6th - 10th Lesson 4

I have a confession to make. One of my “pet peeves” is hearing a gospel presentation that begins with the Fall!(Gen.3:1-6): You are a sinner and are separated from God instead of starting with the beginning of this magnificent Story: Creation! You are made in the image of God. You were created by Him and for Him. If you don’t understand the grand purpose for which you were created, there’s no way you can understand just how horrible and tragic “The Fall” really was! If you don’t understand the tragedy of Adam and Eve turning away from the Person and the place they were made for, then you can’t understand the significance of God Himself leaving heaven to “rescue the ones He loves.” Starting in Genesis 3 is like beginning a movie halfway through! You don’t get the full picture! From Genesis 1 and 2, we learn that God created all there is by the explosive power of His Word and all that He created was pronounced “good”. Because “God’s words are the source of all that is good,…God’s words can and must be trusted. The Bible began with God speaking all things into existence—including the serpent (who enters the scene in Genesis 3). And now the serpent that was created by the word of God has questioned the authority of the One whose word created him! With this subtle question, he usurped the clearly communicated word of God.” He still uses this tactic today! “Did God really say?” As this scene progressed, Satan goes from distorting God’s Word to flat out denying it in verse 4 by saying, “You surely shall not die!” “What happened in the garden is replayed in our own lives every single day. Often when we are tempted, we wonder, Did God really say? Our answer to that question is illustrative of whom we really trust and whom we really worship. When Adam and Eve questioned, belittled, and disobeyed God’s word, they went from being awestruck worshipers of God to being brazen idolaters worshiping themselves. “ “God placed Adam into a lush garden with endless possibilities to worship and obey and only one prohibition. God drove Jesus into the wilderness where He had no food, water, or shelter. And there Jesus came face to face with that crafty serpent who used the same game plan—to get Jesus to question, belittle, and disobey God’s Word. How did Jesus respond? By affirming His trust in God’s Word. By uplifting the true intent of God’s Word. By obeying God’s Word. There in the wilderness, Jesus succeeded where Adam and Eve had failed. Jesus perfectly fulfilled God’s purpose for us—He worshiped and obeyed the Father by trusting His Word. And when Jesus laid down His life as an atoning sacrifice for us on the cross, His perfect worship and obedience were made available to us. “ Hallelujah! What a Savior! Quote for Discussion Discuss this quote together. “The Bible is the inevitable outcome of God's continuous speech. It is the infallible declaration of His mind for us put into our familiar human words.” –A.W. Tozer 1. Think about the incredible mercy of God in that He chose to reveal Himself to us in the form of words. He did not have to do that. He chose to do that because of His great love for us. How often do we discuss Scripture as a family? 2. How can we focus family discussions on God's Word? 3. How can we trust God's Word together as a family? 4. Questions for Discussion • What are some examples of times in your life when you were forced to answer the question “Did God really say?” How did you respond to the temptation to distrust God? • Notice Satan launched his attack by focusing on the one restriction. Do you tend to think of God’s Word as very restrictive? Is He just a kill-joy? “God’s word had not restricted Adam and Eve uncaringly; rather, His command offered amazingly abundant choices. In the garden, the man and woman had endless opportunities for obeying God by eating the fruit from any of the other trees. There was only one solitary possibility for disobedience. But it was at the point of the restriction that the serpent made his crafty attack.” • How does Satan use this same tactic with you today? (Parents, perhaps you’d like to share too!) Have a great week! Carl and Anita Couch

1st-5th Grade Gospel Project Week 4: The Tower of Babel

Dear Parents,

 This week in Children’s Church, we had a visit from Mrs. Ellen Moore, our pastor’s wife and one of the missionaries on the Operation Go Team. She came to share her experiences from the recent mission trip to Peru. Thank you, Mrs. Ellen. We want to keep the children connected with our church’s outreach and mission activities. Children can and want to participate. 

We again discussed our foundational truths. These truths are vital to believing and putting together God’s Big Picture Story.

1. God Exists.

2. God Reveals Himself to us.

3. The Bible is the Story of God and what He has Done for us.

4. God Created us in His image.

5. God's Purpose for Creation: To glorify Him.

The Gospel Project in Children's Church and Sunday School continued with our 4^th piece of God’s Story, The Tower of Babel. Let’s review the first 3 pieces:

     1.     God created the world and peopl

2.    Sin entered the world

3.    Noah and the Ark

It is important to put the pieces together for your children when you discuss them.

What happened after the flood? Even after God had destroyed all life on earth through the flood, and graciously saved Noah's family and the animals, it wasn’t long before people disobeyed God again. God instructed Noah to spread out and fill the earth. Instead, people decided it best to settle. Rather than bringing glory to God by following God’s plan, people decided to glorify themselves. 

God’s plan to populate the earth following the flood could not be sidetracked. When God confused the languages of the people, they were forced to move away from one another and into people groups and nations bound by single languages. Eventually one of these nations would become God’s chosen people. Through the nation of Israel, Christ would come to save the world. 

Just in case the “Family Journal Page” didn't make it home:

Bible Passage: Genesis 11:1-9  Encourage your child to read these chapters or read it with them or to them. 

Big Picture Question: What happens when people choose to sin? Sin separates people from God and each other, but God’s plan is to heal relationships. Encourage your child to memorize the Big Picture Question and Answer each week. 

Key passage to learn this month: “So God created man in His own image; He created him in the image of God; He created them male and female.” Genesis 1:27    Encourage your child to memorize this scripture. Each child will get a chance to recite it in Children’s Church for a reward.  We will introduce a new scripture in October. 

Christ Connection for this week's lesson: God knew we would sin, and Jesus, our Creator, came to redeem us and protect us from the wrath of God by suffering for us.

Family task for the week: Build a tower together (sample materials: building blocks, deck of cards, sugar cubes, frosting and graham crackers). Discuss the big picture question. Note below what happened in the Bible story when people chose to sin by building a city and a tower.

Next week's lesson: Job 1-42

Check out Charleston Baptist's Gospel Project Blog: www.charlestonbaptistss.blogspot.com 

For more about The Gospel Project, www.gospelproject.com 

1st-5th Grade Gospel Project Week 3: Noah and the Ark

Dear Parents,

It was another exciting week of The Gospel Project for Kids! This week we discussed 5 foundational truths that help us grasp the gospel story. We will continue to repeat these each week.

1. God Exists.

2. God Reveals Himself to us.

3. The Bible is the Story of God and what He has Done for us.

4. God Created us in His image.

5. God's Purpose for Creation: To glorify Him. 

God’s gospel story continued this week as boys and girls learned that God is serious about sin. People were sinning so much that God sent a flood to completely destroy all life on earth … all life, that is, except for one man, his family, and a complement of animals.  

Noah was a righteous man (The Bible says he walked with God) and God was gracious to him. God gave specific instructions on how Noah was to build an ark that would be used to rescue Noah, his family, and the animals. Noah was obedient to all God commanded. 

As the story of Noah unfolds, we see shadows of Jesus. Sin caused separation between God and man, but God had graciously provided a way of salvation for Noah and his family through the ark. Our sin separates us from a Holy God, but God provides a way of salvation in the person of Jesus. Also, as Noah’s obedience and God’s grace saved his family and the animals, Jesus’ perfect obedience to God’s plan provides the way of salvation for people. When we trust His act of obedience, we are saved from the punishment our sin deserves. Oh, how good and gracious and merciful He is!!! 

Don't miss this wonderful portrait of what Christ did for us on the cross when we read the story of Noah. Share it's significance with your children again and again. 

Your child should have brought home a take-home sheet entitled "Family Journal Page." This page is intended to give you and your family an opportunity to review and study the things taught on Sunday.

Just in case it didn't make it home:

Bible Passage: Genesis 6:5-9:17  Encourage your child to read these chapters or read it with them or to them.

Big Picture Question: Why does sin separate people from God? God is holy and separate from sin.  Encourage your child to memorize the Big Picture Question and Answer each week.

Key passage to learn this month: “So God created man in His own image; He created him in the image of God; He created them male and female.” Genesis 1:27    Encourage your child to memorize this scripture.  We will introduce a new scripture in October.

Christ Connection for this week's lesson: God knew we would sin, and Jesus, our Creator, came to redeem us and protect us from the wrath of God by suffering for us.

Family task for the week: Play animal charades. Allow each family member to draw a picture of his or her favorite animal. Talk about how God saved Noah; talk about God's plan to save us too. 

Next week's lesson: Genesis 11:1-9

6th - 10th Lesson 3: God Is Not Mute

Gospel Project Summary, Lesson 3

It was Christmas morning, 2010.  Waking up Christmas morning at my parents’ home in Rock Hill was  bittersweet. It was sweet, because this day is the day Christendom celebrates the precious gift of Christ as Savior, the day God Himself “disguised Himself as a newborn” in order to rescue the ones He loves. Yet it was bitter as it was our first Christmas without my Daddy’s sweet presence. Oh how my heart longed to see Dad just one more time! I longed to feel his warm hugs and see his contagious smile. We were all trying very hard “to choose joy without feeling it!”

Later that morning, I went outside (actually to take out the trash!) when all of a sudden, it started snowing! I lifted my face towards the sky as the wet snow fell on my cheeks. In my heart, I sensed the Lord saying to me, “Behold, I will make all things new!” I smiled as I watched the snow begin to cover the grass and thought, “No, I won’t always feel the way I do today. My heart is broken, but God will in time make it new! I won’t always feel the emptiness that I feel today. God will in time fill the void with His joy and laughter again! 

I am sure you too have experienced God in similar ways as you have witnessed the beauty of His creation (general revelation). We stand in awe in these special moments, sensing God’s incredible power! Oftentimes these moments can lead us to seek God more deeply in His Word where more specific, intimate knowledge of God and His ways are found. This is known as special revelation.  

So let me ask you: do you think of the Bible mainly as a list of rules to follow, like a chore chart or a book of heroes on which to pattern our lives? Is that really what God had in mind when he inspired the Psalmist to write in Psalms 19: 7-11 that His Word was delightful, “more desirable than gold”, “sweeter than honey”, “making the eyes light up” and having “great reward to those for keeping them?” But doesn’t this lead us to another question: how can the Lord’s commands be delightful when they are so difficult to keep? And doesn’t the Bible say I will be greatly rewarded IF I keep them?

Stop right now and read Luke 24: 13-27. You may remember this story! Jesus showed up after His resurrection and joined two very sad, disappointed disciples who were on their way back home to Emmaus from Jerusalem. They do not recognize Him at first, but then verse 27 says that Jesus, starting with Moses and all the Prophets, He went through the Old Testament and explained to them, “The point of all that is Me!” Oh how I would love to have a copy of that sermon! Wow!

Perhaps He said something like this: Don’t you see? I did not give you the Law as a list of rules to keep? No matter how hard you try, you could NEVER fulfill the Law’s demands. I never said you could! The time of the Judges and Kings showed you that no earthly King could lead God’s people! You needed a heavenly King, a truly righteous King, King Jesus! Only He in His perfect righteousness could meet what God’s holiness required.

How do I move from duty to delight? We MUST move past seeing the gospel as things to be accomplished FOR God and see the gospel as what Jesus has already accomplished FOR us at Calvary! “Psalms 19:11 tell us there is ‘great reward’ in keeping God’s commands. WE CAN’T DO THAT. But Jesus can and did. And there is great reward in Christ’s righteousness for all who will trust in His finished work and thereby receive His goodness credited to their account.” Now that’s the gospel!

THOUGHTS TO DISCUSS

Many of us are not used to thinking of God’s commandments—and Scripture in general—as “sweeter than honey,” or something that is delicious. Even if we can reckon with the idea of loving God’s law, we may have trouble figuring out how not to think of it in the context of a religious duty or a “chore chart.” But the Psalms speak of God’s children delighting in God’s law.

Does reading the Bible and following God’s expectations feel like a chore or a treasure to you?  

How can we improve in that area in our house? 

The footprints of Christ run throughout the sand of the Old Testament. And the further light of the New Testament helps us see Him most clearly, from His incarnation to His glorification. All of the stories the Bible tells tell the unified story of how God glorifies Himself through the redemption of sinners who are made right with Him through the saving work of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Talk about some Old Testament stories and see how they tell the bigger story and point to Christ.

 

Why is it so important to understand that the Bible is a story from beginning to end about Jesus?

How can we discipline ourselves to spend unhurried time in God’s Word?

6th - 10th Lesson 2: God Is Not Hiding

From: Carl & Anita

First, I have given you the key thought and then a brief synopsis of the lesson. Then some suggestions for conversation will be provided. It is our prayer that God will greatly enrich these conversations that you have with your teens. I hope you are having a great week!

Summary for The Gospel Project, Week 2

Creation teaches about His existence, His character and His motives.

I. Creation teaches about His existence

Have you ever been so moved by something you’ve seen in nature, like a sunrise or a mountainous landscape, that creation itself seemed as if it was telling you something?  Psalms 19:1-6 tell us that day and night the heavens are communicating that God exists.  God’s creation is always proclaiming to God, “Glory, glory, glory, glory, glory, glory, glory! “ (Ask your 9^th/10^th grader how Mrs. Couch depicted this concept J. What I do to get a point across!) (Jog their memory:  BIG foam fingers…)    

II. Creation also exhibits God’s character.

Romans 1: 20 tells us that creation demonstrates   His “eternal power and His divine nature.” His power is seen in the vastness of space and the unfathomable depths of the ocean. It is seen in a volcanic eruption or in the strength of a tsunami.  Have you ever wondered why our universe is SO huge?  Do you know how far stars are from each other in space? Consider this:   it would take the whole universe to even begin to allow God to display His greatness. Now that’s some power!!!

III. Creation reveals God’s motives.

There are so many beautiful, breathtaking moments to be had  in this world, yet even creation has been effected by sin as well (Romans 8:22) God offered Himself as THE sacrifice to end all sacrifices in order to buy back (redeem) all that He had made, including us!!! God would have rather died than to ever live without us. His love is so amazing. This Story will culminate with a grand crescendo when the Prince returns to get His bride! Even creation awaits that glorious day.
“With eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay.” (Romans 8:21)

     One Conversation

Use the following thoughts and questions to have one spiritual conversation. You can pick and choose, use them all or just allow the statement to be your guide. The emphasis shouldn’t be about having all the answers, but simply having a conversation!

1.      Thought From the Study

God intends for the happiness we experience in sports, relationships, and His other good gifts to point us back to Him. The gifts everyone enjoys in this life lead to the Giver. Yet not everyone has eyes to see. While we can’t receive the gospel message in general revelation, we can certainly see its echoes.

              How can the things we enjoy point back to Christ?

  
Discuss ways the world around us points us to Christ. Acknowledge everyone has been exposed to this “general knowledge” of God through nature; this is called general revelation. Even though this revelation does not tell us everything we need to know in order to receive salvation, enough is communicated to lead a person to at least acknowledge

     2.    DISCUSS:

            ‘it would take the whole universe to even begin to allow God to display His greatness!"

Use these questions to begin thinking through and applying the lessons to your family life:

1. What are some things we can do together to experience God’s created world more often?

2. What do we learn about God’s motives through creation and what might that mean for our family?
3. What is the difference between being acknowledged and being known?

         The Reformers thought of the world as a “grand theater in which God showcases His glory!”

1st - 5th: Lesson 2 "Sin Entered the World"

From Kathy:

Dear Parents,

Sunday morning, we repeated many of the foundational truths that were discussed in lesson 1.

1. God Exists (Gen. 1:1)
2. God Reveals Himself to us through creation, through His Word, through people, through our experiences with Him and through our circumstances.
3. The Bible is the story of God and what He has done for us. It is the big picture.
4. God created us in His image. We are the only creatures capable of having a relationship with God. He made us to fellowship with Him and bring Him glory.

We introduced two more scriptures that confirm that God reveals Himself to us: Psalm 19:1 and Romans 1:20. Look these up and review with your children. They are real treasures.

As we begin to unwrap the big picture of God’s story through the pages of His Word, it is important for boys and girls to grasp a full understanding of how sin entered the world. God’s story starts in the glorious perfection of creation but soon is marred by personal and tragic sin. God gave Adam and Eve one rule: Genesis 2:17.

Sin is defined as breaking God’s law (going our own way), and sin separates people from God. When Adam and Eve chose to break the one rule God had given them, sin entered not only their lives, but the lives of all mankind. When Adam and Eve sinned, they failed to give God the glory He deserved. We are all sinners (Romans 3:23), separated from God and in need of rescuing.

In God’s glorious way, He chose not to leave Adam, Eve, and all of humanity without hope. Genesis 3:15 tells us that a male descendant of Eve would one day defeat Satan. God already had a plan for the rescue. That descendant is JESUS. JESUS our Savior is mentioned in Genesis chapter 3. Many, many, many, many years later, God sent His Son, JESUS, to live as Adam didn’t—perfectly sinless. JESUS was God in the form of a man sent to rescue all people from their sin. JESUS took the punishment for all OUR sins when he died on the cross. He rose to life and saved us and made it possible for us not to be separated from God forever.

God loves us so much. He exists, He reveals Himself, He initiates relationship with us, and then when we mess up, He gives everything to rescue us and restore our relationship with Him. Why wouldn't we want to live for Him and bring Him glory? HE IS SO GOOD!!

Your child should have brought home a take-home sheet entitled "Family Journal Page." This page is intended to give you and your family an opportunity to review and study the things taught on Sunday.

Just in case it didn't make it home:

Bible Passage: Genesis 3-4  Encourage your child to read these chapters or read it with them or to them.

Big Picture Question: What is sin? Sin is breaking God's law and separates people from God. Encourage your child to memorize the Big Picture Question and Answer each week.

Key passage to learn this month: “So God created man in His own image; He created him in the image of God; He created them male and female.” Genesis 1:27    Encourage your child to memorize this scripture.  We will introduce a new scripture in October.

Christ Connection for this week's lesson: Adam and Eve failed to give God glory when they introducedd sin into the world, but God didn't leave them without hope. God sent His Son Jesus to live as Adam didn't-perfectly sinless. Jesus was God in the form of a man sent to rescue people from sin.

Family task for the week: Talk with your kids about when you became a Christian. Allow your kids to ask any questions they have about the gospel. Write a prayer thanking God for sending Jesus.

Next week's lesson: Genesis 6:5-9:17

Week 1- God Created the World and People

From Kathy:

Dear Parents,

We hope your child was able to join us this week for the kickoff of The Gospel Project for Kids! If they didn't make it, here it is. This week began a three-year chronological study of Scripture. Each week's study will build upon the previous week, and we can't wait to help boys and girls to discover the Big Picture of God's Story. The Bible is not a book with a bunch of wonderful stories that don't connect with each other. Every story in the Bible connects with all other stories. Help your child make those connections. Please take the time to read this overview of what your child learned this week. It includes a project that will open up a door to discuss the lesson with your child.

We began with the foundation truth that we find in the first four words of the Bible, "In the beginning God." That foundation truth is God exists. We must believe that God exists. Hebrews 11:6 says that "those who come to God must believe he exists." God's story begins with God and then He creates the world and people.  In Genesis 1-2 this week, we learned what God made during the six days of creation-from light and stars to birds and people! Everything God made is good. Have you ever wondered why butterflies exist or why the sky explodes with vivid color when the sun sets? The Bible says that all things were created for Jesus (Colossians 1:16-17).

 We also found out that God didn't just create people for no reason. He created people with a purpose: to know, love and glorify Him.

We learned that we are the only creation that was made to have a relationship with God. He speaks to us. He invites us to be His friend. He reveals Himself to us. He didn't have to do that. In fact, He didn't have to even create us. He really loves us. We should respond by loving Him and bringing glory to Him.

Your child should have brought home a take-home sheet entitled "Family Journal Page." This page is intended to give you and your family an opportunity to review and study the things taught on Sunday.

Just in case it didn't make it home:

Bible Passage: Genesis 1-2  Encourage your child to read these chapters or read it with them or to them.

Big Picture Question: Who created everything? God created the world and people to bring Him glory. Encourage your child to memorize the Big Picture Question and Answer each week.

Key passage to learn this month: "So God created man in His own image; He created him in the image of God; He created them male and female." Genesis 1:27   

 

Encourage your child to memorize this scripture.  We will introduce a new scripture in October.

Christ Connection for this week's lesson: Colossians 1:15-22 reveals that Christ is ruler over all of God's creation. All of creation was created through Him, by Him, and for Him. Everything was created to give glory to Christ, but people would choose not to give Him glory. The rest of the Bible reveals how Jesus would restore the relationship between God and man. John 1:1 and Hebrews 1:8 & 10 further reveals to us Jesus' involvement in creation. We hope you will look them up and find out for yourself.

Family task for the week: Take a walk outside and discuss how God created the world. Look for things He created on each of the six days. Make a list of the creations you saw on your walk.

Next week's lesson: Genesis 3-4

Family Worship & Discipleship

The idea of family worship & discipleship is at once both attractive and intimidating. Believers may hear encouraging testimonies of the benefits of family worship & discipleship from others, but the thought of beginning a new pattern of worship & discipleship in the home can be overwhelming for those just beginning. This guide is written to address some of the most basic questions concerning family worship & discipleship. The goal is to equip you, so that you will be able to enjoy the immense blessings of family worship and discipleship in your family.

 

What does the Bible say about family worship?

 

Family worship as we know it is not explicitly commanded in the Bible, but the importance of the home in discipleship is prominent throughout the Scriptures. In the Old Testament, fathers are commanded to teach their children throughout the day, even if that training is informal: “And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them 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” (Deut. 6:6-7). But more formal instruction is evident in passages such as (Ps. 78:5-7): “He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments.” Clearly, the family is central in passing along the faith.

 

When we turn to the New Testament, fathers are given the command to bring their children up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Eph. 6:4). Timothy, a disciple of Paul, was discipled first by his mother, Eunice, and his grandmother, Lois (2 Tim. 1:5). Their impact went beyond mere example. Paul encouraged Timothy to continue in the faith found in the Scriptures. These Scriptures, Paul said, Timothy had learned from childbirth (2 Tim. 3:15).

 

In summary, family worship in the Bible is rooted in the idea of responsibility. Parents, especially fathers, are primarily responsible for the spiritual instruction and vitality of their families. The task is great and weighty, but God’s grace is greater and the eternal rewards are beyond anything this world can offer.

 

What are the benefits of family worship?

 

Isn’t it enough to take my family to worship on Sundays? How can I do something in my home that exceeds what takes place on the Lord’s Day? Quite simply, we can’t replace what we do on Sundays. Indeed, that is not the point. Framing the question in this way obscures the many benefits of family worship that enhance (not replace) the value of what believers do on the Lord’s Day. Among these benefits are the following:

 

Family worship brings glory to God

 

The ultimate goal of family worship is the glory of 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. Furthermore, family worship glorifies God as His followers are conformed more and more into the image of Christ.

 

Family worship produces joy in the home

 

Jesus is an inexhaustible source of delight. The joy He brings to individuals He will bring to families who delight in His worship together. Furthermore, the love of Christ will more easily abound in a home where worship is central. As one 19^th century pastor noted, family worship will “give true love toward those with whom we have to live: not an exacting, sensitive love, but a merciful love, which excuses and forgives, like that of God Himself; not a proud love, but a humble love, accompanied by a sense of one's own faults and weakness; not a fickle love, but a love unchangeable.” That is the kind of love that produces lasting joy among husbands and wives, fathers and sons, mothers and daughters.

 

Family worship effects change in the world

 

Any change effected is by the grace of God, but consider both the short-term and long-term impact of family worship. In the short-term, God may be pleased to work through the prayers of a family that prays nightly for the needs of people near and far. God may hear and answer the prayers of a four-year-old girl asking for the spread of the gospel among an unreached people group. In His sovereign response, missionaries may be sent, the Bible may be translated, and churches may be started. All because God determined to use the prayers prayed in a particular home by a particular family engaged in family worship.

 

Taking the longer view, think about the incredible value of family worship in the lives of children once they are grown. They’ve heard hundreds of passages read and explained, seen God answer countless prayers, sang so many songs of the faith, and memorized more Scripture than many Christians do in a lifetime. This is a foundation that will stand the test of time and will bear gospel fruit in generations to come.

 

What should we do during family worship?

 

The consistent refrain of those who have made a habit of family worship is this: keep it simple. Many believers are intimated at the prospects of conducting a worship service in their home. But keeping family worship simple can relieve some of these anxieties. Along those lines, consider including the following simple elements as you worship in your home:

 

Read

 

Read a portion of the Word together, either chapter-by-chapter or a selection provided in a devotional guide. If children are present, allowing them to read can be of great benefit to them. Of course, you’ll want to explain difficult words and concepts. After reading the Word together, work through a simple process of examining what has been read. First, what did the passage say to the original readers? Second, what does the passage mean for all time? Third, how does this passage apply to us as individuals, as a family, and as a church?

 

Pray

 

Of course, there is no set prescription for prayer in family worship. If you have a guide that encourages specific areas of prayer, you may follow that. Alternatively, you may pray through the acronym ACTS, voicing prayers of adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication (prayer for needs). In any event, try to include everyone as you pray, even if this is on a rotating basis.

 

Additionally, you may want to maintain a prayer journal that enables you to keep track of prayer requests and God’s answers to those requests.

 

Sing

 

Sing together as a family. Again, songs may be suggested through a devotional guide or you may select your own. If someone in the family has musical gifts, they may learn to play several simple songs for family worship. However, if no one in your family is musical, either use a recording or sing a cappella.

 

Memorize

 

Whether a verse (or verses) is suggested or selected by a family member, work on it together. The beginning of the week may be spent both understanding and memorizing the verse. By the end of the week, allow everyone to repeat the verse. Review of verses may be carried out over the course of the year.

 

Frequently asked questions about family worship

 

What if the father is not a Christian?

 

The commands regarding family discipleship in the Bible assume a believing father in the home. Of course, this is not always the case. In those instances where the father is not a believer, the mother will need to assume this role. Donald Whitney rightly reminds us that this initiative on the part of the mother must be done in a non-offensive and non-threatening way.

 

What about a single parent family?

 

Again, in this case the responsibility falls to the single parent. This is a heavy burden to bear in addition to many other duties, but know that God will supply great grace and will more than make up for any natural deficiency we may perceive.

 

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 understanding of all matters of doctrine. A more “modest” goal of impressing upon them the importance of family worship (and God) is more reasonable and beneficial at their particular age.

 

How do I keep things interesting if the age of my children varies widely?

 

For young children, try to include them as much as possible and appropriate. Of course, all members of the family can pray and sing (at least some songs). Furthermore, allow younger children to read when possible. For the older children, try including them in the teaching and application of the Scripture reading for the rest of the family and in the leadership of prayer and singing on occasion.

 

What time of day is best for family worship?

 

The time of day is not the most critical element of family worship. Some families prefer to worship as the day begins. For others, the morning hours are simply too hectic for family worship. In these cases, evening may work best. Many families prefer to adjoin family worship to the evening meal since all the family may be present at that time. In short, timing is far less important than consistency.

 

Does family worship always have to be formal?

 

Absolutely not!  Let me define “formal worship” and “informal worship”.  Formal worship would be a time of worship that is planned out before hand and conducted at a particular time and place.  There would be some type of formalities that would be consistent each time.  Informal worship would be a time of worship that happens anytime and anywhere.  This could take place in the car, at the ball field, doctor’s office, etc. 

 

Informal worship happens when you seek and act on the opportunities that God gives you each and every day to share Christ with your family. For example, you just got a phone call that revealed a death in the family.  You could use this opportunity with your family to pray and share Scripture together.  Another example could be your son or daughter begins to ask questions doubting God’s love for them.  You could use this opportunity to reaffirm your child of the love that you have for them and pointing them to the Cross and explain how much more God loves them. 

 

The goal is to help construct a biblical worldview in the minds and hearts of our children.  When you take any and every opportunity, both formal and informal to point them to Christ, you will aid them in constructing a biblical worldview that will carry on for the rest of their life.