The 8 S’s of Family Culture: How We’re Shaping a Christ-Centered Home

"You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments."

- Exodus 20:5-6

What makes your family your family?

It’s more than the routines or the rules. It’s the culture—those unseen but deeply felt rhythms, stories, and values that shape the atmosphere of your home. As Christian parents, we want our family culture to reflect Christ. But often, we’re so busy managing the day-to-day that we don’t stop to ask: What kind of culture are we actually creating?

Our family has found that these 8 simple “S’s” help us stay intentional and aligned with our values. They aren’t perfect formulas—but they’ve become guideposts for us as we keep our family focused on Jesus.

Here’s how we’ve been building a gospel-centered family culture—one “S” at a time.

1. Sounds: What Do You Hear in Your Home?

The language and music in your home have power. Words build—or break—family culture.

In our home, we’re intentional about speaking words of encouragement and truth, and we fill our space with music that lifts our eyes to Jesus. You’ll often hear Anne Wilson, Forrest Frank, the Gettys, or Casting Crowns playing in the background. (We even went to an Anne Wilson and Casting Crowns concert together as a family—it was such a special memory!)

Worship music has become the soundtrack of our family life. It sets the tone—both literally and spiritually.

Ask yourself: What’s playing in the background of your home? What kind of language is your family soaking in?

2. Symbols: What Do You See?

The things you hang on your walls, the books on your shelves, even the clothing you wear—it all communicates what you value.

Several years ago, we had a babysitter who went home and told her mom, “They have Bibles and Christian books everywhere!” It reminded us that even the quiet presence of Scripture speaks volumes.

The visuals in our home remind us who we belong to—and help our kids see faith as a natural part of everyday life.

3. Spaces: Where Do You Gather?

The spaces in your home shape the way your family connects.

We’ve created intentional spaces for prayer and connection—like our prayer room and our family altar. But more than that, we try to make our entire home feel warm, peaceful, and welcoming, so our kids (and their friends!) know this is a safe space to ask questions, share struggles, and grow in faith.

4. Schedules: What Does Your Calendar Say About Your Priorities?

Your schedule reveals your family’s true values.

We’ve worked hard to align our weekly rhythm with our faith. Evenings are protected for family time, teaching, and rest. And every Saturday evening through Sunday at noon, we practice a simple Sabbath routine—time to rest, worship, and reconnect.

It’s not always easy to protect our time, but these quiet moments are what help us stay rooted.

A good question to ask: Does your schedule reflect the culture around you—or the Kingdom you belong to?

5. Stories: What Stories Does Your Family Tell?

Stories are powerful—they teach, inspire, and shape identity.

Some of our favorite family stories are about the times we’ve served together. Like “Runza Day”—a day we partnered with our local Runza restaurant to provide meals to our community. Our kids still talk about how much fun it was to give back.

Or the international volunteer trips we’ve taken as a family—those stories are part of our family's legacy. They remind us of all the blessings God has given us and how we can work together to serve others. 

What stories are your kids growing up hearing?

6. Successes: What Do You Celebrate?

Every family defines success—and that definition shapes what your children grow to value.

In our home, we celebrate when our kids live out our family values. We’ve used a simple star system to reward actions that reflect kindness, responsibility, and spiritual growth. We want them to know: success isn’t just about grades or trophies—it’s about becoming more like Christ.

What you celebrate teaches your children what truly matters.

7. Sacred Cows: What Traditions Have You Re-Evaluated?

Every family has sacred cows—traditions or habits that stick around even when they no longer serve the vision.

For us, one of those was education. We both went to Christian schools, so we assumed that was the best route for our kids. But over time, we realized homeschooling allowed us to disciple our children more directly and gave us a rhythm that worked better for our family.

It wasn’t an easy shift—but it was the right one.

What “sacred cows” might your family need to re-examine?

8. Spending: Where Does Your Money Go?

Our spending reflects our values—whether we realize it or not.

We’ve made it a priority to talk openly with our kids about money: income, giving, even debt. We want them to understand that every dollar is God’s, and how we spend it is part of our family mission.

We regularly involve our kids in conversations about giving, generosity, and wise stewardship. It’s one more way we’re training them to live for something greater than themselves.

A Tale of Two Family Cultures: Max Jukes vs. Jonathan Edwards

History gives us a powerful picture of how family culture can shape future generations.

Max Jukes was an atheist whose descendants were studied over multiple generations. Out of over 1,200 of his known descendants, many lived lives marked by poverty, crime, and brokenness—300 died prematurely, 130 were in prison, and over 100 were alcoholics.

Jonathan Edwards, a devoted pastor and theologian, also had his lineage traced. Among his descendants were pastors, college presidents, authors, judges, and even a U.S. vice president. His family was marked by faith, leadership, and lasting impact.

The difference? It wasn’t luck. It was legacy. It was the intentional choices made day after day in the context of home.

Creating Culture on Purpose

Family culture doesn’t happen by accident. It’s the result of a hundred small choices, made day after day, to build a home that reflects Christ.

These 8 S’s have helped our family stay focused on what matters most. They’re not about perfection—but about purpose.

What would happen if you took a little time this week to look at your family’s sounds, symbols, spaces, schedules, stories, successes, sacred cows, and spending?

You might be surprised at what you find—and inspired by what you can build.

Ready to Build a Faithful Family Culture?

If you’re ready to take your family’s faith and purpose to a new level, we’d love to invite you to our first-ever Faithful Families Retreat.

September 12–14, 2025
Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate

This weekend is designed to help your family grow in faith, strengthen relationships, and build a lasting legacy—together. You’ll step away from the busyness of everyday life and leave with practical tools to create a home rooted in Christ.

Find out more here: Faithful Families Retreat

We hope you’ll join us.

Let’s build homes that echo through generations.