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How to Build the Home You Want

Build your home on the teachings of Jesus

“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, for he taught with real authority—quite unlike their teachers of religious law. MATTHEW 7:24-29 NLT

Unless the LORD builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted. PSALM 127:1a NLT

Start new relationships with Jesus as the foundation

Think about what you allow in your home

A house is built by wisdom and becomes strong through good sense. Through knowledge its rooms are filled with all sorts of precious riches and valuables. PROVERBS 24:3-4 NLT

The LORD’s curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous. PROVERBS 3:33 NIV

Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is! MATTHEW 6:22-23 NLT

Dedicate your home to the service of God

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. JOSHUA 24:15 NIV

Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it. PROVERBS 22:6 NLT

You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it. MATTHEW 7:13-14 NLT

… But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD. JOSHUA 24:15d NIV

… You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. EPHESIANS 2:19b NLT

Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith. GALATIANS 6:10 NLT

So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples. JOHN 13:34-35 NLT

My Notes

Personal Reflection Guide

Find a quiet place where you can spend some time speaking and listening to God. Allow time for your emotions and thoughts to become still. Take some deep breaths. When you are ready, commit the time to God for His purposes. Picture the home you want several years from now. What does it look and feel like? Think about the sermon and what helps your home become what you want it to be as you look to the future. What teachings of Jesus are you trusting in—and practicing—today? Think about how these actions have helped save you (or your family) from being a slave to others' opinions, the storms of life, and relational suffering. Thank Him for how He has helped you build the home you want. Ask God to reveal to you any teachings, practices, or beliefs that you have allowed in your life that are weakening your home from becoming what you and God want it to be. Pray for God to help you take action this week to remove these negative influences and better build the home you want. Close your time by dedicating your home to serve your spiritual family at Sandals Church. Ask God to reveal specifically what He wants you and your family to do. Thank Him for what He will accomplish through you—and your family—in serving Him and your Sandals family.

Discussion Questions

  1. START HERE: What’s your favorite show?
  2. START HERE: Where do you go for advice?
  3. START HERE: Have you ever had a moment where you were hearing but not really “listening”? What happened?
  4. KEEP GOING: Share a time when you experienced hardship and you grew because of it.
  5. KEEP GOING: Read Matthew 7:24-29 (NLT). In a practical sense, what does it mean to “build your house upon the rock”?
  6. KEEP GOING: Read Matthew 6:22-23 (NLT). Have you ever had a season where you were watching or listening to things that weren’t healthy? How did that affect you?
  7. LIVE IT OUT: Read James 1:5-6 (NLT). God promises to give you wisdom when you ask Him for it. Where do you need wisdom? Pray together as a group and ask God for it.
  8. LIVE IT OUT: What have you allowed in your home that you need to get rid of? What can you replace that with that would draw you closer to God?
  9. LIVE IT OUT: Read Joshua 24:15 (NLT). How do you serve in the church? If you aren’t, where might God be inviting you to start? What does your local campus need?