Rebuilding the Altar (4)
Dustin Lee Boden / General
Rebuilding the Altar
The Home Altar— A Family Altar of Prayer
Deuteronomy 6:6–9 NLT
6 And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today.
7 Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.
8 Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders.
9 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Introduction:
We are in the fourth message of our series “Rebuilding the Altar”. So far we have journeyed through “The Significance of the Altar”, “Restoring Broken Altars”, “The Personal Altar”, and this week we are discussing “The Home Altar— A Family Altar of Prayer”.
The family altar is a place where God’s presence is invited into the heart of our homes, shaping the spiritual life and legacy of each family member.
There is a real application of faith that is taught and caught at home.
• You can never expect your families to give themselves to Christ if all they ever see you giving is leftovers!
• Authentic faith is birthed at home.
I feel very certain that for most, not all, but most, that your faith is something that has been passed down to you from someone in your family.
There are many things in life that can be passed down to us, often without us realizing it, ranging from behaviors and beliefs to spiritual and emotional patterns.
For example...
1. Family Traditions and Habits: Our daily routines… from holiday celebrations to conflict management, often reflect inherited family patterns.
2. Cultural Values and Norms: Your attitudes toward work, education, and social roles are passed down, shaping our worldview without conscious choice.
3. Spiritual Beliefs and Practice: Faith and religious practices are often inherited from family or community.
4. Emotional Responses and Coping Mechanisms: How we handle emotions like stress or anger is often influenced by what we observed in our families.
5. Attitudes Toward Money and Success: Our mindset around money and success—whether scarcity or generosity—can stem from how these topics were handled growing up.
6. Health and Lifestyle Choices: Family influences shape eating habits, exercise routines, and health decisions, often without us realizing it.
7. Unresolved Trauma or Emotional Baggage: Generational trauma can pass down emotional wounds, impacting how we relate to others or process situations.
8. Language and Communication Styles: Our communication style, from tone to humor, is often inherited from family.
9. Views on Authority and Leadership: Attitudes toward authority figures, shaped by family influence, affect how we respond to leadership.
10. Relationship Patterns: How we navigate relationships often mirrors what we observed growing up, such as avoiding or engaging in conflict.
Recognizing these patterns is key to controlling who you become by deciding what to carry forward or change.
This is why a family altar is so important.
It creates a space where intentional spiritual influence takes place, where families can seek God together, and where a legacy of faith is built for future generations.
The theme for our series is… “Whoever Controls the Altar, Controls the Outcome”…and the spiritual climate of the home is directly tied to the altar of prayer.
This is applied to us individually, and to us as a family… if you cannot build this foundation in your own life and in the home you will not be successful in leading your family here!
The altar in this context represents the heart of the home.
If parents allow distractions or secular influences to control the spiritual atmosphere, it can shape the outcome of the family's spiritual future.
But if God controls the altar—through consistent family prayer, Bible teaching, and walking in His ways—the outcome is a family rooted in faith, protected from spiritual dangers, and walking in God's blessings.
Deuteronomy 6:6-9 calls us to rebuild spiritual altars in our homes—a place where God's Word is central, prayer is consistent, and intimacy with God is cultivated.
This rebuilding is not just about repairing what's been lost but ensuring that the home is where faith is nurtured and sustained.
Deuteronomy 6 emphasizes the responsibility of God’s people to lead their families spiritually.
We must take responsibility for the family altar, ensuring that it is dedicated to the Lord.
What we need to understand is… whoever controls the Family Altar determines the outcome of the families future.
When God Controls the Home Altar: The family grows in faith, love, and unity.
The outcome is spiritual strength, generational blessings, and an unwavering commitment to follow God.
When the World Controls the Home Altar: The spiritual environment becomes fragmented, with secular values and worldly pressures leading to confusion, weakened faith, and spiritual decline.
The spiritual life of the family, and ultimately the outcomes they experience, is directly tied to who or what controls the altar of the home.
"The altar of your home is the compass for your family's spiritual direction. If prayer is at the center, your home will be a sanctuary of God's presence, where faith is nurtured, and destinies are shaped."
1. The Family Altar Shapes Identity and Legacy
The family altar sets the foundation for generations to walk in God’s ways by teaching faith and prayer in the home.
1. What you build today will echo in the generations to come!
a. This is not just something that will only impact your family today, but generations upon generations will be impacted by this.
b. God's intention is that the family be the primary place where spiritual identity is shaped.
c. When families prioritize prayer and time in God’s Word together, it builds a foundation of truth that is deeply rooted in their children’s hearts.
Deuteronomy 6:6–9 NLT
6 And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today.
7 Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.
8 Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders.
9 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
a. Our children are constantly being shaped by the culture around them—whether through social media, entertainment, the school system, or colleges.
b. The breakdown in society has exposed a void where foundational values, once anchored in faith, are now missing.
c. Without the home altar—a place where families prayed together, sought God’s wisdom, and passed down spiritual truths—the next generation is left to search for identity and purpose in a world that offers no lasting answers.
d. The younger generation is searching for identity, but without a proper foundation to anchor their identity in they are forced to find it in the world systems.
i. They are turning to pop culture and celebrities to define success, beauty, and identity.
ii. People believe their worth and value is tied to their possessions… to political and social movements… and they are being directed and shaped by social circles… and what happens is… they adopt the behaviors, beliefs, customs, and values from these places… and this becomes the source identity… even if it conflicts with their upbringing.
e. By finding identity in these places, people can be left feeling empty or unstable because these sources are often temporary, fleeting, or conditional.
f. The absence of godly values, principles and morals that are normally passed down through family and community is the main contributor to this identity crisis.
i. When parents, schools, and society at large remove God from the conversation, children lose a clear sense of who they are in Him.
ii. This loss of this spiritual grounding creates an environment where they are more vulnerable to influences that promise identity but fail to deliver true purpose and fulfillment.
g. Have you ever made the connection to the troubles in this world to a break-down in the family?
h. This is easy for me to see!
i. We cannot expect our children to behave in ways we do not model for them
ii. We cannot expect them to believe things that our actions suggest we do not believe, and
iii. We cannot expect them to become all that God intends them to be in their faith… if we fail to LEAD them.
i. Your life is the imprint they start their lives with.
j. The ceiling of YOUR faith… is the floor to their spiritual walk!
i. The closer to God YOU are, the closer to God they will be.
ii. If you are a person dedicated to prayer, they will be a person dedicated to prayer.
iii. If you prioritize God over everything, they will prioritize God over everything.
iv. How YOU see yourself in Christ is how they will see themselves in Christ.
Proverbs 14:26 NIV 2011
26 Whoever fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for their children it will be a refuge.
k. This verse paints a vivid picture of what happens when parents live in reverence to God.
i. The "fear of the Lord" here doesn’t refer to fear in a negative sense, but to awe, respect, and deep trust in God.
ii. When parents prioritize their relationship with God and model godly principles in the home, they create a secure fortress—a spiritual stronghold that protects not just themselves, but their children as well.
l. We need to understand that what you do today is vital to the generations to come.
2. When prayer fills your home, faith fills your children.
a. When a home is consistently filled with prayer, it becomes a place where God’s presence is tangible.
b. This atmosphere of worship and dependence on God teaches your family that God is not distant or abstract, but near and personal.
c. They learn that turning to God in every situation is not only possible but natural.
d. When parents pray with and for their children, they model a living relationship with God, showing that He is involved in the daily rhythms of life.
e. The idea here is faith is CAUGHT, not just taught!
f. One of the best ways we teach our children and families is by example.
i. When your family witness their parents or other family members consistently turning to prayer for guidance, strength, and provision, it instills in them a deep trust in God.
ii. This is done intentionally and through experience.
iii. You can only learn so much through book study and instruction, there comes a time where you need real life practice and examples to learn from.
iv. The prayers they hear and the moments of breakthrough or answered prayers they witness become the building blocks of their own personal faith journey.
g. Just as a child absorbs language by hearing it, they also absorb faith by being immersed in an environment where prayer and trust in God are daily practices.
h. Here in lies the problem, parents who are part-time Christians raise children who are part-time Christians.
i. The faith they have passed onto them isn’t of any value, and mostly what happens is their children grow up to repeat what they were taught at home.
i. However, if children grow up in a home where prayer is central, they learn that life’s challenges can be faced with confidence, not in their own strength but in God’s.
j. Whether it’s a small issue like a difficult test or a more serious family crisis, when prayer is the first response, children learn that God is a reliable source of strength and comfort.
k. This builds resilience and trust in their hearts as they come to know that they are never alone in their struggles.
l. The result is they now have a faith that sticks with them for life!
i. The faith that is cultivated in a prayer-filled home doesn’t leave children when they grow up.
ii. Even as they encounter the world’s pressures and challenges, the seeds of faith planted through consistent family prayer will be deeply rooted in their hearts.
iii. They are more likely to turn to prayer in their own adult lives because it has been ingrained in them as a source of strength, wisdom, and connection to God.
3. A praying family is a legacy-building family.
a. Your prayers today can lay a foundation that your children will stand on tomorrow.
b. Just as Timothy’s faith was a result of the legacy passed down from his grandmother Lois and mother Eunice…
2 Timothy 1:5 NLT
5 I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you.
a. So too will your prayers create a lasting legacy of faith in your children.
b. Make prayer the heartbeat of your home.
c. It’s not just about teaching your children to pray, but showing them that prayer is a natural and powerful response to every situation.
d. When prayer fills your home, it lays the groundwork for faith to fill the hearts of your children, shaping their future and spiritual identity.
2. Prayer in the Home Establishes Spiritual Unity
The family altar brings unity, aligning hearts with God’s will and purpose for the family.
1. A family that prays together stays together—because prayer keeps God at the center.
a. Prayer brings families together, breaking down barriers and fostering spiritual unity.
b. "When we pray together, we stand together."
c. When families unite in prayer, they carry one another’s burdens and share in the joy of answered prayers.
d. When we examine the attacks of families in today’s world, we see the effects of broken relationships, not just outside the home but within it as well.
i. Family members often grow apart due to busy schedules, miscommunication, unresolved conflict, or simply a lack of time spent together.
ii. One of the main reasons for this breakdown is the neglect of the family altar—the place where families come together in prayer.
iii. Without this spiritual connection, the hearts of family members can drift apart, leaving room for division and distance.
e. The family altar—the place of prayer and communion with God—is where unity is restored.
f. Without this intentional time, it's easy for the enemy to sow division and confusion.
Joshua 24:15 NLT
15 But if you refuse to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD.”
a. Like Joshua, families must make a deliberate decision to build their lives around God and prayer.
b. Joshua led his family by declaring, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
c. This same boldness is needed today to prioritize prayer in the home.
d. Every home has a culture!
i. What does that mean? A home's "culture" refers to the beliefs, values, behaviors, and practices that are established and nurtured within it.
ii. Just like a nation or a community has a unique culture, every household has its own atmosphere.
iii. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, homes develop a certain way of living that shapes the children and influences the family's spiritual and emotional well-being.
e. The culture of a home is not just about the things we do—it’s about the values we live by, the priorities we set, and the atmosphere we create. Think about this:
i. Is the culture of your home one of peace and prayer?
ii. Is it a place where God is honored, His word is read, and His presence is sought?
iii. Or is it a place where distractions like busyness, stress, or the pursuit of things like success and possessions take precedence over the things of God?
f. Whether you realize it or not, the culture in your home is being shaped by what you prioritize.
g. And that culture directly impacts the identity of the next generation.
h. Children are like sponges, absorbing the attitudes, behaviors, and values around them.
i. If a home values prayer, worship, and relationship with God, that will be the environment in which children grow up and form their own spiritual identity.
j. So, what’s the culture of your home?
k. Are you creating a space where God’s presence is honored, where your children learn the power of prayer, and where spiritual truths are passed down?
l. Prayer is the glue that binds the hearts of family members in unity and keeps God at the center of their lives.
m. When we come together in prayer, we align our hearts with God’s will and purpose, creating a spiritual foundation for the family.
n. The family altar is where we surrender our own desires to God's will, finding common ground in our shared faith and commitment to Him.
i. Just as a tree draws strength from its roots, a family draws unity from its spiritual foundation in prayer.
ii. The more deeply rooted they are in God's Word and prayer, the more united they become.
2. "Prayer builds the bond that holds families together in every season."
a. Prayer is more than just words we say to God— it is a powerful force that connects us to Him and to one another.
b. In the context of family, prayer creates a spiritual bond that can weather any storm and endure through every season of life.
c. When families pray together, they’re building a shared foundation of faith, trust, and unity.
d. See in every family, there is going to be seasons of joy and celebration… then there will be seasons of difficulty and tribulation!
i. During these times… whether they are joyful and happy or times of struggle and hardship— prayer becomes the way families draw near to God and to each other!
Galatians 6:2 NIV 2011
2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ.
i. One of the most powerful ways families can carry each other’s burdens is through prayer.
ii. When a family prays together, they are literally lifting up each other’s concerns to God, asking for His help, guidance, and intervention.
iii. This act of carrying burdens through prayer strengthens the relational bonds within the family because it shows care, empathy, and mutual support.
iv. Prayer gives families the ability to share their deepest worries, struggles, and joys in a way that brings them closer together.
v. When a family prays for one another, they are engaging in the act of bearing one another's burdens, offering spiritual support that helps each member endure through challenges.
vi. When you pray together as a family, you are allowing God to be a central part of your home.
vii. This draws you closer to each other, because you are united in seeking His help, His guidance, and His strength.
viii. Prayer fosters a sense of shared dependence on God, creating a spiritual glue that holds families together even when circumstances try to pull them apart.
e. Prayer is the glue that holds families together, no matter what season they are in.
f. When you pray with and for your family, it creates a powerful bond that goes beyond just physical presence.
g. When you do this you create a space for a shared spiritual experience.
i. Moms and dads… your faith needs to be exercised and shared!
ii. When you build a prayer altar in your home, a time, a place, and each invest in praying you invite God’s presence into your home, and this fosters unity and a shared purpose… it aligns your hearts around a common spiritual goal!
iii. Prayer opens up your hearts to have an emotional connection, it creates vulnerability, it leads us in humility, and it teaches us empathy… this leads to a deeper family connection.,
iv. As you pray for each other, you then learn to carry one another burdens… instead of being willfully ignorant to their struggles, you become compassionate and this will strengthen your relationships
v. Praying together inhibits spiritual growth… each member fo your family will grow spiritually as you pray together and this will strengthen the family unit as a whole.
h. This is why it's so important to make prayer a regular part of family life.
i. When we pray together, we are inviting God's presence into our homes, and His presence is the greatest bond we can have in any season.
j. Whether it's a season of blessings or a season of trials, prayer helps families stay united, strong, and connected in their faith.
3. The Home Altar Is a Training Ground for Spiritual Growth
The family altar is where children are trained in the ways of the Lord and learn the importance of spiritual disciplines.
1. The family altar is the first classroom of faith!
a. This is where faith is taught, lived out, and passed down form one generation to the next!
Proverbs 22:6 NLT
6 Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.
a. Most people when they think about teaching their children and families about faith… they immediately connect it to bringing them to church… where they get immersed in Children’s church, youth group, and JR Youth group.
b. And it is not that these places are not important… but… they are not as important as the HOME altar— where they gather together with their families and read, pray, and worship together.
c. It’s in the home where children first learn what it means to walk with God, trust His Word, and live out their faith in daily life.
d. This is where they learn the fundamentals of the Christian faith—who God is, what His Word says, and how we live in relationship with Him.
e. This becomes the foundation for their spiritual journey.
f. This is where the parents become the first teachers of faith…
i. Think about this… long before they ever step foot into children’s church or youth group meetings… they are watching how their parents, grandparents, and families live out their faith at home!
ii. Children learn far more from what they see than what they hear.
1. Are we praying together?
2. Are we reading the Bible?
3. Do we model the love, forgiveness, and grace that God shows us?
g. When we gather as a family to pray, worship, and study Scripture together, we are setting the foundation for their understanding of God.
h. The home is the first place where children encounter the character of God, not just in abstract teaching, but through the lived example of their parents.
i. Through prayer, worship, and Bible reading, they begin to understand God’s love, His power, and His faithfulness.
j. See just as we teach our children the basics of education— so we must also teach them spiritual disciplines in the home.
i. This is where they learn the VALUE of prayer.
ii. Where the learn the IMPORTANCE of scripture.
iii. Where they learn the HABIT of worship.
k. If they were to just copy your prayer life, your bible study habits, and your habit of worship… would they have something of value or would they be left searching for a deeper connection with God?
l. Would they have a prayer life that’s fueled by faith and intimacy with God?
m. Would they understand Scripture not just as words on a page, but as the living truth that guides and strengthens them?
n. Would their worship be a heartfelt response to God’s greatness, or just another ritual to go through?
o. The way we live out these spiritual disciplines directly impacts the foundation of their faith.
p. It’s not just about showing them how to do these things—it’s about showing them why these things matter.
q. Our habits today become their foundation for tomorrow.
r. The family altar becomes the place where spiritual habits are formed, shaping the next generation’s relationship with God.
2. The home altar is where spiritual warriors are trained.
a. This needs to be understood as a spiritual boot camp… where the next generation is being prepared to walk out their faith with strength, wisdom, and resilience.
b. Often when we think of spiritual warriors… we may think of pastors, missionaries, or grandma who just won’t quit and give up on her God.
i. Side question… why is ALWAYS women who are prayer warriors?
ii. Every time I bring it up to someone… they can always recall either mama or grandma… but where are the MEN when it comes to prayer?
c. We tend to have a preconceived thought of who these prayer warriors are… but the reality is that every believer, especially within the family, is called to be a spiritual warrior.
i. I have been praying for God to raise up spiritual prayer warriors… and then it occurred to me… it is His job to teach us by His holy Spirit, lead us, and guide us… but it is OUR job to raise up our sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, and husbands and wives to become the spiritual warriors!
d. I hate to say this, but most of the time… we always look for the easy way out when it comes to the things of God… we want him to do for us what we can be doing!
i. That’s why we would rather ”pray” people into the church rather than go out and get them… that’s why we would rather “pray” for labors” rather than go and be one!
e. Spiritual warfare is not just about fighting battles, but about being prepared for them.
f. It is here at the home/family altar where we are training the future leaders of our faith.
g. It is here where they are trained and developed spiritually to use their spiritual gifts.
h. Just like soldiers need training before they enter combat, our children need to be equipped spiritually to be able to not only fight but fight and win!
i. When we gather around the home altar, we are teaching them to fight with the weapon of prayer, to stand firm on the truths of Scripture, and to worship as a way of defending against the enemy.
j. This is where character is built for the challenges ahead.
1 Peter 2:9 NKJV
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
a. Our purpose and destiny and found and shaped at the altar.
b. A spiritual warrior is not born in a moment; they are raised in the daily practice of prayer, faith, and discipline.
c. The home altar is where we help our children put on that spiritual armor.
d. This isn’t just about giving them the right tools; it’s about teaching them how to use those tools in their everyday lives.
e. The family altar is where they first learn to pray with authority, to call on God for help, and to stand firm against spiritual attacks.
2 Corinthians 10:3–5 NKJV
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
a. Remember… We are not just raising children—we are raising spiritual warriors to advance the kingdom of God.
b. What we invest in our children at the family altar shapes the future of the kingdom of God.
c. Here is what we need to remember, the battle does not die with us when we pass from this life— it continues on in the lives of the next generation.
d. The family altar is not just for our immediate children but for the next generations to come.
e. As we train our children to become spiritual warriors, we are investing in the future of the church and the kingdom of God.
f. Our children will one day carry the mantle, and if we are intentional in raising them in the ways of the Lord, they will rise up as leaders in faith, advancing the gospel and standing against the forces of darkness.
g. By cultivating a strong spiritual foundation in the home altar, we ensure that the flame of faith continues to burn brightly in the generations to come.
h. The spiritual warriors we raise today will become the future leaders of faith tomorrow.
i. The home altar is the place where they are equipped for spiritual battles, where they learn how to recognize the enemy’s tactics, and where they are reminded of the victory they have in Christ.
Conclusion:
In a world where families face division, distractions, and spiritual disconnection, the family altar stands as a sacred place of restoration, unity, and growth.
It is in the home that we lay the foundation for our children’s faith, teach them the power of prayer, and raise them as future warriors of God.
By making time for prayer together, we align our hearts with God’s will and invite His presence into every aspect of our lives.
Remember, the family altar is not just a place; it’s a commitment. It’s a deliberate decision to make God the center of our homes.
As we come together in prayer, we establish spiritual authority, unity, and growth, not just for today, but for generations to come.
Let’s take this challenge seriously.
Let us not only create an atmosphere of prayer but also build a legacy of faith that our children will carry forward.
Our homes can become a sanctuary of spiritual growth, a place where God’s presence is felt, and His Word is lived out daily.
Call to Action:
As we reflect on this message, I encourage you to consider the state of your own family altar.
Are you inviting God’s presence into your home through prayer?
Are you establishing a spiritual foundation that your children can build upon?
Today, God is calling you to make a commitment—to bring prayer back into your home, to be the spiritual leaders and warriors that your family needs.
If you are ready to make this commitment, I invite you to join me in prayer.
Whether you’re a parent, a grandparent, or someone who desires to see God's presence in your family, let us pray together for His guidance and strength.
