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The family that works together, eats together, and prays together, stays together. – Amish Proverb “Family worship isn’t a full-on church service every day; instead it’s a brief time of devotion before the Lord. The elements are singing, Scripture reading, and prayer. That’s it! You sing together, pray together, and read the Scriptures together. Giving fifteen to twenty minutes a day to these simple practices will transform your family.” —Voddie Baucham Jr Amish Family ~ Sarah’s Country Kitchen [PHOTO SOURCE: https://ca.pinterest.com/pin/amish-family-sarahs-country-kitchen--412853490835064682/ … …. https://images.app.goo.gl/8tVWbUpRXLnwRZ6X7] https://mommyish.com/the-big-family-backlash-is-having-a-dozen-kids-selfish-717/ https://blackforestproject421.blogspot.com/2025/07/john-troyer-memorial-award.html |
I will post an article by the late Voddie Baucham Jr on family worship and also a video of a conversation with two of my Favorite ministers – Joel Beeke and Paul Washer. Do understand, that I as a Reformed Christian (Protestant) who has Anabaptist friends who I regard as Brothers and Sisters in Christ, also do family worship and we learn from each other.
[PHOTO SOURCE: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Be2qkMtA1/]
7 Steps to Family Worship
September 21, 2011 by: Voddie Baucham Jr.
Jesus likely owns your Sundays, but does he own your home? Making worship a part of the family routine is an essential part of having a spiritually vibrant household. If we don't get into the Word daily as a family, children can learn to view church (and the Lord) as simply a nice, weekly excursion. Faith can become more of a show than a deep-seeded lifestyle. Having regular family devotionals is a way to make faith a daily, integral part of life, rather than a Sunday habit. Voddie Baucham Jr. offers seven steps to implement family worship in your home.
Like the Puritans, live
in terms of the settled judgement that the joy of heaven will make amends of
any losses and crosses, strains and pains that we must endure on earth if we
are going to follow Christ faithfully. Regard preparedness to die as the first
step in learning to live. - Joel Beeke Life inside a Puritan
community in early America was shaped by faith, discipline, and a deep sense of
responsibility toward both God and neighbor. These settlers believed they were
building a society that would reflect Christian values in every part of daily
life. Church was not simply a place of worship—it was the heart of the town.
Long sermons, serious reflection, and shared prayer created a culture where
religion guided how people spoke, worked, raised families, and treated one
another. To the Puritans, a strong community meant living with humility,
honesty, and a constant awareness of moral duty. [PHOTO SOURCE: https://www.instagram.com/p/DWCMK3ZkjbU/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==] https://blackforestproject421.blogspot.com/2025/11/leading-family-worship-by-joel-beeke.html https://blackforestproject421.blogspot.com/2025/11/leading-family-worship-by-joel-beeke_27.html https://blackforestproject421.blogspot.com/2026/04/konferenz-fur-gemeindegrundung-2026.html https://blackforestproject421.blogspot.com/2023/04/the-four-core-values-of-anabaptist.html
Family life was equally central to Puritan culture. Homes were expected to be
orderly and respectful, with parents teaching children the importance of faith,
hard work, and obedience from a young age. Education was valued because reading
the Bible was considered essential, which is why many early New England towns
quickly established schools. Work itself was seen as a form of
devotion—laboring diligently was believed to honor God and strengthen the
community. While their strict rules could sometimes feel rigid, Puritan
communities also created tightly connected towns where shared beliefs built a
powerful sense of unity and purpose that would influence American culture for
generations.
1. Family worship must be born of conviction. As parents, you must be convinced that this is something you need. Without this conviction, follow through will be next to impossible.
2. Family worship begins with the head of the household. Wives, don't demand that your husband start family worship. It needs to come from him.
3. Family worship must be scheduled. If we don't plan a time to worship, we'll skip it. It takes about 30 days to form a habit, so forming a worship schedule will help ingrain it into the family pattern.
4. Family worship must be simple. It doesn't need to be a big production. No power points necessary. All you need is commitment to gather together with the Word of God. Keeping it simple makes it easy to spice up or simplify when you want to.
5. Family worship must be natural. Don't try to be something you aren't. This is not the time to pretend or be extravagant. Choose songs that your family loves to sing and study materials that fit your situation in life. Your children can detect a lack of authenticity.
6. Family worship must be mandatory. Nobody gets to skip out, including sulky teenagers. Rebellion and family worship belong in different realms and require separate attention.
7. Family worship must be participatory. It is not a performance by one gifted member of the family that is simply observed by everyone else. Invite your children to join in singing, choosing songs, reading Scripture, praying, discussing issues, etc. Participation will help your children grow, and can even touch the heart of the rebellious teen.
Learn more about surrendering your home to God in Family Driven Faith.
Voddie Baucham Jr. (DMin, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary) is the late dean of the seminary at African Christian University in Lusaka, Zambia. The author of a number of books, including Family Driven Faith, The Ever-Loving Truth, and Joseph and the Gospel of Many Colors, Baucham was also a pastor, church planter, and conference speaker.
https://www.crossway.org/articles/7-steps-to-family-worship/
VIDEO OF A CONVERSATION BETWEEN PAUL WASHER AND JOEL BEEKE:
Being the Man God Calls You to Be | An Interview with Paul Washer and Joel Beeke
Reformation Heritage Books and HeartCry Missionary Society
107,957 views Premiered Jan 20, 2026
Being a godly husband and father isn’t about one big heroic moment—it’s about showing up every day. You need a simple, biblical plan to help you stay faithful in the daily grind of leading your family: https://heritagebooks.org/categories/how-to-lead-your-family.html
This short, practical guide unpacks how Jesus’ ministry should shape our leadership at home. With Christ-centered encouragement and no-nonsense wisdom, Joel Beeke challenges us to step up to God’s calling—while reminding us to rest in the finished work of Christ alone.
Straightforward and full of real-world lessons, How to Lead Your Family: A Guide for Men Wanting to be More sets high standards. But it also gives us the biblical foundation, encouragement, and practical advice we need to pursue those standards. Read it, and prayerfully lift your entire family through steady, loving leadership.
VIDEO SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PawgmNfNIE&t=9s
PHOTOS OF LARGE PROTESTANTS AND ANABAPTIST FAMILIES:
RELATED LINKS:
https://blackforestproject421.blogspot.com/2026/04/good-friday-prayers.html
https://blackforestproject421.blogspot.com/2026/04/easter-prayers.html
https://www.apuritansmind.com/the-christian-walk/the-christian-family/family-worship-by-a-w-pink/
Family Worship:
1a. “Teach your children that worshipping God is the greatest calling in our lives. Teach them that they were created to glorify God.” — Joel R. Beeke
PHOTO: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=959425863131154&set=pb.100071912463252.-2207520000&type=3
https://blackforestproject421.blogspot.com/2025/11/leading-family-worship-by-joel-beeke.html
https://blackforestproject421.blogspot.com/2025/11/leading-family-worship-by-joel-beeke_27.html
1b. "We and our families stand in need of
blessings in a domestic capacity, therefore in that capacity we should pray for
them; in that capacity too we receive many blessings; therefore in that
capacity we should return thanks for them; and singing of psalms is the most
proper method of thanksgiving." — 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐮𝐞𝐥 𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐬, "The Necessity
and Excellence of Family Religion" in 𝑆𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑜𝑛 𝐼𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑆𝑢𝑏𝑗𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑠, Vol. 2 (1849 ed.), p.
47 [pictured: Jennie A. Brownscombe, 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐹𝑖𝑟𝑠𝑡 𝑇ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑘𝑠𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑡 𝑃𝑙𝑦𝑚𝑜𝑢𝑡ℎ (1914)]
[PHOTO SOURCE: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=509582272104703&set=a.107210572341877]
PHOTO: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=939231141817293&set=pb.100071912463252.-2207520000&type=3
1c. “Let family worship be short, savory,
simple, tender, heavenly.” – Richard Cecil
6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall
teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in
your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you
rise. – Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (ESV)
PHOTO CAPTION: Amish family praying together before dinner
PHOTO: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=881721957568212&set=a.747880644285678
“Every Christian family ought to be as it were a little church, consecrated to Christ, and wholly influenced and governed by His rules. And family education and order are some of the chief means of grace. If these fail, all other means are likely to prove ineffectual.” – Jonathan Edwards
1d. "We and our families stand in need of blessings in a domestic capacity, therefore in that capacity we should pray for them; in that capacity too we receive many blessings; therefore in that capacity we should return thanks for them; and singing of psalms is the most proper method of thanksgiving." — 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐮𝐞𝐥 𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐬, "The Necessity and Excellence of Family Religion" in 𝑆𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑜𝑛 𝐼𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑆𝑢𝑏𝑗𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑠, Vol. 2 (1849 ed.), p. 47 [pictured: Jennie A. Brownscombe, 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐹𝑖𝑟𝑠𝑡 𝑇ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑘𝑠𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑡 𝑃𝑙𝑦𝑚𝑜𝑢𝑡ℎ (1914)]
This blog post is Part 2 of a Sermon by Joel Beeke about Leading Family Worship. Please see Part 1 before reading this.
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