The Foundation of a Strong Family

Every family is different. Some are big, some are small. Some are blended, some are brand new. Some are loud and full of life, others are quiet and steady. Every family has its own story, its own struggles, its own rhythm. But no matter what your family looks like, one thing is true for all of us: every family faces pressure.

We feel the pull of a fast-paced culture, the weight of expectations, and the constant decisions that shape the direction of our homes. And in the middle of all of it, we have to ask: What is our foundation? What is your family really built on?

Just like a house needs a strong foundation to withstand storms, families need something unshakable to stand the test of time, trials, and culture. That’s why today—and over the next few weeks—we’re going to look at what it means to build a strong family.

This isn’t about pretending to have it all together. It’s about getting honest, inviting God into the center of our homes, and asking: Is it time to make a change? Is it time to rebuild? Maybe God wants to strengthen something in your family that’s grown weak—or build something new that’s never been there before.

Let’s start by looking at a man named Joshua, who made a decision that shaped not only his life—but the legacy of his entire household.

If you have your Bibles, go with me to Joshua chapter 24. I want to begin by reading one verse from this chapter, verse 15.

Joshua 24 is the final chapter of the book of Joshua and serves as Joshua’s farewell address to the people of Israel. He gathers all the tribes at Shechem and recounts God’s faithfulness throughout Israel’s history—from Abraham’s calling to the Exodus, the wilderness journey, and the conquest of the Promised Land. Joshua reminds them that it was the Lord who fought for them and gave them the land.

Then, he challenges the people to make a clear decision: either serve the Lord wholeheartedly or choose to follow the gods of their ancestors or the gods of the surrounding nations. Look at what Joshua said in verse 15

Joshua 24:15 NIV

15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

Every Family Builds on Something

How many of you have ever built something? Kelly and I were able to be at the beginning stages of our house as it was being built. We got to see the foundation being laid. The walls going up. The roof being place. Each step of the building process, we were able to see the results after they did each step.

In Matthew 7 Jesus tells a parable about wise and foolish builders. Look at what He says.

Matthew 7:24–27 NIV

24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Let me ask you an important question that each family needs to ask themselves.

What is YOUR family currently building on?

Are you building on culture’s values? Maybe career ambitions? What about busyness or sports schedules? Or possibly tradition without transformation?

Every family has a foundation. The question isn’t if we’re building, but it’s what we’re building upon.

Have you ever seen a picture of the Leaning Tower of Pisa? It’s one of the most famous buildings in the world—not because of how tall it is or how beautiful it looks, but because it leans… and it wasn’t supposed to.

Construction began in the 1100s, and from the very beginning, it started tilting. Why? Because the foundation was only about 10 feet deep, and it was built on soft, unstable soil. Over time, the lean got worse. Engineers and architects from all over the world had to come in to stabilize it, or it would have eventually collapsed.

The problem wasn’t with the stones, the design, or the craftsmanship. The problem was with the foundation.

And the same is true for our families. We can try to build successful homes, do all the right things, and look strong from the outside—but if the foundation is shaky, everything else is at risk. That’s why we need to make sure our homes are built on the solid ground of faith in Christ.

Do me a favor, think about your calendar. What are the things that drive it. Also, what drives the conversations that your family has with one another. What about your priorities?

In order to build a strong family, we have to think about what we do, what we talk about, and what is at the top of our priority list.

Joshua Choice was Personal and Public

Joshua stands before the entire nation and draws a line in the sand. He tells them, “You have to make a choice whom you will serve.”

God invites everyone to have a personal relationship with Him, but he does not force Himself on us. He gives us a choice, and we all decide for ourselves whom we will follow in life.

Do you notice the leadership principle here? Joshua doesn’t wait to see what others decide, he sets the tone for his family. He says it boldly, “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

This wasn’t a private decision, Joshua made a public declaration that was rooted in deep conviction.

You can look back on Joshua’s history and see that He loved God and was a great leader. He was one of the spies during Moses time that said they could posses the land.

Strong families don’t drift toward God accidentally. There is a spiritual culture that is cultivated with intentional leadership.

What would it look like for you to make a public stand for God in your home? What would it look like for you to make a public stand for God in your speech? What about in your values, your entertainment choices, and your weekend priorities?

Just like Joshua did, each family has to come to a point that they will make a choice. And the choices you make will have lasting impressions on your kids and their kids and so on.

When Jesus is the Cornerstone, Families Thrive

Go with me to the book of Ephesians. I want to read to you two verses.

Ephesians 2:19–20 NIV

19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.

In ancient architecture, the cornerstone was the first stone laid at the corner of a building. It had to be perfectly placed because it set the direction for the entire structure. Every other stone was aligned to it. If the cornerstone was off, the whole building would be unstable.

The Bible uses the image of the chief cornerstone to describe Jesus as the foundation of our faith and the church.

Jesus is the starting point and the aligning force of the church. He is the foundation for truth, salvation, and spiritual growth. Rejecting Him is like trying to build without a foundation, it won’t stand.

The chief cornerstone is a powerful image of Jesus’ role in our lives. He’s not just part of the structure; He’s the foundation everything else depends on.

When Christ is central, your family has a clear moral compass. You have a source of hope in hardship. You have a sense of purpose beyond personal success.

Let me invite you this morning to center your lives not just around church attendance or religious activity, but build your life around a living relationship with Jesus.

When your family is thriving, it doesn’t mean that you are perfect, but it means that you are rooted, stable, growing, and full of grace.

You need to make Jesus more than just your Sunday Savior—He must become the everyday foundation of your life. Put Him first in your finances, your parenting, your marriage, and every decision you make. When Jesus is at the center, everything else aligns.

No family is perfect. We all have our mess, our moments, and our mistakes. But here’s the good news: God doesn’t expect perfection—He’s looking for faithfulness. And a faithful family starts with a Christ-centered foundation.

Faithful families are built, not born. They’re built on a foundation that can withstand storms, stress, and seasons. And that foundation is Jesus Christ—the Chief Cornerstone.

So today, I want to leave you with one simple but powerful challenge: Two minutes a day.

Two Minutes a Day: Thank God for Something, Ask Him to Help You Love Him More, Prayer for a friend, neighbor, or a need

Two minutes to stop, to gather, and to pray as a family. Around the dinner table, in the car, or before bed—it doesn’t have to be complicated.

Thank God for something.

Ask Him to help you love Him more.

Pray for a friend, a neighbor, or a need.

That two-minute rhythm could shape your family for a lifetime. It builds spiritual habits. It invites God’s presence into your daily routine. And it reminds you—we don’t have to do this alone.

Today, I’m inviting every family—whatever your family looks like—to make a fresh commitment:

“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Altar Call

If you’re ready to build your home on Christ—the solid rock—then I invite you to respond.

Parents, lead the way. Spouses, stand together.

If you’re single, widowed, or your kids are grown, you still have a place in this spiritual family. You can still help build faith in your home, your relationships, and the lives of others.

As we worship, the altar is open.

Come as a family. Come as a couple. Come as an individual saying, “Lord, be the center of my home.”

Let this be the moment we draw a line in the sand and say with Joshua, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Let’s pray—and let’s begin.