Where are today’s Where are today’s children?children?

In 2012 64 percent of children ages In 2012 64 percent of children ages

0–17 lived with two married parents0–17 lived with two married parents. .

Of the 4% (2.6 million children) not Of the 4% (2.6 million children) not living with either parent in 2012living with either parent in 2012, about , about 55 percent lived with grandparents.55 percent lived with grandparents.

In 2011In 2011 40.7 percent of all births40.7 percent of all births

were to unmarried women.were to unmarried women.

Observations About the FamilyObservations About the Family

1. The rise in the number of1. The rise in the number of

cohabiting couplescohabiting couples from 1996from 1996

to 2012 jumped almost 170 percent,to 2012 jumped almost 170 percent,

to 7.8 millionto 7.8 million..

2. Unmarried mothers are typically not 2. Unmarried mothers are typically not in their teens. in their teens. Most unmarried mothers Most unmarried mothers today, demographers say, are in their today, demographers say, are in their 20s and early 30s.20s and early 30s.

The divorce rate began falling in 1996 The divorce rate began falling in 1996 and is now just above 40 percent for and is now just above 40 percent for first-time marriages.first-time marriages.

Why are so many couplesWhy are so many couples

delaying marriage?delaying marriage?

In 2010 the average age to marry in the In 2010 the average age to marry in the US was 28 years old for men and 26 US was 28 years old for men and 26 years old for women.years old for women.

1. Some choose a single lifestyle.1. Some choose a single lifestyle.

Around 30% of Americans willAround 30% of Americans will

never marry.never marry.

2. Contraception and changing moral2. Contraception and changing moral

standardsstandards

Sex doesn’t mean having childrenSex doesn’t mean having children

anymore.anymore.

Living together is now sociallyLiving together is now socially

acceptable.acceptable.

3. Personal priorities have changed.3. Personal priorities have changed.

First education, then a good job, thenFirst education, then a good job, then

strong finances, and then marriage. strong finances, and then marriage.

Particularly true for women.Particularly true for women.

4. Having children doesn’t mean4. Having children doesn’t mean

getting married.getting married.

5. Expectations of marriage are high.5. Expectations of marriage are high.

Marriage is Marriage is no longer necessary no longer necessary but an but an option - option - a personal choicea personal choice..

““The less we need marriage, the moreThe less we need marriage, the more

we expect from it.”we expect from it.”

So where does that place the church So where does that place the church and Christians today?and Christians today?

We must nurture our families.We must nurture our families.

Ephesians 5 – the husband is to love Ephesians 5 – the husband is to love his wife his wife

Titus 2 – the wife is to love her husbandTitus 2 – the wife is to love her husband

Scripture explainsScripture explains what love meanswhat love means..

A Christ-centeredA Christ-centered home home

is the best home you can have.is the best home you can have.

Ephesians 6:4Ephesians 6:4

Children brought up inChildren brought up in

““the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

We need to make our familiesWe need to make our families

the best they can be.the best they can be.

A. We can’t take things for A. We can’t take things for granted.granted.

EducationEducation

ActivitiesActivities

AssistanceAssistance

MentoringMentoring

CounselingCounseling

2. We are the defenders of the family.2. We are the defenders of the family.

Philippians 2:15-16 Philippians 2:15-16 “ . . . prove “ . . . prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of lights in the world, holding fast the word of life. . .”life. . .”

The family is the answer for society.The family is the answer for society.

Jesus is the answer for the family.Jesus is the answer for the family.