Family Devotions – Israel Wayne

Family Devotions is very important to our family. We finished reading Revelation 22 this morning, which means we have read, studied, and discussed every verse in the entire Bible as a family. This whole project has taken us something like 5-6 years to complete. We often include Bible maps, commentaries, supplementary videos, church history, word studies, and even music (playing Handel’s Messiah for example when we read passages that are set to music) into our family worship time. Our ideal is to get through an entire chapter per day, but this rarely happens because I encourage my children to ask questions as we go. It isn’t uncommon for us to spend the entire 30-45 minutes on a half dozen verses.

Family Bible
Photo credit: Foter / CC BY-SA

I discuss our approach to “Bible Time” in my book, Raising Them Up – Parenting for Christians, in a chapter entitled, “How I Taught My Children to Sit Still and Be Quiet.” I also discuss the importance of teaching through the entire Bible on a cycle of at least every seven years (three times before your children leave home — as outlined in Deuteronomy 31), in my chapter, “The Seven-Year Teaching Method.”

I can’t possibly say strongly enough how important I believe it is for fathers to lead their families in daily family worship time. I know this is intimidating for many men because their fathers have not led them in teaching the Scriptures, so they have little to no example from which to draw. But we have to start somewhere.

For single mothers, or wives who have unsaved husbands, or husbands who, for whatever reason, are unable or unwilling to lead family devotions, you need to serve as the sanctifying spouse in that situation and lead the children in family worship time yourself.

It isn’t the job of the church to teach and disciple your children in the Scripture (although they certainly can assist and supplement!). It is the responsibility of the parents. Please take your calling seriously.

Here are some resources we enjoy and use as a family:

The 10 Minute Bible Journey by Dale Mason: https://familyrenewal.org/store/product/10-minute-bible-journey/

Foundational Truths: A Modern Catechism by Israel Wayne: https://familyrenewal.org/store/product/foundational-truths-a-modern-catechism/

Henry Morris Study Bible (especially when studying Genesis!): https://familyrenewal.org/store/product/the-henry-morris-study-bible-casebound/

Developing a Heart for God is a great personal devotional for adults based on Psalm 119: https://familyrenewal.org/store/product/developing-a-heart-for-god/


To Learn more about Israel Wayne and Family Renewal, LLC visit https://www.IsraelWayne.com and https://www.ChristianWorldview.net

Other Links of Interest

Israel & Brook’s blog
Israel’s blog
Family Renewal Facebook Page
Israel Wayne’s Facebook Author Page
Israel Wayne on Twitter
Israel Wayne on Instagram
Israel Wayne on MeWe
Israel Wayne on LinkedIn
Family Renewal YouTube Podcast

Israel Wayne’s Books:

Questions God Asks: Unlocking the Wisdom of Eternity

Questions Jesus Asks: Where Divinity Meets Humanity

Pitchin’ A Fit! Overcoming Angry & Stressed-Out Parenting

Education: Does God Have an Opinion? – A Biblical Apologetic for Christian Education & Homeschooling

Answers for Homeschooling: Top 25 Questions Critics Ask

Raising Them Up – Parenting for Christians

Foundations in Faith – Bible Doctrine Curriculum (7th-12th grade)

Foundational Truths – A Modern Catechism

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