What is family worship? (Click the arrow to the left)
As Christians, particularly Christian men, we are responsible to lead our households with strength and resolve in the ways of Christ. Leading our families in devotions and family worship is one way to lead our families, raising our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, Jesus Christ (cf. Deuteronomy 6:7; Ephesians 6:4).
In my house, we do morning and evenings. In the morning after we eat breakfast together, we all have our quiet times. We read our Bibles seperately and journal what we see. In the evenings before bed, we talk about what we saw in our morning Bible reading, I share my insight from my own devotional time, we ask questions from the New City Catechism, we sing a couple worship songs together, and then we pray as a family. Family worship doesn’t have to look like this. It may look different for every household, but I want to invite you to join me in leading our families well. Every weekday on this blog, I want to provide a guide for fathers to lead their families in some form of family worship. If your household doesn’t have a father, I believe the responsibility falls to the mother. Design a routine that works for your family, but be intentional about leading in the only way that matters instead of getting too caught up with the affairs of this world. Every Christian man is the pastor of his home. I believe the most important thing we can do for our children is (1) lead them in the home and (2) be faithful to the church as a family. As the family goes, so goes the nation. Our job as pastors to our family matters.
John 6:28-34
28 Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?”
29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”
30 So they said to Him, “What then do You do for a sign, so that we may see, and believe You? What work do You perform?
31 “Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread out of heaven to eat.’ ”
32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven.
33 “For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.”
34 Then they said to Him, “Lord, always give us this bread.”
This group of people who previously witnessed the miracle of multiplied food, ate it, and were filled, ask Jesus what works they can perform to do the works of God. A reasonable question since Jesus just told them to work for the food that lasts forever.
Jesus claims that the only work of God we can do is believing in Him, Jesus. The people who just witnessed a miracle in the likeness of Moses ask Jesus for proof before they believe in Him. Jesus told them the truth. That bread wasn’t from Moses. It was from God. Instead of bread, God is now giving life. Jesus was here to give that life to people.
The people ask Jesus to give them life. Sometimes we get so concerned about being provided for physically that we miss actually having life. This presents one issue with acts of charity today, Merely providing what people need in a moment distracts them from their real need—Jesus.
Today’s question from the New City Catechism:
Q- Are all people, just as they were lost through Adam, saved through Christ?
A- No, only those who are elected by God and united to Christ by faith.
Romans 5:17 says,
17 For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.
Pastor’s Note
I felt it necessary to provide a note on this catechism question because the answer uses the word “elected,” which by itself seems to insight controversy in the church. “Elected” is simply a word that means chosen by God in Christ. This catechism question, though worded badly, simply means that salvation is not universal like the Fall was. While everyone was lost in Adam, only those who have been adopted by God in Christ, displaying faith in Christ, are saved. Romans 5:17 affirms this sentiment.
Have a question about today’s devotional?
Alex Southern Baptist Chapel 
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