Church Bulletin:
I can remember the first time I was exposed to “family worship.” Kylie and I were new to the Reformed Faith and went to dinner with a couple from the church we had starting attending. At the conclusion of the meal the hosting husband read a passage of scripture followed by J.C. Ryle’s comments. He offered some thoughts of his own and then closed in prayer. I was both impressed and stirred up. In my seven years of being a Christian I hadn’t experienced this before. It said to me that faith is an integral part of family life and that husbands / fathers are responsible to lead the way.
There are no direct commands instructing us that the evening meal is to be accompanied with Bible reading and prayer. There is however an emphasis placed on teaching and worship in the home – Deut 6:1-9; Josh 24:15; 2 Sam 6:20; Prov 1:8; 1 Cor 14:35; Eph 5:22-6:4; 2 Tim 1:5; 3:15.
Let me offer some thoughts on this subject.
1. It requires discipline and perseverance. Satan and the flesh are not too fond of Godly households. When you embark on family worship everything feels like it’s against you – tiredness, distractions, busyness, the children look bored and are fidgeting. Don’t give up, this is perfectly normal! As children get older and are converted it takes on a different feel. We just need to plod along in faithfulness.
2. Don’t make it unnecessarily long or tedious. If you are going to have your family devotional time toward the end of the day bear in mind that everyone is weary; also bear in mind the ages and maturity of those who are present. Short, sharp and to the point is the rule. I would suggest in the region of 10 minutes when children are young. If there is discussion then let it run its own course, but don’t drag things out. Aim to engage everyone by throwing in a few comments and questions specific to them as individuals.
3. Make use of the many resources available. There is a great deal of good Reformed material on the market designed for family worship. Do a search using Google and you will be spoilt for choice. Of course you don’t need to stick exclusively to books designated for this purpose; all kinds of Christian books can be read in a family setting. It is also good to simply read a Biblical passage and for the one leading to make their own comments (some preparation may be required to do this).
Family worship has always been a vital means of grace, but increasingly so in these wicked days.
Andrew