This Is Our House: Building Families on God's Foundation

Devotional

Day 1: Building Our Foundation on Trust

When life's storms rage and questions abound, our ability to trust in the Lord becomes the bedrock of our homes and relationships. This trust isn't just for the good times; it's essential when we feel lost or overwhelmed. By placing our faith in Him from the depths of our hearts, we allow Him to become the solid foundation upon which everything else can be built. This trust is the starting point for growth and stability in every aspect of our lives. [36:25]

Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."

Reflection: In what area of your life are you currently finding it challenging to trust God completely, and what is one small, concrete step you can take this week to lean into that trust?

Day 2: Acknowledging God in Every Aspect of Life

It is vital to intentionally acknowledge the Lord in all our ways, not just when it is convenient or easy. This daily practice, even amidst challenges and conflicts, brings a promise of His guidance and a peace that surpasses our own understanding. By focusing on Him, we allow His wisdom to shape our reactions, conversations, and decisions, transforming potential chaos into opportunities for growth and connection. [40:49]

Proverbs 3:6 (New American Standard Bible)
"In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."

Reflection: Consider a recent situation where you reacted in a way you later regretted. How might acknowledging the Lord before and during such moments lead to a different outcome?

Day 3: Choosing Whom We Serve Daily

Our commitment to serving the Lord requires a conscious choice to prioritize Him above all else. This means identifying and setting aside any "idols"—things that, while not necessarily bad in themselves, can take precedence over our devotion to God. By dedicating ourselves to serving Him wholeheartedly, we strengthen our families and relationships, creating a rhythm of life that honors His design. [46:56]

Joshua 24:15 (ESV)
"And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

Reflection: What is one area in your life where something other than God might be subtly taking priority, and how can you intentionally shift that focus this week?

Day 4: The Power of Asking and Seeking God

When faced with uncertainty or difficulty, we are invited to approach God with our needs, trusting in His generous nature. The Bible assures us that He will provide wisdom and guidance, not rebuking us for asking, but encouraging us to have faith in Him alone. This persistent seeking and asking, coupled with a commitment to His ways, opens doors to His provision and strength in our lives. [57:47]

Matthew 7:7-8 (ESV)
"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened."

Reflection: Think about a specific challenge you are currently facing. What is one thing you can ask God for regarding this situation, and how will you actively seek His guidance this week?

Day 5: Jesus as the Foundation of Our Hearts

Ultimately, building a strong foundation in our homes and relationships begins with establishing Jesus as the foundation of our own hearts. This involves acknowledging Him as our Savior, embracing His forgiveness, and choosing to follow Him. When He is the center of our lives, He can then transform our families and homes, guiding us with His love and strength. [58:41]

Matthew 7:24-25 (ESV)
"Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock."

Reflection: If you were to describe the current foundation of your heart, what words would you use? What is one practical step you can take this week to ensure Jesus is more firmly established as that foundation?

Sermon Summary

Lives and Amen. The congregation is invited to examine a single, urgent question: do you believe? Grounded in Scripture, the teaching insists that lasting homes and relationships are built only when God is the foundation. Trust—rooted in Proverbs 3:5–6—must precede every attempt to build a marriage, family, or household rhythm; without the Lord at the center, human effort proves wasted, as Psalm 127:1 warns. Practical steps follow: acknowledge God in all ways every day, serve him with intentionality together as families, and persistently ask for wisdom and help, trusting that a generous God responds.

Acknowledging God daily reshapes reactions and reorders conflict. When attention is fixed on the Lord, peace emerges—not a superficial calm but a steadiness that resists impulsive anger and seeks understanding. Serving the Lord is framed as an active, family-wide choice: Joshua’s declaration—“as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord”—becomes a yardstick for priorities, calling households to identify and put away idols, even good things that have become ultimate. Practical advice emphasizes rhythms over guilt: look at weekly schedules before the week begins, start small with family prayers or a shared verse, and choose consistent, age-appropriate ways to serve.

The invitation to ask God for wisdom (James 1:5) is coupled with the discipline of persistent prayer—keep asking, seeking, knocking—as taught in Matthew 7. Expect answers that form character as much as they change circumstances; God’s responses may redirect desires toward deeper growth. The teaching stresses that God’s building work begins in the individual heart; Jesus must first be embraced personally before he can transform a family’s foundation. For those ready to begin, a simple prayer of surrender marks the start of new footing.

Practical next steps land small and doable: slow down at one shared meal, read a verse aloud, pray for one another, and intentionally schedule service with the church. The closing charge is clear: allow the Lord to build the house—be intentional, consistent, and patient—and watch how faithful dependence reshapes homes and relationships.

Key Takeaways

1. Acknowledge the Lord daily Making God visible in everyday choices trains the heart to pause in conflict and choose humility over winning. This daily posture converts reactive words into reflective questions: What is God teaching me here? Over time, small acknowledgments rewire a household’s default responses and create a durable inner peace that human effort alone cannot manufacture. [40:49]
2. Serve the Lord wholeheartedly together Service names ultimate loyalty and exposes hidden idols by asking what gets scheduled first. When families choose to serve as a unit, priorities become habits rather than hopes, and faith gains practical muscle through repeated, ordinary acts. This commitment reshapes identity: domestic rhythms begin to form around worship and contribution, not merely convenience. [46:56]
3. Keep asking, seeking, knocking Persistent prayer is not a magic formula but a refining fire that aligns desires with God’s wisdom. Continual asking invites recalibration—answers may transform outcomes or transform the asker—and cultivates humility and endurance. Expect God to respond, often in ways that produce deeper maturity rather than immediate gratification. [54:26]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[29:47] - Call to Believe: Opening Invitation
[30:53] - Introductions and Warm-Up
[33:17] - Series Launch: "Our House"
[35:23] - Trust: Proverbs 3:5–6 Explained
[36:53] - Foundation: Unless the Lord Builds
[40:09] - Acknowledge the Lord Daily
[46:56] - Serve the Lord Wholeheartedly
[51:37] - Family Rhythms & Deuteronomy 6
[54:26] - Ask, Seek, Keep Knocking
[60:03] - Invitation: Receive Christ Today
[63:11] - Practical Steps for Families
[65:07] - Closing Prayer and Send-off

Bible Study Guide

Here is a Bible study guide based on the sermon summary:

Bible Reading

Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)
> 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
> 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Psalm 127:1 (ESV)
> 1 Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.

James 1:5 (ESV)
> 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

Matthew 7:7-8 (ESV)
> 7 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
> 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

Joshua 24:15 (ESV)
> 15 And if it is evil in your eyes that the Lord should be served, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Deuteronomy 6:4-7 (ESV)
> 4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

Observation questions

The sermon emphasizes that lasting homes and relationships are built when God is the foundation. What does it mean for God to be the "foundation" of a home or relationship? [36:53]
The teaching encourages acknowledging God in all ways every day. What are some practical examples of "acknowledging the Lord daily" that were mentioned? [40:09]
The sermon highlights serving the Lord with intentionality as a family. What does it mean to "serve the Lord wholeheartedly together," and what are some potential "idols" that can get in the way of this? [46:56]
The passage from James 1:5 is used to encourage asking God for wisdom. What is the promise connected to asking God for wisdom, and what are the expectations for how God might respond? [53:55]

Interpretation questions

Proverbs 3:5-6 states, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." How does leaning on our own understanding instead of trusting God lead to wasted effort in building our homes and relationships, as Psalm 127:1 suggests? [37:38]
Joshua's declaration, "as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord," is presented as a yardstick for priorities. What does it look like for a family to actively "put away idols" and choose to "serve the Lord alone," even when those "idols" might be good things? [45:18]
The sermon connects persistent prayer with asking, seeking, and knocking, as taught in Matthew 7. How does this persistent approach to prayer help to align our desires with God's wisdom, and what does it mean to expect answers that form character as much as they change circumstances? [54:26]
The idea of "family rhythms" is introduced, suggesting that consistent, age-appropriate ways of serving and acknowledging God are important. How can establishing these rhythms help to reorder conflict and create a steadiness that resists impulsive anger? [42:31]

Application questions

The sermon encourages acknowledging the Lord daily in all our ways. What is one specific, small step you can take this week to intentionally acknowledge God in a situation where you might normally react impulsively or rely on your own understanding? [44:35]
Consider Joshua's commitment: "as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." What is one area in your home or family life where a good thing has become an idol, taking priority over serving the Lord, and what is a tangible step you can take to reorder that priority this week? [47:22]
The teaching emphasizes persistent prayer, asking, seeking, and knocking. What is one specific thing you have been asking God for regarding your home or family, and how can you commit to continuing to ask, seek, or knock with faith this week? [57:27]
The sermon suggests that building a strong foundation starts with the individual heart. If you haven't already, what is one practical step you can take this week to invite Jesus to be the foundation of your own heart? [58:41]
The idea of establishing "healthy rhythms" for serving the Lord as a family is presented. What is one small, doable rhythm (like reading a verse, praying together, or serving the church) that you could intentionally introduce or strengthen in your household this week? [01:03:11]
The sermon mentions that God's responses to our prayers may redirect our desires toward deeper growth. What is a desire you have for your home or family, and how might you be open to God redirecting that desire for your deeper growth and His glory? [54:49]
The call is to allow the Lord to build the house, being intentional, consistent, and patient. What is one area in your home or relationships where you need to be more intentional, consistent, or patient this week, trusting that God is at work? [01:03:11]

Sermon Clips

``And Jesus came to rescue you. And some of you here today or watching online need to know that. That Jesus does have your best interests in heart. That he does wanna help your family. That he does wanna be a part of your home. But he first and foremost wants to be a part of your heart. And you need to understand that as much as he loves your family, as much as he loves your spouse and your kids, he first and foremost loved you. He loved you so much so that he gave up his life for you. And he said that no matter what's going on in your life, no matter what you've done, no matter what sins you've committed, no matter how badly you've messed up, he will meet you exactly where you are. And if you embrace him as your savior, he'll come into your life, make you a new person, become the foundation of your heart so that then he can become the foundation of your family. But it starts with you first trusting in him. [00:58:59] (50 seconds) #RescuedByJesus

Today, get to wrestle with that. We get to build our foundation on the Lord who we proclaim to worship and believe. And so let's take a step and grow in our relationship with him. And for others, maybe you're still wrestling with if you do believe. So thankful that you're here, so thankful that you're watching online. Have an open heart and open mind to receive what God has for you. Because I promise you, if you do, you will walk out of here different than when you got here today. You will log off differently than when you logged on today. Jesus will meet you where you are, and you will take steps towards him. Do you believe? [00:29:59] (34 seconds) #MeetJesusWhereYouAre

And when we do that, when we acknowledge the Lord daily, our conflicts, our words, our conversations, our disagreements, our expressions, our reactions, our decisions start to be built on the Lord. Instead of reacting, you know what we do? We start to pause. Instead of winning the argument, we start to understand. Instead of shutting down, we may start to open up. Instead of hiding struggles, we may share them with the people that we love and trust. Instead of your way, we start praying for God's way. And instead of acknowledging the problems, we start acknowledging the Lord. [00:44:30] (34 seconds) #PausePrayRespond

Standing on the foundation of the Lord is not easy. It's not for the faint of heart. You've gotta stay committed. You've gotta warrior up. You've gotta say, you know what? I'm gonna stay committed to him. But it says, you keep knocking, if you keep seeking, if you keep asking, he's gonna show up in your life. And you could celebrate that. Absolutely. [00:58:09] (22 seconds) #StayCommittedToGod

Allow the Lord to build your house. And the ways that you can do that is acknowledge him daily. Acknowledge him in all your ways, not just when it's convenient or easy, but in all your thoughts, all your words, all your actions. Second thing, serve him daily. Choose who you will serve. Look at that calendar. Serve the Lord by establishing healthy rhythms in your family's life. [01:03:20] (20 seconds) #BuildOnTheLord

Maybe you're going through it right now. And maybe what you just have to ask God is, Lord, what are you trying to teach me right now? What are you trying to show me? Stay committed to him and just watch how he shows up. And then you know what? I love what it says in this verse. He will not rebuke you for asking. It's like, got you. Keep on asking. [00:55:10] (21 seconds) #AskAndHeWelcomes

Because acknowledging him takes something that we need to do. We have to be intentional with it, acknowledging who the Lord is and the good, the bad and the ugly. And always with our words, actions, everything in between. Serving him requires intentional commitment, serving the Lord with our family. How can we do it? Finding the healthy rhythms in my house of how I'm going to serve him, whether it's personally or whether it's with the church or whether it's in ministry. Then the last one is ask the Lord daily. [00:53:26] (29 seconds) #ServeWithIntention

But for some of you in this room, in order for you to get your house in order, you have to get your heart in order. Now you might agree with me. You might agree with all these statements. These these verses might intimidate you, but they might fire you up that you know what? I can I can I can have a foundation of the Lord in my homes, in my relationships, in my families? But I'm telling you what, you will never be able to build your house in the Lord if he's not first built in the foundation of your heart. [00:58:32] (28 seconds) #HeartBeforeHome

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This Is Our House: Building Families on God's Foundation

Devotional

Day 1: Building Our Foundation on Trust

Day 2: Acknowledging God in Every Aspect of Life

Day 3: Choosing Whom We Serve Daily

Day 4: The Power of Asking and Seeking God

Day 5: Jesus as the Foundation of Our Hearts

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

This Is Our House: Building Families on God's Foundation

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