Keeping Family Worship Fresh by Jason Zellmer


Jason Zellmer is pastor of Peine Ridge Church in Wentzville, MO.  I have come to appreciate his thoughts on the church and  family.  His church hosts St. Louis Family Camp.  You can visit his church website here and the camp here.

Have you ever felt like your family worship time was monotonous? Do you ever wonder if you children have grown bored with your daily devotions or sensed they’ve lacked focus? We know that the bible is living and active, and that it is only because of our own depravity that the sharpness of scripture could become dull. None the less, we should recognize that supplemental reading can be helpful as a way of keeping our family worship times fresh.

The foundational elements of family worship time are bible reading, singing and prayer.  In each of these pillars the focus must remain upon Christ.  In addition to this, catechisms, scripture memorization, and stories can be helpful equipping tools. One of the supplemental reading series that I’ve been doing with my children recently is the “Building on the Rock Series”.  This 5 book series contains short (1-2 page) stories that illustrate different truths from scripture in simple, yet captivating narratives from daily life.  At the end of each story there are questions that help children identify the truth being taught through the story, along with a scripture focus to establish the foundation of that truth in the bible.

When I brought this series home my kids started taking the books to bed with them and reading till they fell asleep.  Your children will enjoy these books, and the family camp team commends them to you as a solid training resource.  We even think God will use them to encourage, convict and equip you! To read more about the “Building on the Rock” Series, follow this link to Monergism.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sermon Notes-"Transitional Thoughts"

Introduction: As I was thinking and praying about what to share during my final sermon on staff, I began to think of the transition that I am making as well as the church.   We as pastors have been consistently focused on three priorities over the last several years: prayer, worship and equip.   So, even though I may no longer be on staff in a few weeks at this church, as a member of this church I believe just as strongly that Hesston MB needs to continue to be about these priorities in the days ahead.   However, the more I prayed about it, the more I realized that to get to these priorities, we as a church also had to make some transitions so that is why I am entitling this message “Transitional Thoughts”.   Transition is defined as “the process or an instance of changing from one form, state, activity, or place to another.” Educate to Equip- Ephesians 4:11-16 ·          What is the difference?   o    To educate the focus is information; to equip the focus is transformation o
Read more

Sermon Notes "Plans" based on Acts 10:24-48

Introduction: I would like you to think about the word “plans”. Write down on your bulletin some plans you have for: this week, summer, your future, etc.   I am a planner so I love to know what is going to happen.   Yet we also need to keep in mind a Scripture from Proverbs 19:21 “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.” We are going to see from the story of Peter and Cornelius, two great leaders who had plans yet God had a different plan and purpose for them and for others. Prepared- vs. 24-29 ·          Vs. 23-24-Peter and Cornelius have visions (10:1-23) o    Peter is told not to call common what God has made clean (15). As Peter is trying to figure out what it means, some men come and find him. o    Cornelius is told to call for a man named Peter and is given his location and he sends his servants to find him. o    Peter makes preparations and goes to Caesarea, Cornelius gets ready for his guests and invites his close fr
Read more