F.A.I.T.H
* This page is intended to be a resource for you to use in the spiritual development of your family. It is our goal to serve you as you serve your family. Please do not feel burdened or overwhelmed by the material on this page. Please don't feel that you must be doing all these things and that they must all be done right now. Take these resources and pray about how you can better lead your family in your relationship with God. May these resources be a blessing to you and all your generations.
F.A.I.T.H. (Family Altar In The Home)
Below are five areas of importance for creating an atmosphere of worship in your home and cultivating a Christ-like attitude in your family relationships. Below each area is an explanation of the significance of that discipline and some resources to serve you in building that discipline into your family.
We also endeavor to learn together through a coporate catechism which may be found on your weekly bulletin as well as on this page of the website.
Coporate Catechism
We use the Westminster Larger Catechism for our corporate catechism. In 1643 when the Long Parliament of England called the Westminster Assembly to produce the Westminster Confession, it also asked for a directory of "catechising" (catechising is to teach doctrinal truth through question and answer). The Assembly asked for a draft of the Larger Catechism. Scottish delegates found the work disappointing. In December 1643 a committee was formed to write the Catechism. In January 1647 the Assembly gave up writing one catechism and split it into two. The Westminster Shorter Catechism was to be "easier to read and concise for beginners" and the Larger Catechism was to be "more exact and comprehensive". The Catechism was completed by the Westminster Assembly in 1647. Since its inception the Westminster Larger Catechism has been a standard for orthodox, evangelical Christianity.
- For a document containing the entire Westminster Larger Catechism, click here
- For a great book that shows scriptural support and provides commentary on the catechism questions and answers, click here.
Week 7: 10.15.11 thru 10.21.11
Question 7: What is God?
Answer: God is a Spirit, in and of himself infinite in being, glory, blessedness, and perfection; all-sufficient, eternal, unchangeable, incomprehensible, everywhere present, almighty, knowing all things, most wise, most holy, most just, most merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.
Five areas of importance for creating a Family Altar In The Home:
1. Family Meal
2. Family Devotions
3. Family Sabbath
4. Family Fun
5. Family Budget
1. Family Meal
In the New Testament the early church was solidified as a group over meals. They learned the doctrines of Christ over meals, they prayed together over meals and they sang hymns of praise over meals. The point is that a meal is something that can bring us all together. Bring your family together, save money, and build your most important relationships over a meal. This is also a great time to do a family devotion.
Below are a few links to cheap, quick recipes.
- Here is an article from the resurgence, "Is Your Dining Room Table On Mission?"
- Heritage Family Church recipes (coming soon)
- Recipe.com
2. Family Devotions
We all agree that scripture explicitly teaches that the parent is responsible for the upbringing of the child. What could possibly be more important to bring our children up in than a deep, intimate knowledge of the Lord that leads into an eternal relationship?
Family devotions should consist of three modes of worship:
1. Prayer
2. Scripture reading
3. Praise through song
We also recommend using creeds and catechisms to train your children. We have a document linked below called "Family Catechism" that contains the Apostle's Creed, The 10 Commandments and The Lord's Prayer.
Below are some resources we endorse to support you in starting your own family devotions.
* M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
* P.R.A.Y. model of prayer
- Praise and Thanksgiving
- Repentance
- Ask
- Yield
3. Family Sabbath
He created for six days, and He rested the seventh. We were created in His image and have been called to walk in His image. There is no better way to do this than to do what He does. In God's mandate to us to follow after His own example He has commanded us to work for six days and to rest the seventh. Do you honor this? Are you teaching this important principle to your family? Make it a point to work so hard six days a week that you must rest for the seventh. Take the sixth day and use it top prepare for the seventh. When God fed the Isrealites manna in the wilderness He only allowed them to gather one day's ration, except on the sixth day, then they gathered enough for two days. They prepared to rest as God had called them.
Some thoughts for a family sabbath:
1. Start your day off with a family prayer
2. At some point get together as a family and read the Scriptures
3. Spend some time discussing what took place last week, ways God has blessed your family, etc.
4. Sing praises to the Lord. Establish songs or hymns that are special to your family and create a tradition of family praise.
5. Open up your home for hospitality. Invite another family over to partake in the sabbath with you. Let them join you in devotions and in praising God.
6. Relax. Relax. Relax. Don't worry about yesterday or what will come tomorrow, just rest in the Lord.
7. Don't forget, its not just a day of rest, it is also the Lord's day.
4. Family Fun
The Westminster Larger Catechism states in it’s first question that man’s highest end is to glorify God and fully enjoy Him forever. One of the ways that we enjoy God is by enjoying His creation, our family. Nothing builds stronger relationships or provides more unity than gathering as a family for a good time. Bless the Lord with joy in your family.
5. Family Budget
A culture of discipline and wise stewardship gives us the opportunity to be a shining light for Christ, in our home and in our community. It is no lie that more marriages end in divorce due to financial conflict and more families face hardship for the same reasons. These aren’t the marks of a people following Jesus. We are not owned by things or controlled by finances. Money is to serve us in our purpose of glorifying God, we serve God not money. One of the first things we can do as God’s people to begin to exercise Godly stewardship is to get on a conservative budget. Look below for more helps in this area.
