Building Strong Families Through God’s Eyes

based on the Bible Study, “Provision, Stewardship, & Training” by Pastor R. Colhouer
Click here to listen to the full message.
 
Let’s talk about family. Not the Instagram-filtered version with matching pajamas and smiles that never fade, but the real, raw, sometimes messy, deeply meaningful version. The kind of family God sees, cares about, and fights for.  
 
Luke 15 is one of those chapters in the Bible that just hits different when you stop and sit in it for a minute. It’s not one story; it’s three. Three powerful parables Jesus told to a bunch of religious folks who had a real problem with how comfortable He was around sinners. The Pharisees were grumbling because Jesus wasn’t just talking to “those people,” He was eating with them. Breaking bread. Laughing. Teaching. Loving. And instead of clapping, they were critiquing. So, Jesus hit them with three stories: one about a lost sheep, one about a lost coin, and one about a lost son.
 
Now listen, the main point of these stories is pretty straightforward -- God is relentless when it comes to the lost. He doesn’t wait for you to get it together. He comes looking. Searching. Welcoming. Throwing parties in heaven when even one sinner repents. That’s the Gospel. Period. But when you further study this chapter, something deeper is revealed, especially in light of family. These parables highlight three pillars that make a house a home: provision, stewardship, and training. 
 
Let’s break it down.

First, the shepherd. He has a hundred sheep, but when one goes missing, he leaves the ninety-nine and goes after the one. Why? Because every sheep matters. Every one is a part of the whole. Sheep weren’t just pets back then; they were provision. They were food, clothing, income. Losing one wasn’t just emotional, it was economical. And yet the shepherd risked the comfort of the ninety-nine to rescue the one.
 
When we talk about family, provision matters. Not just financial, though that’s part of it. Yes, bills need to be paid, lights need to stay on, and groceries need to be bought --but there’s more to it than that. Provision also means emotional availability, spiritual guidance, and relational presence. It’s not just about bringing home a paycheck; it’s about bringing your whole self into your home. Dads, moms, grandparents, guardians --we all have something to give. Even if you’re not the “breadwinner,” you can be the wisdom-bringer, the joy-giver, the peace-keeper. 
 
God is our ultimate provider. Jehovah Jireh. He never leaves us begging. He provides through jobs, yes, but also through community, creativity, and yes, even miracles. He sets the tone for what provision looks like: faithful, sacrificial, and rooted in love.

Next up: the woman and the lost coin. She had ten, lost one, and lit a candle, swept the house, turned the place upside down until she found it. Then she celebrated. This one hits different when you think about how easy it is to lose things... not just coins, but peace, order, discipline, financial clarity. She had the provision (ten coins), but she needed stewardship to hold onto it.
 
In our homes, it’s not just about what comes in; it’s about what stays in. You can be bringing in good money and still be broke if you’re not managing it right. That’s why God calls us to be good stewards.  
 
Stewardship isn’t just budgeting. It’s a mindset. It’s recognizing that everything we have belongs to God, and we’re just managers of His resources. From your bank account to your car to your home to your time --it’s all on loan. Teach your kids this too. Let them see you making wise choices. Let them learn early that it’s not about how much you have, but how well you handle it.

Finally, we get to the prodigal son. You know the story --he took his inheritance early, wasted it all, ended up in a pig pen, and finally came back home, expecting shame but getting a party. The father ran to him. Fell on his neck. Kissed him. Threw a feast. Grace on display. But then there’s the older brother... the one who stayed. The one who did everything “right.” And yet he was bitter. Jealous. Feeling overlooked. That’s a whole sermon by itself. But here’s what the story shows us: training matters. Not just discipline, but heart training.  
 
Teaching our children who they are and Whose they are. The prodigal had to learn through pain. Sometimes our kids will too. But the way we respond when they fall speaks volumes. Is our home a place they can return to? Do they know grace lives here? And on the flip side, are we training the “faithful ones” to be joyful, not jealous, when others return? Are we cultivating humility and celebration in the hearts of our “older brothers”?  
 
Training is hard work. But it’s worth it. And the church should be part of that too.  

When Jesus told these parables, He was inviting the religious crowd -- and us -- to reimagine what the heart of God looks like. It’s not about exclusion. It’s about restoration. Redemption. Relationship. And when we look at these stories through the lens of family, we see the building blocks of a strong, godly home: Provision. Stewardship. Training.

So ask yourself:

• What am I providing to my family, beyond the paycheck? 
• Am I stewarding what God gave me well? 
• Am I training the next generation with grace and truth?
   

You don’t have to have it all figured out. But you do need to start somewhere. And know this -- God is with you. He’s for your family. He’ll fill in the gaps if you keep building with Him.

Heavenly Father,  
 
Thank You for being our Shepherd, Provider, and Home. We ask You to help us become people who chase after what’s lost with compassion and faith, who wisely manage the resources You’ve given us, and who love unconditionally as You love us. Teach us to steward well, not just our finances but our time, relationships, and especially our children. 
 
Give us wisdom and discipline to resist temptation and to prepare for both seasons of plenty and seasons of lack. Help us to provide emotionally, spiritually, and financially for our families, and to give generously from the blessings You entrust to us. Let our homes be places filled with Your presence, peace, and protection. 
 
Lord, guide us as parents to train our children in faith and truth, with patience, consistency, and love. Help us to be living examples of Your Word, teaching them to walk with You and prepare for the realities of life. Heal every hurting family and restore broken homes, bringing unity, forgiveness, and peace where there is strife. 
 
May our greatest goal be to raise children who will make heaven and honor You all their days. We welcome Your presence in our homes today -- be the foundation beneath us and the love that fills every room.  

In Jesus’ name,  
Amen.