Gathering together as a family to spend focused time worshiping God is a wonderful way to center your home on Him. Family worship is a visible reminder to our children that God is worthy of our time, our attention, and our affection.
Deuteronomy 6:7 says, “You shall teach [God’s words] diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” In addition to the focused discipleship that occurs when you make time for regular family worship, you’ll also find that it is a powerful catalyst for “as you go” discipleship. The great truths you read, pray over, and sing about during family worship will overflow into the rest of your family life!
For people who have never experienced it, getting started with family worship can seem quite daunting. As you start, there’s often a noticeable difference between how you think it’s supposed to go and how it’s actually going. Don’t let the gap between the ideal and the reality stop you! Keep it simple, engaging, and enjoyable. Consider including the following basic elements:
Read
Read a portion of the Word together, either chapter-by-chapter or as a selection provided in a devotional guide. After reading, work through a simple process of exploring what you’ve just read, discussing and applying key themes as you discover them. Ask: What did the passage say to the original readers? What does the passage mean for all time? How does the passage apply to our lives? Hide God’s Word in your hearts by memorizing Scripture together. Repeat verses throughout the week and review them as you continue to worship together throughout the year.
Pray
Try to include all family members as you pray, even if this is on a rotating basis. Avoid getting stuck in a prayer rut by modeling and encouraging well-rounded prayers. For example, you may consider using the acronym PRAY (Praise, Repent, Ask, Yield) to guide your prayer time. Additionally, you may want to maintain a family prayer journal that helps you keep track of prayer requests and God’s answers to those requests.
Sing
Sing together as a family. Kids songs, hymns, praise songs—whatever, just sing to God! If someone in the family has a musical gift, utilize it. If not, use a recording or simply sing a cappella. Consider using songs that are frequently sung in your church so that your children will be familiar with them during corporate worship.
