Most Christian children today have never seen their dad open a Bible to lead their family in a time reading and prayer. The idea of “family worship” is completely foreign in most Christian homes today. And even when their is a desire, very often parents feel inadequate or awkward. That’s understandable. One Year Dinner Table [...]
Family Worship
"Family-worship is a most proper way of teaching children religion, as you teach them language by insensible degrees; a little one day, and a little another; for to them line must be upon line, and precept upon precept...Indeed were this duty properly attended to, it might be expected, that all christian families would, according to their respective sizes and circumstances, become nurseries of piety; and you would see, in the most convincing view, the wisdom of providence, in making human infants so much more dependent on their parents than the offspring of inferior creatures are." - Philip Doddridge - Extract from a Letter on Family Worship
Teaching Your Children to Pray
Parents, if you love your children, do all that lies within your power to train them to have a habit of prayer. Show them how to begin. Tell them what to say. Encourage them to persevere. Remind them that if they become careless and slack about it…. Believe me, if you never hear your children [...]
Fathers, If You Fail to Teach Your Children the Devil Will
If you fail, father, to teach your son to fear God, the devil will teach him to hate God. If you fail to teach your son to guard his mind, the devil will gladly teach him to have an open mind. If you fail to teach your son to obey his parents, the devil will teach him [...]
Family Driven Faith by Voddie Baucham
As I type this the kids are hurrying around the house getting ready for the Saturday morning sessions of the Family Driven Faith Conference. This is such a treat! A few weeks ago my wife and I were able to attend the Alliance Defense Fund Academy in California and spend the entire week with Voddie [...]
The Best Children’s Bible Study Books & Bible Lessons for Kids
It’s hard to exaggerate the importance of teaching our children to read. And introducing them to God’s word and the wonderful truths of the Bible at an early age is the greatest gift we can give our children. I’m often asked about good books to use for children’s Bible study or Bible lessons for kids. [...]
The What, When, and How of Family Worship
Few of us who grew up in homes that practiced family worship. Here are a few practical helps that may aid our families in this journey I found in a recent post at the Gospel Coalition. Learn more about Family Worship The Family Worship Book by Terry Johnson Family Worship: In the Bible, in History [...]
Legacy: Getting Your House in Order Video by Voddie Baucham
“Getting Your House in Order” is the second part in a two-part series entitled Legacy by Dr. Voddie Baucham, author of Family Driven Faith and What He Must Be: If He Wants to Marry My Daughter. “What legacy will you leave your children? Your grandchildren? Will you be remembered for the wealth and possessions you [...]
11 Reasons to Worship with Your Family
Today I read a wonderful post by Jason Helopoulos about family worship. I thought I would share the “meat” with you. I trust it encourages you to begin a consistent, daily time of prayer and Bible reading in your own home as you worship together as a family. Learn more about Family Worship Family Worship [...]
The Apostolic Constitutions and Spiritual Leadership in the Family by Kerry Ptacek
The Apostolic Constitutions is a collection of early church law dated by scholars as being predominantly from the second or third century, with only a few additions from the fourth and fifth centuries. We need not accept the claim of the Constitutions to apostolic authorship, although that was the view of the church of that [...]
Southern Presbyterians on Family Worship (1873-1912) by General Assembly of the PCUS
Family worship led by the male head of the household was in decline among Presbyterians in the latter half of the 19th century. Nevertheless, many strong statements on family worship continued to be issued by the Southern Presbyterian General Assembly well into the 20th century. The following are some excerpts from statements of the General [...]
Matthew Henry On Family Religion by Kerry Ptacek
Many Christians are familiar with Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible. That work has continued to be a great help to Christians even as we approach the third centennial of its original publication. As his 1704 sermon ‘On Family Religion’ indicates, Matthew Henry was a strong proponent of the spiritual leadership of the male [...]
Jonathan Edwards on the Family and Grace
The following is from the ‘Farewell Sermon’ of this leader of the Great Awakening in New England (The Works of Jonathan Edwards, Vol. I, p. ccvi.) Although considered by many to be one of America’s greatest preachers and theologians, Edwards (1703-58) was driven from his pulpit. His sermon hints at some of the lesser known [...]
Getting Started: The Biblical Elements of Family Worship by Kerry Ptacek
The Bible teaches that Christian men who head households should be spiritual leaders in their families. The principal means for this leadership has been in domestic gatherings called ‘family worship,’ ‘family devotions,’ or ‘the family altar.’ This practice was once widespread in the homes of members of Protestant churches; however, today few Christians are familiar [...]
Family and Government in Puritan New England by Kerry Ptacek
New England was the laboratory of Puritan ideas. Throughout the 17th century leading English Puritans emigrated to New England in order to put their beliefs into practice freely. Oliver Cromwell himself, prior to rising to the command of the Puritan New Model Army in the English Civil War, had considered settling in New England. But [...]
A Brief History of Biblical Family Worship by Kerry Ptacek
The distinctive elements of Biblical family worship, leadership by the male head of the family and the use of God’s word, are found throughout the Bible, in the ancient Church, and in those churches which prepared and continue the Reformation to this day. Biblical History God’s plan for Abraham involved spiritual leadership in his household: [...]
The Reformed Faith in Its Ethical Consequences in the Family: Part I by John Macleod
The family as an institution belongs to the natural order. Its welfare tells on that of the community, and of the State, and of the world. So also what affects it to its hurt has an injurious influence on all the constituencies that reap the benefit of its well-being. There is a bond of nature [...]
The Reformed Faith in Its Ethical Consequences in the Family: Part II by John Macleod
The Reformed Churches by their recognition of the household of the believer as a unit in their fellowship were shut in to what they looked upon as no bondage. Their views on the membership of the Visible Church, as we have seen, found a place in the constituency for the children of those who were [...]
The Importance of Family Religion (Part 1) by S.G. Winchester
GOD, the Creator of man, established the family constitution. ‘God setteth the solitary in families,’ Ps. 68:6. As to the design of this constitution, we are expressly informed in Malachi 2:15. ‘And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the Spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed.’ [...]
The Importance of Family Religion (Part 2) by S.G. Winchester
The parent is the divinely constituted HEAD AND LORD of his family. The authority which he possesses is not usurped, but is delegated to him by the source of all authority. It belongs to the station which he occupies, and to which he has been called by the providence of God. He is invested with [...]
The Importance of Family Religion (Part 3) by S.G. Winchester
The parent is invested with authority for some wise and special end, which looks beyond this world, and ‘things temporal.’ It is to accomplish the great purpose for which the family was constituted. It is true, that as a community and as individuals, we are greatly indebted to the domestic society, for many of the [...]
The Importance of Family Religion (Part 4) by S.G. Winchester
THE head of a family should act the part of a PROPHET towards the rest of his household, and impart to them such instruction as is calculated to answer the purpose for which he is placed in honour and authority over them. Without such instruction, he can not, and ought not, to expect to accomplish [...]
The Importance of Family Religion (Part 5) by S.G. Winchester
The term education, as it is commonly received, is too restricted in its signification. In its usual acceptation, it is applied to the acquisition of what may with propriety be called worldly information, as distinguished from spiritual knowledge; and to the training of the mind for the investigation of philosophical truth, or for the business [...]
The Importance of Family Religion (Part 6) by S.G. Winchester
But in addition to preceptive instruction, there must be superadded the force of corresponding example. The one will effect but little without the other. We are imitative creatures, and learn our earliest lessons, and receive our most enduring impressions through the eyes and not through the ears. It is remarkable how soon children begin to [...]
The Importance of Family Religion (Part 7) by S.G. Winchester
As the helplessness of a child, unable to defend itself from surrounding danger, makes a strong and effectual appeal to its parents for protection, so should its native ignorance, especially of the most important truths, and of those, a knowledge of which is essential to its well-being, both here and hereafter, make a still more [...]
The Importance of Family Religion (Part 8) by S.G. Winchester
It may be proper in this place to notice briefly, the peculiar duties, advantages, and consequent responsibilities of MOTHERS, in regard to the education of their children. To its mother’s care and instruction, the first years of a child, are almost exclusively committed. She makes upon its infant mind, the first impressions, whether good or [...]
