This journey was a lot different for me. I would say I am a person with middle of the road views. I have heard people in my congregation speak about types of family. As I looked at this topic I wondered how to put the idea of family and sexuality together. I say this because I am serving at churches made up of rural conservative European congregations. I was looking at this by looking at different types of family and God’s family. I wanted to bring it into the sermon, but I struggled with talking about sexuality while not being one sided. I wanted this sermon to be about family and family relationships and not about sex. I also wanted to show that there are all different types of family within sexuality and they all can create a family. I wanted to show that connection in the sermon. I first used Colossians 3:20 as my scripture for this sermon of family. I was not going to look at sex on this journey until I prayed and looked at what direction I wanted to go with the sermon. I found myself praying about this sermon or social issue and what scripture was appropriate for the context. I was looking at it from the congregation’s perspective and also where God wanted me to go with it; that is why I wrestled with this issue. The topic seemed easy when I first chose it. As I prayed and thought about the topic I was led by the Holy Spirit when I chose the scripture as well as what direction I was going in. That played a part in the direction as well as hearing what the congregations decided. I knew that God pushed me in another direction and told me to really pray and look at where I wanted to go with this subject. Along with looking at the texts I also spent time looking at my family. I looked at mine but also my wife and her family, an... ... middle of paper ... ...ow of the sermon and focus and function. I realize I should have been more specific with my three points. I should not have talked about sex so much. After I saw the feedback I realized this. It’s important to know also because I don’t think my congregations would appreciate a sermon that concentrated too much on sexuality. It was also helpful to hear some feedback about my gestures. Overall, I definitely found some ways to improve this sermon from my feedback. Works Cited 1. Jill W. Bishop, “Family Structure Changes: 1950’s to 1990’s,” http://www.bishopfamily.com/essays/family_structure_changes.htm 2. Ralph F. Wilson, “Woman, Behold your son John 19:26-27,” http://www.jesuswalk.com/7-last-words/3_woman.htm 3. “Becoming Part of God’s Family – the Story of God,” https://bible.org/article/becoming-part-gods-family-story-god
Ephesians 5:21-33 addresses the roles of the husband and the wife in light of the position each holds as a result of being in Christ. The passage is located in the latter half of the book of Ephesians, which is developed primarily around the “walk” passages. Chapter 4-6 are the direct application of chapters 1-3. The commands to husbands and wives are found in the last exhortation to walk carefully. The focus of the exhortation to “walk carefully” is a variety of relationships: husband/wife, children/parents, with a focus on fathers, and slaves/masters. This passage teaches how redemption and the sanctification process is to affect these relationships, including the marriage relationship between a man a woman. In other words, as the transforming process of sanctification “pushes back” the effects of the fall in the life of a man or a woman in the context of marriage, it will look different for each gender because the effects of the fall have been distinct for each gender. There is a clear distinction in the commands given to the man and the woman concerning the transformed life in the context of marriage because of these distinctions in gender. In examining Ephesians 5:20-33, this paper seeks to present how the complementarian side of the gender debate provides the best interpretation for gender roles.
Working women with families are often lead to inhabit several different lives all at once. In article “The Second Shift,” Arlie Hochschild discusses how women who have families and work are often subjected to having to stay a full time housewife along with their job, creating basically two sets of work, as the author calls it, the Second Shift. I think that the authors’s style of using many studies and examples helps to strengthen his points. Although he doesn’t directly express his opinion of the issue as much which weakens it to an extent but also helps to have the reader form their own opinion using the issues discussed. His use of vocabulary helps to express his opinion onto the issues discussed as it shows to be more sophisticated whenever he writes on supporting his own side of the issue. Hochschild doesn’t wait to get to the point when discussing the topics. He uses many studies and facts to help argue his points and is used efficiently, but also in a way it’s also ineffective as the lack of studies and facts that have used that would even try to support the other side of the discussion. I agree to the author's argument of how even families should continue evolving along side with the economy, to help couples to support one another as equals, rather then opposites with specific assignments.
The American family is constantly undergoing changes. In the early 1600s, the Godly Family was the prevalent family structure of the first Europeans who immigrated to the United States (Aulette, 2010). Until 1780, families were strictly patriarchal with a male head of the family, who supervised “all social activities, including education, health care, and welfare”, and insured the family’s self-sufficiency within its community (Aulette, 2010). Following this form, the Modern Family and its sub-categories, the Democratic Family and the Companionate Family, were the dominant family structures until the 1970s (Aulette, 2010). Throughout the course of almost 200 years, families evolved into more private institutions aside from the community, women withdrew more and more from physical work on the family’s property and concentrated on their designated occupation as a mother, caregiver and housewife. Men were still the head of the family in terms of pursuing an occupation to financially provide for the family’s needs. During this time, gender-specific roles within the family were reinforced, which are still partially in effect in today’s society and family structure. Since the mid-20th century, the American family seems to be changing more rapidly than ever, partially because of the influences of the Great Depression and World War II, which led to the remarkable baby boom of 1946 to 1964. Not only did the year of 1970 mark the beginning of the most recent stage in the history of the (European) American family, the Postmodern Family, it also was the year in which the first gay couple applied for a marriage license (ProCon.org, 2013). Even though the two men’s request had been denied back then, same-sex couples and their family structure h...
– In this last and final chapter the author tries to bring everything spoken about in one final close. The last chapter is basically a summary of all the other chapters. He mentions that we should be in constant prayer for our family at home and our church family. He goes over again the idea of a faithful marriage and obedient children. He mentions singleness again and how that can be used for a strong ministry. Being single means that they are not limited or held down by family responsibility. He also goes over the definition of marriage. Kostenberger ends the final chapter with a message from Paul and a prayer for those reading the book. I think this was a great read to better explain the concepts of a marriage and a family. Especially when dealing with politics in the church.
"A family is a small social group of people related by ancestry or affection, who share common values and goals, who may live together in the same dwelling, and who may participate in the bearing and raising of children. They have a physical or emotional connection with each other that is ongoing" (Vissing, 2011) and is the foundation of all societies. They can be formed by a grouping of father-mother-children or even more complicated combination of relatives. In the primary stage of family life in the United States, everyone from every generation lived together in one house. Subsequently, the idea of traditional family evolved and a married couple with children is at present, often called the traditional family. There are many types of families; however, this paper will focus on the traditional family. It will describe how the functionalist perspective, conflict perspective, and the interactionism theory apply to the sociological institution known as a family. It will explain some of the similarities and differences between the sociological theories in regards to families and how they affect the family members.
“For The Bible Tells Me So,” documented by Daniel Karslake, is a journey through the belief of homosexuality and its perceived conflict with Christianity, as well as various interpretations of what the Bible says about same-sex sexuality. Through the use of parallelism, pathos, and logos, the documentarian is able to communicate his creed that homosexuality and Christianity, with a lot of effort, can have a vigorous relationship. Whether or not your personal religious and political stances on homosexuality are influenced by Karslake’s film, the audience is moved by its portraits of unbreakable family love. The documentary skillfully dives beneath the constraints of its title theme to find deeper treasures that family values are still alive and well.
This paper will examine sociological theories and how they relate to the social institution of the family. We typically view society as a group of people, but in sociology, society is not a group of people but a social organization. People are molded by society to fit within the accepted societal bounds. Society must be understood using “the meanings that people put on their values and beliefs” (Bartle, 2010). Within sociology there are three major perspectives. These are the Functionalist, Conflict and Interactionist Perspectives. Each perspective views society in different manners, with each being correct and relevant since social institutions are too complex to be defined by any one theory. Each perspective will be used to explain the perspectives’ relevance to the family.
According to Johnny Weir, “Masculinity is what you believe it to be... [it is] all by perception, [I believe] masculinity and femininity is something that is very old-fashioned... [there is a] whole new generation of people who aren’t defined by their race or their sex or who they like to sleep with.” This statement exemplifies the definition of gender as a concept; gender is the expectations of a sex according to the culture of society. Sexuality, within this definition of gender, reflects society’s expectations, which are created in relation to the opposite sex. The variances between cultures means that gender expectations change within different cultures. These expectations put pressure on each member of society to conform and abide by the folkways of their own culture. The creation of gender expectations by society creates a restricting definition of gender roles and sexuality that vary from culture to culture.
The television sitcom Modern Family produced by Steven Levitan and Christopher Lloyd shows the many different types of a modern American family. According to Andrew Hampp, “The show is among the most-viewed scripted programs in prime time in its second season, averaging 11 million viewers during original airings and often ranked as the most DVRed program most weeks” (2). The television show is a frequently watched show and is liked by many viewers. Modern Family's storyline helps the families of viewers by being an influential and relatable show to different types of families. The show is about the lives of three different families that are all related. In the show there are Jay and Gloria, an intergenerational couple with two sons-- Manny (from Gloria’s previous relationship) and Joe, their new baby. Jay’s adult son Cameron is married to his gay partner Mitchell, and they adopted Lily from Vietnam. Finally, Jay’s daughter Claire is married to her heterosexual partner named Phil and they have three children. The show is influential to our culture today because it shows these different types of families and addresses controversial themes such as gay adoption, the different family connections and communications, intergenerational coupling, and acceptance of diversity within an extended family. The family is easy to relate to while watching because it is based off of real family situations.
From birth, one's sexuality is shaped by society. Cultures institute behaviors that are to be seen as the societal norms, which work to constantly reinforce societal expectations of how genders should act in relation to one another. Although some may argue that one's sexuality is an innate characteristic resulting from genetic makeup, there is a large amount of evidence pointing to its social construction instead. Through the power differences between males and females, established gender roles, and drastic economic shifts, society establishes sexuality and reinforces the behaviors that are expected of its citizens.
These questions arise from our own desires as Christians to reflect a biblically sound attitude towards sexuality and relationships. That same desire to act according to biblical scriptures is subject to opposition from today’s culture and views about sexual relationships, gender, and roles. A new definition of marriage, sexual orientation, and sexual practices is challenging our relationship with God and our view of human sexuality. Bishop John Spong defines sex and its impact on relationships: “Sex can be called at once the greatest gift to humanity and the greatest enigma of our lives. It is a gift in that is a singular joy for all beings and enigma in its destructive potential for people and their relationships.” (Spong, 1988)
Throughout Western civilization, culturally hegemonic views on gender and sexuality have upheld a rigid and monolithic societal structure, resulting in the marginalization and dehumanization of millions of individuals who differ from the expected norm. Whether they are ridiculed as freaks, persecuted as blasphemers, or discriminated as sub-human, these individuals have been historically treated as invisible and pushed into vulnerable positions, resulting in cycles of poverty and oppression that remain prevalent even in modern times. Today, while many of these individuals are not publicly displayed as freaks or persecuted under Western law, women, queer, and intersexed persons within our society still nonetheless find themselves under constant
In today’s society chastity has become less of a standard in most cases. The topic of sexual morality is a rising conflict with people of all ages. Sexual morality is mandatory in becoming a strong Christian.
Overall, this book helped me become more aware of my weaknesses with my preaching style and also gave me tools to strengthen them. The examples are very basic and practical and helped highlight key skills and situations that a preacher can experience when doing a sermon. This book added more knowledge to me and gave me new insights that I can use as a tool when I go back with my ministry as a youth worker.
The last Synod of Bishops held from September 26 to October 25, 1980 said the importance of family was to “help man to discern his own vocation and to accept responsibility in the search for greater justice, educating him from the beginning in interpersonal relationships, rich in justice and in love.” The church would also like to spread the Gospel message to all people, especially those who are married or discerning the vocation of marriage. Only Through Christ and the Gospel message is marriage truly fulfilled in our expectations and lives up to its