Creating a Christ-centered home means the Bible is shaping our parenting, marriage, and family life. These core Bible verses are so helpful.
Why the Bible is the key to a Christ-centered home
Life is always changing.
But the Bible is not.
Scripture never changes! It does not adjust to accommodate our busy schedules or reliance on technology. God does not change his mind on what is good or right just because we don’t understand or like it.
There is a biblical picture of what a happy, healthy, and holy marriage looks like. And there is a biblical picture of what happy, healthy, and holy mothering looks like.
Join me today to dive into 5 Scriptures that I have found so helpful over the years.
These are the Bible verses that have helped me think through my own family life, and the ones I turn to regularly in the counseling room to help other women strengthen their own family relationships too.
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How we should think about a Christ-centered home
The gospel changes who we are.
If we really want a happy marriage, it should be a gospel centered marriage. Serving Christ means we will serve each other. Our marriage will be centered in the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, kindness, patience, and more. We will pursue unity and humility. Forgiveness will be common.
In our parenting, the ups and downs and emotions and stresses will be so much more manageable when we approach our motherhood as a calling from the Lord. Because it is!
Jesus Christ has given his life to give US life. To bring us forgiveness and to restore peace in our relationship with God the Father.
But along the way, He is also restoring peace in our relationships with one another.
Because our homes are the places where our most favorite people live, the people we are most committed to and who see us as our best and worst… we especially need Christ to be at the center of it all!
The reality of the gospel in our Christ-centered homes
We find clear guidance in the Bible for what godly relationships should look like.
But of course, real life will get in the way of that sometimes!
The gospel starts with the reality of sin – and yes, we all know that sin is present even in our Christ-centered homes.
We sin. Our spouses sin. Our children sin. Other people sin against us. Not to mention, the world is simply broken. There are natural disasters, health problems, and plenty of breakdowns in communication and emotional control.
RELATED: Why A Happy Christian Home Requires Lots Of Forgiveness
But the gospel doesn’t stop there.
Jesus came into this world to deal with sin. To forgive us, restore us, and make us a new creation in him. As we each individually grow in spiritual maturity, our family relationships will grow too!
Our family life will more and more reflect the grace of God in our lives, and we will enjoy it more and more as we lean on Jesus.
We want to have our eyes on the prize, as they say – and that means having our eyes on what Scripture defines as a happy, healthy, and holy Christian home.
What should our family relationships really look like?
We could look at SO many Scriptures to help paint this picture.
Today, I want to share a few of my favorites. Scriptures that have helped ME think through my own family life and that I’ve used in the counseling room to help many women strengthen their own family relationships too.
The 5 Scriptures that have changed my own Christian family life
God gives us the Bible so that we can know Him, love him, and follow him.
He is clear that our marriages are a reflection of his own relationship with his people.
And He is also clear that our motherhood is an important and meaningful part of raising up his people and shaping his Kingdom.
So we have to look here, in the Bible, for guidance in our family relationships.
What does God require of every Christian, every wife, every family?
#1: We are all called to be compassionate, kind, forgiving, and growing the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)
What an impact this spiritual fruit will have on our family and home life! As each person experiences spiritual growth individually with the Lord, this fruit flows out into our relationships.
A Christ-centered home will be filled with this spiritual fruit. We won’t do it perfectly, but we will all get to enjoy this peace, kindness, and gentleness. Self-control will be more than just learning tricks to manage our anger or impatience.
#2: We are all called to rejoice, pray, and be thankful (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
As people saved by grace, our homes should be filled with gratitude and joy. Not because we never have trials, struggle, or pain – but because we know the goodness of the Lord and we center our lives around him.
A Christ-centered home will have an atmosphere of joy and gratitude. We will be looking for the positive, celebrating each other, and praying regularly. As our interactions point back to Christ and the glory of the gospel, we find hope and strength even during our family’s trials.
#3: Each person in a family has a complementary calling which strengthens the family unit (Ephesians 5:22-6:4 and Colossians 3:18-21)
Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord… Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her… (Ephesians 5:22,25)
In Ephesians 5-6 as well as Colossians 3, we find clear roles for each family member. Roles that are each important, but a little unique.
As each family member steps into their God-given role, it strengthens the entire family. In both of these sections of Scripture, God starts with the husband/wife relationship.
In a Christ-centered home, the marriage relationship is built on respect and love. Both spouses are treating each other well, showing Jesus’ love through how they treat each other. What a beautiful home life this creates!
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:1,4)
Similarly, the parent/child relationship has special roles that help each other. Children obey their parents in the Lord, while parents work on teaching, instructing, and raising kids in a way that does not “exasperate” their children.
No one will do this perfectly, but this is the goal.
A Christ-centered home has healthy parent/child interactions, where there is respect, love, and kindness. Just like the marriage relationship, this creates a beautiful and more peaceful home life.
RELATED: A Biblical Picture of Godly Relationships In A Christian Home
#4: We are all called to be sharing the gospel, teaching others obedience, and making disciples… especially in our own homes (Matthew 28:19-20)
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28:19-20)
These two Bible verses are called the Great Commission. They are typically (and rightly) applied to Christian missionary work. We are to go and make disciples!
But the very first place we are called to go is into our own home. This is where we first strive to make disciples, baptize, teach, obey, and help one another. The home is where we rest together, not only enjoying our family but enjoying the presence of Christ among us.
In a Christ-centered home, we are making disciples. Clearly, parents are teaching and discipling their children. But husbands and wives are also teaching, encouraging, and helping each other in their spiritual formation too.
GO DEEPER: Dive into Scriptures, reflections, and action steps with my devotional workbook, Building A Home of Godliness and Joy.
#5: We are all called to humbly serve each other (Philippians 2:3-4)
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. (Philippians 2:3-4)
Family life is hard work. But part of that hard work is what often brings the most joy – serving and helping one another.
As we follow Jesus, we are called to show humility in our relationships and focus our attention on loving, caring for, and meeting the needs of those around us. Certainly, this applies to our homes first!
In a Christ-centered home, there is an atmosphere of humility, sacrifice, and service. We love each other by caring for each other. Of course, this doesn’t end at our doorstep! But it is a central and beautiful part of Christian family life.
The joy of a Christ-centered home
I think we all know there are plenty more Scriptures that will help us build godly and beautiful Christian homes.
These are 5 of the Bible verses that have been most powerful in my own family life, as my husband and I have built a home together. They are challenging, motivating, inspiring, convicting – and helpful!
Trying to put Christ at the center of your home life will not solve every problem. It’s not a magic wand to guarantee everything you hope for, and it won’t stop the sibling bickering or the cranky mom moments.
But Jesus is our truest, best source of joy and peace. He is the center of the universe, and we are wise to make him the center of our own lives and our own homes.
Recommended resources to help you build a Christ-centered home
It will feel obvious, but it must be said… your best resource for building a Christ-centered home is reading the Bible regularly.
That’s where we all must start, and we will never find a resource more wise or helpful than Scripture itself!
As you build the home life you long for, I have a devotional workbook on this exact subject that may be helpful for you. It’s called Building A Home Of Godliness And Joy. I wrote it during a season of my own struggle as I wrestled with Scripture, reflected, prayed, and tried new things. I hope it will bless you too.
If you want to dive into with a FREE resource to help, I’d start with my quick download of free Journaling Prompts For Christian Moms. It includes many that I used for myself as I wrote the devotional above!
Beyond these specific resources, be sure to check out my pages for recommended resources:
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Disclaimers: I am a licensed therapist but my podcast, blog, and resources are not professional or personal advice. I am an affiliate for many of the resources that I link to, and may earn a small commission if you purchase through my link. Read my full disclaimer here.