to become a Christian. They are attitudes of the heart toward
ourselves and our sin. Faith is not just the way to get saved; it is the
lifeline of Christian living.
(^) Your children must understand what it means to repent, not just
“of all my sins” in some generalized way, but of specific sins of heart
idolatry. They need to know the cleansing and refreshing forgiveness
of God, not just once to get saved, but daily. They must understand
the Christian life not simply as living according to a biblical code, but
as life in faith, commitment, and fellowship with the living God.
Family Worship
(^) Family worship must function in the broader, richer sense that I
have described in the paragraphs above. It’s easy to have a shift of
means and end. The practice of family worship is a means, not an end.
It is a means to the end of knowing God. The name of the game is not
daily family worship per se; it is knowing God. The end is knowing
God. A means to employ in reaching that end is family worship.
(^) You need family worship that connects with your children and
their lives. You must be creative and flexible in assuring that your
family worship serves the shepherding and nurturing tasks we have
outlined above.
(^) Reading the Proverbs daily is of great benefit to children (and to
adults). Our daily practice was to read one-third of a chapter of
Proverbs before school each day. This was a rich source of wisdom
and encouragement for our children. We have seen them learn and
then later internalize the principles in this practical section of the
Word of God. The Proverbs serve as an owner’s manual for life.
Proverbs confronts a child with every aspect of true spirituality.
(^) When our children were little, we would read Old Testament
passages and act them out. I have been Goliath (with the help of a
chair). We have hidden in caves (under the table) with David as he ran
from Saul. Reading some of the Psalms of persecution in that setting