1 Samuel 2:18–20, 26; Colossians 3:12–17; Luke 2:41–52
Introduction
Every family has a table. Some are large, others are small, some polished, others scarred by time. See that the table is more than furniture, it is a witness. It hears laughter and arguments, prayers and silences. It remembers who showed up, who stayed away, and who was always expected to return. Around it, love is tested, forgiveness is practiced, and commitment is revealed. In a world where relationships are easily abandoned, the family table reminds us that good family relationships are not built by perfection, but by presence, patience, and the willingness to remain together under God’s faithful and guiding care.
Out of God's love, families are formed, sustained by discipline, and tested by time. The family is not merely a social gathering where vetting is conducted to see one's suitability, but a divine institution, designed to nurture faith, character, and vocation. We are in an era where relationships fracture easily, homes are breaking, "baby mama/father" is appealing against building good family relations. Meanwhile, the Word of God calls us back to a biblical vision of good family relationships, which is rooted in God’s presence, shaped by godly character, and marked by mutual submission. Our sermonette today, we are discussing three interlocking perspectives of family: Samuel’s formative years in a priestly household (Mission House), Paul’s theological framework for Christian relationships (Church family), and Jesus’ obedience within an imperfect yet faithful family.
1. Nurture in the Presence of God
Taking from (1 Sam. 2:12–17), the narrative of Samuel stands in deliberate contrast to the corruption of Eli’s sons, "This sin of the young men [sons of Eli] was very great in the LORD’s sight, for they were treating the LORD’s offering with contempt." (1 Samuel 2:17). The 1 Sam. 2:18 states, “But Samuel was ministering before the LORD, a boy wearing a linen ephod.” The Hebrew conjunction "wəšəmû’Ä“l" (“but Samuel”) is emphatic, highlighting godly nurture amid moral decay. Samuel’s growth occurs within a family dynamic marked by sacrifice and intentional spiritual formation.
Hannah’s annual provision of a robe (1 Sam. 2:19) is not incidental. It symbolizes ongoing parental involvement, even when the child is physically distant. Eli’s blessing (1 Sam. 2:20) further situates the family under covenantal grace. All these become clear in 1 Sam. 2:26, when the writer summarizes Samuel’s holistic development, saying, “And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favour with the LORD and with people." This is later echoed in Luke 2:52 in the description of the holistic development of the baby Jesus. Good family relationships, therefore, are not perfect environments but God-centered ones, where faith is cultivated consistently.
Stakeholders in nurturing the child today can be analysed as the four legs of a table: family, society, school, and church. Each of these has a role to play, but the influence of a good family relationship becomes the foundation on which all the others build. Though Samuel is in the house of Eli, Hannah did not shed her diligent responsibility of nurturing him. This brought the Hebrew statement "wəšəmû’Ä“l" (But Samuel). A good family relationship goes a long way to sieve off all the bad influences our children may encounter in the larger society.
Deuteronomy 6:6–7 reinforces this principle with the indication that the family is the primary locus of faith transmission. As Augustine observed, “The family is the first school of virtue.” Samuel’s life demonstrates that spiritual formation thrives where parental faithfulness aligns with divine calling.
2. Character as the Glue of Christian Relationships
Paul’s exhortation in Colossians is grounded in Christian identity, “as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved” (Col. 3:12). We can understand that the imperatives that follow, compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, are relationship virtues essential for family life. Paul addresses unforgiveness as a friction in the family, so he says, “Bear with each other and forgive one another” (Col. 3:13). Good relationships are sustained not by sentiment or keeping records of wrong but by forgiveness, “as the Lord has forgiven you.”
Paul elevates love in Col. 3:14 (agapÄ“) as the (syndesmos tÄ“s teleiotÄ“tos), the bond of perfection. This metaphor suggests love as the ligament holding the relational body together. Over here, 'Peace of Christ' (Col. 3:15) functions as an arbiter, while the 'Message of Christ' (Col. 3:16) is to “dwell richly,” indicating that Scripture must permeate family discourse, worship, and decision-making.
John Calvin comments, “There is no mutual agreement among men, unless the peace of God reigns in their hearts.” This brings the understanding that good family relationships are not sustained by hierarchy, heritage, and legacy alone but by Christ-shaped character, expressed in word and deed (Col. 3:17).
3. Mutual Submission and Growth in Wisdom
The Lucan account of Jesus in the temple offers a profound insight into family dynamics. At age twelve, Jesus demonstrates self-awareness of divine sonship, “Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” (Luke 2:49). Yet the narrative does not end in tension of disobedience but in submission; “He [Jesus] went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them." (Luke 2:51).
This voluntary submission of the Son of God to human parents affirms the legitimacy of parental authority within God’s design. Mary’s reflective posture, “treasured all these things in her heart,” models contemplative parenting, open to mystery and growth.
As I mentioned, Luke 2:52 mirrors 1 Samuel 2:26, emphasizing a balanced development of children: wisdom (intellectual), stature (physical), favour with God (spiritual), and favour with people (social). This is the pillar of the Boys' and Girls' Brigade action plan of nurturing the young ones called "The Four Square Programme." The foundation is laid in the family. Families are thus arenas of holistic formation, where obedience and understanding mature together.
The authority and responsibility of parents to nurture the young ones are derived from God and must be exercised in love. Ephesians 6:1–4 and Psalm 127 further affirm that children are a heritage from the Lord, and parents are stewards, not owners. The family flourishes where God’s presence is honoured, forgiveness is practiced, and love governs authority.
Conclusion
Good family relationships are not accidental; they are cultivated through reverence for God, intentional character formation, and daily submission to Christ. In this fractured world we find ourselves, Christian families are called to be living testimonies of the gospel, imperfect yet faithful, challenged yet hopeful. As Karl Barth stated, “The family is the smallest but most decisive sphere of human community.”
May our homes echo Samuel’s growth, reflect Christ’s obedience, and embody the virtues of forgiveness in the love and peace of Christ Jesus, so that, in all things, Christ may indeed be Lord of the family.
Shalom aleikhem...
