On Family Worship I.
Biblical Foundations
(“Providing For Your Own”)
Sources:
1. Joel Beeke; Family Worship Bible Guide
2. James Alexander; Thoughts On Family Worship
3. Jerry Marcellino; Rediscovering Family Worship
Preliminary: [James Alexander; 1804-1859] “There are some duties so plain
that they are rather assumed than commanded in the word of God. This is
especially true of those duties which belong to the family relation. We are not
to wonder therefore if we find even in the NT no separate and explicit
injunction to worship God in the family. As little do we find any command to
pray when we preach the word or when death has visited our dwellings.”
➢ Tama si James Alexander na walang mang explicit injunction o
direction patungkol sa family worship ang bagay na ito ay
dapat ipinapalagay na sa bawat tahanan. (e.g. – prayer before
reading the word)
➢ Ngunit wala mang explicit na utos dito, malinaw ang mga
prinsipyo mula sa OT hangang sa NT na siya namang
pinatotohanan ng mga naunang mananampalataya sa atin at
nalimbag sa ating mga confessions at ginanap nila sa kanilang
practice.
➢ [1689 BCF; 22.6] “God is to be worshipped everywhere in
spirit and in truth, in private families daily, and in secret each
one by himself; so more solemnly in the public assemblies”
➢ Ngunit sa pagpasok ng 19th century ang practice na ito ay unti
unting nalimot ng iglesya… Potential detriments:
o individualism
o paglimot sa covenantal na pagtingin sa pamilya
(representative headship of fathers before God)
(prophet, priest & king… in Christ… not a buddy)
o pagpasok ng Youth at Children’s ministry
➢ [Joel Beeke] “as goes the family worship so goes the Church
and so goes the country”
➢ Need: May pangangaylangan na irecover ang Biblical na
tungkulin ng family worship sa bawat iglesya at bawat pamilya.
Outline:
I. Biblical Foundations
II. Practical Considerations
a.) In the OT
➢ Gen. 8… Noah and his family worshipped God in the ark and
built an altar to the Lord in v. 20
➢ Gen. 12:7, Gen. 26:25, Gen. 33:2… Abraham, Isaac & Jacob
built altars to worship God with their families
➢ Josh. 24:15… “as for me and my house we will serve-worship
the Lord” (Joshua imposing worship of God in his household)
➢ Deut. 6:7… “you shall teach them diligently, when you sit in
your house, when you lie down and when you rise”
[James Alexander] “The modern Jews, in every part of the world, keep up a
domestic service. The Hebrew Liturgy fills six or seven volumes. They are
read in the Synagogue, but are also read at home. In the morning it is the
duty of every Israelite, as soon as he rises… He proceeds with a service,
including prayers, psalms, and other portions of Scripture, to which large
additions are made on Sabbaths and festivals. This must all take place
before breakfast.”
➢ Ps. 66:4 “all the earth shall worship thee”
➢ Ps. 22:27 “all the families of the nations shall worship thee”
[Joel Beeke] “What reason or right do we have the puritans asked, to
exclude our homes and family from this call to worship? God’s right to the
worship of our households arises from His sovereignty over each family”
b.) In the NT
➢ Eph. 6:4 “Fathers bring your children in the discipline and
instruction of the Lord.”
➢ 2Tim. 1:5 “I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that
dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice
and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.”
➢ 1Tim. 5:8 “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for
those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse
than an infidel.”
[Jole Beeke] “So seriously did the Puritans take the duty of family worship
that they regarded the neglect of family devotion and catechism to be
“covenant-breaking with God, and betraying the souls of their children to the
devil.” The kingdom of Satan is built upon the twin pillars of “ignorance and
error,” and so “the disuse of family instruction” was regarded as one of the
greatest sins “to open the flood-gates” of ungodliness into society.”
II. Practical Considerations
1.) Elements of Family Worship
a. Daily Reading & Instruction of Scriptures
➢ Aim to read the whole Bible over time…
o J.C. Ryle “Fill your children’s mind with scripture.
Let the word dwell in them richly. Give them the
whole Bible even while they are young”
➢ Involve every family member in reading.
o Teach your children how to read clearly,
understandably, and reverently.
o Read Scripture as the living and “breathing” book
of God.
➢ Be plain and Christ-centered in meaning
o Sin is rebuked, judgment is threatened, duty is
commanded and promise is offered
o Connect the passage to Christ (person & work)
o Follow our Bible Reading Guide
➢ Be pure in doctrine
o Don’t abandon doctrinal precision over
applications and morality.
➢ Require Attention
o Prov. 4:1… “hear o sons a father’s instruction
and be attentive that you may gain insight.”
o Don’t allow them to leave their seats in family
worship.
b. Daily Prayer
➢ Be specific
o Name your children and their needs one by one on
a daily basis. That holds tremendous weight with
them.
➢ Be direct
o God does not need your lecture and instruction,
he wants to hear your supplications and plea.
o “teach w/ your eyes open, pray with your eyes
shut”
➢ Be communal
o Intercede for friends, churches, and the nations,
o Give thanks for God’s blessings and answered
prayers
o Use a prayer list to remember different persons
and organizations... etc.
c. Daily Songs of Praise
➢ Sing doctrinally pure songs.
o There is no excuse for singing doctrinal error no
matter how attractive the tune might be.
➢ Sing heartily and with joy
o As Colossians 3:23 says, “And whatsoever ye do,
do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.”
o On occasion discuss a phrase that is sung.
o Remember: Singing to God teaches the heart to
rejoice in God and in all his goodness.
2.) Reminders on Family Worship
a. Be Simple, Brief but Consistent
➢ Short daily family worship is better than long and
inconsistent ones.
➢ 20-30min of daily and consistent worship is good
practice for you and your children
➢ A not so good family worship is better than no family
worship at all
b. Persevere despite tiredness
➢ Christ persevered for us despite fatigue and pain
➢ Your family’s soul care & instruction in Christ is at stake,
this is the foundation of child rearing.
c. Avoid the idealist and the minimalist… aim for the happy
medium – Joel Beeke
Prepared by: Ptr. Eli Cana RBCM Sunday School
10/09/23