The Necessity of Family Worship
Family Worship, painting by Jean-Baptiste Greuze
“And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
— Joshua 24:15 (ESV)
A Culture Too Busy for Worship
In an age of unprecedented preoccupation with the busyness of life, it’s unsurprising that quality time at home is scarce. There is rarely a set-apart time for quiet thoughtfulness and worship before the Lord.
Many Christians feel guilty about this and make resolutions to establish “quality time”—but for most, those resolutions fade after only a few weeks.
Even for those who manage to maintain it long-term, there can be an ongoing sense of guilt about leading such times, especially for fathers. As the head of the household, a father is not only responsible for his own spiritual growth, but also for the nurturing of his wife and children.
In our modern, individualistic categories, this responsibility can feel overwhelming—much like a clown juggling three or more bowling pins while balancing on the ball called life.
For biblical guidance on building a God-centered home, see our resource on Christian leadership in the family.
Joshua’s Example of Leadership
Joshua presents us with a better way. He declared to the Israelites:
“…but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
Notice the implicit male headship in his statement. Joshua didn’t go home to see if his wife and children wanted to worship the Lord before making this bold claim. He took hold of his God-given responsibility and claimed a godly direction for his household.
And this commitment wasn’t just words—it involved all the means necessary to make it reality.
All the Means Necessary
For Joshua, this meant:
Meditating on God’s law
Leading his family in prayer
Singing Miriam’s deliverance song (Exodus 15)
Obeying the Lord’s commands for worship at the tabernacle
Joshua sought to follow the Shema of Deuteronomy 6—loving the Lord with all his heart and teaching his children to do the same, “in their coming and in their going.”
In this way, the fathers of Israel acted as gatekeepers for the spiritual health of their homes.
If you’re new to this, our guide to starting family worship can help you begin.
When Fathers Fail
Despite this calling, the Old Testament shows us the tragic results when fathers neglected their duty. Pressured by the false worship of the nations, they failed to preserve true worship in their homes.
Israel’s leaders—wicked kings and unfaithful priests—led the people astray, and the fathers did not stand against it. The result? Exile from the promised land and the destruction of what they held dear.
The Modern Parallel
Most believers today would agree—our current circumstances in the West are far from ideal for the family. Secularism has produced a kingdom of priests who serve at the altar of self.
This decline wasn’t caused only by universities or governments. It happened because fathers surrendered their responsibility to protect and nourish the spiritual health of their households.
See our article on resisting cultural compromise for practical steps.
Family Worship: The Bedrock of Spiritual Health
Daily family worship is the immune system of the Christian home. It guards against the idolatry and disobedience that saturates our culture.
So fathers, gather your family for worship.
Confess your sins—to God and to one another
Assure your family of God’s grace in Christ
Teach them the truths of the faith (see our catechism resources)
Read and walk through the Word of God together
Sing praises to the Lord
Pray with thanksgiving and intercession
Bless your family with the blessings of the Lord
Be the generational change that will impact eternity. Fortify your home with worship that makes the demons tremble.
