How to Do Family Worship
- Allison Weeks
- 3 days ago
- 6 min read
"No Christian home-life can be complete where the family do not daily gather for worship. All the members may meet in God's house on the Sabbath for public service; each one may maintain strict habits of secret devotion; but if there is to be a family religion, a home-life blessed and sweetened by the grace of Christ, there must also be a family worship where all assemble to listen devoutly to God's word and bow reverently in supplication at God's feet."
"Consecrate your home at once by erecting the altar of God in the midst of it. We need religion in our homes to help us do each his own part faithfully."
JR Miller, Homemaking
In his classic manual on Christian homemaking, Miller devotes an entire chapter to religion in the home in which he puts forth a radical idea for most 21st century families-a home life completely centered on the worship of God. He's not suggesting you set up a literal altar in your home, but rather, place the worship of God at the center of your home life through regular rhythms of family worship; reading the Word, praying, and praising God together.
This type of family worship rhythm is not a new concept. In the 6th chapter of Deuteronomy, Moses instructs the Israelites about what it looks like to love the Lord fully with heart, soul and strength while surrounded by cultures that do not know or follow Him. The Israelites were just about to enter the Promised Land, a place filled with and surrounded by people whose lifestyle and worldview were totally antithetical to how God had commanded Israel to live. By living differently, they would display the beauty and character of the One True God to those who needed to know Him.
But how were they to protect themselves from the seductive influence of the nations around them? How were they to remain faithful to the Lord and lead fruitful lives? Through the daily expression of worship and devotion practiced as a way of life in their homes. Moses puts it this way,
" Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates."
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
In other words, make worship a regular part of every aspect of your family culture. When you sit, walk, lie down and get up, let your words reflect a heart of worship. Study and talk about God's good way (His commands). Remind one another of what He's done in the past, His nearness in the present, and His promises for the future. Give thanks and praise to Him for who He is and what He has done. Lay your concerns before Him with boldness and confidence that He will care for you. Practicing this as a family will create an atmosphere of worship in your home leading to fruitfulness that honors and reflects God to another culture that needs to know Him.
Ideas for Family Worship
The following are some practical suggestions from The Art of Home's companion study of JR Miller's Homemaking. We have an episode in the archives in which I read the chapter on home religion in its entirety as well as some companion study questions. I will link both at the end of this post.
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER!
I am giving these suggestions with the assumption that you are partnering with your husband and following his leadership in creating rhythms of worship in your home. Please do not leave him out of this practice deliberately, that will lead to strife and dissension in your home. There are, however, several reasons why a wife may find herself alone in the desire for family worship, but that does not mean it's out of reach. Take it to the Lord in prayer, asking Him to show you how to practice rhythms of worship in the home in a way that respects your husband and always leaves the door open for him to take the lead. (See 1 Peter 3:1-2 and 14-17).
Read & Discuss the Word
When it comes to reading the Word, Miller’s advice is to introduce variety. Which of these ideas below would work best for your family? Circle them and pray for God’s guidance in implementing these into a time of family worship.
Follow a chronological reading plan.
Do a topical study.
Have each person look up a verse to share related to a topic or issue the family is dealing with.
Read the daily selection from your Sunday school home resource.
Read scripture related to the Sunday sermon.
Use a Biblically based daily devotional.
Note: Daily devotional books can be helpful, especially for those who are timid. Just be
sure these are trusted resources and that they include at least a few Bible verses at
the center of each daily reading. Make it a goal to eventually move toward reading
directly from the Bible.
We should follow up the reading of God’s Word with some kind of discussion. There
is no need for lofty, long-winded commentary. A simple explanation or illustration
can go a long way toward impressing these truths on your own heart and the hearts
of your children. This is the point in our worship where we teach each other how to
rightly handle the Word of God, to not just hear the words, but to take them in and
let them change our hearts. The following questions may help facilitate discussion:
What does this passage teach us about God?
About His Character: Who or how He is
About His Acts: What He has done
About His Promises: What He will do
Is there an example for us to follow or to avoid?
Is there a command for us to obey?
Is there a sin for us to confess?
Is there a truth or promise for us to claim?
Praise through Singing
Perhaps you are a musical family and you can provide your own accompaniment to
your voices. By all means, break out the guitars and sing and play with all your heart.
“But I’m not musical and couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket,”some say. Well, in this
modern age there is no reason for anyone to omit worship in song from
their family altar.
Download a worship playlist and choose one or two songs to play
from your device and make a joyful noise as you sing along, no matter how much
you hate your voice. You are setting an example for others, lifting your own soul to
heaven’s throne and pleasing God with your sacrifice of praise.
Worship Through Prayer
Miller is very careful to warn parents against certain types of prayer in the family
worship time. We should avoid lengthly, repetitive prayers, unfamiliar or “churchy”
language, and prayers focused only on needs outside the home walls. Prayers around
the family altar should be, “tender and personal, take up the members by name and
speaking the needs of each to the Lord.”
Guidelines for Family Prayer
Use simple, plain language
Mention each member by name
Allow members to pray in turn, if desired
Include outside needs and concerns in correct proportion to the needs within the home
Dealing with Discomfort
Maybe you are uncomfortable praying aloud or feel inadequate to the task. Here is a
simple acronym that never fails to guide the earnest pilgrim in daily prayer. It is
called the ACTS model. The parent may lead through this prayer while the family
prays along silently or you may take turns voicing the different parts of the prayer.
Adoration
Simply begin by telling God how great He is and how much you love Him.
Confession
You may confess (appropriately) for personal sin and/or on behalf of the whole
group. You could also allow a time of silence here for each member to confess
silently.
Thanksgiving
Give thanks for God’s blessings and provision, for the lessons learned from the
reading, for the trials your are facing, for one another, and for whatever else God
lays on your heart.
Supplication
This final step is when we ask something of the Lord; first for others (intercession),
then for ourselves. This is a great time to ask Him to help each member live out the
lesson of that day’s Bible reading. This is also when the leader should take special
care to mention each member by name, presenting their need or burden to God.
Whether you already have established rhythms of worship in your home or you are just beginning to create them, remember, God will guide and bless your efforts to keep your home centered on Him no matter how feeble or inconsistent.
Keep practicing faithfulness in the rhythm of family worship. As you gaze on the beauty of God, His light and presence will help you clearly see how to establish healthy rhythms and routines in every other area of life at home.
Related Resources
More On Rhythms & Routines
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