Greater Women: Building with God's Blueprints
by Lauren Hodum
May 13, 2026 · Cornerstone Apostolic Church (Chattanooga, TN)
Kind: teaching
Scripture: Psalm 127:1, Proverbs 6:16-19, Romans 12:9, James 4:6, Proverbs 12:22, Proverbs 31:8-9, Proverbs 15:26, 1 Samuel 15:22, Proverbs 11:1, Ephesians 4:25, Matthew 5:9

Source: https://acts238.life/repository/sermons/lauren-hodum--greater-women-building-with-gods-blueprints
Published by Acts 2:38 Life from the sermon transcript on that page.
Free to copy and share with attribution.

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Well, I'm excited you guys are here. We are jumping back into our Wednesday night series of Greater Women. Um last month in April we did a churchwide series called the purpose series um discovering developing living our purpose and this month is greater women but we are kind of tacking on to the purpose series and the curriculum that we found is greater for greater women but with an emphasis on finding our purpose. Um, for those of you I think Sister Song mentioned it last week, um, if you have heard or if you haven't, for the month of May, um, we are as a group reading a book of a chapter of Proverbs a day in order to read the entirety of the book of Proverbs in 31 days for the month. So, if this is your first time hearing of that, go ahead and jump in.

So today's the 13th, so pick up on 14 tomorrow and then you can make up those those chapters later. Um, but that really is helping us. It kind of goes along with our curriculum that we're doing on Wednesday nights and they really go hand in hand. So if you want that extra um that extra emphasis in your week, then please join us in that. Um, we are pursuing our purpose as greater women in the kingdom of God.

Um, I enjoyed the lesson last week. I went back and listened to it. Definitely enjoyed it. And the lessons are just going to build upon each other. Um, if you notice my candle, so it does play into the lesson kind of.

This is this is my object lesson. My husband really likes to use object lessons. I'm I don't know if I'm that creative, but this is my object lesson for the night. Um, let us start out with prayer. Um, are there any pressing prayer requests or needs that we need to bring?

I know the watts are traveling. Is there anything else that's >> okay? >> Renee, Sister Renee, keep praying for her for encouragement. Um, yeah, absolutely. I want I just want to say thank you guys so much for your support for our family.

We feel your prayers and your support. very appreciative that you guys um have been so supportive. So, just continue to pray for us. Um and let's go ahead and pray. Dear Lord, thank you for this day.

God, I thank you so much for all of these ladies who have joined together tonight who have come together, Lord, for the purpose of diving into your word, God, to know you more, to know you better, to know you deeper, Jesus. Lord, I pray that you would touch each and every person who is here tonight. We pray for the families that they represent, Jesus. Lord, I pray for those all across the building that as we open your word, as we dive into your word, God, that you would honor our faithfulness and to you, God. And I pray that you would bring favor and blessings.

Help us, God, to take this word and to apply it to our lives, God. Not to just hear it, but Lord, let us put action behind it so that we may pursue you deeper and work towards your kingdom, Jesus. Lord, I thank you that you are here with us. Lord, I thank you that you lead us with conviction and not with condemnation. And I thank you, God, for another opportunity to come before you tonight.

Thank you for all these ladies. I thank you for the value that they add to our church, to our community, to our body, to your body, God. And I thank pray that you would encourage each and every one of them. Pray for every need that was mentioned tonight and those that we'll pray over later. Lord, you know each and every situation.

We trust you and we love you. I thank you, Jesus. You are so, so good. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus.

All right, ladies. I don't know about you, there are some there are some unspoken rules in my house. Sometimes they're followed, sometimes they're not. Uh just depending on preference, but I have a rule, and it's in more in my mind than anything, and it's probably more of a preference, but I have a rule that we never for any reason turn on the big lights. >> Yes.

When you walk into my house, well, if my husband's home, then that's just kind of like me. But if you walk into my house and it is it is a time that I am there's lamps there. I have a lamp in each room. There's a lamp on my kitchen counter. There's candles.

There's Yes, I let the sunlight in. It is like it is peace to me. I enjoy walking around. My husband says that that I'm a hobbit in my little hobbit cave because of the like you can't see anything. But to me that is it just creates this atmosphere that I love and it's cozy and it takes away one of the senses so I can just like not be stimulated.

Um funnily enough, AG has learned to reach our light switches and so he's learned to turn them all off. And so I haven't corrected him yet. I'm gonna use it to my advantage because if it if the big lights on, he turns it off and I'm like, "Good job, bud. Good job." Um, but but so the other night I was preparing for this lesson. It was around 11.

AJ was asleep. Obviously, he'd been asleep for a while. I was sitting on the couch. Lights were dim. You know, I had a decaf coffee in my hand, just setting the mood.

I had a candle lit, my lamps were on, soft music playing in the background, and I heard footsteps and I knew. I like braced myself and bam, you know, like the bright lights come on and he's like, "Hey, have you seen my" and like all of a sudden I was like jolted out of, you know, what I was doing. Have you guys ever experienced that? And it shouldn't be as dramatic as it is, but for some reason that's like whoa. It's like a shock to the system.

Um, it's so funny how that one act, that one small thing can completely shift the atmosphere of the room. And the older I get, the more I realize that we as people, we can do the same thing. I can do the same thing. And honestly, if I actually went back and took inventory, I probably do it a lot more than I realize. But the attitudes that we carry and the words that we speak and the habits that we allow into our lives, they don't stay contained to us.

They shape the environment around us, whatever that environment might be. So tonight we are going to talk about how we are the atmosphere setters in the way that we build our lives and how we impact those around us. That is why my candle is this is my atmosphere setter. This is my reminder to slow down my speech. We're going to talk about the things that God loves and also the things that God hates and how they apply to the way that we build our lives in our pursuit of wisdom.

Last week, Sister Sloan mom discussed how we are all we are building a foundation through godly wisdom. It was it was also mentioned last week throughout the lesson. And I heard her say it several times that every person or specifically since this is ladies month, every woman is building something. Each and every one of us is building something. Um if we could let's turn to Psalms 127 and verse one.

And whoever gets there first, please feel free to read it. Psalms 127 and verse one. >> Except the Lord, they labor in vain that build it. Except the Lord keep the city watch. >> So this verse is kind of what we would call the anchor text for the the curriculum that we are going to be diving into this month or that we have been diving into this month.

The curriculum we're using, wisdom is a lady and kind of the central text, except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. Tonight's lesson is called building with God's blueprints. So the question is not if we are building something. No matter what season of life you're in, we have quite a few seasons of life in the room. No matter what stage, whether it's a long season, a short season, each and every se in each and every season, we are all building something.

So the question is not if we're building, it is what we are building. So what are some things what are we building with our lives? There are several things that can influence how we build, what we use to build, and what we build. What would what would you guys say are some influences on how we build or what we build? Or more specifically, what are some influences when we are making decisions?

>> History growing up. >> So your background maybe. >> Yep. Your experiences. Sure.

>> Anyone else? >> Your dependence. Those who depend upon you. What will this do for them? Sure.

>> Situation. >> Yeah. finances. Absolutely. >> Yeah, absolutely.

So, I'm hearing we have a lot of influences on the decisions that we make, right? >> Some not not bad. None of those are bad influences. All of those are valid. Um, could it be that some of those pressures we feel, what what are some of those pressures we might feel?

For example, social pressure could be something we feel when we're making decisions. >> Peer pressure could be maybe time pressure. I'll have to make this quick. That time pressure >> absolutely. Yeah, I would love to have the pressure of I have so much money I don't know what to do with it.

Always tithe. Always tithe first and then but yeah, absolutely. So, we have a lot of pressures in our atmosphere. Yeah, sometimes it can be tough to sit in a room that's quiet and dim. It doesn't happen often.

It can be tough. So tonight we're gonna I'm going to be using a lot of we language because I'm not I am not blind to the fact that building with wisdom or or the pursuit of wisdom is a lifelong pursuit. Um it is a daily process. It's a daily choice and a daily process. Um so this is for all of us and I'm teaching to myself too.

So I'm going to say we a lot because I'm including myself in this as well. There have been many many many times and instances in my life and very recently where I do I find myself reacting reacting in the moment maybe emotionally maybe frustratedly instead of responding wisely and needing to seek wise counsel um from an elder or a mentor. So this is part of humanity. And can I say I am so thankful to be part of the body of Christ where we have people that we can go to to seek with wise counsel. And if you're in the room tonight and you may be thinking to yourself, I don't even know who I would go to about this.

Please come talk to us. Talk to Sister Sloan. Talk to myself and we can definitely find that for you. But that's to say that um wisdom is learned daily and not mastered overnight. Amen.

>> It wisdom does not drift through life accidentally but it is lived intentionally. Wisdom going back to what we learned about last week. Wisdom protects our purpose. So I do have a question. Have you ever looked back on something, a situation, an event, and realized that wisdom would have saved you from unnecessary hurt?

You ever looked back? I think we all have. Yeah, absolutely. Wisdom clarifies priorities and wisdom helps us to recognize distractions. I know I'm using that word a lot.

Um, but in this study, we are we are looking at the biblical perspective on wisdom. So, I'm going to say that word a whole lot. It protects our purpose. It helps to clarify our priorities and it helps to us to recognize distractions. Hopefully, throughout this lesson, we can take a practical approach to living out godly wisdom from day to day.

The focus is building with God's blueprints. We must have the heart and this is taken directly from the curriculum. We must have the heart and vision of the builder in view if we want to follow his master plan. Wisdom in a nutshell is learning to see life the way that God sees it. Loving the things that he loves and staying away from the things that he hates.

I'll say it again. Wisdom is really just learning to see life the way that God sees it. Loving the things he loves, staying away from the things he hates. Sounds simple, right? When we look at life through God's word, we learn how to live rightly.

We learn when discernment is needed. We also learn when it's time to step out boldly in faith. If you don't mind, let's turn to and this is going to be our p our key passage for this lesson in the book of Proverbs, >> chapter 6. >> See, I messed I messed up setting the atmosphere. I'm just kidding.

I'm just kidding. So, Proverbs chap chapter 6 verse 16. Thank you, brother Nate. I'm sorry. >> You're okay.

Um, Proverbs chapter 6 verse 16 through 19. >> And we can kind of we can popcorn around. So, whoever has 16, if you'll read and then somebody else just jump in with 17 until we get to 19. Okay. >> 18.

and he that sweth discord among brethren. >> So these in this passage, the six things that the Lord does hate. Some strong language. Wouldn't you agree? I read that passage and I'm kind of taken back by how strong that language is.

I see hate, abomination, lying, innocent blood. I mean, there's a lot of language in there that kind of puts you off whenever you read it, or it does me. Sometimes when I read that passage, or if I read passages like this that have that strong language, I I tend to focus on the severity of the language and instead of diving into the depth of it. These verses are not just random rules. And and if you just take this out of context, somebody anybody could take this and think to themselves, "Wow, that God sounds angry." But we look at it, it's not a list of rules from an angry God.

They are warnings from a loving father. >> God hates these things because of what they destroy. >> I'm sorry if I get emotional. Apparently, this is as I've gotten into this lesson, um definitely had some conviction and also um I don't know, a lot of it hits close to home. So, if I get emotional, just somebody else can come read my notes and take over.

So, God hates these things because of what they destroy. So, we're going to kind of walk through and we won't spend too much time on the things that God hates. And I because I want to get to the other side of it. The things that God hates are the very things that can poison an environment or an atmosphere and sabotage what we are building. As I was reading through the curriculum, this one line just like, oh, it hit me like a ton of bricks.

What you build is what you live in. And so, man, what a that can be a heavy thing. So, let's look at it. Number one, one of the things that God hates, God hates a proud look or to put it in other words, self-absorption. It's pride that puts me at the center instead of God or people.

Number two, the second thing that God hates, a lying tongue or manipulation is in modern context. Number three, hands that shed innocent blood. In other words, cruelty. This reflects a heart that's willing to harm others or desires to harm others. Number four, a heart that devises wicked schemes and put, in other words, a hidden sin life.

This is sin that starts inwardly and eventually comes out outwardly. Number five, feet that rush into mischief or the attraction to drama. A pattern of running toward trouble instead of away from it. Getting involved in things that pull you into chaos or into temptation. Promise we won't spend too much time on these because these can be get pretty heavy.

A false witness that lies or words that create division. This goes beyond untruth. that is speaking in a way that damages trust, spreads mis misinformation, or turns people against each other. Can you just like picture this environment? As I I'm a very visual as I'm reading through this, I kind of picture all of this in like a room and can you just picture that?

Um, a person duet. >> Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. A person who stirs up conflict among his own people are damaging unity. God warns us against these things because they destroy people who he made, relationships which he created, and purpose which he desires for each and every one of us.

When we really step back and we look at this list, every one of these attitudes pulls us away from the kind of life that God designed us to live. a proud look. Pride isolates. Deception can damage tr damage trust and division can fracture unity. Sin always tears down what wisdom is trying to build.

So God hates these things. Then the opposite must be what he loves. So, if God hates these things, then let's look at what the opposite is. Now that we've learned what not to do, let's look at what we can do. Um, if somebody could look up Romans, chapter 12, verse 9.

Romans 12 and 9. Whenever you have it, go ahead and read it out. >> Let love without that which is evil. Cleave to that which is good. >> Yeah.

Abhord to that which is evil. Cleave to that which is good. Um not too long ago, probably in the last year, Samuel and I sat down with a couple. They were they were wanting to have a Bible study. They wanted to have a place where they could ask questions and and they had been in church as children.

They'd gotten married. They'd lived lives outside of church. Um they had been out of church for over a decade, I think, at that point. And they were coming back into church as a married couple. So they'd never knew each other when they were in church before.

Met in the world, got married, and then desired to come back to church. And I will I'll never forget one of the questions and I think I'll never forget it because I'm sure at some point in our life we've all asked this question. She sat across the table from us and she said, "When I when I was growing up, the only thought about what I could or couldn't do was, well, is this going to send me to hell? >> Is this going to make you angry, God?" And it kind of took me back because she I mean, she said it very plainly. Um, but how many of us have those thoughts?

And my husband in his wisdom, because I was kind of taken back and I didn't really know what to say, my husband kind of stepped in and he said, "Well, can I introduce you to a new mindset?" She was like, "Yes, please, please." And she was hungry, hungry. He said, "Instead of asking the question, God, is this going to send me to hell? like how close to the line can I get or is this going to make you angry? Because how does that paint the picture of God? Right?

Instead of that, he said, "Can I offer you this suggestion? Would you think, Lord, what would what could I do to please you?" Instead of asking, "Is this going to make you angry?" Living in a life of fear, Lord, what can I do to please you? The heart of a servant. God, you are a loving God. What can I do to love you back?

So, one question, what's going to send me to hell is trying to find that boundary line? The other is pursuing the heart of God. >> Y'all don't tell Samuel the best part of my message was what he said because it is. I'm just kidding. There are many things he says.

I'm Oh, let me write that down. Um, could it be that the opposite is true? We will never go wrong aligning ourselves with God's blueprints, building our lives shaped by the pursuit of the things that God loves. So if God hates a proud look, he must love a humble appearance. If he hates a lying tongue, he must love truth or truthful words.

If he hates cruelty, then he must love hands that protect the innocent. If he hates wicked schemes, he must love righteous plans. If he hates feet that rush to mischief, he must love feet that are obedient. If he hates lies, then he must love honesty. And if he hates, excuse my words, stirring the pot, he must love the promotion of peace.

So, let's take a closer look at the things that God loves. Number one, and I was gonna use this, but not a good multitasker. When I'm teaching adults, teaching kids, I'm like, but teaching adults, not a good multitasker. So, if you need me to repeat anything, just let me know. A humble appearance.

Number one, a humble appearance. And actually, before we dive into these, I have several scriptures. If you don't mind, um, would someone be willing willing to find and just hold on to them and I'll I'll call on you. James 4 and6. >> Okay.

Thank you, Sarah. Proverbs 12:22. Okay, Lori. Proverbs 31 8 and 9. Sister Jackie.

Proverbs 15:26. Okay. I think I saw Michelle on that one. 1st Samuel 15:22. Sister Stacy.

Isaiah 1 and19. Kira Proverbs 11 and1 Ephesians 4:25 >> I can do that one and the last one Matthew 5 and9 >> yes >> yes there some of them do have multiple so there may be some that have two. So, taking a closer look at the things that God loves. Number one, a humble appearance. Whoever has James 4 and6 >> gives grace to the humble.

So, it's not that he just notices the humility, but he responds to it with grace. I heard a preacher say one time over in almost every message, I can't even remember his name, but in his message, he would say, "Pride says I got this, but wisdom says I need a savior." So, a humble appearance. Number two, truthful words. Whoever has Proverbs 12 and 22in, >> not only does he love it, but he delights in it. God is truth.

So saying truthful things actually brings us closer to his nature. Makes me think of the verse, whatsoever things are true. I come back to that over and over. Number three, the third thing. He loves a lot of things for the sake of this list.

Hands that protect the innocent. Proverbs 31 89. Open mouth for the cause of all such as destruction. Open mouth judge rightously the cause of the poor and needy. plead the cause.

Um, at our leadership weekend, um, our leadership got together and we went to a cabin in I'm going to say Gatlinburg. It was probably Pendum Forge. They're the same in my brain. We were in the mountains and it was beautiful. Um, and brother Bill Parky was doing some of our sessions um, for our leadership and he he mentioned he just said the the most simple thing, but it struck me.

He was talking about setting culture and setting the atmosphere and he said no one is neutral every person impacts and that's what this me plead the cause no one is neutral plead the cause for the poor and the needy simply god hates cruelty because he created human life so when his people are when people are harmed physically emotionally when innocent people are harmed we attack something sacred to him. Number four, a heart that despises wicked schemes. If you have Proverbs 15 and 26, >> the thoughts of the wicked are an abomination. >> Pleasant words. I don't know about you, this is something I can relate to.

Hidden hidden sin, whatever that may be. That can be as big or as small. In the eyes of the Lord, it's all the same. Hidden sin can keep us trapped in bitterness, offense, loneliness, comparison. But this is not God's will or his purpose for our lives.

He wants us to walk in freedom. Confidence. I think that's a word that that Sister Sloan talked about last week. Confidence and unity in him. And it's not confidence in my abilities, but it's confidence in God.

What can I do to please you? And in that, I can have confidence that you come through. It's getting quiet. I know it's a lot. It's a lot of It's a lot.

Number five. All right, we're on number five. Feet that are steadfast in obedience. O, this one is hard. If you ask my mom, don't do it.

But if you ask mom of when I was a kid that o that word I don't think I was very good at it, mom. I was very I was a very uh stubborn child and it has turned into what she say that perseverance will pay off someday. Pay it will pay off someday. Um feet that are steadfast in obedience. 1st Samuel 15 and 22.

the Lord as burnt offering and sacrifices as obeying the voice of the Lord. Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice and to now to obey is better than sacrifice. >> It was 1 Samuel 15 and 22. To obey is better than sacrifice. Isaiah 1 and9.

>> So we wi wisdom teaches us discernment that not every conversation we're still feet that are steadfast in obedience, not running to mischief. Wisdom teaches us discernment to know that not every conversation deserves participation. And that's a hard one to learn. Not every emotional reaction should be followed. That's even harder for for me.

If the enemy cannot destroy purpose, then he will distract it. If he can't destroy it, then he will distract it. How can this is we're going to take a break from? How can distractions pull us away from our purpose? It doesn't have to be there.

There are some distractions that I wouldn't consider a bad thing. But what are some distractions or how can and you guys are free to jump in. How can distractions pull us away from purpose? >> Yeah. Attention.

Absolutely. Sure. >> That's a good one. Yeah. Absolutely.

A false sense of happiness. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah.

The insecurity or is that what you >> distractions? Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely. Absolutely.

as a te just in the past decade and I can say this with confidence in a decade I've seen the difference in the school system of of the the impact of technology and what it's had on on our kiddos. Anything else? Not every distraction is sinful. I mean, you know, two years ago, I had way less distractions than I used to. You know, not every distraction looks sinful.

It just becomes sin when it replaces our walk with God. Sometimes it just slowly pulls. What is it? It's a slow fade back. I'm aging myself.

It's a slow fade. It pulls our attention away from what matters most. Put this down. Yeah, that is my distraction. Put it down.

This is my object list. I put my distraction down. >> Yeah. When it becomes the object of our affection or the object of our attention. All right.

Number six. The another bless. Another thing that God loves is an honest witness. I can't remember if I gave this to somebody. Proverbs 11 verse one.

>> Go for it. >> Whoever has it first. >> You're good. So, an honest witness, a false balance, meaning um untruth is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is his delight. Does somebody have that?

Um, I want to hear that in KJV. Sometimes I like to hear them just to see how it >> was KJV. That is so close to ESV is pulled up on my phone. So close. Um, so a false balance is an abomination, but a just weight is his delight.

Ephesians 4:25. >> Putting away lying, speaking every man truth, being an honest witness. Dishonest conversation can potentially damage something that took years to build. And being a person who promotes peace, Matthew 5:9, blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. We as ladies carry a tremendous influence in our atmosphere.

That influence reaches farther than we sometimes realize. How many of us know ladies that ha that we know who have created who have had positive influence in our lives? They may or may not ever know. We influence the tone of a home. We influence the culture of friendships, spirit of a ministry.

If we last year, Sister Mandy led us through the generational Jockabed's book study. And just reading through that book, Jockabed, the mother of Moses, the influence that she had on a nation, we are constantly contributing to something to the environment around us. All of these things, humility, truth, peace, obedience is not just about being a good person, but it is bigger than that. I truly believe that the atmosphere we build will support will either support God's purpose for our lives or it will destroy it. It will either build the kingdom or sabotage it.

The things that God loves are what make homes, churches, marriages, friendships flourish. Wisdom invites us to continually examine what we are building, not from condemnation. He's not a condemning God. Now we may feel convicted at times and believe me even reading over these notes right now I feel conviction but not from shame. Shame is not of God.

We might feel guilty and that's godly. He gives that to us for a reason. We have to have a boundary that says oh I need to stop there. But he does not promote shame from a desire to become women who reflect the heart heart of God more faithfully. Can we take a minute to just pray just a second, Lord?

God, I pray that you would help us as ladies, God. Lord, not from an from a perspective of shame or guilt or condemn condemnation, Jesus, but Lord, you invite us into relationship with you, God, to pursue your heart so that we could live life and live it more abundantly. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. I thank you for that promise and for that opportunity, God.

You are so good and you are so so so faithful. Thank you Jesus. Help us God to pursue your heart in living and applying the things that you love. Jesus, thank you Jesus. Thank you Lord.

I thank you for it. Thank you Jesus. Thank you Jesus. So, just some questions to think about as we strive for wisdom in our walk. We can ask a few questions.

Does this draw me closer to God? Does this draw me closer to wisdom? Am I building peace or division? This quote is taken directly from the curriculum and it's a book. You may have said it last week, Mom.

I can't remember if you said is a book by Sister Lorie Wagner. She says, "The world teaches women to chase attention, power, and self-fululfillment. But scripture teaches women to pursue wisdom because wis wisdom builds a life that lasts." What a responsibility. There are some days I just want to put it away. But what an honor.

What an honor he gives us to be able to pursue his heart and to influence the atmosphere. So I think I know I'm going to say it again. Sammy preached a beautiful message about the influence of a woman and how we can influence the environment around us. All right, ladies. Do you know what time I'm supposed to end?

Is it 45 or 50? I think it's 45. Look at that. It is 7:43. We have time for Does anyone have anything you want to add?

Any questions? If not, we have time for a little discussion question. I think Thank you so much for letting me have my candle. This is my emotional sport candle. I'm just kidding.

This is my atmosphere setter. I tried to Yeah. No, literally yesterday. Yeah, yesterday I said, "Samuel, I think I think I could do it." And of course, I asked the person who likes stadium lighting, but um there's also an aspect of having lamps that like you don't see all the dirt, you know? >> Um So, I asked him, I said, "Babe, I really want to like set the atmosphere and I think I can just do no overhead lighting and do lamps." He was like, "You would need like 20 lamps." I was like, "No, I think I would just need the ones that are in the house.

I can just pack them all up and take them." And then Dylan said, "No, but I'm just kidding. I'm just kidding." He really didn't. He did. But I was going to rig it to where we just had lamps um pass out candles to each of you to write your notes by candle light, but I did not do that. But I'm thankful for you ladies.

Thank you guys for being here tonight. Um hopefully we can take something away from that. I know I have um this is going to sit on my counter for quite some time