Lamar Baptist Church Family Worship Facts1

1. What does the Bible say about Family Worship?

The Old Testament calls parents to consistently instruct their children, both formally and

informally (Deut 6:4-9; Ps 78:5-7; Prov 1:8-9). The New Testament holds fathers primarily

responsible for training their children in the fear of the Lord (Eph 6:4), and it shows the impact

that the biblical instruction of mothers and grandmothers has on their children (2 Tim 1:5,

3:15).

2. Isn’t worship on Sundays enough?

Setting aside specific times to worship God in the home cannot replace worship with the

gathered, local church. Indeed, God intends for the Christian’s daily life of worship, family

worship, and corporate worship to coalesce (Rom 12:1-2; Heb 10:24-25).

3. Why should families set aside time to worship Christ in the home?

a. To bring glory to God - God is most glorified when His people value Him above all other

things. Family worship is a visible reminder for all in the home that God is worthy of our time,

attention, and affection.

b. To know Christ- By beholding Christ in His Word, God has promised that parents and children

will come to know Christ and become like Christ (2 Cor 3:18).

c. To impact the world with the light of Christ – As God hears the prayers of a four-year-old girl,

he may be pleased to grant her requests for the spread of the gospel among an unreached

people group, for missionaries to be sent, for the translation of the Bible into a new language,

and for the planting of new churches. The world will be impacted because God has determined

to work through the prayers of His people.

d. To make disciples of the next generation - Consider the impact made on young adults who

learned to pursue Christ from the consistent example and leadership of their parents. They’ve

heard hundreds of passages read and explained, seen God answer countless prayers, sang many

songs of the faith, and memorized more Scripture than many Christians do in a lifetime. This

biblical foundation will stand the test of time and will bear fruit in generations to come.

4. What about homes with only one parent, or only one Christian parent?

God holds both parents responsible for nurturing children spiritually, under the father’s

leadership. If the father is not a believer, the mother will assume this role in a way that conveys

respect for her husband, concern for her husband’s salvation, and the necessity of nurturing

their children (1 Pet 3:1-6). When the mother is not a Christian, the father will assume his

natural place of spiritual leadership, but without the support and teamwork of the mother.

Therefore, his manner of leadership should be loving, selfless, and inviting as he seeks to

disciple the children and show Christ’s character to his wife in hopes that she will be saved

(1 Cor 7:12-16). In single parent homes, the responsibility falls to the single parent. For all

Christian parents God is able to supply great grace to enable them to do the work He has called

them to do, when they ask for His help.

5. What if my kids are very young?

Having very young children will change the dynamic of family worship considerably.

Remember, however, that the goal for every child in the family is not the same. With very young

children, the goal is probably not gaining an understanding of all matters of doctrine. Rather,

parents should seek to impress on young children the importance/worth of Christ and the Bible

through family worship. The FWG is written to be very flexible so that a parent may only spend

five minutes on one component with very young children.

1This document was adapted from the Church at Brookhills “Simple Guide to Family Worship.”

6. How do I keep things interesting if the age of my children varies widely?

Parents can include younger children as much as is possible and appropriate (e.g. reading

Scripture as they are able, praying words you give them from the FWG, etc.). On occasion, older

children may be involved in teaching and applying the Scripture for the rest of the family,

and/or in leading prayer and song. Parents may plan to only use one component of the FWG

with younger children, two with older, and three or four with the oldest. Remember that the

goal is for the whole family to spend time worshiping Christ together at least one day a week.

7. What time of day is best for family worship?

The time of day is not the most critical element of family worship. Some families prefer to

worship as the day begins around the breakfast table. For others, the morning hours are simply

too hectic for family worship. In these cases, evening may work best. Many families prefer to

connect family worship to the evening meal if all the family is present at that time. In short,

timing is far less important than consistency. No matter when a family worships together, it will

require intentionality and dedication. Because God gives wisdom to all who ask, parents should

prayerfully examine their schedules together and seek God’s help in determining a time at

which they can be most consistent.

Resources:

http://www.monergism.com/directory/link_category/Prayer/Family-Worship-and-Prayer/

http://www.childrendesiringgod.org/

David R. Helm, The Big Picture Story Bible, 2004.

Susan and Richie Hunt, Big Truths for Little Kids: Teaching Your Children to Live for God, 1999.

Sally Lloyd-Jones, The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name, 2007.

Carine MacKenzie, My 1st Book of Questions and Answers, 2001.

Tedd Tripp, Shepherding a Child’s Heart, 1995.

Bruce Ware, Big Truths for Young Hearts: Teaching and Learning the Greatness of God, 2009.

Donald S. Whitney, Family Worship: In the Bible, in History, and in Your Home, 2006.