Building Strong Foundations: The Role of Fathers

Devotional

Day 1: Strength Comes from Right Priorities

True strength in life is found not in our own abilities or defenses, but in setting our priorities according to God’s design—putting Him first, even when logic or fear would have us focus on protecting ourselves or fixing external problems. The Israelites, upon returning to Jerusalem, chose to build an altar before constructing walls or even the temple, demonstrating that surrender to God and seeking His presence is the foundation for all lasting strength. When we come before God in humility, admitting our weakness and need for Him, we invite His power to work in and through us, shaping our character and guiding our steps. [45:28]

Ezra 3:1-6 (ESV)
When the seventh month came, and the children of Israel were in the towns, the people gathered as one man to Jerusalem. Then arose Jeshua the son of Jozadak, with his fellow priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel with his kinsmen, and they built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God. They set the altar in its place, for fear was on them because of the peoples of the lands, and they offered burnt offerings on it to the Lord, burnt offerings morning and evening. And they kept the Feast of Booths, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number according to the rule, as each day required, and after that the regular burnt offerings, the offerings at the new moon and at all the appointed feasts of the Lord, and the offerings of everyone who made a freewill offering to the Lord. From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the Lord. But the foundation of the temple of the Lord was not yet laid.

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you’ve been focused on fixing external problems or building your own defenses, rather than first surrendering that area to God at the altar? What would it look like to put God first in that area today?

Day 2: Strong Men Are Built at an Altar

The process of becoming strong, godly leaders—whether as fathers, mothers, or members of God’s family—begins at the altar, the place of personal surrender and honest admission of our need for God. Throughout Scripture, men like Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob built altars as acts of worship and dependence, marking moments of humility and transformation. It is at the altar that character is forged, repentance is born, and the internal process of growth begins, leading to true strength that can withstand the pressures and challenges of life. [53:31]

Romans 12:1 (ESV)
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Reflection: Where in your daily routine can you intentionally create a moment of surrender—an “altar”—to admit your need for God and invite Him to shape your heart before you tackle the tasks ahead?

Day 3: Strong Community Requires a Temple

A healthy, thriving community is built not just on individual devotion, but on a shared commitment to gather together in God’s presence, to learn His truth, and to hold one another accountable. The temple, for Israel and for us today, represents the place where God’s Word is taught, His presence is encountered, and a moral compass is established for society. Without this foundation, even the most sincere faith can become unanchored or legalistic; but when we prioritize gathering with God’s people and submitting to His truth, we grow together in maturity and purpose. [01:06:05]

Acts 2:42-47 (ESV)
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Reflection: How can you make gathering with God’s people and learning His Word a consistent priority in your life this week, even if it means rearranging your schedule or letting go of other commitments?

Day 4: Righteous Boundaries Create a Strong Society

Just as the walls of Jerusalem defined the boundaries of the city, providing protection and setting expectations for the community, so too do righteous boundaries—rooted in God’s truth—create safety, order, and flourishing in our lives and society. Without clear lines between right and wrong, chaos and fear take over, but when we draw boundaries according to God’s Word, we protect what matters most and create an environment where people can thrive. It takes courage and wisdom to stand firm and say, “This is where the line is,” especially in a world that often blurs or ignores those lines. [01:09:17]

Nehemiah 2:17-18 (ESV)
Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned. Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer suffer derision.” And I told them of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good, and also of the words that the king had spoken to me. And they said, “Let us rise up and build.” So they strengthened their hands for the good work.

Reflection: Is there a boundary in your life—whether in relationships, habits, or influences—that God is prompting you to establish or reinforce? What specific step can you take today to draw that line in accordance with His truth?

Day 5: External Progress Requires an Internal Process

Lasting change and true progress in our lives and communities begin with the internal work of the heart—surrender, repentance, and character formation—before any outward action or achievement. It is easy to focus on fixing what’s visible, but God calls us to first allow Him to transform us from the inside out, so that our actions flow from a place of humility, wisdom, and dependence on Him. When we prioritize the internal process, we become people who can lead, serve, and build with strength that endures. [57:09]

Psalm 139:23-24 (ESV)
Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

Reflection: Take a quiet moment today to ask God to search your heart—what is one area where you need to invite Him to do a deeper work within you before you try to change your circumstances or others around you?

Sermon Summary

Today, we gathered to honor fathers and reflect on the vital role they play—not just in our families, but in the health and future of our society. The family unit, designed by God, is the foundation of a strong community, and fathers are called to lead with courage, humility, and wisdom. As we looked at the story of Israel’s return from exile in Ezra and Nehemiah, we saw a powerful lesson about priorities: when the Israelites arrived in a devastated Jerusalem, logic would have told them to build defenses first. Instead, they built an altar. This act of surrender and worship was a declaration that true strength comes not from walls or wealth, but from dependence on God.

Strong men—and strong people—are built at the altar, the place of surrender where we admit our weakness and invite God’s strength. Throughout Scripture, altars mark moments of encounter, repentance, and transformation. Before we can lead others or fix the world around us, we must allow God to work in our own hearts. External progress always requires an internal process. Ezra himself set his heart first to study and obey God’s word before teaching others, modeling the order of transformation: surrender, then action.

But the altar alone is not enough. The Israelites also laid the foundation for the temple, the place where God’s truth, presence, and mercy would shape the community. The temple provided a moral compass, a source of unchanging truth. In our lives, this is the role of the church—a place where we gather, learn, and hold each other accountable. Without the altar, the temple becomes legalistic; without the temple, the altar becomes untethered emotion. We need both: personal surrender and communal truth.

Finally, only after the altar and temple were established did the Israelites build the wall—the boundary that defined and protected their community. Righteous boundaries are essential for a healthy society. They keep in what we cannot afford to lose and keep out what we cannot afford to let in. In a world filled with fear, confusion, and misplaced priorities, we need fathers and leaders who will draw the line, stand for truth, and protect what matters most—not just with strength, but with humility and dependence on God.

Today, the call is to examine our priorities. Are we building altars of surrender in our lives? Are we rooted in God’s truth and accountable community? Are we drawing the right boundaries? God is inviting each of us—fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters—to return to Him, to build with the right priorities, and to lead our families and communities in His strength.

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Key Takeaways

1. Strength Begins at the Altar True strength is not found in our defenses, resources, or abilities, but in our willingness to surrender before God. The altar is the place where we admit our weakness and invite God’s power to work in us. Before we attempt to lead or fix others, we must first allow God to transform our own hearts through humility and repentance. [53:31]
2. External Progress Requires Internal Process The outcomes of our lives are shaped by the growth that happens in our hearts. It is easier to focus on fixing external problems, but lasting change begins with internal surrender and character formation. Only when we allow God to address what is within can we see true progress in what is around us. [56:31]
3. The Temple Anchors Us in Truth A strong community requires a place where God’s truth is taught, His presence is encountered, and His people are held accountable. The temple—today, the church—serves as our moral compass, guiding personal belief with eternal truth. Without this anchor, our faith becomes either legalistic or untethered emotion; we need both the altar of surrender and the temple of truth. [61:38]
4. Righteous Boundaries Protect and Define Community Boundaries are not about exclusion, but about protection and definition. The wall around Jerusalem symbolized the line between what is safe and what is dangerous, what belongs and what does not. In our lives, we must have the courage to draw boundaries based on God’s word, protecting our families and communities from influences that would destroy from within. [69:54]
5. Fathers (and Leaders) Are Called to Courageous, Humble Leadership Our world is desperate for men and women who will lead not just with strength, but with humility, wisdom, and dependence on God. The example of the older bull elephants reminds us that presence, accountability, and righteous authority bring stability to the next generation. God is calling fathers—and all of us—to step up, build altars, anchor ourselves in truth, and draw the boundaries that will bless and protect our families and society. [77:58]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[38:34] - Father’s Day Humor and Appreciation
[39:11] - Tension in Society and the Need for Encouragement
[40:30] - The History and Purpose of Father’s Day
[41:46] - Sonora Dodd and the Birth of Father’s Day
[42:21] - The God-Designed Family Unit
[43:34] - Right Alliances and Strategic Relationships
[44:52] - Ezra 3: The Return to Jerusalem
[45:28] - Strength Comes from Right Priorities
[46:42] - Divine Favor and Vulnerability
[48:38] - The Treasure and the Risk
[49:50] - Lessons from Jiu-Jitsu and D-Day
[52:54] - The Israelites’ Surprising First Step: Building the Altar
[53:31] - Strong Men Are Built at the Altar
[56:31] - Internal Process Before External Progress
[57:47] - Ezra’s Example: Study, Do, Teach
[60:19] - Strong Community Requires a Temple
[61:38] - The Temple as Moral Compass
[64:12] - The Church in the New Testament
[67:57] - Righteous Boundaries and the City Wall
[71:42] - The Elephant Story: The Power of Presence and Boundaries
[77:58] - The Call for Courageous Fathers
[79:50] - Returning to Right Priorities
[81:42] - Responding to God’s Call
[86:45] - Closing Prayer and Dismissal

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Ezra 3:1-6 — _When the seventh month came and the Israelites had settled in their towns, the people assembled together as one in Jerusalem. Then Joshua son of Jozadak and his fellow priests and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his associates began to build the altar of the God of Israel to sacrifice burnt offerings on it, in accordance with what is written in the Law of Moses the man of God... From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the Lord, though the foundation of the Lord’s temple had not yet been laid._

2. Ezra 7:10
_For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel._

3. Nehemiah 2:17-18
_Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned. Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer suffer derision.” And I told them of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good... And they said, “Let us rise up and build.” So they strengthened their hands for the good work._

Observation Questions

When the Israelites first returned to Jerusalem, what was the very first thing they built, and why was this surprising? ([52:54])
According to Ezra 7:10, what three things did Ezra set his heart to do before leading others? ([58:25])
What was the purpose of building the wall around Jerusalem, according to Nehemiah? ([01:09:17])
In the sermon, what did the pastor say happens if we have a temple (church) without an altar, or an altar without a temple? ([01:01:38])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think the Israelites chose to build the altar before the temple or the wall, even though they were vulnerable to attack? What does this say about their priorities and trust in God? ([52:54])
The sermon said, “External progress requires internal process.” What does this mean in the context of Ezra’s example, and why is it important for leaders and families? ([56:31])
How does the story of the altar, temple, and wall show the relationship between personal surrender, community truth, and healthy boundaries? ([01:07:57])
The pastor shared a story about young elephants acting out when older bulls were missing. How does this relate to the need for fathers and leaders in our families and communities? ([01:11:42])

Application Questions

The Israelites built an altar as their first act in a ruined city. What would it look like for you to “build an altar” in your own life this week? Is there a specific area where you need to surrender or ask for God’s strength? ([53:31])
Ezra set his heart to study, obey, and then teach God’s word. Which of these steps do you find most challenging, and why? What is one practical way you can grow in this area? ([58:25])
The sermon talked about the importance of being rooted in a community where God’s truth is taught and people are held accountable. Are you connected to a group or church in this way? If not, what is holding you back? ([01:06:05])
Boundaries were described as lines that protect what matters most. Are there boundaries in your life or family that need to be strengthened or redefined? What is one step you can take this week to do that? ([01:09:54])
The pastor challenged fathers and leaders to lead with courage, humility, and dependence on God. In what area of your life do you need to step up as a leader, and what would it look like to lead with both strength and humility? ([01:17:58])
The sermon said, “Before we can lead others or fix the world around us, we must allow God to work in our own hearts.” Is there an area where you’ve been trying to “fix” others before letting God address your own heart? What would it look like to reverse that order? ([56:31])
Think about the “walls” in your life—boundaries, habits, or relationships. Are there any that need to be rebuilt or protected? How can you invite God into that process this week? ([01:09:54])

Sermon Clips

Strength comes from right priorities. I encourage you to take notes as we learn from scripture today. If you don't have an outline, raise your hand and I know one of our ushers will be happy to get that to you, but we're a notetaking family. There's something about taking the time to write down an idea or a thought, a truth from God's word. It gives it time to settle in our heart, so I encourage you to take notes today. [00:45:41]

The Israelites are returning to Jerusalem. They've spent 70 years in captivity in exile, 70 long years of dreaming of the day that they could return to the land that God had promised them. One day Cyrus is on the throne and God moves on his heart, on the heart of King Cyrus, to empower them, to enable them, to allow them to go back to their homeland. [00:46:28]

When they arrive in Jerusalem, they're arriving in a place of extreme favor, divine favor. They have virtually looted the kingdom of Babylon and brought their own treasure back with them. They're in a place of divine favor but also in a position of weakness. See, they didn't bring an army with them. They had volunteers, they had fathers, they had farmers and herdsmen. [00:48:07]

There are times in your life that the divine purpose on your life and the divine resource that God will pour into you will actually make you more susceptible, a more enticing target to those who oppose you. There's a risk of attack as they're walking into the city. [00:49:40]

Logic would have said "Build the wall, establish the beach head." And instead the Israelites did something shockingly different. They built an altar. They built an altar. Thought number one for you today if you're taking notes: strong men are built at an altar. [00:53:08]

The altar is the place where I come in surrender before God and I say God I need you. I recognize my need of you. I recognize my weakness and I recognize that in this place in my life at this moment I don't have what it takes and I need to get on my knees and say "God here's what I have, I'm giving it to you. It's inadequate but I need you." [00:53:37]

The outcomes of your life are dependent on the growth process of your heart, the things that are happening internally. Never judge a book by its cover, some have said. It's easy to look at the things that are outside, but what's inside, between the covers, that's where things really matter. [00:56:57]

It's easy to look at the things that are outside. It's easy to see the things that are outside, but what's inside, between the covers, what's inside where people can't see, what's inside where things are raw and real, that's where things really matter. That's where the rubber meets the road, that internal process of surrender to God. [00:57:09]

Strong living requires strength of character. In Ezra chapter number 7 verse number 10, the scripture says that God's hand was on Ezra, for Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the Lord and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel. [00:58:14]

He didn't come in and do any of that. He came in and said, you know what I'm going to do? I'm going to set my heart to learn the word of God first and put myself in a place to hear his voice. And once I've got my heart in that place to be able to hear the voice of God, then I'm going to begin to do the things that God has told me to do. [00:58:39]

You got to lead yourself before leading others. Strong men are built at an altar. Do you feel called to lead in your life? Show me the altar that you've built. Do you feel called to lead in the kingdom of God? Show me the altar that you've established in your life. Show me the place that you have humbled yourself in the presence of God and begun to forge character in your heart. [01:00:06]

Because a temple without an altar becomes nothing more than a dictatorship. A temple without an altar merely becomes a legalistic place where it becomes a tool for controlling others. When God's word is taught but there's no altar being found, no altar being established, it just becomes the rules that one person tries to impose on another. [01:01:59]

We need a source of truth, unchanging truth in our life. We need a temple. The temple is the place where personal belief is guided by eternal truth. For us today, that place is the church, a gathering place where God's truth, his unchanging truth and his word are taught. [01:03:52]

They met home to home, they met meal by meal, they met in relationship, they met in small groups, they met in large groups, they met day by day, on and on, building relationship, growing in God's word together. But they met day by day in the temple, the place where God's word was being taught. [01:06:19]

We need a line in the sand that says this is right and that's wrong and here's where the line is drawn between the two. Here's where the safe boundary is, here's the expectations for society from the source of truth in God's word. The truth is God's word defines it to be. [01:17:44]

We need men that are surrendered at an altar, men that have put their heart in the presence of God and said "God I need you because my strength is not enough. I need you because my wisdom is lacking. I need you because I can't do it without you." We need men who have made the temple a priority in their life, that put themselves in a place to learn the eternal truth of God's word, who are accountable to each other and who help to guide society and community forward. [01:18:31]

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