FAMILY DEVOTIONS

The biblical reason for having Family Devotions is found in Deuteronomy 6:5-9.  As  primary faith trainers, we as parents are commanded to impress these commands upon our children, talk to our children about them, as well as show them how to live them out in the ordinary tasks of life. 

In Proverbs 22:6, spiritual training takes place one step at a time in the context of everyday life.  Relationship is your priority, the Bible is your handbook, and life is your classroom.  Teach your children about  God, the Bible, salvation, and how to live by having family night devotions.

What is a Family  Devotion?  It is one night set aside each week as a sacred night.  It is fun and exciting!  Keep it simple and age appropriate.  Make it happen consistently.  Teach a biblical truth by making memories and lasting impressions.  Family  Devotion is the consistent spiritual investment from parent to child between Legacy Milestones.  It is the Family  Devotion that prepares a child for the coming milestone.

Planning Your Family Devotion

Here is a sample outline for your use in planning a Family Devotion.
(The intent of the outline is to provide direction to your preparation, to be used for sharing with other families and ultimately to be passed on to your children so they may, in turn, teach their children.)

Topic:  Sources  

  1. Ask children what they are struggling with.
  2. What family issues need addressing (lying, respect, sex, etc.)    
  3. Christian foundational issues (temptation, faith, sin, testing, etc.)
  4. God's desires (Baptism, communion, etc.)
  5. Holidays (Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, Memorial Day, etc.)
  6. Social issues (abortion, homosexuality, racism, etc.)
Goal:  What is it that you want your children to understand and be able to apply with this lesson?

Scriptures:  What are the supporting verses to each major point?

Materials:  List the items needed for the lesson:  props, crafts, object lesson items, etc.

Family Activities:   (Pick a family theme song and play it to bring the family together)

  1. Open in prayer:  Take turns doing the opening prayer each night.  Parents show/teach your children to pray through modeling and encouragement.
  2. Quick review of last lesson:  Just hit main points to drive retention.
  3. Lesson and Discussion:  Three key areas:
  • Points:  Spell out main points you desire to teach, remembering that children can digest only about three main points or just one point depending on the age, also make points at their age level.  Hint:  Use children's books written for your children's ages for resources.
  • Discussion questions: Think through points and draw understanding out of child through open-ended questions starting with "What do you think this means?...How would you have reacted when?...Why do you think?...etc.
  • Object lesson:  You need to find some activity that evokes emotion or challenge main points being presented. (i.e. demonstrate faith by having child close eyes, remain stiff, and fall straight back into arms).
  • Memorize:  Short saying to help them remember the lesson thay rhymes or is a take off of a popular saying (i.e. Say no and go when tempted or Don't worry, pray and be happy when faced with worry).                                                

RESOURCES

John Piper's Catechism (use one question per week for 2 years)

 
Kingsland's quest is to love God, love people
and equip the generations one home at a time!