Intro

1. Welcome to Rooftops
2. We just finished 5 nights of prayer and worship, finishing with a half night of pursuit

Tension

1. A few months ago driving through a neighborhood
   1. Looked at a house, noticed the aesthetics.
   2. What I really wondered was, what’s going on in that house? 
   3. A little girl ran out the house, and I thought “man, whatever is happening in that house is forming her”
2. Homes are where lives are formed
   1. Me growing up
      1. That’s my house since from 1 years old
      2. That piano formed me
      3. That motorcycle formed me
      4. That island formed me
      5. The people in that picture formed me
      6. Those conversations, those moments formed me
   2. Angie recently sent me a picture of my crew.. 
      1. I’m a sappy dad. The years are flying by. 
      2. This pic popped up in my feed the other day
      3. This front porch has seen many first days of school
      4. The hands in the concrete 
      5. The lines on the doors
      6. The stains in the rugs and furniture
      7. Savi riding a bike
   3. A few weeks ago a man was in my front yard, he was taking pictures. We felt weird and approached him, and he let us know that he was the guy that built the house and he wanted to send a picture to his daughter that grew up in the house. After discussion we let him see the kitchen of the house He wept because of the memories.
3. Here’s what many people don’t realize… HOMES ARE THE GREATEST PLACE OF FORMATION
   1. Sure.. a school forms people
   2. Sure.. a job forms people
   3. Sure.. a team forms people
   4. But nothing matches the formative power of the home.

Passage

Psalm 127:1-5 (ESV) 1 Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. 2 It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep. 3 Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. 4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. 5 Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

Comments - You can see where this is going.. The writer of this psalms is talking about a legacy, a household, generation to generation. If God is helping you build the legacy, it will stand. God gives a heritage, only He can.

Four Principles 

1. Homes Build People

• You were built in a home
  • Some good: Be grateful, guard it, and build on it.
  • Some bad: Forgive, learn from it, and don’t repeat it.
• You are being built in a home, and you are building others
  • You are still being formed in your home—by words, actions, and attitudes.
  • You are forming others in your home.
• You are building kids in a home
  • This is the scary part: The humans of tomorrow are being formed in your home right now.
  • Their values are being shaped.
  • Their identity is being learned.

2. Homes Rest on Foundations

• The natural importance of foundations: Every single thing in the home sits on the foundation. If it isn’t strong or built right, everything will crumble.
  • How do you know what your foundation is?
    1. Your foundation is the invisible WHY. Here is a question you can ask, “why are we here, together?” Or “why are we still here, together”
    2. Your foundation is the invisible thing you are counting on to make it all stay together. 
    3. Your foundation is what tells your family how to live!
• Reflecting on the base: What is your home built on?
  • I’m talking about overarching philosophy on why you are in the home. 
  • "We just moved in together; we’ll do this as long as we really enjoy it."
  • "It’s way cheaper to do it this way."
  • "It’s all about the kids."
  • "Every man for himself."
• The Reality: Your home is built on a foundation right now.

3. Storms Tell the Truth

• All foundations seem to work fine when life is good. It is easy to think your foundation is just as strong as the next person’s until life gets difficult.
• Potential Storms:
  • "We just don’t feel the same way about each other."
  • "The kids all left for college."
  • "We don’t have enough money this month."
  • "My parents are ill."
• Matthew 7:24-28 (ESV) 24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” 28 And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching,

4. Make Christ the Foundation 

• Jesus must be the foundation of the home.
  • His ways are code:
    • Selfless love (laying down His life).
    • Covenant faithfulness (I’ll never leave you).
    • Servanthood (thinking of your needs before my own).
    • Forgiveness.
  • Life revolves around Him:
    • He is Lord of the house.
    • Time with Him is valued.
  • Everything is seen through the lens of how He sees it.
    • His will is preeminent; the home simply exists to do His will.
  • I buried two long time Bethany Members
    • Stanley Black
    • Terry Smith
    • Both of them had Jesus as the cornerstone 

The Close

• Final Thoughts:
  • God loves homes because He loves people.
  • Your home matters to God.
  • Your home is forming people, so be intentional with the foundation.
• Closing: 1 Corinthians 3:10-11 (ESV) 10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. 11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.