Building Faith Families with Steve Demme

One of the questions I am frequently asked is “At what ages do we begin having worship times as a family?” Based on these scriptures with Jesus’ instructions to Peter and Paul’s advice to Timothy, I think the sooner the better.

“Feed my lambs” John 21:15

“For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well” 2 Timothy 1:5

“And that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” 2 Timothy 3:15

When you begin having regular worship times, the best advice I have is to assemble the family and then turn over the meeting to Jesus. In all of my years reading scripture myself, I am always amazed at how good the Spirit of Jesus is at teaching and applying scripture to each person in the room regardless of age or ability.

For where two or three have gathered together in My name, there I am in their midst” Matthew 18:20

Then after we pray, my conviction is that while reading other books is edifying and encouraging, family worship is a wonderful opportunity to focus on the living word of God. As a family we would endeavor to read one chapter per day, aloud, with each person reading a few verses at a time.

“Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching” 1 Timothy 4:13

“Blessed is he who reads aloud the words of the prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written therein; for the time is near” Revelation 1:3

This is what we did, but as always I have more ideas to prime the pump and encourage you to find what works for your crew.

God’s divine blueprint for family worship begins with the husband and wife each loving God with everything in them, and then having God’s inspired word foremost in their heart, before they commence teaching their children. We find this plan revealed in Deuteronomy 6:5-7.

In this final episode on the Family That Stays Together, some specific ideas for learning to understand one another and express love for each other.

When families are together 24/7, sometimes these skills are not for building family, but for surviving as a family. We will be discussing, personality types, love languages, and a final exhortation to be content with the family that God designed you to be without comparing yourselves to other families.

We make a wonderful us, but a lousy anybody else. Comparison is the enemy of vision. Develop your own flavor and chemistry.

As Mother Theresa received a Nobel Peace Prize, she was asked, “What can we do to promote world peace?” She replied, “Go home and love your family.”

Shared experiences, such as reading books together, watching movies as a family, learning together, and playing together are instrumental in developing your own family chemistry.

When you do things together, you understand each other’s comic references, and provide commonality, which is the basis for relationship. Equally important is safe, open, honest communication in the home.

Listen as we share more ideas and stories of how the Demme’s developed their family identity, and an interesting application of the movies Mary Poppins and Saving Mr. Banks.

After discussing strategies for husband and wives, here is what the Demme’s did to love and affirm their children. From birthday celebrations, eating meals together, to working, and worshiping together, I hope this broadcast will stimulate your thinking for ways to love and appreciate children.

Psalms 127:3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.