What Is Family?

Intro

Some of my best moments are with people in my family.

Riding rollercoasters with my mom and dad. Sitting by the bonfire with my grandmother. Mammaw Katie and her squirrel gravy — we laughed and laughed and laughed.

And... some of the most painful moments in my life have also come through my family. Losing Mammaw. Losing Aunt Charlotte. Dealing with my biological father.

Here’s what I know — you can’t get through life without interacting with your family. In some way, shape, or form, you will have interactions with your family.

And the reason we’re even talking about it today is b/c — God cares about families. It’s one of the things He loves, and one of the things He constantly points back to in His Word.

Let’s be honest, you’re more

We ask the question all the time: “How am I supposed to deal with my family?”

Come on somebody… have you ever felt that way before?

How am I supposed to deal with…

My spouse — when we can’t seem to get on the same page?

My kids — when I want to parent them well but feel like I’m just surviving?

My parents — when I’m trying to honor them as an adult?

Before we get into all that over the next few weeks, we first need to answer one question:

What is family — according to the Bible?

Tension

Everybody has an idea of what family should be — culture tells us it’s about comfort, happiness, or success. But the Bible gives us a completely different picture. The Bible says family begins with God, and that He designed it for His glory — not our convenience.

If God created it, then it only works when He’s at the center of it.

We see the creation of family in Genesis.

Genesis 1:27–28 NIV

27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

God created the family in his image b/c we serve a Triune God — He is 3 persons one Spirit.

Father — Son — Holy Spirit a perfect relationship of love, unity and purpose.

Then in v.31

Genesis 1:31 NIV

31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.

God saw all that he had made, including the first family and saw that it was VERY GOOD.

That includes the first family — Adam and Eve — and everything about it reflected His goodness and glory.

So the family isn’t an accident; it’s a calling.

“The most basic of all vocations, the one in which God’s creative power and providential care are most dramatically conveyed through human beings.”

Gene Veith

Family is the first classroom of faith.

A child’s first experience of God’s provision, care, and love comes through their family.

Marriage mirrors the Gospel.

Parenting models God’s wisdom and authority.

Honoring our parents trains our hearts to honor God.

So consequently, family works best when it’s done God’s way — not your way — not the way of the world — not the way of culture — or your family of origin.

But here’s the truth, we all have a context for family. Some really good — mom and dad were both there, sibilings grandad and grandma. Some really bad — dad left, mom left, siblings separated —

But there’s one thing that holds all of this together and that’s keeping God at the center.

Let’s honest… that can be hard right? And come on Brandon what does that even mean?

The Word

About 3,425 years ago after the Exodus where Moses and Israel received the commandments Joshua steps up to lead Israel. He serves Israel for 25 years. As an old man, looking over the nation he pleas with them...

Joshua 24:14–15 NIV

14 “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 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.”

Here’s what’s happening:

Joshua is near the end of his life. He’s led Israel through battles, victories, and years of wandering. He’s seen God’s faithfulness firsthand — manna in the desert, walls of Jericho falling, the Promised Land conquered.

Now, Israel is finally settled. Life is good.

But in their comfort, they’ve started letting other things take God’s place.

So Joshua gathers all the families of Israel together — husbands, wives, children, generations — and he gives them a choice.

He says, “You can keep serving the gods of your ancestors… or you can serve the one true God.”

And then he draws a line in the sand and says:

Joshua 24:14–15 NIV

But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

God is at the center of my family

Joshua knew something we sometimes forget...

If you don’t choose who you’ll serve, the world will choose for you.

This is a principle that I have taught you many different times, no decision is a decision.

If you don’t decide who’s at the center, something else will be:

For some, it’s success.

For others, it’s comfort or convenience.

For many, it’s busyness or distraction.

Joshua looked around and said, “Not in my house. Not with my family. We’re going to serve the Lord.”

This wasn’t a statement of perfection, it was a declaration of priority.

He wasn’t saying, “My house will never fail.”

He was saying, “When we do, we’ll turn back to God. When we choose, we’ll choose Him first.”

Because when God is at the center:

Worship becomes natural. It’s not something you have to schedule — it’s who you are.

Unity becomes possible. Because you’re not pulling in different directions — you’re anchored to the same purpose.

Faith becomes generational. What starts in you can flow through your kids, your grandkids, and beyond.

When God is not at the center, families drift. But when He is at the center, families align with His purpose and carry His presence.

God at the Center Illustration — Sun holding the solar system in order

Think of your family like a wheel. Every spoke represents something important — your marriage, your kids, your job, your finances, your emotions, your faith.

If the hub is strong, the wheel rolls smoothly, and the spokes stay aligned. But if that center starts to crack or shift, everything wobbles. It doesn’t matter how nice the spokes look — the wheel won’t move right.

Joshua was saying, “As for me and my house we will serve the Lord.” Because...

When God is at the center, everything else finds its place.

But when something else is in the center, when success or stress or self takes over, everything else starts to shake and fall apart.

Application

God needs to be the center of the family.

So before we talk about handling our spouse… Before we talk about raising our kids or honoring our parents… We’ve got to ask one simple question:

Who’s at the center of your family?

Looks like…

Pray first

What does God say about it?

Talking about God in the home.

Meal time prayers.

Bedtime prayers.

Praying over your kids before school

Praying over your husband before he leaves for work.

Unconditional love and forgiveness.

Grace and truth.

Because if your home revolves around God — your decisions, your priorities, your schedule, your conversations, then you’re building on a foundation that will stand.

But if He’s not, then it’s only a matter of time before the cracks start to show.

Joshua didn’t wait for someone else to make the decision for him, he made the declaration for his family:

Joshua 24:14–15 NIV

But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

You can’t control every person in your family.

But you can control what kind of home you’re building. And it starts with putting God back at the center.

Imagine a family where God’s presence fills the home.

Where prayer is normal.

Where forgiveness flows freely.

Where love isn’t earned — it’s extended.

Where every person knows — this home belongs to the Lord.

That’s the picture God gave us in the beginning. That’s what Joshua fought for. And that’s what He’s inviting us to build today.

Because when God is at the center, the family doesn’t just survive, it thrives.

So...

Who’s at the center of your family?