Thanks for pointing out Jim Hamilton’s comments on family worship, Eric. I especially liked the way he explained doing various God-focused tasks with the kids at various times throughout the day.

When I reflect on my own experiences with family worship, I am reminded how often I fall into the thinking that once I’ve done certain “spiritual” tasks with the family (and my wife), I have effectively led them in family worship (or put another way, I have checked off my spiritual headship box for the day). We do the same thing with our private worship (a.k.a quiet times or devotions) and corporate worship when we assume that a great time with the Lord in the morning is like a can of spinach to Popeye – it gives us the spiritual power we need to make it to the next meeting. In one sense this is true, that these times of worship are refreshing and reinvigorating, but in another it is not. God tells us that worship is bigger than just special times where we focus our attention on the Lord. Romans 12 begins:

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Then Paul goes on to explain what he means by presenting our bodies as our service of worship by exhorting the church to be devoted to loving one another and living holy lives (set apart).

In 1 Thessalonians 5 God says “Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” and in Colossians 3:17: “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”

These passages show us that Christian worship is larger than just separate, special meetings; rather, it is something that can and should happen all day long. If we want to grow in our obedience to be worshippers of God we will meditate long on how to “pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks.” Sometimes I fear that families who are dedicated to nightly devotions are in fact doing more harm than good in teaching their children to be worshippers of God when the rest of their lives are devoid of God-ward comments and instructions.

At the same time we must be careful not to neglect these “special” times of focused attention on the Lord, privately, as a family, and as a church body. Hebrews 10:24-25 says:

Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

Gathered worship is the highlight of my week. Oh, if we would only take family worship as seriously as gathered worship. Imagine the transformation that would take place if our families were as committed to regularly family worship as they are to corporate worship! The world tells us that we need “quality” time together and defines this as fathers playing catch with their sons or mothers baking cookies together. Though we are often tempted to think otherwise, family worship should be our ideal quality time.

You may be thinking that this family worship business is only for parents with children living at home. Wrong. Families begin with marriage, and couples can engage in “family worship” together. I would even suggest that Christians living together (like singles) have some kind of devotional time together.

I’d like to take this time to share some additional thoughts about what to do for family worship. At our church, Redeemer Bible Church, where I serve as the director of worship ministries, I’ve created what I call a “family worship book.” Here’s an excerpt from the preface:

This book is not intended to dictate everything that you do for family worship. There are many other wonderful materials available; in fact, so many that it can become difficult to choose what to do. Look at this book as the foundation of your spiritual training upon which you want to continue building.

For each week, the book has 4-6 short “family readings” that tie in together, 2-3 catechism questions, a memory verse, a historic hymn to work on, and daily readings (for those old enough to read through the bible in a year). The book was born out of the observation that many fathers don’t lead their families in worship because they don’t know what to do and don’t have or take the time to plan ahead of time what readings or songs they will do together.

So let me encourage you again to commit yourselves to family worship. Fathers and husbands, this means both having a plan to regularly gather for worship and having the spiritual insight and sensitivity to demonstrate how to respond to God moment by moment. Let’s show our family that being with the Lord is a true joy, not just an obligation, and let’s demonstrate that both during regular gatherings and by regularly drawing our children’s attention to the Lord as we “walk by the way.” (Deuteronomy 6:7)

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