On Family Worship – Part Two

Three things we should desire as our goal for family worship:

Daily Instruction in the Word

Daily Prayer before the Throne of God

Daily Singing the Praises of God

Daily Instruction: “And these words, which I command thee this day,

shall be in your heart: And you shall teach them diligently to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, and when you rise up.” Deut 11:18-19

Daily Prayer: “For everything created by God is good, and nothing is

to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; for it is sanctified by the means of the word of God and prayer.” 1 Timothy 4:4-5

Thomas Brooks said: “A family without prayer is like a house without a roof, open and exposed to all the storms of heaven.”

Daily Singing: “The sound of joyful shouting and salvation is in the

tents of the righteous; … the right hand of the Lord is exalted.” Psalm 118:15-16

Three simple steps – one goal: daily family worship. But how? Consider “What?”, “Where?”, and “When?”…

What?: Be sure you have Bibles for all your children. Even those who can’t read should be included. Open it for them to the text. Then, with the verses before you, give the sense of it.

Memorize a verse or two with the family each week. Currently you can use the Take It To Heart verses. You can also follow a daily devotion if you like. Ask your pastor or a trusted teacher for a reference.

Where?: The choices are endless … the supper table, the living room, at the bedside. One admonition - - NO PHONE CALLS. Let your children recognize that this time of Family Worship is a most important part of your day.

When?: In the morning - - in the evening … I don’t know that there is a best time. I would encourage simply that you have a time and that it be regular and guarded. Let your schedule honor this pursuit of Family Worship.

I would also add four more quick points as we consider “How?”

Be Brief: Have a plan. 10 verses from the Old Testament one day – 10 verses from the New Testament the next will work. Or you might, as we said earlier, follow a devotional or a study that your fellowship is already engaged in. Beginning with 10 minutes is a good place to start.

Be Consistent: Even though our schedules can be often interrupted. Be consistent to press your family to worship. I’m quite certain you consistently eat. I’m quite sure you require consistent cleanup. Your reaction to Family Worship will expose your true commitment. Be consisten.

Be Reverent: Even for the youngest, we must demand reverence as we read God’s Word, pray, and sing. This is the training ground for families worshiping together corporately. Teach reverence.

Be Specific: J.C. Ryle wrote: “Fill their minds with Scripture. Let the Word dwell in them richly. Give them the Bible, the whole Bible, especially while they are young.”

Use special occasions to make your studies “specific”. Use family events. Use birthdays, etc. Involve the whole family. Always let the children read with your clarification. Be plain in your instruction. And finally, ask them, “Do you understand?”

Your children will have questions. Get them the answers. If you don’t, someone else will – and often they’ll be wrong.