Our home is where we spend the majority of our time, making it the central place where Christ can be at the center of our lives. It is where we eat, sleep, live, and build relationships with others. In this article, we'll explore various approaches to infusing Christ's essence into our homes, including the physical, relational, spiritual, and personal aspects. This article will hopefully serve as a call to transform our familiar dwelling into a sacred sanctuary.
Bringing the Divine into Design
To physically honor Christ within your home, consider these tangible avenues of bringing visual imagery to your spaces through physical items and layout changes.
1. Furnishing your living space with items that celebrate your faith is an intimate and constant reminder of your devotion for you and others. Consider a serene artwork depicting a biblical scene or even something as subtle as engraving a meaningful Scripture above your door. These touches can radiate serenity and welcome, making your home a sanctuary for spiritual introspection. You can check out a few free examples here and here.
2. Placement of these framed biblical verses or images is just as important as having them at all. At the end of a hallway, you have to walk down, above the kitchen sink, on both sides of the entrance to the garage door, or even above the toilet in the bathroom, which are all great places. Place them in places of prominence and frequency so you can see them over and over again.
3. Incorporating the motif of Christ into the aesthetic design provides a visual prompt for prayer and contemplation. Create a designated area that is conducive to prayer, adorned with Psalms and quotes on prayer from church fathers or early Christians. Display an open Bible with a bookmark and journal, ensuring the space is prepared for prayer whenever needed. If you need a good prayer quote, here are a few to start you off:
"For prayer is not only a request for things needful, but a thanksgiving for things received, and a hymn of praise for the glory of God." — John Chrysostom
"Prayer is not asking. It is a longing of the soul. It is a desire that only seeks what God is ready to give." — St. Augustine of Hippo
The Bound Books of Belief
A collection of Christian literature - from the Bible to the works of Christian scholars - enriches the home with wisdom and invites open discussions about faith and spirituality. A well-partitioned library space ensures that these narratives are accessible, encouraging engagement with the Word and its teachings.
1. Bookcases and displayed books can serve as excellent conversation starters. Take a cue from small bookstores that strategically place certain books, authors, or subjects in prominent spots to catch people's attention - you can do the same! Consider including (or start by acquiring, if you don't already have them) a few books on prayer, the identity of Jesus, the church as a community, historical books about the Bible, commentaries, and even popular books on biblical subjects. This not only gives you a personal library to reference and explore, but also communicates your faith and desire to follow God to your guests.
2. Consider starting or joining a book club with fellow Christians, co-workers, or members of your church. You'll gain fresh perspectives from readings you wouldn't typically choose by exchanging books. This can lead to new ideas, habits, and meaningful interactions within your household that you may not have otherwise have brought in. Why not gather a select few and delve into the book while enjoying a delightful cup of coffee, a refreshing beer, or some delicious food?
3. Pick up an introduction to the Bible or commentary on your favorite book of the Bible and add it to your study time. Make sure the book is big enough and advanced enough that you can't go through it in a couple of weeks. As you grow in your knowledge of how the Bible was written or insights about your favorite book, you'll put yourself into the position of not just a reader or knower but a teacher. You'll talk with others about what you've learned, and you'll teach them, including others in your house. Make a part of your conversation over dinner, or have a "Fun Fact Friday" about what you've learned by writing out something on a sticky note and putting it somewhere in your home.
Here are a few books to add to your collection:
Warren Wiersbe NT Bible Commentary - A great resource to easily and memorably explain almost every passage of the NT. There's an OT one too!
The Book That Made Your World, by Vishal Mangalwadi - is a great look at the impact of the Bible on the world.
A General Introduction to the Bible - A Classic and comprehensive guide that goes far beyond an introduction.
Forgive, by Timothy Keller
A Meal with Jesus by Tim Chester - an easy read on the power of the meal.
The Gospel Comes with a House Key, by Rosaria Butterfield.
Lastly, if you're interested, I wrote four books myself covering topics from Heaven, to Biblical Paradoxes, to the Holy Spirit, to Identity and sexuality. You can find all of those on my website here: paperbacktheologian.com/books. I'd love to see one on your bookshelf!
If you have any book recommendations, feel free to email me at: kile@paperbacktheologian.com
Interpersonal Inspiration
The relational aspect is fundamental to a Christ-honoring home, extending to those who reside with you as well as those who visit. By embracing these practices, you can foster friendships with your guests, inspire your friends to become followers of Christ, and encourage other Christ followers to adopt these habits in their own homes with their own guests.
1. Praying together before meals and taking this time to express gratitude is a simple yet profound way to foster a sense of abundance and togetherness. Everybody has to eat, and almost everyone eats at least three meals a day. This is three times a day we have to give gratitude to God, inquire about one another's days, and remind ourselves that God is the one who provides. This ritual is a communal acknowledgment of the divine providence, a thread that binds all those present and ties them to something greater.
2. Engage with guests who visit your home by inquiring about their prayer needs. While most individuals are accustomed to praying before meals, during special occasions, or in times of crisis, taking the initiative to ask others how you can pray for them before they depart demonstrates that you see, hear, and genuinely care for them. Even those who do not adhere to a specific religious belief system often face challenges in their lives, and it is rare for someone to decline a prayer if they believe it may provide solace. Just simply ask them before they leave (not at the door!), "How can we pray for you this week?"
3. For those you live with, creating a nightly or morning tradition where each family member extends a prayer, blessing, or affirmation of who they are in Christ to one another reinforces the bonds of faith. It nurtures a culture of mutual respect and empathy, which reverberates in how the family unit deals with the outside world. On a personal note, one of the ways I practice this is by consistently sharing a daily message with my son. Every morning, as I drop him off at school, I remind him to "Be Christ-like to everyone today." And every night, before he goes to sleep, I tell him: "Son, I think you're a great kid. I am grateful to be your dad, and I am excited to see the man God will help you become." These routines and rhythms help ingrain Christ into the people in your home!
The Testament of Togetherness
There's just no substitute for God's Word. No amount of positive affirmation, care, listening, or time spent together can replace the supernatural effect of God's Word in the home. God's Spirit enables the maturing and enlightening of faith by the reading of Scripture in a way that no human activity could pull off.
1. Establish a simple reading plan that everyone can adhere to, perhaps a chapter a day or a themed week on the life of Jesus, Paul, or the story of David. Assigning areas of the house as personal reading nooks adds charm to this collective practice. Encourage sharing insights and questions; this is where faith takes shape in one's understanding. Let people read on their own during the week, and ask questions about the Scripture or stories you're reading together over dinner time.
2. Most people lament technology to some degree, but you can utilize technology to your advantage. When you can't make it to church (and studies show most people attend church in person two times or less a month), stream church services at home and engage in the online community, discussing sermons and connecting with fellow believers. By participating in these digital services, you extend your home's physical and spiritual reach, bridging distances with faith. This will help your household understand that church is a priority even if you can't go in person. In my opinion, this isn't a habit to develop but rather a tool to use sparingly. There's no substitute for gathering together in person!
3. Currently, life is quite costly. However, engaging in discussions about finances and allocating resources to the church or charitable endeavors is a conversation centered on the principles of stewardship and generosity, regardless of our circumstances. Witnessing the tangible impact of your financial decisions on a community project or a church initiative deepens the understanding that the home is a microcosm of society at large, where Christ's teachings resonate. This means taking personal inventory of your finances, getting a budget if you don't have one, and becoming a great steward over all God has entrusted you. Talk with your kids, spouse, or roommates about giving back to God as a testament to all you have by being His.
Culmination: The Domestic Covenant
Bringing Christ to the center of your home life is both a spiritual and holistic endeavor. By intertwining your faith with your physical environments, personal devotion time, and interpersonal relationships, you can create homes that are not just structures but living embodiments of your faith and its values. Most people will not come into another person's home and act in a disrespectful or flagrantly bad manner, but setting up your home to honor Christ may deter anyone who would. Beyond bad behavior, though, setting a tone of being closer to Christ daily, weekly, and when you have guests prepares your house to mirror Christ to anyone who's in it.
The richness of this undertaking lies in the simplicity of these actions. They do not require grand gestures or sacrifices but rather a daily commitment to infuse our lives with spiritual vitality by reinforcing our faith in a multiplicity of ways. By doing so, we open not just our homes but our hearts to the enduring grace of Christ.
In your quest to transform your home into a home for Christ, bookmark this article and challenge yourself to a 90-day home for Christ makeover challenge. Commit to at least three of the practices mentioned above and observe how they impact you, your family, and your guests in your home. As you begin to see a small transformation in your home, come back and try the rest as you continue to devote your home to Christ in all that you do.
Kile Baker is a former Atheist who didn’t plan on becoming a Christian, let alone a Pastor, who now writes to try and make Christianity simple. Kile recently wrote a study guide to help people “look forward to and long for Heaven.” You can get one on Amazon here. He also writes at www.paperbacktheologian.com. Kile is the grateful husband to the incredibly talented Rachel, Dad to the energetic London and feisty Emma and Co-Lead Pastor at LifePoint Church in Northern Nevada. He single handedly keeps local coffee shops in business.