Sermon Outline Title: The Hats We Wear in Life
Bible Text: Psalm 127, Matthew 6:33
Theme: The importance of allowing the Lord to bless and build our homes, raising children with a Christ-centered foundation
Big Idea: If the Lord doesn’t build the house, all our work will be in vain—the only way to successfully raise a family is to put Jesus at the center, be a godly example, stop worrying, stay watchful against the enemy, and teach our children the ways of the Lord.
1. We Work, We Worry, We Watch—And Hope Our Labors Are Not in Vain (Psalm 127:1)
a. If the Lord doesn’t build the house, all the work we put in will come to nothing
b. It is vain to try to raise our family without the Lord—He can bless it or remove His presence and it will fail
c. Little is much if God is in it, but if God’s not in it, much is nothing
d. It’s vain to build your family, home, and life without the blessing of Jesus Christ
2. We Work, Work, Work and Worry, Worry, Worry (Matthew 6:33)
a. It’s vain to get up early and go to sleep late trying to make it all work out when we leave the Lord out
b. We worry about things Jesus said not to worry about—He said seek first the kingdom of God
c. Turn it over to Jesus and let Him work it out—He always knows the best way to go
d. Husbands: Get right with Jesus, live the life He wants you to live, prove you’re a leader they can trust
3. Good Parents Are Always on Watch for the Enemy
a. The enemy is always watching us—if Jesus is not watching over the city, it’s useless to be the watchman
b. Without the hedge of protection from Jesus, it’s open season for the enemy to attack families
c. The devil wants to destroy every family because God stamped His approval on the family
d. The only way to fight this enemy is through the power of the blood of Christ—be an example
4. Our Children Are a Heritage from the Lord (Psalm 127:3)
a. They are our legacy passed to the next generation—the next generation’s success or failure depends on our heritage
b. Make tomorrow better, give them Jesus today
c. They are like arrows in a bow—parents aim those arrows accurately toward a higher calling in Jesus Christ
d. A man who aims his arrows the way the Lord wants will never be put to shame
5. Be the Example at Home for Your Family
a. Don’t just carry them to church—live the life Jesus wants you to live in front of them every day
b. Sometimes even your best isn’t enough—the devil gets a toehold in children’s lives (Eli’s sons, Aaron’s sons, Samuel’s sons, Hezekiah’s son Manasseh)
c. When the devil snatches children away, it’s hard to get them back—give them a Christ-centered home to depend on
d. What you teach them is what they’ll become—teach them Jesus, and one day you’ll all be together in heaven
Illustration
I was thinking about all the different hats I’ve worn in life—son, brother, husband, friend, co-worker, preacher, and the list goes on. But the hat that probably meant the most to me has been that of husband, father, and now granddad. There were times I wished I had an owner’s manual for raising my kids, but they don’t come with a manual. We just have to do the best we can with what we know and put our confidence, trust, and hope in the Lord. I probably failed a lot of ways as a father, but the one way I felt I couldn’t fail was trying my best to show my kids who Jesus was and teach them to let Him be their anchor. I know a man who never had a high-paying job, but he worked all his life and raised two fine daughters. He sent both through college, provided everything his family needed. His parents thought he was a little slow, not the brightest bird on the wire, but he built his home on the Lord Jesus Christ, and Jesus turned that little wage and little knowledge into much for him. His life in my book represents Psalm 127 as good as anyone I’ve ever been around.
Alliterated Main Points
• Working (We work, worry, and watch)
• Worrying (Vain labor without the Lord)
• Watching (Always on guard for the enemy)
• Winning (Children are our heritage and legacy)
Conclusion / Invitation
Don’t let your labor be in vain with the family. Teach them about the ways of the Lord and one day you will all be in heaven together. Church is as good as you can give them, but it is up to you to aim them, it’s up to you to guide them. Teach them to lie, they will lie; teach them to hate, they will hate; teach them to gossip, they will gossip; teach them Jesus, and one day, you will all be together in heaven. The only thing you can carry with you to heaven is your kids. If there was only one piece of advice I could give parents today, it would be to the husband: get right with Jesus, live the life He wants you to live, prove to your family you are a leader they can trust. Your family will follow you, and not only will they follow you, they will live the blessed life. Be a good example of a believer every day for your family, and I believe you leave a lot of the worrying behind.
Taxonomy Keywords (10 – comma separated)
Psalm 127, Christian parenting, Christ-centered home, raising children, godly father, family heritage, spiritual legacy, parenting in faith, family blessing, building on Christ
Description (≈140 characters)
Unless the Lord builds the house, our labor is in vain. Learn how to raise a family anchored in Christ with purpose, prayer, and example.
Excerpt (≈190 characters)
Parenting doesn’t come with a manual, but Psalm 127 shows us the key: let the Lord build your house. Discover how to raise children as arrows aimed toward Jesus, creating a lasting spiritual legacy.