“As for me and my house, we will serve [in Hebrew: ‘worship’] the LORD.”
Josh 24:15
“And it was so… that Job sent and sanctified them [his sons and daughters], and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all… Thus did Job continually.”
Job 1:5
“Then David returned to bless his household.”
2 Sam. 6:20
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Subsections
Bible Verses
Quotes
Prayer Before Meals
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Order of Contents
Start
Westminster
Articles
Booklets
Books
Helps for
Fasting
Biblio
Psalm-Singing in
Latin 1
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Where to Start?
Beeke, Joel
Booklet
Family Worship (2002) 29 pp. with a list of materials helpful for family worship at the end
Video
‘Leading Family Worship’ video, 74 min. with transcribed notes of the message. From the Desiring God 2011 conference for pastors.
Barth, Paul – Family Worship: How to Get Started (2016) 16 paragraphs
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Westminster Confession of Faith, 21.6
Note that the office bearers in conservative presbyterian denominations, by their ordination vows, swear to uphold, defend, promote and teach this.
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“…God is to be worshipped every where in spirit and truth; as in private families¹ daily²…”
¹ Jer. 10:25. Deut. 6:6,7. Job 1:5. 2 Sam. 6:18,20. 1 Pet. 3:7. Acts 10:2
² Matt. 6:11
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Articles
1600’s
Church of Scotland – The Directory for Family Worship 1647 20 paragraphs
Cawdrey, Daniel – ‘Family Reformation Promoted’ Buy 1656 11 pp. a sermon in The Blue Banner, vol. 10, issue 4, pp. 13-24
MacWard, Robert – pp. 71-72 in The Second Dialogue Answered in The True Non-Conformist 1671
Doolittle, Thomas – How May the Duty of Daily Family Prayer be Best Managed for the Spiritual Benefit of Everyone in the Family? 1674 Sermon 15 in Puritan (Cripplegate) Sermons Buy vol. 1, Supplement, page 225, should be page 297
Durham, James – pp. 132-144 in The Fourth Commandment in The Law Unsealed, a Practical Commentary on the Ten Commandments 1676
Baxter, Richard
‘A Disputation, or Arguments, to Prove the Necessity of Family Worship and Holiness, or Directions Against the Cavils of the Profane, and some Sectaries, who Deny it to be a Thing Required by God’ †1691 40 pp. in A Christian Directory, vol. 4, ‘Christian Economics’, ch. 3, pp. 48-89
‘Special Directions for Family Prayer’ 2 pp. in Christian Directory, pt. 2, ch. 23, pp. 598-99
Tillotson, John – Concerning Family Religion, a Sermon 1684 in Six Sermons (1694)
Tillotson (1630-1694) was an Arminian, Latitudinarian, Anglican.
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1700’s
Henry, Matthew – A Church in the House, a Sermon Concerning Family Religion 1704
Colman, Benjamin – An Argument for and Persuasive unto the Great and Important Duty of Family Worship: with Rules and Directions for the Due Performance of it 1728 43 pp.
Colman (1673-1747) was reformed, New England minister.
Doddridge, Philip – A Plain and Serious Address to the Master of a Family, on the Important Subject of Family Religion †1751 33 pp. in Sermons and Religious Tracts, vol. 2, pp. 87-120
Davies, Samuel – The Necessity and Excellence of Family Religion †1761 24 pp. in Sermons, vol. 2, pp. 74-98
Whitefield, George – The Great Duty of Family Religion a Sermon †1770 10 pp.
Presbyterian Church in the United States of America – ‘The Directory for Secret and Family Worship’ 1787 2 pp. in A Draught of the Form of the Government & Discipline of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, pp. 117-18
The Draught was the draft form of the Book of Discipline that was adopted in 1788 (which is not on the internet). The Book of Discipline adopted in 1788 was the original form of discipline of the national denomination of Presbyterians in America, from which all American branches of presbyterianism derive.
(Note that denominations such as Reformed Presbyterians, the Associate Reformed Presbyterians, the Dutch American Reformed Denominations, and others, whose backgrounds are from other nationalities, did not descend from this Order of Discipline and Worship.)
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1800’s
Newton, John – ‘On Family Worship’ a letter †1807 13 paragraphs
D’Aubigne, Merle – Domestic Worship 1846 33 pp.
Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church – ‘Family Worship’ 1847 6 paragraphs
Presbyterian Board of Publication – Letters IV, V & VI: To One Who Neglects Family Prayer in Monitory Letters to Church Members (1855)
Smith, B.M. – ‘Family Worship’ 1859 7 pp. in Family Religion, or the Domestic Relations as Regulated by Christian Principles, ch. 3, section 7, pp. 138-145
Smith was a Southern Presbyterian professor at Union Theological Seminary in Virginia.
M’Cheyne, Robert M. – ‘Family Government’ a sermon (1863) 4 pp.
Plumer, William – III. ‘Family Religion’ under the 4th Commandment in The Law of God: as Contained in the Ten Commandments Explained and Enforced 1864
Palmer, Benjamin Morgan – ‘The Family in its Offices of Instruction and Worship’ 1876 12 pp. being ch. 6 of The Family in its Civil and Churchly Aspects, pp. 279-291
The Presbyterian Church of the United States – ‘The General Assembly of the PCUS on Family Worship’ 1873-1915 5 paragraphs being excerpts from pastoral letters and reports of the Southern Presbyterian Church’s general assemblies
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1900’s
Ptacek, Kerry
‘A Brief History of Biblical Family Worship’ (1997) 14 paragraphs
‘Family & Government in Puritan New England’ (1995) 10 paragraphs
‘Family Instruction & Christian Public Education in Puritan New England’ (1995) 12 paragraphs
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2000’s
Beeke, Joel – ‘Worship Like a Puritan’ (2013) 17 paragraphs Tim Challies interviews Beeke with 4 questions about puritan family worship. Excellent.
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Booklets
Marcellino, Jerry – Rediscovering Family Worship Buy 27 pp.
Comin, Doug – Returning to the Family Altar: A Commentary & Study Guide on The Directory for Family Worship Buy (2004) 63 pp.
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Books
1600’s
Paget, Thomas – A Demonstration of Family-Duties: or Certain Propositions & Reasons of them Taken [ou]t of the Holy Scriptures, tending to show the Necessity, Nature & Manner of Performance of such Religious Duties, as Christian Families ought to spare some time unto from Common Affairs Every Day (London, 1643) 143 pp. ToC
Paget (c. 1587-1660) was an English puritan and presbyterian minister. Most of this book is about worship in families.
Heywood, Oliver – A Family Altar Buy 130 pp. in Works, 4.285-420
Heywood (1630–1702) was a reformed puritan who was ejected from the Church of England in 1662 and later excommunicated for continuing to preach.
Slater, Samuel – An Earnest Call to Family Religion, or a Discourse Concerning Family Worship, being the substance of 18 Sermons BSB 1694 318 pp.
Slater (†1704) was a reformed puritan who was ejected in the Great Ejection of 1662.
Hamond, George – A Discourse of Family-Worship, in Answer to this Question, Upon what Scripture Grounds & Reasons may Family Worship be Established & Enforced, undertaken upon the request of the United Ministers in & about London Buy (London, 1694)
Hamond was a reformed, English puritan who was ejected in the Great Ejection of 1662. Hamond’s interesting interpretation of Christ holding a form of family worship with his disciples, which is at least a social worship, is on pp. 80- 101.
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1700’s
Orton, Job – Six Discourses on Family Worship †1783 119 pp.
Orton (1717-1783) was a presbyterian dissenter from the Church of England and wrote the memoirs of, and preached the funeral sermon for, Philip Doddridge. With time his doctrinal orthodoxy came into question, though this should not affect this particular work.
Dalrymple, William – Family Worship, Explained & Recommended in Four Sermons, from Joshua 24:15, with Short Prayers from the Psalms and Assembly’s Hymns (1787) 245 pp.
Dalyrmple (1723-1814) was a Scottish religious writer, minister and moderator of the Church of Scotland.
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1800’s
Anonymous – The Family Altar, or the Duty, Benefits & Mode of Conducting Family Worship (1844) 128 pp.
Alexander, J.W. – Thoughts on Family Worship (1847) 260 pp.
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1900’s
Ptacek, Kerry – Family Worship: Biblical Basis, Historical Reality, Current Need (1994) 82 pp.
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Helps for Family Worship
1600’s
Baxter, Richard – ‘Forms of Prayer for Families’ (1674) 60 pp. being part 2 of The Poor Man’s Family Book
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1700’s
Toplady, Augustus – ‘A Course of Family Prayer for Each Day of the Week’ †1778 11 pp. in his 1 volume Works, pp. 771-782
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1800’s
Jay, William
Short Discourses to be Read in Families, vol. 1, 2 (1807)
Prayers for the Use of Families, or the Domestic Minister’s Assistant (1835)
Beddome, Benjamin – Twenty Short Discourses Adapted to Village Worship or the Devotions of the Family, vol. 1 (1807) 182 pp.
Beddome (1717–1795) was an English particular baptist minister.
Palmer, Samuel – A Collection of Family Prayers, from the Devotional Writings of Baxter, Henry, Willison, Bennet, Watts, Doddridge and others, with Occasional Forms GB (1818) 160 pp.
ed. Gibson, James – Family Worship: a Series of Prayers with Doctrinal and Practical Remarks on Passages of Scripture for every Morning and Evening of the Year (1851) 964 pp. with contributions from 180 ministers of Scotland
This is a manual for help in Family Worship. For every morning and evening of the year it gives a selection for a psalm to sing, two scripture passages, then doctrinal remarks followed by practical remarks, with a prayer to pray at the end. Try this for family worship.
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Contemporary
ed. Beeke, et al. – Family Worship Bible Guide Buy 760 pp.
“…this Family Worship Bible Guide presents rich devotional thoughts on all 1,189 chapters in the Bible, including searching questions to promote conversation, to help you with this responsibility. Use this resource every day alongside Scripture to read each chapter’s major takeaways aloud and then discuss them with your family. With the Holy Spirit’s blessing, this book will transform you and your family!” – Reformation Heritage Books
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Family Fasting
Article
Boston, Thomas – A Memorial Concerning Personal & Family Fasting & Humiliation on Zech. 12:12 (†1732) 50 pp. in Works, vol. 11, pp. 343-393 See especially p. 386 ff.
The occasion of this piece (Memoirs, p. 304):
“The mortality in our perish is not over yet, though I hoped my child had closed it: but just while I was writing this, I heard of the death of a mother of four small children… carried off at night by a sickness, so far as I could understand, not above two hours long long. Alas! we have provoked our God.
By the awful voice of Providence continuing, I was led to Zech. 12:12, ‘And the land shall mourn, every family apart,’ etc., on which I dwelt from 11th March till 20th May; and for some time after, on Ps. 126:5, ‘They that sow in tears, shall reap in joy.’ Upon the former of these I pressed the duty of personal and family fasting, among other things. And this was not without fruit. I knew that some were engaged in these duties; particularly James Biggar’s family, on which the hand of the Lord lay long and heavy, and carried off several of them…”
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Quotes
Thomas Boston, Memoirs
p. 102
“On the Monday, some time was spent in his [Mr. Mair’s] family in prayer, with fasting… being desired, I stayed, and joined with him in that exercise. The family being gathered together, he began the work, showing the causes of it; which were, 1. The afflicting hand of God on his family, particularly a child of his at Edinburgh; 2. To prepare for a congregational fast at Carnock; 3. To pray God in behalf of his parish… These prayers continued long; but we had ended about half an hour after twelve o’clock. After which, retiring to our several apartments, we dined about two, having had no breakfast. This was the first example of a family-fast I had ever seen, neither do I remember to have been witness to another without my own family. But I bless God, I saw that, which was the happy occasion of bringing in that part of family-devotion into my family afterward at times.”
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p. 303
“21st March — This day we spent some time in family humiliation and prayer, on the account of the death of our youngest child Katherine, who departed on the 12th instant; and the hand of the Lord still on Thomas and Alison by the chincough; also for the state of the public; and as to myself, for my study of the [Hebrew] accentuation. That child was very comfortable to me; but I bless Him I was helped to part with her; and saw and believed much of the Lord’s goodness in that dispensation… I saw reason to bless the Lord, that I had been made the father of six children, now in the grave, and that were with me but a very short time…”
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George Whitefield
“Friday, Oct. 12. — Kept a family fast this day, that we might afflict ourselves before our God; to seek of Him a right way for us and for our little ones, and for all our substance: I trust it was such a fast as the Lord would choose: His divine presence was amongst us, and we had good reason to hope and believe, that the Lord was entreated of us, Oh that we may find more and more reason to say so, when we come on shore. I dread going into the world. But wherefore do I fear? Lord, I believe, O help my unbelief, that Thou wilt keep me unspotted from it.”
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Bibliography
Collin, Jr., David – ‘On Family Worship: a Select Bibliography’ (2006) 3 pp. 4 sections, 42 entries
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On Psalm-Singing in Family Worship
Articles
Paget, Thomas – A Demonstration of Family-Duties... (London, 1643), pp. 36-38 & 63-65
16th Proposition, ‘Singing of Psalms is a Scripture-exercise of divine institution that ought to be used frequently by the people of God’
Paget (c. 1587-1660) was an English puritan and presbyterian minister.
Thomas, William – Pt. 2, ch. 4, ‘Of Singing of Psalms, & Namely, in Families’ in A Preservative of Piety in a Quiet Reasoning for those Duties of Religion, that are the means and helps appointed of God for the preserving and promoting of godliness (London, 1662), pp. 192-207
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Quotes
Thomas Taylor
Christ’s Combat & Conquest: or, The Lion of the Tribe of Judah Vanquishing the Roaring Lion Assaulting Him, in Three Most Fierce & Hellish Temptations, Expounded... ([Cambridge], 1618), on Mt. 4:5-6, p. 173-4
“5. In edifying the family with Psalms and melody to the Lord, as it is, Col. 3:16. In these daily duties doth the sanctification of a family consist… and where this worship of God is not set up in families, there is nothing but a conspiracy of atheists, and a wicked brood bringing God’s judgments on themselves…”
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Joseph Alleine
Christian Letters, vol. 4 (d. 1668; London, 1767), Letter 30, p. 84
“Let the solemn reading of the Word, and singing of psalms, be your family exercises. See Christ singing with his family, his disciples, Mt. 26:30; Lk. 9:18.”
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Samuel Slater
See pp. 15, 21, 56 & 234 of An Earnest Call to Family Religion, or a Discourse Concerning Family Worship, being the substance of 18 Sermons (1694)
Slater (†1704) was a reformed puritan who was ejected in the Great Ejection of 1662.
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Oliver Heywood d. 1702
Family Altar in Works, vol. 4
p. 319
“Mind it, families in their domestic capacity, as well as in a personal, or national capacity may be alienated from God, and may have a root that beareth gall and wormwood, then see what follows: this is that which makes evil families, when instead of praying, reading scriptures, singing psalms, there is cursing, swearing, mocking at serious godliness, vain or profane talk, at least only worldly discourse.”
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p. 345
“You go to bed and rise, one time after another, prayerless; you can keep them up late and call them up early to their work, but never say, ‘Come to prayer’; not a word of God all the day long, not a chapter read, not a psalm sung, not a prayer put up in the family from day to day;”
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p. 364
“If the king or a nobleman should promise you five pounds every time that you call your family together, read a chapter, sing a psalm, kneel down and pray to God, would you not strain hard to procure that money ? And will not a greater profit from Almighty God prevail with you to perform this exercise to obtain a reward?”
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p. 374
“…that we will entertain Christ’s ambassadors in our houses, as Lydia and the jailor did; that we will read scriptures, instruct our families, sing psalms, continue instant in family and closet prayer, that all the rooms of our house may be seasoned…”
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p. 393
“Call in divine assistance; the first thing you do, stand up, and implore God’s blessing upon you in the present undertaking (except you find it convenient to begin with a psalm to call the family together) and desire the Lord to unite your hearts unto Him…”
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Latin Article
1600’s
Voet, Gisbert – Ecclesiastical Politics (Amsterdam: Waesberge, 1663), vol. 1, pt. 1, bk. 2, tract 3
6. Of Domestic Practices, or Exercises of Piety which ought to Advance Families 953
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“The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous…”
Ps. 118:15
“Now therefore are we [Cornelius and his family] all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.”
Acts 10:33
“Pour out thy fury upon the heathen that know thee not, and upon the families that call not on thy name…”
Jer. 10:25
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