Centered: The Foundation That Holds

Text: Matthew 7:24-27

Every family builds on something. For some, it’s tradition or success. For others, it’s survival or appearances. But Jesus invites us to build on something unshakable: Himself.

We often assume Jesus is the center of our homes, but when we look closer, other influences may be orbiting at the core. Career, busyness, comfort, even good things like our kids’ activities — all can slowly displace Christ from the center.

In Matthew 7:24-27, Jesus paints a clear contrast: the wise build on the rock, and the foolish build on the sand. Both homes looked fine—until the storm came.

"Storms don’t create your foundation—they reveal it."

When the winds blow and the rain beats down, what remains? What holds you together?

At BG First, we believe the call to love, grow, and serve begins with being centered on Christ. That center isn’t just a theological idea — it’s the very foundation of how we live, love, and lead our families.

The Center Shapes Everything

I shared a diagram in the sermon of a compass centered on Christ. Here are the four directional forces we explored:

NORTH: Affirming the Center

These are the beams that hold your house together:

• God’s Word, prayer, worship, and grace rhythms

• Faith community

• Healthy relationships that point you toward Jesus

EAST: Distractions

Good things that become ultimate things:

• Sports schedules

• Career ambition

• The desire to give kids "everything"

They become the furniture that slides around when the floor gives way.

WEST: Disruptors

These pull us off-center over time:

• Trauma, addictions, unaddressed sin, generational patterns

• Cultural pressures that normalize compromise

They erode the foundation like waves under a beach house.

SOUTH: Distortions

False centers that mimic truth:

• Control, fear, religiosity, politics

• Jesus replaced with ideology or performance

They distort your compass, making you think you're headed north when you're not.

A Call to Rebuild

It’s not too late to re-center.

Ask yourself:

• What rhythms in my week affirm Jesus at the center?

• What activities or values are pulling me off-center?

• What’s one thing I can do this week to shift back toward Him?

"You don’t fix a shaky house with better décor. You fix the foundation."

Jesus is not only the Rock — He’s also the Builder. Psalm 127:1 says, "Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain."

So let’s build with Him. Let’s raise families that rest on the unshakable truth of His Word.

Let’s be a church that centers every generation on Christ.

And when the storms come — and they will — may our homes stand firm, not because of how we decorate them, but because of Who we build them on.

Reflection Prompt:What’s one way you can reinforce Christ at the center of your home this week?

Keep Looking Up!

Pastor Micah