FATHERS: BE REASONABLE (Eph.6:4; cf. Col.3:21).

1. We are to be reasonable with our children. We should not discourage them.
2. Our Number 1 job is to "bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord" (Eph.6:4).
3. Nowhere in the Bible is the training of children assigned to agencies outside the home (e.g. day-care centers, schools).

1. Our families are under attack by the devil. He is using every weapon he can – television, movies, rock music, the public schools, etc.
2. We need to be very careful. And we need to do things God’s way.