A Guide to the Book of Proverbs for Family Worship
Family worship once was a hallmark of earlier Christian generations within the United States. Gathering together daily to extoll the Lord, call upon his name, and submit to his word is a long-forgotten pastime and one that needs to be revived. Many have lived their entire lives missing out on the spiritual pleasure, and joy of reading sacred scripture, praying daily, and lifting united voices in song. Family worship doesn’t need to be marathon, lecture, or sermon. Family worship can be done with children of ALL ages and at any time of the day. The important thing is that we are devoted in our private family lives to the worship of God.
“And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:6-9
The following guide is not the traditional family devotional that you will find at the store. There are no fluffy stories or contemporary motivational quotes. Instead, you will get scripture readings and songs to strengthen and equip your family. Included will be some starting questions to get you as the parents thinking and interacting with the text for that week. There are no wrong questions to ask, and many of the questions to your family will be based on your family's current struggles. You will find included some sort of activity each week to help reinforce a theme that was read from scripture. This guide aims to help you develop a simple pattern for regular reading of scripture within your family. Don’t worry if you don’t know the answer to your children's questions, you can find out together. One of my husband's favorite statements during Bible study is to “just keep reading”. Often our questions will be answered if we just keep reading the passage!
I suggest that if your family is new to reading the Bible together, go slow and read a few verses at a time during a meal. Kids pay attention a lot better when they have food in their mouths. Go slow and be thankful for any scripture reading you get done. This might mean this 6 week's guide takes you a lot longer, and that's okay, just keep going! The treasure to be found is nothing short of God’s very word for you and your family.
Week 1
Scripture: Proverbs 1&2
Song: I Love you Lord OR Deep and Wide
Questions: How does Proverbs speak about wisdom? What is wisdom? What are some ways we can be wise? Who gives us wisdom? How can we become wise?
Activity: Make a family wisdom chart with wise instructions for the children to observe and pursue. Have the kids write, decorate, and have input in some wise house rules.
Prayer: Ask the Lord to grow you and another family friend in wisdom.
Week 2
Scripture: Proverbs 3-8
Song: I Have Decided to Follow Jesus OR Deep and Wide
Questions: How does Proverbs speak of trust? Who are we to trust? What does it mean to be attentive? What are the seven things God hates? (Proverbs 6:16)
Activity: Find 7 items and pretend they are the 7 things that God hates. Hide them and have the children race to see how quickly they can find and destroy (throw in a basket) the 7 items.
Prayer: Confess together how you are challenged to trust the Lord. Ask that God grows your faith to trust him more!
Week 3
Scripture: Proverbs 9-14
Song: I Love you Lord OR He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands
Questions: What is the beginning of Wisdom? What does astray mean? What are some ways we can be led astray? How can our mouths destroy other people? Are you to love or hate discipline? (proverbs 12:1)
Activity: Chose 1 Proverb to work on memorizing together.
Prayer: Thank God for the ways he has led you and your family.
Week 4
Scripture: Proverbs 15-20
Song: Jesus Loves me
Questions: What kind of words does Proverbs speak highly of? How should we speak with other people? What is the difference between sweet words and angry words? Do you like sweet or angry words? How can you use sweet words in your family?
Activity: Draw a picture of angry words and sweet words.
Prayer: Give praise to God for the ways his word is sweet to us.
Week 5
Scripture: Proverbs 21-26
Song: How Great Thou Art
Questions: What is discipline? What is the value of Discipline? Do you ever get disciplined? What has that taught you? How should we respond when we are disciplined?
Activity: Play Simon says to practice following directions and taking to heart what you hear.
Prayer: Ask for the Lord to grow you in your grace and mercy in receiving discipline.
Week 6
Scripture: Proverbs 27-31
Song: Come Thou Font of Every Blessing
Questions: What does it mean to boast? Why should we not boast? What is integrity? Review what wisdom is. How can we know if something is wise? Whose word can we always trust? What is something you’ve learned from Proverbs that is different from the way the world speaks of wisdom and trust?
Activity: Draw a picture of what you have learned about being wise.
Prayer: Thank God for his word, ask that he continues to instruct, guide, and build up your family in faith through your time together in song, word, and prayer!
Let us know if you have ever done Family Worship in this manner. Make sure to sign up for our newsletter to be updated on new books, writings and more!
