3 Simple Ways to Get Started with Family Worship

Overcome These Obstacles

There are a lot of parents who are discouraged and intimidated about reading the Bible with their kids. They are discouraged because they say it's too much, it’s too complicated. Some of them are just very unbelieving about it. They just don’t think it’s going to work or accomplish anything.

First of all, to those who think it’s too much, I’d recommend keeping it short and simple. It doesn’t have to be too much. You don’t need to do a mini sermon. You don’t need a mini church service. Long and complicated scares people. Long and complicated stops habits like this when they start. So keep it short, keep it simple, and therefore, keep it doable.

Hopefully, that takes away the intimidation factor. Then, people might say, Okay, I’ll keep it short and simple, but it’s difficult and complicated.

Exploring the Bible Together

David Murray

This resource will help families establish and practice regular family devotions because it is realistic in its aims, it has a clear plan and direction, and it stimulates interaction with Scripture and prayer.

It doesn’t need to be.

If you feel like that, use existing resources. Don’t just start yourself. If you feel ill-equipped, there are good resources out there like Exploring the Bible Together that can walk alongside you and help you. They can provide the material and the plan and give you confidence in what you’re doing.

Build your hopes and your faith on the truth that God can take his word, with prayer and worship, and bless it to your children’s salvation.

Above all, have faith. Sometimes the intimidation factor or the discouragement factor are actually unbelieving factors. We don’t actually believe that God will use and bless this to the salvation of our children. Above all, build your hopes and your faith on the truth that God can take his word, with prayer and worship, and bless it to your children’s salvation.

When you really believe that, a lot of the intimidation and discouragement will shrink and eventually go away. So, do it with confidence and faith. Use existing resources. Keep it short and simple.

David Murray is the author of Exploring the Bible Together: A 52-Week Family Worship Plan.

David Murray (PhD, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) has pastored four churches in Scotland and the USA. He is also a counselor, a regular speaker at conferences, and the author of several books, including Reset and Exploring the Bible. David has taught Old Testament, counseling, and pastoral theology at various seminaries.

How to Help Your Kids Establish Bible Reading Habits

David Murray

October 10, 2020

Ask yourself, What do I want most for my kids? If we're Christian parents, we want our kids to know Jesus, we want them to be saved. Sometimes just writing that down really helps to reorder our lives.