Families are the cornerstone of both the Church and society, yet today they are bombarded with overwhelming confusion and challenges. In "Building Strong Families," Brother Duane teachesGod'stimelessblueprintforfamily,marriage,andraisinggodlyoffspring.Drawingfrom Malachi, Judges, and Psalms, Duane explains how healing the home can ultimately heal the nation. God designed marriage as a covenant, not a contract. By aligning with His design and standing firm in the truth, we can cultivate a legacy of faith that reconnects a generation to biblical principles. Extending grace and restoration to those who have faced struggles in marriageorparentingcreatesanatmosphereforhealing.AsinglefamilytransformedbyGod’s love can change the course of generations to come.
Key Points
• God is a generational God, thinking in terms of multiple generations.
• The importance of maintaining and teaching biblical truths about family, marriage, and gender
• The church 's role in welcoming and guiding those who have strayed or been misled by cultural trends.
• The need to declare God's wonderful works to the next generation
• God’s forgiveness and restoration for those who have failed in marriage or parenting.
• The power of the gospel as the solution to cultural and societal issues
Scripture References
• Malachi 2:13-16
• Judges 2:10-11
• Psalms 71:17-18
• Acts 13:36
Building Strong Families
October 12, 2025 – A Godly Seed [Part
1]
Discussion Questions
• How can we as a church better prepare to welcome and support those who have strayed from faith or experienced spiritual trauma, especially in light of the speaker's emphasis on being a 'home to come to'?
• In what ways might we be unintentionally serving 'false gods' in our modern culture, and how can we recognize and address these idols in our lives?
• How can we balance speaking truth with showing love and compassion, particularly when addressing controversial topics like gender and sexuality?
• What practical steps can we take to ensure we are not just living for the moment, but thinking generationally as Duane Sheriff suggests God does?
• How might our understanding of marriage and family need to evolve to better reflect God's design while also showing grace to those who have experienced divorce or family struggles?
• In what can we declare 'God's wonderful works' to the next generation, as David did, even if we have made significant mistakes in our past?
• How can we maintain our faith and values while still loving and supporting family members who may have 'fallen off the cliff' spiritually or morally?
• What does it mean to be part of God's 'remnant' in today's world, and how can we fulfill that role effectively?
Building Strong Families
October 19, 2025
– Honor & Obey
[Part 2]
key points
Message Summary
God designed the family as the foundation of society, and His Word provides clear guidance for building homes that thrive. Parenting is a responsibility given by God, involving stages of training, teaching, and transition. As parents, we shape the next generation. In part two of “BuildingStrongFamilies,”DuaneSheriffteachesthecriticalimportanceoftrainingourchildren in obedience and honor not just for their childhood years, but as a foundation for their entire lives.Theparallelsdrawnbetweenchild-rearingandourrelationshipwithGodarestriking.Just as we guide our children, our Heavenly Father guides us. Are we helicopter parents, or are we preparing our children to fly on their own?
Key Points
• Children should obey and honor their parents, which leads to long life and well-being.
• There are three stages of parenting: training, teaching, and transition
• Parents should focus on obedience and repetition during the training stage (0-10 years).
• The teaching stage (10-20 years) involves explaining the reasons behind rules and expectations
• God’s must "cut the parental cord" at marriage or age 20, allowing children to become independent adults
Scripture References
• Ephesians 6:1-3
• Proverbs 22:6
• Proverbs 1:8-9
• Deuteronomy 21:18-21
• Leviticus 19:3
Building Strong Families
October 19, 2025 – Honor & Obey
[Part 2]
Discussion Questions
• How does the concept of 'cutting the parental cord' at age 20 or marriage challenge your understanding of parent-child relationships, and how might this perspective impact family dynamics?
• In what ways can parents effectively balance the need for discipline and affirmation during the 'training stage' (ages 0-10) of a child's life?
• How might the emphasis on teaching children to obey and honor authority figures (including parents, police, etc.) shape their worldview and interactions as adults?
• What are the potential benefits and challenges of transitioning from a 'helicopter parent' approach to a more hands-off mentoring role as children reach adulthood?
• How might the concept of honoring parents throughout one's lifetime, even after becoming an adult, impact intergenerational relationships and personal growth?
• In what ways can the principle of 'training up a child in the way he should go' (Proverbs 22:6) be applied in modern parenting contexts while respecting a child's individuality?
• How can we maintain our faith and values while still loving and supporting family members who may have 'fallen off the cliff' spiritually or morally?
• What are the potential implications of viewing children as a means for parents to develop patience and spiritual maturity?
Building Strong Families
October 26, 2025
– Every Child’s Greatest Need
[Part 3]
key points
Message Summary
Every child and every person has a fundamental need to know and believe that God loves them unconditionally. This truth is the foundation for overcoming the fears that grip humanity. God's love is based on His character, not based on our actions. In part three of “Building Strong Families,” Brother Duane teacheshowunconditional lovetransformsfamilies and setschildren free from fear, insecurity, and the need for approval. He identifies four primary fears that often shape children’s lives the fear of faces, fear of fences, fear of failure, and fear of foes and explains how God’s love conquers each one. Parents and grandparents prepare children for life'schallengesbyteachingthemtoforgivethemselveswhentheymakemistakesandtraining themtounderstandthespiritualbattlestheyface.WhenwetrulygraspthedepthofGod’slove, we realize nothing we do can change how much He loves us. Perfect love casts out all fear.
Key Points
• Every child's greatest need is to know and believe God's love for them.
• God’s love is unconditional, based on His character, not our conduct
• Perfect love casts out fear; fear indicates areas where we need greater revelation of God's love.
• God’s four primary fears children face are: faces (people/rejection), fences (obstacles), failure, and foes (spiritual enemies).
• Parents and grandparents have greater influence than friends, coaches, or any other person in a child's life
Scripture References
• 1 John 4:15-18
• 2 Timothy 1:5, 2:2
• Proverbs 29:25
• John 12:42-43, 16:33
• Psalms 34:19
• 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
Building Strong Families
October
26, 2025 –
Every Child’s Greatest Need [Part 3]
Discussion Questions
• How does understanding that God's love is based on His character rather than our conduct change the way we approach our relationship with Him and raise our children?
• In what areas of your life do you still struggle to believe God's love for you, and what fears might be revealing gaps in your understanding of that love?
• How does the fear of man's approval manifest in your daily decisions, and what would it look like to prioritize God's praise over people's acceptance?
• What practical steps can parents and grandparents take to help children develop emotional and adversity quotients while still protecting them appropriately?
• How can we teach children to view failure as an opportunity for growth rather than a source of shame, and what role does self-forgiveness play in spiritual maturity?
• In what ways might we be inadvertently creating a 'bulldozer' path for our children that prevents them from developing resilience and character through hardship?
• How can we better prepare the next generation to understand that the cultural battles we face are fundamentally spiritual rather than merely political or social?
• What would it look like to consistently affirm to children that they cannot do enough good to make God love them more or enough bad to make Him love them less?
• The spiritual battle is real and children ages 10-20 need to be taught about spiritual warfare.
Building Strong Families
November 2, 2025 –
Provoke Not To Wrath
[Part 4]
key points
Message Summary
Disciplineisanessentialpartofparenting,butifdoneincorrectly,itcanwoundratherthantrain. In part four of "Building Strong Families," Brother Duane teaches from Ephesians 6 about the biblical command not to provoke our children to wrath. Every parent faces moments of resistanceandfrustration,yetGod’sWord provideswisdom for discipliningwithloveinstead of reacting in anger. By recognizing key attitudes like anger, inconsistency, neglect, and harshness, we can guard our children’s hearts and prevent bitterness from taking root. True love setsboundarieswithpatience,consistency, andgrace alwaysaimingforrestoration,not control. Parenting is not about authority alone but about reflecting the Father’s heart and preparing our children to live responsibly before Him. Through understanding, humility, and open communication, we can raise sons and daughters who are secure, respectful, and equipped to walk in God’s ways.
Key Points
• God is a generational God, thinking in terms of multiple generations.
• God’s forgiveness and restoration for those who have failed in marriage or parenting.
• The importance of maintaining and teaching biblical truths about family, marriage, and gender.
• The need to declare God's wonderful works to the next generation.
• The power of the gospel as the solution to cultural and societal issue.
• The church's role in welcoming and guiding those who have strayed or been misled by cultural trends.
• The challenge of serving one's own generation while preparing for the next
Scripture References
• Ephesians 6:4
• Malachi 2:10-11
• Acts 13:36
• Judges 2:10-11
• Psalm 71:17-18
Building Strong Families
November 2, 2025 – Provoke Not To Wrath
[Part 4]
Discussion Questions
• How can we as a church better prepare to welcome and support those who have strayed from faith or experienced spiritual trauma, especially considering the speaker's emphasis on being a 'home to come to'?
• In what ways might we be unintentionally serving 'false gods' in our modern culture, and how can we recognize and address these idols in our lives?
• How can we balance speaking truth with showing love and compassion, particularly when addressing controversial topics like gender and sexuality?
• What practical steps can we take to ensure we are not just living for the moment, but thinking generationally as the speaker suggests God does?
• How might our understanding of marriage and family need to evolve to better reflect God's design while also showing grace to those who have experienced divorce or family struggles?
• In what ways can we declare 'God's wonderful works' to the next generation, as David did, even if we have made significant mistakes in our past?
• How can we maintain our faith and values while still loving and supporting family members who may have 'fallen off the cliff' spiritually or morally?
• What does it mean to be part of God's 'remnant' in today's world, and how can we fulfill that role effectively?
