Family Worship

November 25, 2012 Paul
Family Worship

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“Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth ; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. “If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:14-15 (NASB)

The Word [serve] in the above passage can be understood to be [worship].

“Now, therefore, fear the LORD and [worship] Him in sincerity and truth ; and put away the gods which your fathers [worshiped] beyond the River and in Egypt, and [worship] the LORD. “If it is disagreeable in your sight to [worship] the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will [worship]: whether the gods which your fathers [worshiped] which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will [worship] the LORD.” Joshua 24:14-15 (NASB)

I offer some starter suggestions to encourage and exhort you to gather your family together. I don’t offer these as one who perfectly accomplishes this sacred family moment. I offer it from the ashes of misery and failure, looking to Scripture to help me rise from the ashes and set my gaze upon this King of Glory.

  1. You must come to this sacred moment with your Bibles, ready to open and read from. Especially if there are children in the home to help them become familiar with this treasured jewel. This is best if led by the husband/father, but if this is not possible, mother should give direction (prepare a son to this task as he matures in the Lord.)
    1.  Read Proverbs and Psalms regularly
    2. Read/sing hymns (you can likely ask your church if they have an old hymn book for your family to use.)
    3. As you make this fit your family, take care to teach that worship is about God’s order and not about man.
    4. Aim for brevity (10-15 minutes) Fill the house with Scripture
  2. A book or sermons can give aid, but don’t allow it to become the primary source of authority. Scripture must be viewed as primary, never secondary.
    1. The Holy War – John Bunyan
    2. Pilgrim’s Progress – John Bunyan
    3. Alarm to the Unconverted (Series of sermons by Joseph Alleine)
  3. Catechisms are helpful. Because many in our day have relegated this practice to the past or left alone because of the fear that it sounds like Catholicism it has become a missing aid for many evangelicals.
    1. A Puritan Catechism (Charles Spurgeon)
    2. A Baptist Catechism (adapted by John Piper)
    3. Use the statement of faith from your church. (Eastside Baptist Church)
  4. Prayer should be part of your family gathering. Pray for each other. This may mean a time for everyone to pray or select someone to pray.
    1. Pray to God for your church
    2. Pray to God for the unconverted
    3. Pray to God for missionaries (Call to Prayer)
    4. Pray to God for the nations of the world (for example: There are many advocacy networks who can aid you in how to pray for nations of the world who have no access to the Gosple. The Saudi Advocacy Network is such a group.)
    5. Pray to God for the souls of the unconverted
    6. Pray to God for your neighbors
    7. etc…