We welcome you to Stone's Hill today!

A typical Stone's Hill service has:

* music (so feel free to sing out);

* some announcements (things that are upcoming that you can be a part of);

* a message out of the Bible (God speaks to us through his Word);

* and an opportunity for you to respond to the message (either immediately in the case of a decision that needs to be made OR in the future as you live out the message in your daily life.)

So relax and enjoy your morning! We're so glad you are here!

MESSAGE TEXT
Psalm 127:1-5
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INTRODUCTION
I’m going to propose that Psalm 127 is really all about the family and making God the center of it. In the OT it is common to speak of a family as a “house”. Solomon was a builder. He wants to speak in those terms. But the way he uses them, the house, the wall, the quiver, the arrows – it all references back to the family.
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So, when we read about a house, a wall, a quiver – those are synonymous with the family. What the building and civic world taught Solomon gets transferred into the world of building a great family culture.
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Furthermore, why is the house being built if it is not for the family? And why are the watchmen protecting the city if not for the families that live in it? Then as now, the family was the basic unit and most important element of society.
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PROPOSITION
Strong families do certain things; they practice certain things to create a positive family culture. Build your family culture but don’t do it without God. As you labor in these practices, the Lord builds the house, the family.
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Even if your children are grown, or your family is broken, or you’re a single adult hoping to have a family someday – it is always the right time to be thinking about the kind of family that you want to have and it’s never too late to start being a strong influence for good, even if your family is raised.
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Psalm 127 has a huge assumption behind it. Raising a family when done independently of God will leave you feeling empty and questioning what it was all about anyway. But when God is the focus of a family, those kids are like arrows when they get launched and they take all that love from home and land in broken places.
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So, I want to talk to you today about how to build a family for God’s glory; about how to create a healthy family culture that honors God. What are the practices that create a healthy family culture where everyone can thrive? I want to talk to you about some practices and tools for transforming your home life and dramatically improving your family’s culture.
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[Pastor Nelson will go over TEN PRACTICES that create a strong and healthy family culture]
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CONCLUSION
God had a son who was beloved (see v.2). You need Him! No family culture is so sick that the Lord cannot remodel. And He’s the true watchmen on the wall. And for those who don’t know where to start, he’ll give you a brand-new house by transforming the people who live in your home. Unless the Lord adds to the church, we evangelize in vain. Unless the Lord teaches the class, we prepare in vain. Unless the Lord guides the ministry, we serve in vain. Unless the Lord restores the family, we counsel in vain. Unless the Lord blesses the writing project, we compose in vain. Unless the Lord expands the business, we market in vain. Unless the Lord protects us on the mission field, we travel in vain. Unless the Lord guards us in the urban centers, we secure ourselves vain. Unless the Lord watches over our children, we care for them in vain. Unless the Lord looks after the church, we pastor in vain.