Family Vocation: A Sacred Calling

The following outline forms the basic structure / outline I used for a presentation at Redeemer's recent "Family Preschool Night." The motivation behind this event is three-fold: 1) Encourage and educate families on how to spend time together with activities such as games, cooking, playtime, etc. by means of doing the "hands-on" activities together in the same room, 2) Supporting families in our church, preschool, and community by being a safe haven where families can come and know they are cared for in our midst and receive resources for both the physical and spiritual nurturing of their family, and 3) Catechesis on aspects of Christian faith and life that can be used in the church and at home with family devotions.

This year I chose to use "Family Vocation" by Mary Moerbe and Gene Veith as the basis for our study together. Having read the book, written a brief review in the past, and now used it for a study with families, I am encouraged each time I go back to the book. Below, I've posted the brief outline I used for our discussion and reflection time together last Thursday evening. Feel free and use it if you find it a helpful resource. And if you haven't picked up this book yet, do it today. You won't regret it.

Family Vocation: A Sacred Calling

“To God, to parents, and to teachers we can never offer enough thanks and compensation”

– Martin Luther, Large Catechism, 4^th Commandment.

I.                   Vocation and family – begins and continues as gift and gift giving from the Gift Giver, Christ.

II.                Vocation – God’s Masks, God’s Means, God’s Mercy. 1 Corinthians 7:17.

III.             Christian life is divided into three “realms” or “estates”: Home, Church, and Government.

IV.              God created us to be in relationship / family – Genesis 1-3.

V.                 Family is the most basic and essential vocation in culture / society.

VI.              Family is a “holy order” – built and given by God’s authority for our well being.

VII.           A different kind of book for a challenging day such as ours -  Family Vocation: Marriage, Parenting and Childhood.

VIII.        The key to thriving families and family renewal is the doctrine of Vocation.

IX.              The key to the doctrine of vocation is justification - that we are saved by grace through faith in Christ’s free forgiveness won for us by his death on the cross.  Matthew 20:28. 1 John 4:10-11. Romans 5. Hebrews 7. John 3.

X.                 By his death on the cross and through His Word and Sacrament, Christ makes us his children.  Galatians 4. Romans 8. Ephesians 2:14-22

A Christian is a perfectly free lord of all, subject to none. A Christian is a perfectly dutiful servant of all, subject to all.  

– Martin Luther, Treatise on Christian Liberty