A CHRISTIAN HOME

1. Dwelt in tents: Heb. 11:9; Gen. 26:3; 33:20; 35:1
2. They were active missionaries:
   1. Built altars - Gen. 9:20; 12:8; 13:4; 35:1-3
   2. Preached the gospel or righteousness by faith - Gen. 4:26; Jude 14; 2 Pet. 2:5

1. Is, in most instances, of a temporary nature:
   1. It is a sign of pilgrimage - Gen. 47:9; Ps. 119:54
   2. It indicates that we have no abiding city here in this present world - Heb. 13:14; 1 Chron. 29:15
   3. True Bible Christians freely confess that they are pilgrims and strangers in this present world - Ex. 6:4; Heb. 11:13; Ps. 119:54
   4. They are looking for a heavenly country - Heb. 11:14-16; 2 Pet. 3:13
2. A Christian home is where:
   1. The altar of God is found.
   2. This altar is a sign of a state of grace - Gen. 8:20; 22:9
   3. It is a symbol of continuous self-surrender by the occupant - Gen. 26:25; Rom. 12:1-3
   4. It is a mark of their confession of faith - 1 Ki. 18:33-36
3. The Patriarchs dig wells: Gen. 21:22-25; Ps. 84:6, 7
   1. A meeting place for Jacob and Rachel - Gen. 29:1-12
   2. The meeting of Christ with the woman of Samaria - John 4:1-29
   3. It symbolizes the fountain of life where thirsty souls may drink freely - Gen. 16:4; Rev. 21:6
   4. Our blessed Saviour is that divine fountain out of which we all may drink to the quickening of our spiritual nature - John 7:37-39
   5. The Spirit and the Bride invite all who are thirsty to come and drink freely - Rev. 22:17

1. Bible informed Christians know too well that we all are but pilgrims and strangers in this present world:
   1. They know that death disrupts their sojourn here.
   2. They know that this earth and the works therein will burn up some day - 2 Pet. 3:1-10
2. Our sights reach beyond this sin-sick world:
   1. We are, indeed, looking for a better world - Heb. 11:14-17; 2 Pet. 3:13
3. No Christian home can be complete without these essentials:
   1. A consecrated priesthood. Someone in the family serving between God and the members of the family - Job 1:1-6; Josh. 24:15
   2. A daily family altar where all the members of the family are laid on the altar for God and His kingdom - Rom. 12:1-3
   3. This family altar is the place where all we are and all we have is tied to the horns of the altar - Ps. 118:27
   4. It is a specific meeting place of the family for the study of the word of God and prayer - Matt. 18:20; Acts 10:1-9
   5. These are but minimums to keep a living connection between our home and heaven.
4. Let us take a closer look at a few homes which typify the Christian home:
   1. Noah and his family made it their first duty after the flood to build an altar for the Lord; the Lord liked this - Gen. 8:20-23
   2. Joshua, a very busy man, made the family relationship with God the first thing in their daily vocation - Josh. 24:15
   3. Philip, the Evangelist, was noted for being the head of a Christian home. What a wonderful experience it must have been for him to see his daughters in a vision of the Lord - Acts 21:8-11
   4. The converted keeper of the prison set a wonderful example of establishing a Christian home - Acts 16:34
   5. Is our home a Christian home?