Dear Reader,
Years of thought and experience are behind the suggestions that follow. My earnest prayer is that this tool will help many to hold regular, meaningful family worship of our God and Savior–going through the Bible together. God bless you as you put it into practice!
Pastor Burchett
lntroduction and Encouragement
Beginning and Continuing
Best is not to decide each day to have Bible and prayer. Rather, decide now to have Bible and prayer each day. Notice the difference. Make one decision and stick by it.
My instructions are addressed to families. However, I wish to include all singles — those living alone or those with others in the same dwelling. These too should undertake this daily fellowship. Where this is not possible, then I strongly urge each one to follow the plan alone.
Family relationships and individual lives will be purified by Scripture truth — like a regular washing of the soul. God’s teachings give support to right living. In this way God is present daily!
STEPS TOWARD MEANINGFUL FAMILY WORSHIP
1. Agreement of parents to have family worship is worth great effort. The ideal is for Dad to take initiative as leader, using the others. God will, of course, bless the mother who, after waiting for Dad, must alone plan the time and guide the children in worship.
2. Set definite time when family can be together. (Just after supper hour is ideal. It is surely worth setting meal schedule to fit this in before evening responsibilities. )
3. Expect difficulties. Do not quit. Humbly keep trying. If needed, administer firm discipline afterwards — or on occasions interrupt briefly to care for misbehavior. However, strive for cheerful, quiet cooperation. As a regular daily pattern, train babies to be still, apart from worship time.
4. Keep it brief and bright. 10 to 20 minutes. Avoid long, tiring lectures or trying to cover too much. Tomorrow will come!
In emergencies, greatly abbreviate rather than eliminate. Here is one shortened form: Share a key thought, all stand in circle for prayer holding hands while one leads. Or, even start discussion during the meal, when so pressed for time.
5. Prepare briefly in advance. Glance over the next Bible portion to be covered. Remember the main aim is to cover the Bible itself, but the Bible in story book form will help tiny youngsters get hold of important history faster. However, even younger children need to hear Bible language daily. Read it and tell it, both.
6. Vary method of covering each Bible portion. Try the following, changing each week:
I) One person read entire portion — taking turns night by night.
2) Have each person in the circle read one or several verses. (Or, in the case of very small children, let them take their turn, too, by repeating the words after you as you read phrase by phrase.)
3) If the day’s Scripture section is a very long, single episode, prepare to tell the story briefly, having all read key verses. (This takes but a few moments of advance preparation.)
4) Employ the family members in turn as “leaders.” Coach them in advance to know leading points, questions, ideas of approach.
5) Assignments: Map study, noticing areas being studied. Questions and truths bearing on text. Terms (Bible Dictionary). Related Scriptures.
7. Lead brief discussion and/or question time. Frequent questions interspersed in a story will stimulate the interest of the very young. Aim questions at facts just read and also to see if all get the meaning and application to their lives. (Here parents should humbly share from their heart, too.) “What blessing, lesson is here for you?” “Explain verse …” “What did Jesus do, say …?” “What does this teach us about the Lord?” “Are we ever guilty of this?” “How?” “Are there things we sometimes try to hide?” “What are your main problems?”
8. Time of Prayer. Suggested subjects: Definite home needs, each other, needs of others, salvation of friends, neighbors, relatives. Sometimes take special requests from each one. Remember our various missionaries — perhaps one for an entire week. Hold to the great aim of prayer: real praise and thanks. Each worship time should raise the family’s view of God Himself and His workings on earth. Pray around the circle. Or, by ages; or, select certain ones to lead. Sometimes sit — another time stand — or, kneel. (Don’t avoid this for comfort’s sake.) Use the Lord’s Prayer in unison, once in a while, to close or open a prayer period.
NOTE: A moment of help to younger children before kneeling is time well spent. Reflect on a lesson for their life in Bible portion just covered. Say, “You can pray (ask, thank) about that.” Or, “What is one special blessing you can thank God for this evening?” Or, a sentence of help regarding the missionary needing prayer. For the very young, you will want to prepare even their way of saying their brief prayer. Soon they will gather more ideas of their own in spontaneous praying.
9. Other worship activities. (Must be done quickly as a bright worship aid.) Hymn singing. Use verse or two of familiar hymn or chorus before prayer or as you open worship. Try memorizing a good hymn. Purchase your own hymnals, matching those in church. Memorize Scripture verses together. Act out the Bible story.
10. Always invite any guests to sit with you. Never omit devotions or apologize. Simply say, “We are so glad you are with us now because each evening we have a brief family time with the Bible.” Either include the visitor in the circle of reading or ask only the children to read and you close with any discussion and prayer. If they are believers, it will be an added blessing to all if visitors share more fully.
11. Further thoughts. Once in a while, deliberately change the time and place for one occasion. For example, on a Saturday try family worship in the morning, and move everyone’s private morning devotions to the evening. Sunday afternoon have worship outdoors or about the fireplace, or enlarge the activity to include a full service at home. Tie the worship in with various good family times. Make it a part of highlight occasions. Parents should not allow complaining or contesting for place in worship time. The parent should always keep the initiative, deciding how each session shall be handled. Keep it alive and interesting.