How to Lead Your Family on Mission

Summer 2026 | Equipping Class

How to Lead a Biblical Family: A Five Week Study of the Family as God Designed It

Session Five: Mission-Oriented Family

1 Peter 3:15; Joshua 24:14-28; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Acts 2:42-47; Romans 12:13; 1 Peter 4:9; Hebrews 13:2; Numbers 6:22-27; Acts 13:1-3; Colossians 3:12-14; James 5:16.

Question: How does a family move from knowing the truth to living the truth in a world which does not applaud, encourage, or accept the truth?

Over previous weeks, we’ve covered God’s design for the family, the marriage, parenting, and making decisions. All of these are pertinent to this lesson which bring them from theoretical to practical: living/leading a family on mission.

It is one thing to know all of the above; it is altogether different to live all the above as reality.

This week, that is what we cover. Moving from knowing to living.

I. Rooted in Conviction

1 Peter 3:15

“15 but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.”

This verse gives insight to what is required first before a family can practically live on mission:

There must be a resolute, clear conviction that Jesus is Lord.

What would change in your family’s rhythms if you actually treated Christ as Lord of the house?

The following is the practical outworking of this from our study:

Truth: The family is a covenant community instituted by God.

Conviction: You see your family as God’s design, not just one’s preference

Truth: Marriage pictures Christ and the church.

Conviction: You treat your marriage as a sacred relationship with divine purpose recognizing God is reaching others through it.

Truth: Parenting is discipleship

Conviction: You prioritize formation over achievement.

Truth: Decisions are made under God’s guidance.

Conviction: You invite God into every decision, big and small.

Truth: The family is on mission.

Conviction: You see your home as a launching pad, a platform to proclaim Jesus daily.

II. Renouncing False Gods

Joshua 24:14–28

“14 “Therefore, fear the Lord and worship him in sincerity and truth. Get rid of the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and worship the Lord. 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.” 16 The people replied, “We will certainly not abandon the Lord to worship other gods! 17 For the Lord our God brought us and our ancestors out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery, and performed these great signs before our eyes. He also protected us all along the way we went and among all the peoples whose lands we traveled through. 18 The Lord drove out before us all the peoples, including the Amorites who lived in the land. We too will worship the Lord, because he is our God.” 19 But Joshua told the people, “You will not be able to worship the Lord, because he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions and sins. 20 If you abandon the Lord and worship foreign gods, he will turn against you, harm you, and completely destroy you, after he has been good to you.” 21 “No!” the people answered Joshua. “We will worship the Lord.” 22 Joshua then told the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you yourselves have chosen to worship the Lord.” “We are witnesses,” they said. 23 “Then get rid of the foreign gods that are among you and turn your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.” 24 So the people said to Joshua, “We will worship the Lord our God and obey him.” 25 On that day Joshua made a covenant for the people at Shechem and established a statute and ordinance for them. 26 Joshua recorded these things in the book of the law of God; he also took a large stone and set it up there under the oak at the sanctuary of the Lord. 27 And Joshua said to all the people, “You see this stone—it will be a witness against us, for it has heard all the words the Lord said to us, and it will be a witness against you, so that you will not deny your God.” 28 Then Joshua sent the people away, each to his own inheritance.”

Context: Israel recently crossed the Jordan and entered the Promised Land of Canaan. They are surrounded by nations with pagan and false gods. The temptation is to adopt the other gods— not necessarily to deny Yahweh — alongside God (syncretism). The danger: spiritual compromise.

God is not one god among many. He is the One True God.

What is involved in affirming this conviction?

Put away other gods

Choose each day who you will serve

Make the resolute decision for your family to serve God alone

What are the gods of the modern American society?

Travel ball or sports culture — When athletic achievement becomes the center of family identity and schedule

Social media or approval of men — When likes, followers, and online validation drive your family’s emotional well-being

Economic or social status — when your home, car, job title, or neighborhood become the measurement of your family’s worth

Comfort and convenience — When avoiding hardship becomes a higher value than obedience

Excellence and achievement — When your children’s resume becomes more important than their character

Application Questions:

What are the gods in your house right now? What competes with God for your family’s time, energy, and affection?

What has serving Christ as a family cost you? Anything? (Luke 9:23 “23 Then he said to them all, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.”)

Does your family have any tangible reminders of your commitment to serve the Lord? Family mission values?

III. Recognizable Rhythms

Mission is not a one-time event (even once a year type thing), but instead, it is to be interwoven into the rhythms of your family’s lives.

Prayer and Worship

Deuteronomy 6:4–9 “4 “Listen, Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 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. 8 Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be a symbol on your forehead. 9 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your city gates.”

Acts 2:42–47 “42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles. 44 Now all the believers were together and held all things in common. 45 They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with joyful and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. Every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.”

Hospitality as a way of life

Romans 12:13 “13 Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality.”

1 Peter 4:9 “9 Be hospitable to one another without complaining.”

Hebrews 13:2 “2 Don’t neglect to show hospitality, for by doing this some have welcomed angels as guests without knowing it.”

Commissioning

Numbers 6:22–27 “22 The Lord spoke to Moses: 23 “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. You should say to them, 24 “May the Lord bless you and protect you; 25 may the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 may the Lord look with favor on you and give you peace.” ’ 27 In this way they will pronounce my name over the Israelites, and I will bless them.””

Acts 13:1–3 “1 Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then after they had fasted, prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them off.”

Modeling Confession, Forgiveness, and Repentance

Colossians 3:12–14 “12 Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive. 14 Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.”

James 5:16 “16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect.”

Closing:

The goal of this is not more information; it is transformation and the ability to articulate/defend the biblical family.

Of the three today — resolute conviction, renouncing false gods, and recognizable rhythms — which is the starting point for you as you seek to lead your family after the biblical model and purposes for the family?