DAY ONE OF THE RETREAT

Topic:

LOVE IN OUR FAMILY

·        Discuss Love – forgiveness and tolerance.

·         Have participants define the terms, Love, Forgiveness and Tolerance in their own way.

–          Bible Verse – 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8 “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

–          Bible Verse – Colossians 3:18-20 “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.  Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them. Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord.”

–          NOTE How quarrels and feuds destroy our family fabrics – The sad truth is that families fight.  This retreat uses team-building and Bible study to convey best practices for settling disagreements in a Godly manner.  Bible Verse – Genesis 37

·         HOW DO WE TURN THE OTHER CHEEK-?

What did Jesus mean when He instructed us to turn the other cheek?

In Mathew 5:38-39, Jesus says, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.” The concept of “turning the other cheek” is a difficult one for us to grasp. Allowing a second slap after being slapped once does not come naturally.

What then do you do in that situation?

Much of the material surrounding Jesus’ command to turn the other cheek complements the nature of His coming, which was characterized by mercy, sacrificial love, and longsuffering toward sinners. At the same time, Jesus affirms the “last is first” principle upon which the kingdom of God is based. For instance, He tells us to go the extra mile for someone who abuses us (Mathew 5:41) and to love and pray for our enemies instead of holding enmity against them (verse 44). In summary, Jesus is saying we need to be pure inside and out and as accommodating as possible for the sake of a lost world.

A word about the “slap” that Jesus says we should endure. Jesus here speaks of personal slights of any kind. The slap (or the “smiting,” as the KJV has it) does not have to involve literal, physical violence. Even in our day, a “slap in the face” is a metaphor for an unexpected insult or offense. Did someone insult you? Let him, Jesus says. Are you shocked and offended? Don’t be. And don’t return insult for insult. Turn the other cheek.

PRAYER TIME

Prayer Points

1.     Let us pray for family togetherness and unity. That the good Lord will give us the spirit of love, oneness, and obedience to enable us to fulfil God’s grace and promises for our lives.

·        Bible verse: Ephesians 6:1-4
Children, obey your parents in the Lord [that is, accept their guidance and discipline as His representatives], for this is right [for obedience teaches wisdom and self-discipline]. Honor [esteem, value as precious] your father and your mother [and be respectful to them]—this is the first commandment with a promise— so that it may be well with you, and that you may have a long life on the earth.
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger [do not exasperate them to the point of resentment with demands that are trivial or unreasonable or humiliating or abusive; nor by showing favoritism or indifference to any of them], but bring them up [tenderly, with loving kindness] in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

·        Bible Verse – Colossians 3:18-20 “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.  Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them. Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord.”

2.     Let us pray for strength in our family that God will give us the strength to overcome all situations adverse to us individually or our family interests.

·        Bible verse – Psalm 46:1-3
God is our refuge and strength [mighty and impenetrable],
A very present and well-proved help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change
And though the mountains be shaken and slip into the heart of the seas,
Though its waters roar and foam,
Though the mountains tremble at its roaring. Selah.

·        Matthew 7:7-8 – Amplified Bible (AMP) Prayer and the Golden Rule
“Ask and keep on asking and it will be given to you; seek and keep on seeking and you will find; knock and keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who keeps on asking receives, and he who keeps on seeking finds, and to him who keeps on knocking, it will be opened.

·        Luke 12:7 – The Message (MSG) “What’s the price of two or three pet canaries? Some loose change, right? But God never overlooks a single one. And he pays even greater attention to you, down to the last detail—even numbering the hairs on your head! So don’t be intimidated by all this bully talk. You’re worth more than a million canaries.

3.     Let us pray for family blessings, especially in the new year, that God will prosper us and grant us the blessings to fulfil all mandates and purpose in life. We pray for a family treasure that will take us to a stress free, happy and blessed life.

·        Bible verses

Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”.

Lamentations 3:22-23 – “It is because of the Lord’s loving kindnesses that we are not consumed,
Because His [tender] compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
Great and beyond measure is Your faithfulness”.

END OF DAY ONE