John 1:29

Yesterday Nathaniel correctly quoted John 1: 29 (NKJV). He said it again tonight also without help so its time to move to a new one!

Deuteronomy 6:4-5

Tonight Nathaniel correctly quoted Deuteronomy 6:4-5 (NKJV)

Its official...

...we are now officially Baptists.

Last month we requested membership by statement of faith and tonight we were officially approved by congregational vote.

Family Worship Synopsis

 A brief summary of the activities that occur during our family worship time:

1. Scripture memory and/or catechism
2. Singing (hymn of the month followed by Doxology)
3. Bible reading
4. Prayer

Wrapping up Exodus

Last night we finished our reading in Exodus. I had originally intended to continue reading through the Pentateuch. There are only 27 chapters in Leviticus so I think I would like to try. Plus, I really enjoyed reading Dueteronomy the last time I went through it on my own. Looking forward to making it back there again!

What is sin?

Nathaniel now knows what sin is:

"Sin is any transgression of the law of God."
(1 John 3:4; Romans 3:20; James 2:9-11)

John 6:35

Tonight Nathaniel successfully recited John 6:35 (NKJV)

Leadership in the Home

Tim Challies series on Leadership in the Home:

Part 1 – Leadership in the Home: An Introduction
Part 2 – Leadership in the Home: A Defense
Part 3 – A Godly Man Leads
Part 4 – A Godly Man Protects
Part 5 – A Godly Man Provides

Psalm 78:5-8

He established a testimony in Jacob
and appointed a law in Israel,
which he commanded our fathers
to teach to their children,
that the next generation might know them,
the children yet unborn,
and arise and tell them to their children,
so that they should set their hope in God
and not forget the works of God,
but keep his commandments;
and that they should not be like their fathers,
a stubborn and rebellious generation,
a generation whose heart was not steadfast,
whose spirit was not faithful to God.
(ESV) Psalm 78:5-8

Proverbs 22:6

Train up a child in the way he should go;
even when he is old he will not depart from it.
(ESV) Proverbs 22:6

Responsibility

The Council on Biblical Manhood & Womanhood: Family Worship

ESV Study Bible

We have been reading through the book of Exodus as a family.  The other day as we were continuing our reading in chapter 28 about the priestly garments I realized that the children (oldest is 5) had been getting disengaged not only that day but also for the previous several days during our reading.  Suddenly I remembered that the ESV Study Bible contains some very nice color representative drawings of many of the things we'd just been reading about including the ark of the covenant, tabernacle, golden lamp stand, alter, tabernacle court, and the most importantly the priestly garments which we had just covered.  I had originally purchased this study Bible for personal reference and never imagined using it in family worship, but the boys really enjoyed seeing the pictures of what these things might have really looked like.  It was nearly worth the purchase of the Bible just for that one use.

Keep It Simple

John Piper: How do you do family devotions?

Beginnings

It seems fitting to recap how we ended up doing regular structured worship together as a family.  When we were first married my wife and I would read from the Psalms together each evening.  We did this together for pretty much the whole of our first year of marriage until our first child was born.  After that, once he became old enough, we started reading to him from the Psalms each night as we put him to bed.  We continued this trend after our second child was born and eventually branched out and read through Proverbs, Acts, and the gospel of John.  With the children getting a bit older it became evident that more structure was necessary.  I also remember especially wanting to teach them specifically how to sit through church.  Having also been exposed to some pretty good teaching having to do with family worship I happened to be introduced to some great resources to help facilitate the process and morph it into what it is today..

I wish I could say that we have been perfectly consistent throughout this entire time, but nonetheless God has truly been at work to bring this to fruition and we want nothing more than to please him as a family, together as parents, and myself personally as a father.  Although we've been doing this for many months now, with a family so young we are truly only just beginning and look forward to the months and years to come.

Soli Deo Gloria

Romans 6:23

Tonight Nathaniel successfully recited Romans 6:23 (NKJV)

Hymn of the Month: January 2010

I SING THE MIGHTY POWER OF GOD

Words: Issac Watts, 1715.

I sing the mighty power of God, that made the mountains rise,
That spread the flowing seas abroad, and built the lofty skies.
I sing the wisdom that ordained the sun to rule the day;
The moon shines full at God’s command, and all the stars obey.

I sing the goodness of the Lord, who filled the earth with food,
Who formed the creatures through the Word, and then pronounced them good.
Lord, how Thy wonders are displayed, where’er I turn my eye,
If I survey the ground I tread, or gaze upon the sky.

There’s not a plant or flower below, but makes Thy glories known,
And clouds arise, and tempests blow, by order from Thy throne;
While all that borrows life from Thee is ever in Thy care;
And everywhere that we can be, Thou, God art present there.

Deuteronomy 6:7

You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
(ESV) Deuteronomy 6:7