The First Family

I. Why is it so important to place an

emphasis on marriage and the
family?
A. Because the family is and always
will be the basic building block of
society.
B. Because God places a high value
on the family.
C. Because as the family goes, so
goes the church.
D. Because the world is trying to
redefine the family.
The traditional concept that
corresponds with the biblical
concept of family is “the group
comprising a husband and wife and
their dependent children,
constituting a fundamental unit in
the organization of society.”
E. Because cultural forces are
undermining the success of the
family.
1. The busyness of our lifestyles
2. The focus on materialism
3. The excessive divorce rate
4. The proliferation of electronic
entertainment
5. The dual income culture
6. The TV model of family
7. The educational system
8. The culture of comfort
9. The overall selfishness of the
individual
10. The “rights” movements that
empower children
11. The debt society
12. The context of the last days (II
Tim. 3:1-5).
II. What is the foundation for the first
family?
The foundation for the first family
is God Himself Eph. 3:14-15).
A. The pattern for the first family is
found in the Godhead—Father, Son
and Holy Spirit.
1. The Father reveals the nature of
true Fatherhood (Deut. 32:6; Ps.
68:4-6; 103:13; Pro. 3:12; Is. 64:8;
Mal. 2:10; I Cor. 1:3).
2. The Son reveals the nature of true
sonship (Ps. 2:7; Is. 7:14; 9:6; Mt.
3:17; John 1:14, 18; 3:16; 17:1-7).

3. The Holy Spirit reveals the

“feminine” side of God.

a. The Holy Spirit brooded over the

face of the earth much like a
mother hen would brood over her
chicks (Gen. 1:2).
b. The Holy Spirit is the Comforter
much like the mother who comforts
her young (Is. 66:12-13; John 16:7).
c. The Holy Spirit is the gentle, dove-
like member of the Godhead (Mt.
3:16, Compare Song. 6:9).
d. The Holy Spirit is the one who gives
birth to spiritual young (John 3:5,
6, 8).
e. The Holy Spirit is the one who
brings forth the fruit of the Spirit
(Gal. 5:22-23).
B. The vision for an extended family
was found in the heart of the
Father (Gen. 1:26-28).
1. God desired offspring in His image.
2. God desired His offspring to
reproduce to fill up the earth.
3. God desired that His offspring
would reach a place of maturity to
reflect His character and nature.
4. God desired to have an intimate
relationship and communion with
His offspring.
5. God desired that His offspring
would enter into a God-like
function of ruling and reigning.
6. God desired that His offspring
would eventually qualify as a bride
for the Eternal Son of God.
III. What did the first family on earth
look like?
A. God began by creating the man
(Gen. 2:7-8; I Tim. 2:13).
B. God created the woman from the
man (Gen. 2:20-23; I Cor. 11:9).
C. Man and woman cooperating
together brought forth offspring
(Gen. 1:22; 4:1-2).
D. God placed man in an ideal
environment (Gen. 2:8-15).
E. Man was innocent but unproven
regarding sin (Gen. 2:25).
IV. What was the purpose for which
the first family was created?
The primary purpose for the first
family was to satisfy the heart of
God for offspring in His image.
A. The first family was to be a
reflection of the image and
character of God.
B. The first family was to be a source
of fellowship and relationship for
God.
C. The first family was to be fruitful
and fill the earth with godly
offspring.
D. The first family was to exercise
dominion over the earth to
prepare for future ruling beyond
the earth.
E. The first family was to eventually
be positioned to become a bride
for the only begotten Son of God.
V. What is a good biblical definition of
the family?
The family is the God-ordained
basic unit of society having
parental headship and discipline
which is established for the
purpose of enjoying common life
together through working, caring,
sharing, serving and ministering to
God and others.