Given that human relationships work like our relationship with God, the basis for how to make them work is the “Parable Of The Sower” (Luke 8: 5-15). The slideshow shows the teaching as illustrations. Below the slideshow, you will find the text of the slides and some explanations.

 

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Slide 1: Basics of Human Relationships

The presentation shows how we can apply how to keep a good relationship with God to human ones. The title slide shows two people. They can be husband and wife, two friends, coworkers, or neighbors, or any relationship between people.

Slide 2: Keep the relationship with God

This slide shows the basics of keeping our relationship with God. It is based on the Parable of the Sower. The three main elements are:

• Have “a good and noble heart.”
• Hear and retain the word.
• Persevere through tests.

Slide 3: Keep human relationships

We can use the teachings on how to keep the relationship with God to human relationships. Here the three elements are:

• Have “a good and noble heart.”
• Communicate and know the other person.
• Persevere through tests.

From the list, we know that a good relationship is based not only on a noble heart and good intentions but also on work. We need to be invested in the other person’s life for a relationship to work. One-sided relationships do not work. Moreover, we cannot take any relationship for granted. They are always challenged. The parable shows how to handle the threats.

Slide 4: What breaks the relationship with God?

We learn in the parable what breaks the relationship with God, namely:

• The devil
• No roots
• Crowding out

Slide 5: What breaks human relationships?

We can see the threats to human relationships analog to the one with God:

• Mean people: Some people fail to have the best intentions for us and our relationship. Egoistic, controlling, hurting, they care just for themselves. Let’s watch out because these “relationships” will destroy us!
• Weak relationships: All relationships are vulnerable at their beginning. They need the attention of all parties to bloom. Without work that strengthens them, they will fail.
• Crowding out: There is always so much to do. If we care for the relationship, we need to give it proper attention. Otherwise, it may just slip away.

Slide 6: How to handle the threats of the devil

The parable gives us instructions on how to handle the devil:

• Let’s watch our thoughts and fight negativity and anger. We must stay positive because positive thoughts do not create adverse actions.
• We must watch with whom we hang out and select our friends carefully, avoiding people who lead us to think adverse thoughts, take wrong actions, or are hurtful. Let’s not get sucked into a relationship with an abuser.
• Let’s watch our hearts, especially when we get hurt. Prevent the heart to become hard. It will destroy a relationship. We must forgive and move on. Let’s laugh and enjoy life.
• We all get tested. When we stay close to God, the challenges become much more tolerable. Reading the Bible helps us to keep the faith, to trust, and understand God.

Slide 7: How to deal with mean people

• We do not want to get sucked into the life of mean people. Let’s protect us that we do not get destroyed:
  • We need to stay away from people who tell lies, try to keep us apart, try to seduce us, or hurt us on purpose
  • We must refrain from listening to gossip or negativity
• When we are close to God, He will give us the courage to help someone who is getting hurt:
  • We support this person in staying positive
  • We defend this person when in need

Slide 8: How to handle missing roots with God

The parable gives us instructions on how to handle missing roots with God:

• We need to expect our relationship with God to be tested. While we might experience heaven on earth at the beginning of our relationship with God, we will outgrow this stage. The answer to the test is to stay close to him and know Him better. We must learn to trust Him, no matter what.
• If we do not want to get blown away when tested, we pray for help and get on our knees. We trust God. He will carry us when needed. We learn that every test ends at some point (contrary to attacks from the devil, which do not stop).
• Every test builds up faith if we persevere. If we handle such a test well, it will strengthen our faith in Him. The stronger our relationship, the better we can serve God, the more we can achieve with and for Him.

Slide 9: How to handle weak relationships with humans

The parable gives us instructions on how to handle missing roots with God:

• We need to expect our relationship to be tested. While we might experience heaven on earth at the beginning of our relationship, we will outgrow this stage. We need to know each other better. We will also have to learn to trust each other, no matter what.
• We do not walk away when tested. If both of us are willing to do the part, let’s stick it out and give the relationship a chance. We must work on it day and night. We listen and talk. Of course, we also ask God for help. (However, if we are dealing with a mean person or get hurt, we MUST leave immediately. Safety comes first. This is not a test.)
• Every test brings us closer if we persevere. If we handle such a test well, it will strengthen our faith in the partner. The stronger our relationship, the better we serve each other, and the more we can achieve.

Slide 10: Prevent the crowding out of the relationship with God

If we want to preserve the relationship, let’s not spend all our time worrying, thinking about money, or pleasurable activities. Let’s spend time with God! He deserves it!

Slide 11: Prevent the crowding out of the human relationship

Analog the last slide, a satisfactory relationship requires that we spend time with that person! So let’s not spend all our time with other people, working and making money, or on hobbies and sports. Let’s manage our priorities. Plus, when we spend time with that person, we need to be fully there. We do not want to waste the occasion by thinking about other things or people. Let’s enjoy each other’s company!

Slide 12: His word is the key to the kingdom!

To enter God’s kingdom, we first need to know God. We discover His story, His values, and His commandments when we read the Bible. We get hugely rewarded when we spend time with God. There is so much meaning in every word, in every sentence, in every paragraph. Each time we read the Bible, the insights become deeper. Some knowledge is hidden from us until we are ready to process it. As we dig deeper, we learn how immensely big God is. We understand that while He is in control, He strongly values us. It is a humbling experience.

Slide 13: Communication is the key to our relationships!

To have a great relationship, we need to communicate with each other. Unless we talk and listen, we never get to know each other. Of course, we need to expect differences. No two persons are alike, and so we can take it for granted that some of our backgrounds and values differ. If they lead to problems or issues, we want to work them out. Having God at our sides, all things are possible.

Slide 14: Serious communication problems

When our hearts become hart, communication breaks down. Criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and stonewalling, all block communication between people. These forms are tough to fix. Without God’s intervention, the relationship is doomed.

Slide 15: How to keep the key to the kingdom

As we have previously seen, we need to have a good and noble heart, hear and retain the word, and to persevere through tests.

Slide 16: How to keep the key to the relationship

As we have seen, to keep the key to the relationship, we need to have a good and noble heart, communicate with the other person, and to persevere through tests.

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