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There are shoes by the door, dishes in the sink, and absolutely nowhere for company to sit. Invite people over anyway? Don Everts’ research suggests faith at home may grow in a surprisingly crowded house. He joins Dave and Ann Wilson on FamilyLife Today to explore what happens when we quit treating home as our family’s bunker—and make room for people who aren’t already inside it.

Show Notes and Resources

• Vibrant Conversation Deck.
• Weekend to Remember.

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I used to be undefeated in Scrabble. I’m sure you're real excited about that. Of course I’ve never heard of an Olympic Scrabble Tournament, or I would have entered it. But you notice what I said…I used to be undefeated? Yeah.

See, a long time ago my son broke my winning streak. You say, “Well, it couldn’t have been too impressive.” Yeah, my son is a smart kid. And near the end of that game that finished my future as the King of Scrabble I was getting desperate! I had a few high-scoring letters left, maybe you’ve done this. Some of those eight and ten-point scorers, you know, and some Zs and Qs. So I put down a word that is sort of a word but sort of not a word, and it was sort of debatable. So guess what we did? We debated it. I got out the dictionary, and I got absolutely no support. After arguing my case a little bit more, I finally gave in and lost. I’ll tell you, there’s no satisfaction winning on words that I probably shouldn’t use anyway in Scrabble or in everyday life.

I’m Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about “Trash Talk - No Way to Win.”

Our word for today from the Word of God is about no way to score points. Ephesians 4:29, says this, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” And it says in verse 31, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.”

These verses that we’ve read here are about what you do with your mouth. And it says to us that the easiest thing to do with your mouth is to tear people down. The book of Proverbs says “the tongue has the power of life or death” and you can, with what you say, either make a person feel more alive or more dead inside. You’ve had it happen to you. You know. It’s so easy though, isn’t it, to use our mouth to score points on the other person, to defend ourselves, to get out of a jam, to express our anger.

But it’s no way to score points. Just think about the people who are most important to you that you spend the most time with; your family, your coworkers, your friends, people at school. You’ve learned that there are things you can say that help you get your way. Right?

Every married couple knows this, that there are some things you can say to silence your partner. There’s a way to make sure you win the argument, right? But usually it’s in a way that cuts them down. There’s a sarcasm maybe that can leave the people around you quivering.

There’s the attack on their weak spot; you know where they’re weak, you know how to get at them. If you attack that spot, their physical weak spot, their emotional weak spot, you know you can get your way. You can use guilt to get your way, to manipulate them into whatever you want. Oh, you win for the moment, but you leave them feeling very small. And guess what? You got smaller in the process.

And like Scrabble, there are words; there are kinds of sentences you should never allow. You should never allow to come out of your mouth any words that make someone else feel smaller. The Bible says to only allow words that build people up. That’s the test.

What if you listened to a recording of yourself for the last couple of days? Would you hear criticism, attacks, negativity that put the other person on the defensive, names called, put-downs given? Oh, maybe you scored some points for the moment, but you’re both smaller as a result of it.

We’re told in 1 Peter 2, that Jesus did nothing wrong. It says, “Did no guile and no accusation came out of His mouth.” Would you let His lordship reach your mouth? Eliminate the cutting words, the hurting words. They’re words you should never use; they’re just no way to score points.

Is it possible that reality can be perceived most clearly with the eyes of faith? Join us to hear about a best-selling author and Emmy-winning journalist who used to be an atheist---until science changed his mind! Dr. Michael Guillen will argue for an enlightened worldview consistent with both God and modern science as he shares the story of his journey to Christianity. Don’t miss this fascinating conversation.

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Following Christ is not about comfort, reputation, or convenience. It is a call to die to self and surrender everything to Him.

Teaching from Luke 14, Dr. Jonathan Youssef unpacks Jesus’ hard words about discipleship: loving Him above family, possessions, ambitions, and even self. To carry the cross means yielding every area of life to Christ’s sovereign rule and following Him regardless of the cost.

Dr. Youssef also warns against false conversion and an easy-believe-ism that produces no transformed life. Genuine discipleship counts the cost, renounces competing loyalties, and follows Jesus with wholehearted obedience.

This episode calls listeners to:

• Examine whether their faith is genuine,
• Repent of compromise and divided loyalty,
• Put Christ above comfort, possessions, and reputation,
• Take up the cross and die to selfish ambition,
• Follow Jesus with complete surrender,
• Intercede for a world in need of true disciples.

True discipleship is costly—but Jesus Christ is worthy of everything.

Scripture Focus: Luke 14:25-35

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Jonathan Edwards once said, “True legacy consists not of what we leave behind, but of what we instill in others.”

That’s an important reminder, especially when we think about money and inheritance. All of us have a natural desire to provide for the people we love. Whether it’s our children, grandchildren, or others God has entrusted to our care, we want to leave them in a better position than we were.

That’s a good desire. Proverbs 13:22 says, “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children.”

But Scripture encourages us to think about inheritance as more than simply transferring money or assets. What we pass on also includes wisdom, character, faith, and an understanding of what it means to steward what God provides. Because wealth without wisdom can become more of a burden than a blessing.

Proverbs 20:21 warns, “An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning will not be blessed in the end.” The goal, then, isn’t simply to transfer assets. It’s to prepare the next steward.

Our heirs aren’t merely future recipients. They will become managers of resources that ultimately belong to God. And that changes the way we think about legacy.

Throughout Scripture, inheritance is connected to both identity and responsibility.

In the Old Testament, land wasn’t simply property. It was connected to family, covenant, and the responsibility to faithfully steward what God had entrusted to His people. Families didn’t merely receive something. They were entrusted with something.

The same principle applies to us. If we pass on wealth without preparing the heart, we may leave the next generation with resources they aren’t prepared to steward wisely. But when we invest in their spiritual formation, teach them biblical principles of stewardship, and point them toward God as their ultimate Provider, wealth can remain what it was always meant to be: a tool.

So how can we prepare the next steward?

Long before the next generation receives anything from you, they are learning from you.

More is often caught than taught. The way you spend, save, give, and respond to financial uncertainty tells a story about what you believe.

Do your financial decisions reveal trust in God or anxiety about having enough? Do they reflect generosity or a constant desire to accumulate more? Do they demonstrate surrender to God or a need to maintain control?

None of us will model stewardship perfectly. But our everyday decisions give those who come after us opportunities to see that money is a gift to manage, not a source of identity or security.

Your financial life is already teaching a lesson. The question is what lesson it is teaching.

Another important step is simply talking about it.

Many families avoid conversations about money altogether. Parents may never explain why they give, how they make financial decisions, or what principles shape their approach to wealth. Then, when assets eventually change hands, the next generation receives the resources without understanding the convictions behind them.

Deuteronomy 6:6–7 describes faith being passed from one generation to another through the ordinary rhythms of life:

“And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children…”

That kind of discipleship includes the way we think about money. Tell your children why generosity matters to you. Explain how you make spending decisions. Share lessons you’ve learned from financial mistakes. Talk about why contentment matters and why money can never provide the security only God can give.

Most importantly, help them understand that money is not the goal. Faithfulness is.

Good stewardship is usually learned gradually. Psalm 78 describes on

Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie has a candid conversation with Pastor Chuck Swindoll. Good counsel is just ahead.

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