This blog posting is a copy of the text of a speach that I gave at my local Toastmasters club last week. I've added the scripture references into this post so you know where they came from, but left them out of the speach. It evoked some negative reactions...
Today, I would like to introduce you to the foundational Christian practice of Family Worship. I was introduced to Family Worship two years ago and began to practice it with my family. Don’t let me fool you, this was not an easy thing to get started and convince the family of, but its benefits far outweigh the struggle of getting started. Once you get past the initial resistance, it is simple and requires only minimal effort to keep going. Let me tell you why you should begin to practice Family Worship.
God Commands It:
First of all, God commands it. We read early on in the history of the Bible, when Moses was leading Israel through the wilderness, that God gave Moses many commandments and he told them to “teach them to your children. Talk about them when you sit down and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” –Deuteronomy 6:7
Solomon also gave us his wisdom when he reminded us to “train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” –Proverbs 22:6
And Paul tells us, as fathers, to “bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” –Ephesians 6:4
You will grow closer to your family:
Again, why should we do this? Or why does God command this?
First of all, Moses tells us that we should do this “so that we may enjoy long life, and so that it may go well with you, and you may increase greatly.” –Deuteronomy 6:2-3 One of the benefits that I have seen is a better connection and relationship with my children, and my wife. If you practice this regularly, in time, you will also see this happen. When you spend time together in this way, reading, praying, and asking questions, you will grow closer to each other.
It is simple to do:
The next reason to practice Family Worship is that it is very simple and gives a high return on investment. Many people don’t practice this because they think they don’t know enough, or it will be too hard.
It doesn’t need to be hard; here is what you need to do. Find a time to gather your family every day. Then, sit down together and read the Bible. There is no better tool to teach your family about God, than His Word. In fact, this is the most effective way; not through a ‘devotional’ or a ‘life-application’ bible, or a ‘Bible study guide’; just God’s Word, pure and simple.
Second, pray together. This can be short and simple, but praying for each other and for others lets your family see your heart and desires for them. We began asking each person to thank God for a blessing each day in order to help keep a positive, thankful, attitude in them.
Third, sing together; even if you are out of tune, or can't carry a tune. You may have some songs your family knows from memory, or you can find some songs and music online. We use an old hymnal that our church gave away when they got new hymnals. You can sing a cappella, or if someone is talented sing with a piano or guitar.
If you are short on time for one reason or another, you can skip the singing, but don’t skip the reading or the prayer.
You will grow spiritually:
The last benefit I will mention is your own spiritual growth. Through the process of reading God’s Word you will learn. You will learn from your children and spouse asking you questions. You don’t have to know all the answers, just promise to take some time to investigate give an answer the next day. They usually aren't looking for a long, complex answer, just simple answers to their questions.
Conclusion
As a parent, this is a simple thing to do. All you really need is a Bible, and 15 minutes each day. Do this every day without excuses to skip and you will grow spiritually, grow together as a family, and gain more influence in your child’s life than even their peers.
I urge you to begin Family Worship today. Don’t delegate this to someone else! Not the church, nor even a school. This is a “do-it-yourself” project. That is the only way you will get these benefits.
