So now you’ve taken a peek at how we worship (or attempt to) at church…now here’s how we do it at home…
What?! You can’t believe we actually worship at home. Well, sometimes it’s a bit like the zoo you see at church but most days we can do it.
We have just started doing worship in the mornings. I would love for Mark to lead both of our worship times, however, he has to be at work early so he doesn’t get home as the kids are going to bed, so it’s up to me in the mornings.
So morning worship consists of: We sing two worship songs and then study the Bible discussing a character trait. I am using Courtship Connection’s Character Building for Families Volume1. Basically, it takes a character trait and then studies what the Bible says about that trait. It’s been great for the kids, especially since I’ve combined it with the charts they suggest using. The kids have been enjoying trying to fill in their charts. I am loving that we are getting into God’s Word first thing in the morning. Simple, no frills, straight from God’s Word teaching. Can’t get any better.
Now for what we sing: We were finding hymns and printing them off and such but then after asking a friend about hymnals and costs, he showed up with two! We were pumped! Especially since these two hymnals are the newer ones and contain many praise songs as well as many older hymns (and newer ones too). Right now, we are singing accapella (which if any stranger were around, they’d have to plug their ears…we make a joyful noise in our family). We mix up what we sing between old hymns and praise songs, but we strive for all the songs we sing to fit our theological beliefs. Hymns were not written in Biblical time and we know our God is Soveriegn and can use other people, through His music to speak to us…and so, hymns, praise songs…as long as it’s theologically sound, we’re good with it. As far as the “repetitiveness” of praise songs. I know many a hymn that does the same thing (the choruses of any number of them!). I also know many praise songs that have no chorus and no repeats.
I have to say there is nothing like hearing your two year old (Liam way back when) singing, “Up from the grave He arose,” or “In Christ alone, my hope is found.” Mmmm, sweet music to a mama’s ears.
Now to evening worship: We started out with a kid’s rhyming Bible and other things…just reading a little at night. This past Spring we noticed that Zoe’s eyes were glazing over…she had heard the same Bible story over and over and over again…it was time to move on and find something a little deeper. Then, for Father’s Day, I found these books called Balancing the Sword. Armed with a great coupon, I was able to purchase them for very little. They basically can take you through the Bible twice (one per volume). There are comprehension (non-denominational/non-theological…just straight up comprehension) questions on average for every two verses in the Bible. You can set up your reading plan with the software included and get to it. Again, seeing our children sit down with their Bible, it’s beautiful. Zoe is now reading some as we read through it. Ace even gets to read a verse or two. And we all work to answer the questions about what we just read. Mark and I are seeing and able to point out to the kids more and more evidences of Christ’s prophetical coming in the Old Testament…and we’re only in Genesis! After reading our Scripture and answering questions, we sing two “hymns” and pray. And yes, Mark leads us through all of this time (he’s a waaay better singer than me. I sing to my own tune if anyone must know).
Family worship is great for us as we use it to practice sitting and listening (both skills that are necessary when sitting in “big church”). I’m teaching Josiah to sit in my lap while we are going through our family worship. And he can do it (most of the time)!
When we are out and about and have to miss family worship for several nights, we can definitely see the difference in our kids! Worship brings us closer to each other, but more importantly to God and His Word. We are learning and leading our kids to have a desire for and knowledge of His Word. And that is what Faith in a Family is all about.
So, how do you worship as a family? Please leave a comment and share! I love getting new ideas.
Now, why do we really homeschool? Is it that important to teach our kids at home? Why not just turn them over to the church acitvities and government schools? Stay tuned (If I totally haven’t offended you yet. Me, watching the numbers of viewers plummet)…
Not sure what Uncle R was cheesing it for but he was.
All the kids went on the deck with the BDs and the next thing I knew Zoe was screaming. I turn around and see Liam’s little rear running back and forth on the deck. I about lost it. Mark thought it was quite funny too…but he had more composure and told him to clothe himself.
They sure are cute in their towels!
