Family Worship
This month, I will be sharing snippets from a booklet on Family Worship.
This is one of three booklets from the Family Guidance Series, written by Joel R. Beeke (link below).
As mentioned, over the coming weeks we will go through the book Family Worship by Joel. R. Beeke. The booklet is divided into five chapters, or sections and they are as follows:
- Theological Foundations for Family Worship
- The Duty of Family Worship
- Implementing Family Worship
- Objections Against Family Worship
- Motivations for Family Worship
I imagine that most readers of this article have, at some point, engaged in prayer, singing, or scripture reading with their families. But was it consistent? Was it part of your routine? Did you plan your activities around this dedicated time for family worship? (For me, the answer is no to all three.) It wasn’t that we never discussed it or explicitly chose to watch a movie or relax instead—we just never prioritized it. What I find intriguing about this article is how it emphasizes the importance of setting aside time for family worship.
#1: Where can we find the theological foundations for family worship in Scripture?
The Old Testament provides numerous examples of fathers leading, praying, and sacrificing for their families and children. “For instance, we read about the godly line of Seth, Noah, and Job offering sacrifices on behalf of their children (Gen. 8:20-21; Job 1:5)” (pg5). The New Testament also highlights the significant role of the family in worship. “Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 7:14 that a parent's faith establishes the covenant status of holiness, privilege, and responsibility for their children” (pg6).
There are many other scriptural references that support the conclusion that one of a parent's primary responsibilities is to teach their children the importance of worshiping the one true God.