Every aspect of our lives as believers requires the full counsel of God. This certainly applies to worship. Those who would worship God must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth (John 4:24). The whole bible is His truth to us, instructing in acceptable corporate worship, personal worship, family worship and everything else necessary for life and godliness (2 Tim. 3:16,17). All facets of our lives must be informed by the full counsel of God.
God has revealed Himself as One exclusively and completely worthy of worship. The English word “worship” came from the concept of “worth”. Where though has He revealed Himself to be worthy of worship? Where do we have to go for insight into Who this worship-worthy God is? The only place to go is to His word, His written word. It’s there where we read of truths like His speaking the universe into existence in 6 days (Genesis 1). It’s there where we see His redemption of a nation with marvelous works of power (Psalm 136:10-22). There we see His humbling of earthy kings and sinners (Daniel 4:30-37). It’s there where the great gospel of our salvation in Jesus Christ, the Word, is revealed (1 John 1:1-3).Therein is found more than enough truth to stir up awe and worship in the hearts of His people.
Seldom discussed among believers, however, is the subject of family worship. We are commanded to teach our children about God (Deut. 6:4-9), and talk to them about Him and His ways all the day. Coming together for family worship gives intentionality and action to that command. Our families may gather, as a unit, to worship this one to Whom worship is so due. At these times, no facet of God’s written word should be neglected.
In family worship, our children must hear about the trustworthiness of God, as detailed in His whole book. We must teach them the account of the incarnation of the Son of God, from the gospels. Perhaps recite The Psalms together. We could tell them how God began the New Testament church from the book of Acts. Read God’s history from Genesis to Esther and so on.
We may distill guidance for their and our day to day Christian walk, from the epistles, point out the promises and prophecies from the old testament that are fulfilled in Jesus Christ (2 Cor 1:20). Give them the hope of all things being made new in the future by Christ (Rev. 21:5). Remind them, as is so clearly revealed, that God is at work now in their hearts and in their lives sustaining them and, keeping them (Phil 1:6) (1 Peter 1:5). Then they can know the only true God and Jesus Christ He has sent (John 17:3). All of this is eternally good for the souls of our family members and is filled with focus on Him Who authored and executed His-Story.
Teach your family the whole counsel of God and you will be teaching them well (2 Tim. 3:16, 17). Let them hear of God’s faithfulness through all the ages. Proclaim and persuade that His written word is trustworthy from the very first verse to the last prayer in Revelation 22. You’re planting your children’s souls in fertile ground for their salvation and sanctification, fertile ground for the work of His Spirit (James 1:21). That they too may become those about whom The Savior spoke, who “worship in Spirit and in truth”.
AiG Vice President of IT, information technology
