When you hear the words “family worship,” what kind of feelings arise in you?
Maybe you feel confused because you’re not sure exactly what “family worship” entails. Maybe you feel frustrated because you can’t imagine your kids sitting still. Maybe you feel ashamed because your children are already in their teen years and you’re only now considering it. Maybe you feel apathetic, unsure of why it matters. Or maybe you feel defeated, overwhelmed by the thought of adding one more thing to an already-full schedule.
Wherever you find yourself, take heart—because family worship is achievable. You don’t need to be a pastor or bible study teacher to lead it. It isn’t about perfection, it doesn’t have to be complicated, and you can begin no matter how old your children are.
Family worship simply means setting aside time to read, discuss, and pray through God’s Word. When you do this, it will change the atmosphere of your home. Family worship bonds your hearts together, anchors your family in Christ, and makes worship a natural part of daily life.
So after dinner, clear the table, move to the family room, and begin. Don’t be intimidated by the noise or chaos—embrace the wiggles and interruptions from your children. Lean into the messiness of real family life and press on, knowing that you are giving your children one of the greatest gifts: Daily conversations about God and His Word.
But it can be hard to visualize this family fellowship if you constantly feel pressed for time—so here are a few ideas for how you can structure this time of worship, even if you can only carve out fifteen minutes each day.
Read the Bible (7 minutes)
Reading God’s Word regularly is an important part of family worship. In doing so, you are helping your children grow in wisdom and in godliness—no matter their age. If your children are young, consider reading short accounts from narrative portions of Scripture. Kids love stories, and these passages will capture their imagination and connect naturally with their hearts. A trustworthy story Bible can also be a helpful tool at this age.
If your children are a little older, begin working through an entire book of the Bible, or even start at the very beginning in Genesis. It’s important to get them involved in reading—in fact, everyone who is able should take turns. And as your family journeys through the whole Bible year after year, you will end up discussing nearly every major topic and challenge of life, equipping them well for their adult years ahead.
Discuss the Bible (4 minutes)
In family worship, don’t just read Scripture to your children—discuss it with them, letting the Word of God fill their hearts, minds, and souls. This doesn’t need to be a long or complex conversation. Simply highlight one or two main points from the passage and then ask a question or two to help them reflect.
Let the ages of your children guide the kinds of questions you ask. With younger children, keep your questions simple and focused on basic comprehension. With older children, invite them to go deeper by asking how the passage applies to their lives or what it reveals about God.
Additionally, encourage your children to ask their own questions. Don’t worry if you don’t have all the answers or if the conversation goes in an unexpected direction! What matters most is that, day after day, your family is talking together about the Word of God.
Pray Together (2 minutes)
Scripture makes it clear that God’s will for your life includes prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18). So while you should certainly pray on your own, you should also pray with your family. Family worship provides a simple, natural moment to do just that.
Invite each person to share one thing they’re thankful for and one request they’d like someone else to pray for. Then have the person to their right or left pray for them. Short, honest, and heartfelt prayers teach your children that they can bring everything before the Lord. With younger children, you may need to guide their words, but even a two-year-old can pray something simple, like: “Help Mommy love Jesus more.”
Sing Praises to God (2 minutes)
God is worthy to be praised through song—so why not sing a song together? In fact, singing lasts in our memories the longest, making it the perfect way to close out your time of family worship.
Consider choosing songs your church regularly sings on Sunday mornings or teaching your children well-loved hymns, like “Amazing Grace.” Simply play a song on YouTube and sing along together. With younger children, “Jesus Loves Me” and “The B-I-B-L-E” will be favorites. You can even end each day with the doxology.
Closing Thoughts
Don’t get discouraged if you begin the practice of family worship and then fall out of that rhythm—simply pick it back up and start again. Remember, family worship is ultimately about enjoying God as a family and creating space in your home for His Word to shape your hearts. No other habit will bless your household more. As you read, pray, and sing together, you are passing on the torch of faith to your children, modeling a life centered on Christ, and forming memories they will carry long after they leave home. So take the step and begin practicing family worship today.
Additional Resources for Family Worship:
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The Advent Adventure | A Family Devotional |
All About Jesus | A Family Devotional |
Christ-Centered Family: Pointing Your Family to Jesus Every Day |
Theology For Me: Big Truths to Grow Your Faith |
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