Setting Family Priorities

Reading from God’s Word

Joshua 24:15 CSB

15 But if it doesn’t please you to worship the Lord, choose for yourselves today: Which will you worship—the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living? As for me and my family, we will worship the Lord.”

Introduction

Ours is not the first generation to deal with a crowded calendar or an overfull to-do list.

I grew up in a home where both of my parents worked — Dad managed a hardware store, and Mom sold real estate.

Their schedules were hectic, and life was full.

Most afternoons, my grandfather picked me up from school. I can still picture him — parked outside in that two-tone brown and tan Chevy Silverado, wearing his striped pants and wide-billed hat.

I spent many afternoons with my grandparents until one of my parents could pick me up.

Life was busy even then.

But one thing still stands out to me, years later: our family planned our lives around God.

Church wasn’t just something we did — it was who we were.

Sundays and Wednesdays weren’t up for negotiation.

Summer meant youth camp.

If there was a gospel meeting or a singing nearby, we were there.

Even with all the chaos of everyday life, God was at the center.

Now, decades later, I can look back and say that mattered. It shaped me. It made a difference.

Tonight, I want to ask:

What do your family’s priorities say about what matters most?

If your kids — 20 years from now — were to describe your home, what would they say you lived for?

Because here’s the truth: If we don’t set our priorities intentionally, the world will set them for us.

In a time when youth sports, school schedules, screen time, and social expectations compete for every inch of our calendar, we must answer this question with clarity and conviction:

Is Christ truly at the center of our homes — or just penciled in when there’s time?

Tonight’s message is titled Setting Family Priorities:

And we begin where Jesus did — with this simple, powerful truth:

Matthew 6:33 CSB

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.

The Cost of a Crowded Life

We live in a time when being busy is worn like a badge of honor.

Families sprint from event to event: school, work, sports, recitals, practices, meetings.

The calendar is packed, but the soul is empty.

Parents are exhausted.

Kids are overstimulated.

Meals happen in the car.

Conversations are short.

And church — well, it gets squeezed into whatever time is left… if any.

Psalm 127:3 says:

Psalm 127:3 CSB

3 Sons are indeed a heritage from the Lord, offspring, a reward.

God didn’t give us children just to chauffeur them around to every activity imaginable.

He gave them to us as a blessing — a trust — to shape, to teach, and to lead.

But what happens when our families become dominated by the urgent instead of the eternal?

Our children begin to believe that sports matter more than Scripture.

They learn that achievement matters more than character.

They absorb the message that comfort and entertainment come before commitment to God.

And this isn’t just a theoretical concern — it's a spiritual crisis.

Proverbs 22:6 CSB

6 Start a youth out on his way; even when he grows old he will not depart from it.

But if we’re too busy to train them — too tired, too distracted, too preoccupied — then someone else will.

And rest assured: the world is training our children every single day.

Every missed opportunity to read Scripture as a family is replaced by something.

Every time worship is seen as optional, that message sticks.

Every time our phones and schedules crowd out quality time, little hearts notice.

Let me be clear: not everything on your calendar is bad.

But when good things push out the best things, they become a problem.

God never intended for families to be so rushed that we forget why we exist.

If we don’t intentionally set our family priorities, the culture will gladly do it for us.

In Luke 10, Jesus gently corrected Martha’s flustered busyness.

Luke 10:41–42 CSB

41 The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her.”

That “one thing” — being with Jesus — is still the priority today.

Let’s not raise a generation of kids who know how to compete, perform, and succeed… but don’t know how to pray, serve, or worship.

Let’s get honest about the cost of a crowded life — and start making room for what matters most.

Begin with the End in Mind

What does this mean?

Live with Legacy in Mind

Ask: What do I want my children to remember 20 years from now?

Our habits today become their memories tomorrow.

We’re not just raising kids — we’re shaping future adults, spouses, parents, and disciples.

Scripture Insight:

In Proverbs 4:20–27 — Solomon urges his son to listen closely, guard his heart, avoid crooked paths, and stay focused on wisdom.

I especially want to highlight v. 25:

Proverbs 4:25 CSB

25 Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead.

If we don’t aim our families at something eternal, the world will aim them at something temporary.

Model What You Want to Multiply

Children watch more than they listen.

Our example speaks louder than our words.

Inconsistency undermines what we claim to value.

Illustration:

If we say God comes first but repeatedly miss worship, what are we teaching?

If we say prayer matters but never pray together, what are we reinforcing?

We reproduce what we prioritize. If we want faith-filled kids, we must be faith-filled parents.

Examine Where the Time and Money Go

Jesus said:

Matthew 6:21 CSB

21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Ask yourself: What are we funding? What fills our calendar?

These reveal our true values — not just what we claim, but what we live.

What would your schedule say is most important to your family?

Faithful Families Are Built with Purpose

Faith is not inherited accidentally — it’s cultivated intentionally.

Long-term spiritual impact requires daily spiritual choices.

We’re not just raising good citizens — we’re raising future Christians. We must parent with heaven in view.

Start making decisions today that reflect where you want your family to be spiritually 10, 20, or even 50 years from now.

Reorder the Pie, Not Just the List

Rethink the Traditional List

Many Christians are familiar with the “priority list” approach:

God

Marriage

Family

Work

Church

While well-intentioned, this list can be misleading:

It implies segmented categories rather than integrated faith.

It risks treating God as one part of life, rather than the center of all of life.

Problem: When we compartmentalize our faith, God becomes just another item to check off — like groceries or soccer practice.

Shift from a Linear List to a Centered Life

Think of your life as a pie chart or a wheel with God at the hub.

Every slice — marriage, parenting, work, church involvement, friendships — is connected to the center.

Key Verse:

Colossians 3:17 CSB

17 And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Paul doesn’t say “just your quiet time” or “just your church attendance.”

He says everything — every role, every responsibility, every task — is an act of worship when done for Christ.

God Must Be Central, Not Just Present

God doesn’t want just the first slot on your list.

He wants to infuse and guide every area of your life.

For Example:

Imagine a wheel.

If the hub breaks, the whole thing collapses — no matter how strong the spokes are.

This is what happens when God is not at the center.

So:

God should shape how we date,

how we parent,

how we manage our money,

how we talk to our spouse,

how we show up to work.

Priorities Aren’t Just About Order — They’re About Alignment

We don’t just need to put God first in theory.

We need to align everything under His rule — so His Word governs how we function in each sphere.

Ask the Right Question:

Not “Is God first on my list?” but:

“Is God at the center of my life — in everything I do, every role I fill, and every decision I make?”

Let God rule more than your Sunday — let Him reign over your Monday morning, your Tuesday meeting, your Wednesday dinner table, and your Friday night decisions.

Reorder the pie — not just the list.

Create Intentional Rhythms That Reflect Your Priorities

Priorities Must Be Practiced — Not Just Preached

You can’t build a spiritually healthy family on good intentions alone.

If Christ is your priority, that should be evident in how you plan, schedule, and live.

Your calendar is a theological document — it tells the story of what you truly worship.

Let’s look at Deuteronomy:

Deuteronomy 6:6–7 CSB

6 These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. 7 Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

Moses’ instruction is clear: Build your family life around the daily integration of God's Word.

Discipleship Happens Through Repetition

Deuteronomy 6 doesn’t suggest a once-a-week family devotion.

It describes a daily rhythm of spiritual influence — when you sit, walk, lie down, and rise.

You’re already shaping your children’s worldview — the only question is whether it’s intentional or accidental.

Protect Your Schedule — Don’t Let the World Fill It First

Our default mode is to say yes to everything… then fit God in when there’s space.

That’s backward. Instead, schedule what matters most first — everything else fits around it.

For Example:

Scheduled church gatherings are non-negotiable.

Designate a night each week as “family night” or “rest night.”

Create phone-free zones or tech-free hours.

If your time is like a jar, you must put in the big rocks first — or the sand (less important things) will fill the whole jar and leave no room.

Train, Don’t Just Entertain

Paul wrote:

Ephesians 6:4 CSB

4 Fathers, don’t stir up anger in your children, but bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

The goal of parenting isn’t just to keep kids happy, entertained, or successful.

The goal is training — forming hearts and minds to love and obey Christ.

Key Distinction: Entertainment pacifies. Training prepares.

What are your children learning from the way your home is structured?

Small Habits Shape Big Futures

You don’t have to start with a major overhaul — start small.

A habit done consistently shapes identity: “This is who we are.”

For Example: “We’re a family that prays before meals.” “We’re a family that goes to church.” “We’re a family that reads Scripture together.”

You don’t need to do everything at once — but you need to do something, and do it faithfully.

Remember:

What your family does week after week forms what your family becomes year after year.

Don’t leave it to chance. Set the rhythm. Be intentional. Lead with purpose.

Jesus Must be Lord of the Family

Jesus Doesn’t Want a Place on the List — He Wants the Throne

Many people say, “God is important to our family.”

But Jesus is not looking to be important — He demands to be supreme.

He is not asking for weekend attention — He is asking for daily allegiance.

Matthew 6:33 CSB

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.

This verse is not a suggestion or an inspirational quote — it’s a command.

Jesus says, “Seek first.” Not second. Not occasionally. Not when it’s convenient.

Faith in Christ Must Define the Home

When Jesus is Lord, everything changes:

How we talk to each other

How we handle money

How we make decisions

What we tolerate or encourage

Lordship means He gets the final say in every area — including your calendar, your priorities, and your parenting style.

In many homes, Jesus is like a guest in a spare room — present, but not in charge. In a Christ-centered home, He owns the house.

Many Families Want Jesus’ Blessing Without His Leadership

We want God to bless our kids — but we don’t disciple them.

We want peace in our homes — but we don’t pray together.

We want church involvement — as long as it doesn’t interfere with our schedule.

We cannot claim to follow Jesus as Lord while making Him optional in our daily lives.

You cannot build a Christ-centered family on a self-centered foundation.

When Jesus Is Lord, His Kingdom Is the Priority

Jesus said, “Seek first the kingdom...”

That’s a kingdom mindset — one that sees every part of life through the lens of Christ’s reign.

That means decisions are based on eternal priorities, not just immediate convenience.

Are we making room for what matters most?

What Happens When We Get This Right?

Back Matthew 6:33, “all these things will be provided for you.”

When we seek Christ first, God meets our needs. Not always immediately, and not always how we expect — but always faithfully.

Putting Jesus first doesn’t ruin your family life — it rescues it.

If you feel like it’s too late. It’s not.

Jesus redeems lost years and renews tired hearts.

You can re-center your home starting today.

Jesus must not just be in your family — He must be Lord over it.

As We Close…

What Will They Remember?

Fast forward 20 years.

Your children are grown.

Maybe they’re raising families of their own.

Maybe they’re sitting in a church pew somewhere.

Maybe they’re facing trials you never could have imagined.

And they’re reflecting back on their childhood — on your home.

What will they say?

Will they say, “My parents made faith a priority — we worshiped together, prayed together, served others together”?

Will they say, “In our house, Jesus wasn’t just mentioned — He was the center”?

Or will they say, “We were always busy… but I’m not sure what we were chasing”?

Every choice you make today is shaping that story.

Every habit, every conversation, every boundary you draw, and every value you live out is forming the spiritual legacy your family will carry forward.

Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 6:33:

Matthew 6:33 CSB

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.

That’s not just a verse to memorize — it’s a call to reorient your life.

Put God first, and He will take care of what matters most.

Center your home on Christ, and He will bless it in ways that no amount of worldly success can match.

Maybe tonight you realize that your priorities have slipped.

That faith has been crowded out.

That your calendar has become too full — and your home too frantic.

You are not alone — and it is not too late.

So here’s the invitation:

Reorder your life.

Reclaim your purpose.

Rebuild your home on what truly matters.

Let Jesus be more than a part of your family — let Him be the Lord of it.

Start today. Your children are watching. And 20 years from now, they’ll remember what you chose to seek first.