The Foundation of the Family | Week 4 | Faith and Family Series
Families thrive when rooted in God’s word.
The Mercy That Builds a Family
57 Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had displayed His great mercy toward her; and they were rejoicing with her. ~ Luke 1:57–58 NASB
- When God restores your family, it becomes a testimony.
- Key Insight: Your family is your mission and it has a mission.
The Battle Over Identity
59 And it happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to call him Zechariah, after his father. 60 And yet his mother responded and said, “No indeed; but he shall be called John.” 61 And they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.” ~ Luke 1:59–61 NASB
- Key Insight: Don’t let what’s familiar define what God has already declared.
The Power of Unified Obedience
62 And they made signs to his father, as to what he wanted him called. 63 And he asked for a tablet and wrote as follows, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed. ~ Luke 1:62–63 NASB
- Watch for wickedness cloaked in subtly. ( 12 A worthless person, a wicked man, Is one who walks with a perverse mouth, 13 Who winks with his eyes, who signals with his feet, Who points with his fingers; ~ Proverbs 6:12-13 NASB)
- Train your spirit and your children to detect the wink behind the words.
- Key Insight: Don’t just resist evil when it shouts, resist it when it smirks.
- Devotional Resources:
The Result of Spirit-Led Agreement
64 And at once his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began speaking in praise of God. 65 And fear came on all those who lived around them; and all these matters were being talked about in the entire hill country of Judea. 66 All who heard them kept them in mind, saying, “What then will this child turn out to be?” For indeed the hand of the Lord was with him. ~ Luke 1:64–66 NASB
- Key Insight: When parents speak God’s truth over their children, the community takes notice.
The Empowering of the Holy Spirit
67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying: ~ Luke 1:67 NASB
- Key Insight: Your next season requires Holy Spirit power and a fresh Rhema word
Speaking Destiny Over the Next Generation
76 And you, child, also will be called the prophet of the Most High; For you will go on before the Lord to prepare His ways; 77 To give His people the knowledge of salvation By the forgiveness of their sins, 78 Because of the tender mercy of our God, With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us, 79 To shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace.” ~ Luke 1:76–79 NASB
- Declare over your children what God is saying about them.
- Key Insight: We are the John the Baptists of the Second Coming.
Preparation Before Presentation
80 Now the child grew and was becoming strong in spirit, and he lived in the deserts until the day of his public appearance to Israel. ~ Luke 1:80 NASB
- Growth happens in the hidden places.
- God hides those He intends to use.
- Key Insight: You’re not hidden to be forgotten. You’re hidden to be formed.
10 Ways to Build a Solid Foundation of Faith in Your Home
1. What You Allow In Your Home Will Shape What Comes Out Of It
15 … but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” ~ Joshua 24:15 NASB
- No Children: Take spiritual inventory of your home, music, entertainment, conversation, habits. Invite the Holy Spirit to help you cleanse anything that dishonors God.
- With Children: Guard what comes through the TV, tablet, and talk. Set clear spiritual boundaries and explain why they matter.
- With Grandchildren: Be the thermostat when they visit. Let your home feel like peace, not chaos.
2. You Don’t Just Visit God’s Presence, You Host It
Create a culture of worship that makes your home a dwelling place, not just a pit stop for the Spirit. Holy Spirit power and a fresh Rhema word.
- No Children: Start your day with worship music. Pray in the Spirit as you clean or commute.
- With Children: Let kids catch you worshiping at home, on your knees, hands lifted, in real joy.
- With Grandchildren: Invite them into a moment of prayer or worship, even if it’s just one song before bed.
3. Faith Is Caught More Than Taught
They’re not looking for your perfection. They’re watching your consistency.
- No Children: Let others see how you seek God in decision-making, not just in church attendance.
- With Children: Model repentance. Let them hear you apologize to God, others and them.
- With Grandchildren: Share stories of how you trusted God and what He did, real, raw, and Spirit-filled.
4. The Word On Your Lips Will Eventually Shape Their Hearts
7 And you shall repeat them diligently to your sons and speak of them when you sit in your house, when you walk on the road, when you lie down, and when you get up. ~ Deuteronomy 6:7 NASB
- No Children: Read Scripture out loud in your home. Let the Word echo through your daily life.
- With Children: Memorize a verse as a family each week. Make it a challenge—with celebration.
- With Grandchildren: Speak Scripture-based blessings over them. Let the Word be a heritage.
5. If You Want Peace in the Home, You Need Prayer in the Home
Don’t worry about anything… pray about everything. (Based on Philippians 4:6-7)
- No Children: Set a regular time for prayer, even 10 minutes before work. Let the Spirit lead.
- With Children: Teach them how to talk to God, not just recite to Him. Let them lead sometimes.
- With Grandchildren: Ask them for a prayer request, then pray over them right there.
6. Your House Is A Discipleship Center, Not Just A Place To Sleep
Spiritual formation happens more in the family room than the sanctuary.
- No Children: Open your home to others, host a group, mentor someone younger, build spiritual legacy.
- With Children: Disciple through everyday moments like meals, discipline, and driving to school. Use the resources that the church has provided.
- With Grandchildren: Use time together to speak into their identity and purpose in Christ.
7. Spiritual Conversations Should Be Normal, Not Awkward
Normalize talking about Jesus like you talk about your day.
- No Children: Discuss sermons or testimonies at dinner with friends. Share what God is saying to you.
- With Children: Ask them what they think God is like. What they believe about God will reveal what you have shown them.
- With Grandchildren: Talk about how you pray and hear God. Ask them what their thoughts about it are… focus on encouraging them to hear from God too.
8. If You Want Revival In The Church, It Has To Start In The Home
Revival isn’t just a weekend event, it’s a lifestyle of Spirit-filled living starting in our houses.
- No Children: Practice prophetic encouragement, healing prayer, or intercession in your living room, job, and with friends.
- With Children: Teach your kids how to lay hands, pray boldly, and expect miracles.
- With Grandchildren: Share stories of moves of God you’ve seen or heard about, then invite them to believe for more.
9. Make Spiritual Milestones A Big Deal
Mark moments of faith like everyone marks birthdays. Throw anniversary parties for key moments, like baptism and salvation dates.
- No Children: Celebrate breakthroughs, fasting, answered prayers, spiritual victories.
- With Children: Throw a “party” when they get baptized, read their Bible consistently, or hear God’s voice.
- With Grandchildren: Gift Bibles, journals, and devotionals when they hit key ages and speak life over them. (Give them regular gifts too though)
10. Build On The Rock, Even If The Culture Builds On Sand
48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock…~ Luke 6:48 NASB
- No Children: Choose conviction over convenience. Obedience in private creates stability in public.
- With Children: Don’t hide from cultural conversations. Explain why your values differ from the world. Let them see firm love, not fear-based rules.
- With Grandchildren: Show them how you’ve stood the test of time, through storms and all, and that God’s way works.