Creative Family Worship

By Cheryl Paulsen

What is family worship? At what age should it be started? Who does it involve? Why is it important? Many have asked these questions. Family worship is a time when parents teach their children the Word of God and pray with them. And it can never begin too soon.

A couple should have devotions together from the time they are married. That will not seem unusual if they were faithful in personal devotions while they were single. If family worship is a habit by the time a baby arrives, how natural for the baby to be there, even though it is too young to truly understand. Soon the baby will be old enough for Bible story books with pictures. Then as the children grow, the devotions can grow with them.

Family worship activities

The possibilities for family-worship activities are endless. The Sunday school lesson is a good place to start. A short passage read from the Bible, and then the same story read from a Bible story book can be interesting for small children. Some families incorporate singing into their devotions. Others use memorization or looking up Scriptures.

One father used to read the passage from the Bible without giving names of the people involved. Each child tried try to be the first to name them.

Another activity is to read the first part of a verse and have the children finish it. Or once the children learn to read, have everyone, and take turns reading a verse.

My own father used to read along, and then suddenly ask me where he was reading. You might guess how I felt if my attention had been wandering! He began this practice with familiar Scriptures such as Psalm 23, Hebrews 11, and I Corinthians 13, progressing to passages which were more difficult to identify.

Discussion of family worship with friends can bring out other ideas. Just remember, it is vital that children be interested and challenged by devotions.

Strive for understanding

When children are old enough to hear passages read directly from the Bible, they need to understand what they hear. Chapter after chapter read in a monotone will quickly lose their attention. But a passage that pertains to them or tells a story can be read with pauses and emphasis, and be interesting. Asking what a verse means or encouraging questions can help stimulate involvement.

It is also important that children understand how to relate what they hear in family worship to daily life. Day-to-day activities can often give the opportunity of applying Bible truths. For example, when children get the honey on themselves instead of their bread, they can easily see that honey makes everything around sticky. What a good opportunity to explain that honey is like sin—it spreads and messes up everything if you don’t get rid of it!

When is a good time?

What time of day should a family have devotions? As Christians, we are admonished to begin our day by spending some time with the Lord. It’s important to read and pray with children before they go to school or get totally involved in the day’s activities. Again at night, all of us should thank God for keeping and helping us through the day.

Families will differ on which is the best time to have more extended devotions. Some find it easiest in the morning. Other families have morning devotions privately (when the children are old enough) and then family worship at supper time or in the evening. What’s important is to do it.

God’s Word gives us clear commandments in this area. “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up” (Deuteronomy 6:6,7).

These verses place a great responsibility on us as parents. If our children see us place a top priority on prayer, they will think it is important. If we consistently have devotions with them from the time they are small, that habit will be ingrained in them.

Piloting children toward a true knowledge of salvation and Heaven is a great calling. None of us feel like experts. We must ask for wisdom and guidance from God. He will help us if we try. But we can’t expect Him to help us if we don’t make an effort.

Cheryl Paulsen is Corporate Secretary at the Apostolic Faith International Headquarters in Portland, Oregon.