Family and Faith
The Bible teaches that parents have the primary responsibility to reach their children with the gospel (Ecclesiastes 12:1; Ephesians 6:1-4), and to teach them the truths of God so that “they should put their confidence in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments,” (Psalm 78:5-8; Proverbs 22:6; Deuteronomy 4:9, 6:7). The Bible also teaches that the church should provide support by equipping and assisting parents when needed (Ephesians 4:11-13). Our Family ministry goal is to come alongside parents as they minister to their children for the purpose of creating a hunger to know and follow Jesus Christ as His disciple. (Psalm 27:4, 8; 42:1-2, 63:1-8).
Family Worship
Worship is not solely reserved for our Sunday gatherings. The worship of Christ daily defines the life of a Christian disciple. Family worship experiences should be a regular reality in the lives of individual members and their families. There are no secret formulas and the structure of family worship can vary from family to family. It is important for the Christ follower to see their home as the daily environment to glorify Christ. Family worship provides an opportunity to regularly engage in conversations about the glory of the gospel (Deuteronomy 6:4-9; 2 Corinthians 2:15-16).
Frequent Questions Concerning Family Ministry
When you consider scheduling regular times of family worship it is important to remember that you should strive for creating an age appropriate experience. Here are some suggestions of things that you could include
Worship together through song.
There are many quality worship videos on youtube and vimeo. Many of the recordings provide lyrics. This is a great way to help early readers develop their reading skill
Worship together through the word.
Read Bible content as a family and provide an opportunity to identify obvious observations. The goal here should be the quality of the time together around the word rather than the amount of content that you read. Read the same section of the Bible throughout the week and rehearse the content by asking question from the previous night.
Worship together through prayer.
Pray for specific needs within the family, the church, the community and the world. Seek to make this prayer time reverent and honorable. The disciple of Christ (the father or mother) should provide a model for younger children. Prayer is a foundational skill and providing a model for the children will prove to be helpful as they grow and mature in their faith.
Having very young children definitely changes the dynamic of family worship. Remember, however, that the goal for every child in the family is not the same. With very young children, the goal is probably not understanding of all matters of doctrine. A more “modest” goal of impressing upon them the importance of family worship (and God) is more reasonable and beneficial at their particular age.
Do you have a Bible reading plan?
At New Life, our desire is that every believer would not just attend church, but also hear from God daily through His Word! As we read the Bible, we begin to see the character of God, the true God of the Bible and how God interacts with His creation. Doing daily devotions forms the way we think, transforms the spirit of our mind, and reveals God’s truth to our minds! S.O.A.P. journaling is a simple and excellent way to both record and process what God has spoken to you through His Word. It’s also a useful tool to use at a later time when you want to reflect on the faithfulness of God.
We believe that journaling is a very personal time with the Lord, you may want to share some of your daily journaling with your dgroup or spouse, so having a written record becomes very important. Through discussion, you may be able to look deeper into what God is speaking to you, gain new insight, and even encourage others. All you need to begin is a Bible, pen and journal!
SCRIPTURE
As you read each chapter you’ll find out God’s heart for you. Look for bible verse that particularly spoke to you and write it in your journal.
OBSERVATION
What do you think God is saying to you in this scripture? Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and reveal Jesus to you. Paraphrase and write this scripture down in your own words in your journal.
APPLICATION
Personalize what you have read, by asking yourself how it applies to your life right now. Write how this scripture can apply to you today.
PRAYER
This can be as simple as asking God to help you use this scripture, or it may be a greater insight on what He may be revealing to you. Remember, prayer is a two-way conversation, so be sure to listen to what God has to say and journal about it
Monthly Reading Plan
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
