As the Fall draws nigh, here are some good posts for parents on family worship and discipleship:
5 Reasons to Prioritize Family Worship – Donald Whitney (Crossway)
Five Benefits of Regular Family Worship – Tom Ascol (FM)
Parents, Disciple Your Teens (While There’s Still Time) – Jaquelle Crowe (Crossway)
Here are some good posts to read as we wrap up 2016 and look towards 2017:
My Top 10 Theology Stories of 2016 – Collin Hansen (TGC)
10 Ideas and 10 Tips for Family Devotions in 2017 – Tim Challies
Bible Reading Plans for 2017 – Nathan Bingham (Ligonier)
5 Bible Inputs To Grow, Grow, Grow – Colin Adams
As Fall approaches, now seems like a good time to challenge all of us fathers to recommit to leading our families in Family Worship. Some helpful posts and a video from Donald Whitney:
5 Reasons to Prioritize Family Worship
I have mentioned before the idea of Family Worship – a regular time for the family to gather together around the Word and prayer. My family has been doing it for several years – and it is a highlight of our kids’ day.
To help promote the idea, some folks have declared January to be Family Worship Month, and January 29 to be Family Worship Sunday. Their blog has numerous articles from various Christian leaders (living and dead) on the importance of Family Worship. Well worth checking out.
For a brief but helpful book introducing Family Worship, pick up Donald Whitney’s book.
Some good posts for your weekend reading:
Loving God with our Minds
How Internet Habits Can Cripple Book Reading – Tony Reinke
How To Prioritize What You Read – Tony Reinke
Family
Seven Steps To Family Worship – Crossway
Prayers
Prayer Regarding our Stuff – Scotty Smith via Tim Challies
Prayer for God to Direct My Will – Filaret of Moscow via Trevin Wax
Ryle Quotes To Ponder
Recognizing your Helplessness to Pray Better
Put Into Practice Your Godly Convictions
Hope you have a great Lord’s Day with your local church worshipping our great God!
Easter bunnies, easter eggs, easter baskets, candy, gifts, and so much more. Nothing wrong with these things in and of themselves. But they can be a distraction from the true meaning of Easter. In the midst of all these things, how can we help our children focus on what Easter is really all about? Thriving Family magazine offers daily crafts and activities to do together as a family during Passion Week to help your family focus on Christ. Check it out here.
A few years ago I came across this idea of Family Worship. The idea is simply to gather daily as a family to worship God together through the Word, prayer, and praise. So we started doing it. Now my children will often come and tell me it is time for family time (as we call it). When we are going to miss a day, my children are often disappointed. Family time has become a special time for us to be together and focus on the One who should be the center of our family.
If you don’t have a daily time of family worship, I highly recommend it. To get started, check out Jason Helopoulos’ 11 reasons to worship with your family. Then continue with his what, when, and how of family worship. Then just do it. You and your family will be glad you did.
Brian J. Mikul 