Family Worship. Part 2: Pastor Dad

Transcription

1 Family Worship Part 2: Pastor Dad

2 The head of the family should be able to read the Scriptures as well as to lead in the prayer.... All persons subject to the watch or care of the Church should be required to maintain in their households this stated worship of God.... A man s responsibility to his children, as well as to God, binds him to make his house a Bethel; if not a Bethel, it will be a dwelling place of evil spirits The character of the Church and of the state depends on the character of the family. If religion dies out in the family, it cannot elsewhere be maintained. Charles Hodge

3 Let me now therefore, once more, before I finally cease to speak to this congregation, repeat, and earnestly press the counsel which I have often urged on the heads of families, while I was their pastor, to great painfulness in teaching, warning, and directing their children; bringing them up in the training and admonition of the Lord; beginning early, where there is yet opportunity, and maintaining constant diligence in all labors of this kind. 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

4 Scriptural Background Psalm 78 Deuteronomy 6:4-9 Ephesians 5

5 1. Lead by Example

6 Start with Your Personal Relationship with God So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. (1 Peter 5:1 3, ESV)

7 Start with Your Personal Relationship with God Model a growing relationship with Christ to your family. Put on and live out the character of Christ. Humility. Patience. Gentleness. Love. Sacrifice. Kindness. Self-Control

8 The greatest need of my people is my own holiness. Robert Murray M Cheyne

9 2. Lead by Providing

10 Provide for Physical Needs Man s Curse (Genesis 3) But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. (1 Timothy 5:8, ESV) It is the call of the man to provide for the physical needs of his family (Food, Shelter, and Clothing)

11 Provide for Spiritual Needs Pastoral Care for Your Family. Feeding your family with the Scriptures.

12 Article: 6 Ways to Spiritually Lead Your Wife

13 How Do I Provide for My Children s Spiritual Needs? 1. Prioritize church attendance in your home. Don t make attending church an option. 2. Practice daily family worship. 3. Be intentional about discipling your children. Engage in meaningful spiritual conversations.

14 Practical Ideas for Training Your Children 1. Use a catechism to train and teach your children doctrine and theology. 2. Memorize a verse of scripture a week as a family. 3. Worship and sing together. 4. Prioritize taking your kids out one on one to invest in them personally. 5. Encourage your kids to read solid Christian books. 6. Train your kids to read their Bibles and to pray each day.

15 3. Lead by Setting Priorities

16 What s the Priority? Every home has priorities, you can tell by looking at the family calendar. Sports? Academics? Entertainment? Comfort? Church? Television? Every home has priorities, you can tell by looking at the family bank account. Sports? Academics? Entertainment? Comfort? Church? Television?

17 Dad takes leadership in setting the priorities for the family. As Dad s lead their homes, they must be conscious of the priorities they set for their family. Will church be prioritized? Will family worship be important enough to do regularly? Will spending time together be more important than the in the isolation of everyone s own room?

18 4. Lead by Protecting

19 Protecting Your Family A key part of being a shepherd is protecting your sheep. Their are predators all around seeking to devour your wife and children. As a family shepherd, men must learn to protect themselves not only from physical danger, but from deadly and worldly philosophy and thinking. Acts 20:17ff

20 Protecting From Spiritual Dangers Dads, if you are going to protect your flock from wolves, you must know enough about the Bible and sound doctrine to recognize the wolves. The biblical and theological illiteracy and ignorance among Christian men is shameful.

21 5. Lead in Love and Sacrifice

22 A Call to Die A call to male headship, is a call to daily death. It means putting your family first and yourself last. The leader of the family is to continually be laying down his life for the good of his home. Ephesians 5