The Way - Strong Faith Strong Families (Pt 1)

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world-the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life-is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. - 1 John 2:15-17

13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. - John 17:13-18

1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. - Colossians 3:1-2

Individual and Family

• As individuals this is our calling in Christ. This is The Way

• If this is The Way for us as individuals, shouldn’t it be the same for families?

Family on Mission

The Right Focus

• What I’m proposing today, is that we become radical for Christ in our family

• That we become mission focused on Christ and not on the things or the way of the world

Why would I propose such an audacious thing?

- Strong Faith, Strong Families -

• A strong faith and a strong family does not appear by accident

  • It’s intentional

• If you want strong faith in your family and a strong family, we have to come to terms with a few things:

1. Understanding the Scriptures and not deviating from them

2. Come to grips where we are falling short in our family

3. Adjust our lives as a family to pursue The Way

Contrasts of the World and The Way

Worldly Pursuits

• Success at All Costs – Families chase career promotions, achievements, and recognition above all else.

• Result: Creates burnout, absent parents, and children who feel unseen—leading to fractured relationships.

• Endless Entertainment – Life revolves around Netflix, sports, gaming, and vacations.

• Result: Trains families to be consumers rather than disciples, leaving them shallow and disconnected from eternal purpose.

• Material Accumulation – Bigger homes, nicer cars, constant upgrades.

• Result: Burdens families with debt and comparison, producing envy and stress that erode unity.

• Individual Fulfillment – Each person seeks “my truth” or “my happiness” above the good of the family.

• Result: Weakens the family bond, leading to self-centered living and fractured loyalty.

• Busyness and Overcommitment – Schedules jammed with sports, work, and activities.

• Result: Leaves no margin for God or meaningful connection, causing exhaustion and spiritual emptiness.

• Status and Image – Families strive to appear successful, curating perfection on social media.

• Result: Produces insecurity, inauthenticity, and pressure that crushes both parents and children.

• Comfort and Ease – Pursuit of convenience, luxury, and avoiding hardship.

• Result: Leaves families unprepared for trials, fragile in faith, and quick to crumble when life gets hard.

• Secular Values – Shaped more by culture than Scripture in decisions on morality, identity, and priorities.

• Result: Confusion reigns in the home, weakening convictions and opening the door to compromise.

• Tolerance as Truth – Embracing “whatever works for you” as the family’s guiding principle.

• Result: Dismantles moral clarity, leaving children spiritually adrift and unmoored from God’s truth.

• Independence Over Community – Families prioritize self-sufficiency over church involvement.

• Result: Isolation takes root, and without accountability, families become spiritually malnourished and vulnerable.

Mission on Christ Pursuits

• Faith Grows Stronger – Anchored in God’s promises, families walk through trials with resilience.

• Result: Instead of collapsing under pressure, their faith becomes unshakable and an example to others.

• Families Become Anchored – Priorities are built on Christ, not shifting cultural values.

• Result: They become rooted and stable, weathering storms without losing sight of God’s mission.

• Children Catch the Vision – Kids see authentic faith lived out at home.

• Result: Instead of drifting, they inherit a generational legacy of faith and mission.

• Generational Impact – Parents disciple children, who disciple others.

• Result: Families multiply faith beyond themselves, influencing their community and generations to come.

• Witness to the World – Their home becomes a light to neighbors and friends.

• Result: People are drawn to Jesus through the family’s love, integrity, and hospitality.

• Joy and Fulfillment – Living on mission gives deeper satisfaction than comfort or wealth.

• Result: Homes marked by joy and peace stand out against the emptiness of cultural pursuits.

• Peace in the Home – God’s order and mission align relationships.

• Result: Families experience harmony instead of chaos, unity instead of division.

• Strength in Hardship – Trials become opportunities for testimony.

• Result: Families endure together, showing the strength that only comes from faith in Christ.

• Kingdom Legacy – Their lives ripple outward with eternal fruit.

• Result: They leave behind not just possessions, but a legacy of faith, love, and service.

• God is Glorified – Christ is magnified in every sphere of family life.

• Result: Their strong faith produces strong families, which showcase the power of God to a watching world.

How to Be a Family on Mission for Christ

• Make the Home a Daily House of Prayer

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. - I Thessalonians 5:16-18

• Practice Scripture Reading and Instruction in the Home

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. - II Timothy 3:16

• Celebrate the Lord’s Day Together

7 On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them… - Acts 20:7

Reflection Questions

• Where is my time really going?
  Am I investing my hours in things that strengthen my faith and my family, or in distractions that slowly weaken both?

• What sacrifices am I willing to make?
  Am I willing to give up comfort, entertainment, or convenience so that my family can grow in God’s Word, prayer, and church together?

• What do my daily habits reveal?
  When I’m in bed, in the living room, or with my children, do my choices point toward pursuing God—or toward neglecting Him?

• What do I truly want for my family?
  Do I want temporary satisfaction from what the world offers, or do I want the lasting fruit of a strong faith and a strong family?

• How am I helping my family live on mission?
  What intentional steps can we take—together—to build rhythms of prayer, Bible reading, worship, and discipleship into our home life?

For all of Pastor Ryan’s teaching notes, click here.