Family Bible Study Resources & 1647 Directory of Family Worship

Here is another tool to help you disciple your family.

Once again I started creating a daily Family Bible Study for my family. I will post it on our website for download.

It is our passion at FOF to see your family discipled. We are not here to do the job for you but we want to equip and train you to do that work. Offering a Family Bible Study is just one more tool that we would like to offer.

I find it amazing how far we have fallen. Today there are few men who lead and even fewer who are willing to lead their families in 'Family Worship.' In the majority of churches today you are expected if not asked to send your children off to Sunday School. Many people think that the idea of a family worshiping together in home and during the Sunday service is a new idea. Actually the idea is veryyyy old.

In 1647 The General Assembly created the 'Directory for Family Worship.' I would just like to share a few quotes from it with you.

ASSEMBLY AT EDINBURGH, August 24, 1647, Sess. 10.

"ACT for observing the Directions of the GENERAL ASSEMBLY for secret and private
Worship, and mutual Edification; and censuring such as neglect Family-worship.
THE General Assembly, after mature deliberation, doth approve the following Rules and
Directions for cherishing piety, and preventing division and schism; and doth appoint
ministers and ruling elders in each congregation to take special care that these Directions be observed and followed; as likewise, that presbyteries and provincial synods enquire and make trial whether the said Directions be duly observed in their bounds; and to reprove or censure (according to the quality of the offence), such as shall be found to be reprovable or
censurable therein.! And, to the end that these directions may not be rendered ineffectual and unprofitable among some, through the usual neglect of the very substance of the duty of Family-worship, the Assembly doth further require and appoint ministers and ruling elders to make diligent search and enquiry, in the congregations committed to their charge respectively, whether there be among them any family or families which use to neglect this necessary duty; and if any such family be found, the head of the family is to be first adminished privately to amend his fault; and, in case of his continuing therein, he is to be gravely and sadly reproved by the session; after which reproof, if he be found still to neglect Family-worship, let him be, for his obstinacy in such an offence, suspended and debarred from the Lord's supper, as being justly esteemed unworthy to communicate therein, till he amend.

The Church used to take Family Worship very seriously. If fact if a man, being head of the family household, was found to be negligent in his duty he was disciplined by the church elders privately and if that did not work he was brought before the session. If he still refused to take up the discipling of his family he was not allowed to join in the Lord's Supper."

Can you image if the Churches in America today required, expected, check up on, and even disciplined those who were and were not leading in family worship. Almost EVERY man would be disciplined and every man would be barred from taking the Lord's supper.

We have fallen from what God's word has called us to - the Discipling our families and to family worship. Let's return and reform our hearts, our perspectives and our actions to align with God's word and what our Christian fathers have left us as an example.

Rise up, O Men, and see that we are called to so much more. Take seriously your call to lead your family in family worship. Don't just take it serious - Do it.

If you would like to read all of the Directory of Family Worship visit our website.