Resources for Family Worship

It warmed my heart to have some of our members come up to me after our service last week (having been convicted by the morning message) and ask if I could recommend some resources for their family worship times. They have been trying to be diligent in their family devotions, but have found that it is hard to keep at it without some sort of guide.

I post my recommendations, so that you may benefit too. If you have any to recommend, please do.

Charles Bridges, A Commentary on Proverbs. (Online Version)

This commentary works great for family devotions because Bridges gives practical, yet brief, comments on each of the proverbs. Even though it was first published in the mid 1800's, you will find that it is quite contemporary and highly devotional.

Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening. (Online Version)

Spurgeon is always a gem, no matter what you read, because his eloquence serves to enhance his stirring exhortations. This is no less true for this work. As the title suggests, each day of the year has two readings, one to open the day and one to close it. Families can use one entry per day if that would serve their purposes. Some entries are better than others, but every one will help you to thoughtfully reflect on the passage.

William Childs Robinson, The Christian Faith According to the Shorter Catechism. (Online Version)

Sadly, I cannot find this in print, but it is worth downloading and printing out. Robinson's commentary on the Shorter Catechism comes in the form of exhortations to young people. As a result the sermonic feel keeps it from sounding like dry theology.

Starr Meade, Training Hearts, Teaching Minds.

This is another brief development of the Shorter Catechism designed for the young in age or young in faith. It is formatted much like some contemporary daily devotionals such as "Today" or "Our Daily Bread," with Scripture passages to look up and a very brief explanation. Each catechism question is developed over a week long period, so that you can memorize the Q&A.

Search the Scriptures

This work may extend your family time a little longer, but it will help you to seriously reflect on Scripture. The work assigns a chapter or two of Scripture and offers questions for reflection and discussion. To keep variety the book bounces back and forth between OT and NT.

Terry Johnson, The Family Worship Book: A Resource Book for Family Devotions

I have not read this book, but Johnson is a great man of God who is devoted to God-honoring worship. The blurb from the CBD cite describes the book thus: This book "shows you why household devotions are important and how to get started. Sample outlines for services, prayers, calls to worship, creeds, a 3-year Bible reading plan, catechisms, texts of psalms and hymns, and more help you lead joyful, meaningful devotions for your loved ones." Remember too that it can be adapted to fit your needs.

The One Year Book of Hymns.

If you want to implement singing into your family time, or just become acquainted with theology rich songs, this is a great tool. The work contains 365 devotional readings based on the great hymns of the faith. Each day lists the hymn, some background to the writing of the hymn or devotional comment, Scripture and prayer.

Martin Lloyd-Jones, Walking with God Day by Day

Walking with God Day by Day offers brief daily devotionals that engage the mind and the heart. You will not just find spiritual nourishment in its pages; you will learn about God and the great themes of the Bible. Robert Backhouse has compiled excerpts from choice passages in the writings of Dr. Lloyd-Jones according to monthly themes. By reading this devotional, you will grow in your understanding of God and learn to apply the truth of His Word day by day.

Pizza Time!

Three of our young people recited Psalm 1 for me this week. What a pleasure it is to see the Word of God being devoured--like the pies they will be awarded. I actually think these covenant children will have me dishing up a lot of pizza over the years. They are some sharp kids and very interested in spiritual things. I look forward to the time when they shall publicly profess their faith.

I not only want to applaud the studious work of the youth, but I also want to praise their parents for the work they do with their kids in this realm. As we are not at the point where we can sustain a catechism class, it is a comfort to me that we have parents who are willing to diligently train their children in the Scriptures. Many Christian parents today sluff off and delegate the spiritual nurture of their children to the church. Not so with our group. Theological training seems to be priority #1 with our families.

(I actually listened to a broadcast today that dealt with this issue--how Sunday School isn't necessarily needed if parents are fulfilling their work. Oh that we would have that problem more often!)

May God bless us with a deep knowledge of Himself, and may He make His words to be hid in our hearts as well as our heads.

Blessings of the Covenant

I have been having a bit of a brain rut. But allow me to do a little fatherly bragging.

My daughter has read through her Bible (kids versions, though still as thick) 3 times. Due to her catechism work she knows more theology than I did when I was in college. Thanks to Ashland Christian School, she has an ample supply of Scripture memorized. Moreover, she is very articulate in prayer (for a five year old, of course).

I thank the Lord for His leading her. I also give him praise that at 5 years old she shows signs of a personal, living faith in Christ (In other words, I don't think it's just a bunch of head stuff.)

We certianly are not ready to present her to the elders for admitance to the Lord's table. But we thank the Lord that we can see faith sprouting in her.

Making Wise the Simple

"The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple."

Psalm 19:7

What a good argument for having children in church. If children are anything, they are simple. The remedy? A pew.

One of the things that distresses me has to do with the lack of children that sit in the worship services. I honestly believe that we are training our children to be heathens. Parents drop their children off in the nursery for some free babysitting and then head off to another part of the church. Then, for the next hour, the children learn the basic theology of clay, Lego's, and various other forms of hedonism.

This from a so-called "family friendly" church. Let's be clear, any church that promotes the separation of parent and child is not pro family.

I have heard the argument so many times, "But they don't understand what is going on in the service." But we all know that's a big lie. Kids are as keen as hawks. Sure, they might not get it all, but they pick up quite a bit, even from very young ages.

Moreover, it is the parents duty to review the services with the children. In prior days families would discuss the points of the message they just heard over lunch. This way parents could keep a watchful eye on the development of the child's spirituality as well as assist them in their learning (And if the kids know that they will be quizzed, then they'll be more likely to stay a bit lively too!).

Obviously I'm not down with the "they don't get it" excuse. I honestly believe that, as long as the Bible is being preached in the right way, a child will be able to understand. That's because God gave the Bible to children too, to make them wise.

Moreover we can think of Jesus' preaching. His messages were simple, vivid, instructive (shall we say doctrinal?), and powerful. I don't see him organizing the disciples into a nursery duty rotation. I see him speaking to fathers and mothers, sons and daughters.

Certainly the church in Ephesus serves as an example for having children in church. In the book of Ephesians the Apostle Paul spoke directly to the children. We can safely assume that they were right there by mama and papa. They might have even received a "did-you-hear-that?" elbow in the ribs.

With our children in the pews we can have faith that God will speak to them (much more than He would through a crayola crayon and a ditto sheet with a Bible picture on it), for faith cometh by hearing.

"But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus."

2 Tim. 3:14-15

Front Yard Missions

Spring time is here!

You might have noticed that the blogs are not as frequent as they have been. That's because the warmer weather is drawing my family and I outside more. As a result, when evening time rolls around, I am pretty bushed.

But while I have been out there lolly-gagging about with the family I've been thinking about outreach to our neighborhood, especially the kids who always seem to swarm to our house.

The Bible commands us to be hospitable, and I have come to find that hospitality is more than having someone over for dinner or giving a person lodgings for the night. The Greek word for hospitality in Romans 12:13 has the broader idea of loving strangers. It could even be translated, "entertain strangers."

Hospitality then, if I might pose a definition, has to do with the pouring out of affection upon your neighbor and giving yourself (and your resources) to them so that they may be comforted and gladdened.

Perhaps now you can see how broadly this can be applied, especially when it comes to the neighborhood kids. A game of kickball, hide-&-seek, or coloring with sidewalk chalk may be the highlight of some kid's week.

When we think of evangelism we tend to think of a one on one conversation with someone over the legal drinking age and lands somewhere in the upper middle class. But we must remember that these little ones are our mission field too, not just adults. They need to be the objects of our hospitable attention too.

This is the essence of James' words when he says, "true and undefiled religion is this, to visit widows and orphans in their affliction." Biblically speaking, an orphan is not necessarily one who doesn't have any parents. He is often one who only has one parent, or even has both parents in the home, but not in his/her life.

Francis Schaeffer once started a whole youth program with kids just by going around the town and rounding them up off the street. He would march up to them and say, "Hey, do you want to have a hot dog roast?" After grilling up some Franks he would tell them a Bible story and then they would play some games.

Some people can go all out, organizing backyard Bible clubs like Schaeffer. But most may just simply play the role of the parent-they-never-had for a few hours.

Just a warning though: if you show a kid some attention, you may never get them off your front porch. But that's a risk you take with love.