Have you ever come across a purposeful family? One that seemed to really “have it all together” in every department you can think of? Have you wondered what kind of traits it took behind the scenes to catapult them to a family culture like that?
A purposeful family isn't just a bunch of people living under one roof who occasionally decide to have dinner together at the table. A purposeful family is one that lives intentionally and goes back to the traits that set them apart from just going through the motions as a family.
Every family desires to be intentional, but the deeper reason it matters is rooted in God's design. God didn’t create families to exist in isolation or to merely coexist under one roof. He designed the family to be multi-generational - a means by which faith, character, and mission are passed from one generation to the next.
When we understand this divine design, we realize that being purposeful isn’t just a lifestyle choice—it’s a spiritual responsibility. Families are meant to carry and extend a legacy, not only through traditions or values, but through deep, lasting spiritual impact.
A purposeful family sees beyond the moment. It recognizes that each decision, each habit, and each conversation shapes the next generation. It embraces the call to honor God, each other, and those around them in a way that leaves a legacy of faith.
So the why is this: because God designed the family as a sacred institution as a direct reflection of His heart. Your purpose is meant to advance His kingdom, and multiply His truth across generations. Purpose is what directs how you live and how you lead your family in alignment with that calling.
Now that we've covered what a purposeful family is and why it matters, let's dive into its core characteristics:
A purposeful family builds its life on the solid rock of faith and you keep your feet planted in the Lord. Your faith will ultimately drive your core family values, decisions you make on a daily basis, and interactions with family, friends and even strangers.
From your values, it allows for your family to identify and be intentional about what you’re living out and why. Establishing clear values as a family can give your family anchor points to keep you all grounded on what matters most.
The most impactful values for your family will come from being tied to your purpose. Explore ideas like compassion, generosity or humility.
When you establish values like these examples, it allows for a clearer lens for your family to operate out of. Have a tough coworker you interact with daily? Think about how you can approach them with compassion instead of tension. Is your child getting snippy or “too big for their britches” about a sport they play? Remind them that their talents are a gift from God and He wants to see them use that from a place of humility and maturity for His glory.
If you want to begin to walk through this process of creating values, follow along with our tips and download the conversation guide to use with your family. Download your guide here.
Conflict is inevitable, but a purposeful family doesn't shy away from it. Purposeful families understand that God designed conflict to be a tool, not a weapon. And they don’t want to ignore something that the Lord may well intend for good - how will you know what flowers can bloom from the dirt if you never take care of the soil?
Instead, you approach conflict head-on and pursue reconciliation using biblical principles. By having a strategic plan in place, you will avoid the failure of conflict and achieve success in your home and your relationships.
Do you need to clarify or draw up your conflict plan? We’ve put together the Family Conflict Blueprint for you to do just that. Check it out now!
To pursue being a purposeful family, it’s important to evaluate how your family culture is. Your culture is a direct connection to your purpose - which is a direct, God-given design for your family. So this might look like:
In being a purposeful family, you must recognize that your actions today impact not only your immediate family but also future generations. You should strive to live with a long-term perspective and make choices that will leave a lasting legacy of faith and righteousness.
It’s about living on purpose, not on autopilot. Being intentional with how you love, lead, and show up every day. Ask yourself on a semi-regular basis: What kind of legacy do you want to leave behind? What values do you want your kids to carry into the future?
If you’re not living with purpose, the world will write your family’s story for you, and it won’t always be the one you want. Purpose gives you clarity when life gets messy. It helps you make the hard decisions, stay rooted in what matters, and build a foundation your children can stand on when life pushes them around. When you live with purpose, you're not just hoping your family turns out okay, you’re actively and purposefully shaping a legacy that your kids can inherit and build on.
A purposeful family will not show up overnight. It’s going to require the hard work, the hard conversations and the hard stances on what's right and what you stand for as a family. But when you choose to stand in the fold for your family, and fight for what you want them to be built on, your legacy, your generations to come will reap the benefits of what you sow today.
We want you to know that building a purposeful family starts by equipping your family with your own roadmap for biblical, generational success.
Our Family Legacy Study is designed to guide you through the process of establishing a biblical foundation, creating clear values, and developing the traits that will make your family purposeful.