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