Elders' Blog

Advent Helps for Family Worship

The goal of family worship is simple: to lead your home in a time of daily worship of the Lord, and daily give Him praise as we are created and commanded to do (see Deut. 6:4-9). Setting a pattern of daily worship in your home—whether you are married, single, or have multiple children—will go a long way toward raising disciples of Jesus, who not only gather with the church on Sunday, but live lives of obedience to Jesus throughout the week.

 

The basic elements of family worship are simple; Scripture, song, and prayer. Throughout history, Christians have sung, read the Word, and prayed together in their homes as a means of daily thanks and praise. These things can be done in even just 5-10 minutes, and can take place in the morning, before bed, after school, at the dinner table, in the car, or any time of day that works in your home.

 

We know that for many, this can be an awkward and potentially difficult habit to begin, for a variety of reasons. Our goal is not to lay another burden on you in an already busy season, or to make you feel guilty if you don’t do it; rather, our aim is to give you some ideas to promote a simple practice that can, over time, reap great spiritual dividends in your own home. Starting can be awkward, but the long-term benefit could be immeasurable.

 

With that, we thought the Advent season provided a nice, easy onramp to get started with family worship in your own home. So, we wanted to pass on some tools to point you in the right direction!  Some of you may have your own plans and ideas already, but most of us need a little help. If you have more questions about the implementation or concept of family worship, please talk to Pastor Aaron! 

 

Advent Readings and Activities

Good News of Great Joy by John Piper (hard copies available at church)

            https://www.desiringgod.org/books/good-news-of-great-joy

The Dawning of Indestructible Joy by John Piper

            https://www.desiringgod.org/books/the-dawning-of-indestructible-joy

Family Advent Guide from Village Church (Personal note: this is a great resource!!!)

            http://thevillagechurch.net/mediafiles/uploaded/a/0e4647668_1446757303_advent-guide-2015.pdf

LifeWay Kids Family Advent Guide 2017

            http://s7d9.scene7.com/is/content/LifeWayChristianResources/family_advent_guide_2017pdf.pdf

LifeWay Kids Family Advent Guide 2016

            http://s7d9.scene7.com/is/content/LifeWayChristianResources/Kids-Advent-2016pdf.pdf

LifeWay Kids Family Advent Guide 2015

            http://www.loveservereach.com/files/kids_advent_guide_2016.pdf

Ideas for Celebrating Advent as a Family

            http://www.lifeway.com/Article/ideas-for-celebrating-advent-as-a-family

 

These are all free downloadable resources. You can also find many Advent reading plans in the YouVersion Holy Bible app, or purchase a family-themed devotional such as Paul Tripp’s Come Let Us Adore Him: A Daily Advent Devotional.

Advent Songs

Angels from the Realms of Glory

Angels We Have Heard on High

Away in a Manger

Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus

Emmanuel

God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen

Go! Tell it on the Mountain

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

How Great Our Joy

It Came Upon the Midnight Clear

Joy to the World

Meekness and Majesty

O Come, All Ye Faithful

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

O Holy Night

O Little Town of Bethlehem

Of the Father’s Love Begotten

Silent Night

The First Noel

Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne

What Child Is This?

While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks

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