It is our prayer that as this series unfolds, you and your family will be moved to incorporate worship as a family in your own home. This guide will serve as an example of ways to get started. We hope you feel encouraged by this series guide and we pray that taking simple steps towards worshipping as a family, will bring you closer to one another and to God.
Book Recommendations
Family Discussion Guide
Week 1 (April 14)
Read John 4:24 together.
“God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
Break it down: There are many words in this verse that need to be defined so we know what God’s word is telling His believers about worship.
Here are some questions you can ask your family to help break down the verse.
- “Who is God?”
- “Who are those who worship him?”
- “How must we worship God?”
As a family, choose one way to worship God together today.
Here are some ideas of ways to worship! Sing a song, read verses, or pray together.
Week 2 (April 21)
In Isaiah 43, God is giving a message to his people who have been exiled (sent away from their home country). This was a hard time for his people and God was giving them an encouraging word through promises.
Read verse 1: “Now this is what the Lord says, the one who created you, Jacob, and the one who formed you, Israel, ‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are mine.’”
- According to this verse, why does God tell his people not to fear?
Redeemed is defined as ‘having been saved or delivered from sin or its consequences’
Choose someone to read verse 7 aloud: “Everyone who bears my name and is created for my glory. I have formed them; Indeed, I have made them.”
How cool to know the Creator of all things, created us for his glory!
What will you choose to do together as a family to worship God this week?
Week 3 (April 28)
As parents, incorporating Family Worship into your weekly rhythms, paired with coming up with what Family Worship looks like in your home could be a bit overwhelming. Why would you want to add Family Worship into your family?
We are commanded in Romans 12:1-2 “Therefore brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.”
In verse 1, we read that as believers, we are to present ourselves as a living sacrifice for true worship. Discuss with your family what a sacrifice is and how we can be a living sacrifice. What can our true worship of God look like every day?
Verse 2 tells us we need to not be conformed to this age, but transformed by the renewing of our minds. If we want our family to be transformed, we need the word of God. The renewing of minds only happens by the power of the Holy Spirit. By incorporating the word of God into our family rhythms, we can begin to be transformed by the Holy Spirit. Use Romans 12:1 for each family member to memorize over the next few weeks.
Here are some ways to help memorize and learn scripture
- “I say, You Say” – Break the verse into chunks and have your child repeat after you. You can always make it more fun by changing up your voice (whisper, talk like a giant, squeak like a mouse…)
- Use a dry erase marker and write the verse on a bathroom mirror so it can be seen often
- Each family member can write out the verse on paper and decorate using whatever materials you have available. Choose a place to display your work
- Pray the verse over your family throughout the week
Week 4 (May 5)
Hebrews is a letter written to some of the first followers of Jesus. After Jesus had ascended into heaven, His followers began to wonder what it actually meant to follow after Jesus. What was it supposed to look like? Hebrews 10:23-25 tells His followers some ways to follow after Him and why we should worship with one another.
Read Hebrew 10:23-25 together.
When we, as Jesus’ followers, choose to spend time with one another, show up for one another, pray with one another, cheer on one another, work with one another – God shows up in the middle of it!
What does it mean to gather together as followers of Jesus?
Why is it important that we meet together as followers of Jesus?
As a family, go around and share something you enjoy about worshipping with other followers of Jesus at church.
Week 5 (May 12)
Colossians is a letter written by Paul to the church of Colossae while he was in prison. Paul had learned of some heretical teachings (ideas and teachings that are different from what was right) that was starting to spread in the church. These teachings went against the gospel of Jesus.
Read in Colossians 2:16-23 what Paul said about the different ways of worship they were focused on and why it is wrong.
Why should we not worship in our own ways?
How can we know the truth of worship and what it means to worship God? How can we lead a life of worship that is worthy of the Lord?
Read Colossians 1:10-12 and talk about how these actions are different from the actions in Colossians 2:16-23.
Week 6 (May 26)
Before reading the scripture together, take time to show your children how to locate verses in the Bible. Oftentimes, children need explicit instructions to learn and understand, while incorporating many learning styles.
Here is one way we practice in NB Kids on how to find verses in the Bible.
- Write out “1 Timothy 4:12″ for the child to reference.
- Talk about if this book of the Bible is found in the Old Testament or New Testament.
- Have the child open the Bible to the Table of Contents.
- Using the Table of Contents, help your child find the page number for 1 Timothy.
- Allow the child to flip through the pages and locate the Book of the Bible.
- Once in 1 Timothy, help your child find Chapter 4 and verse 12. You might explain how chapters are identified by bold print and the verse numbers are not bolded.
Read 1 Timothy 4:12. This Book of the Bible is a letter written from Paul to Timothy. Paul was was a friend and mentor to Timothy, who was a young man at the time. This letter from Paul was directing Timothy on what he needed to know for the church he was at in Ephesus. Paul gives an encouragement to Timothy in verse 12. Read the verse together again.
We know from this verse that Timothy is much younger. But, he should not let this stop him from living his life for Jesus and being an example to others. What did Paul command Timothy to do in verse 12? How can you live your life as an example to others?
As you pray together, ask God to help you live boldly for Christ, no matter how young or old you are.
Week 7 (June 2)
Read Romans 6:3-4. Before moving on, define baptism. Baptism is an outward, physical symbol of the inward change or conversion of a Christian. Baptism shows everyone around us, the change made inside of us by Jesus Christ.
Jesus himself was baptized by John the Baptist. (Read John 1:29-34) He was being an example for all. Parents, share with your family your own baptism story. What led you to decide to follow after Jesus? What does baptism mean to you? Who shared in that moment with you?
If your children have been baptized, ask them to share their experience. Ask them what led them to make the decision to follow after Christ.
If your children have not been baptized, allow them to ask questions. Encourage them by letting them know that we are all part of God’s Big Story and they too can have their own baptism story to share one day!
If your child becomes discouraged because they do not have their baptism story yet, reassure them that God loves them and that it is okay if they are not yet ready for the decision of baptism.
End your time together in prayer, thanking God for sending his Son, Jesus, to die for our sins. And for the hope in His resurrection.
Week 8 (June 9)
“Praise the Lord!” Psalm 150:1a
What do you think of when you hear the word ‘praise?’ When and where have you seen praise happening?
Read Psalm 150:1-2. Where are we to praise God? Why are we to praise God?
Continue reading verses 3-5. Not only are we commanded to praise with our voices, but with instruments and our bodies. What could this type of praise look like?
Why are we commanded to praise God in song?
Finally, read verse 6 together. Who and what are to worship the Lord?
As a family, share a favorite song you enjoy singing as praise to God. Choose a song to listen to and sing along with together.
Week 9 (June 16)
Begin this week’s discussion by asking some questions. What is prayer?
In simple terms, prayer is talking to God.
Why should we pray? The Bible tells us we should pray. (James 5:16, 2 Chronicles 7:14, Jeremiah 29:12)
Read Acts 2:42 together. In this passage, they is referring to the new believers. Together, they were sharing in prayers or praying together. Further in Acts 4:29, the believers were praying together for boldness and in verse 31, we read where God answered the believer’s prayers.
Here are more examples in the Bible that show believers praying together.
- Acts 1:14
- Acts 12:12-17
- Esther 4:16
When have you experienced praying with other believers?
Take this opportunity to model praying together as believers. Encourage your child to pray with the family.
Week 11 (June 30)
This Sunday, June 30th, begins our Summer Family Worship Sundays. We believe Family Worship Sundays (FWS) are an important time for families. It provides an opportunity to model corporate worship.Your child will experience the many ways a church family worships together through reciting scripture, singing, hearing the Word and praying. FWS also shows our children and others alike, that they are an integral part of the church family.
A very simple, yet impactful way to incorporate Family Worship into your weekly rhythms at home can look like this:
- Read scripture together and talk about it
- Pray together
- Sing a worship song together
If Family Worship at home seems hard to tackle, check out the Resources available in the Series Guide or at the bottom of this webpage for more ideas and guidance.
Week 12 (July 7)
Open your time together as a family in prayer. Ask that God use your time together to grow in the knowledge and truth of His Word.
Read 2nd Corinthians 3:18 NIrV, “None of our faces are covered with a veil. All of us can see the Lord’s glory and think deeply about it. So we are being changed to become more like him so that we have more and more glory. And this glory comes from the Lord, who is the Holy Spirit.”
Let’s break down the verse into pieces. First, looking at the first two sentences in this verse (read again as needed), talk about what a veil is and how it obstructs a person view. If we, as believers, do not have a veil over our faces, the Bible says we can see the Lord’s glory and think about it. What is His glory? It can be simply defined as God’s character and how He makes Himself known.
Reading on in the last two sentences of the verse, we find that the more of the glory Lord we behold, or see, the more we become like Him.
What are some characteristics of God? How have you changed or been transformed by the glory of the Lord? List some ways God has made himself known to you, through His glory.
Week 13 (July 14)
This week, we will look at Psalm 96 as our final look into Biblical worship.
Read verses 1-6 together.
Psalm 96 is a song that celebrates God and how we should worship Him. He is the one true God worthy of our worship.
What do these first 6 verses tell us to do and why?
Read verses 7-9.
These verses start out with the word ‘ascribe.’ Ascribe means give or acknowledge.
In these verses, we read that we are to give glory and strength to the Lord. Talk about what that means. How do we give glory and strength to the Lord?
Finish reading verses 10-13.
Who are we to tell that God reigns? Who or What are ‘the Nations?’ How can you be on mission in telling others about God and His glory?
As you continue to read in verses 11-13, you can see that even creation celebrates and worships God. How so?
Close out your time together in a song of worship and a time of prayer.