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FAMILY WORSHIP FOR THE CHRISTMAS SEASON
Ray Rhodes, Jr.
"In a day when having regular family worship is no longer a foregone conclusion (even among conservative Evangelicals), Ray Rhodes provides a wonderful impetus to start: a month of clear, biblical, practical devotions celebrating the birth of King Jesus. Hopefully, those who begin this Christmas using this excellent resource will continue gathering daily at the family altar throughout the coming year." - David W. Bailey, Ph.D., Author - Speaking the Truth in Love: The Life and Legacy of Roger Nicole
"Ray Rhodes has written a wonderfully creative book on family worship for the Christmas season. For a father or mother to take their children through these precious truths would create a fond memory that the children would have for the rest of their life. The book is doctrinally sound, well written, and greatly honoring to our Lord. I'm going to order three copies right now!" - Martha Peace, Biblical Counselor and author of 'The Excellent Wife'
"The Christmas season is a great time for daily family worship. If you've never enjoyed family worship on a consistent basis, there's no better time to start. Whether your family already enjoys the biblical and historic Christian practice of family worship or you're just beginning, consider using Ray Rhodes' engaging Family Worship for the Christmas Season this December." - Dr. Donald S. Whitney , author of "Spiritual Disciplines of the Christian Life' and 'Family Worship: In the Bible, in History, and in Your Home.'
"Author and speaker Ray Rhodes gives parents some expert help with these insightful and truth-filled devotional exercises for family worship during the Christmas season. Make December different this year by trying them out with your family. This book can make a significant difference in your family's understanding of the incarnation." - Jim Elliff, Christian Communicators Worldwide
"It is rare to find solid Family Worship resources in our day, let alone one for the advent season. Ray Rhodes has provided an outstanding tool for busy fathers during this opportune time of year. May God powerfully use it in the godly instruction of our families and for the generations to come!" - Pastor Jerry Marcellino, author of 'Rediscovering the Lost Treasure of Family Worship'
"The Incarnation of Jesus Christ is one of the most important events in the history of the world. Too many years families get so tangled in the trappings of Christmas, however, that they miss its true wonder. Ray Rhodes has written a wonderful book that elegantly encourages and practically helps families draw near to each another as they draw near to the Lord in celebrating his birth. I highly recommend it." - John Crotts, pastor and author of 'Mighty Men: the Starter's Guide to Leading Your Family', 'Craftsmen: Christ-centered Proverbs for Men', and co-author with Martha Peace of 'Tying the Knot Tighter'.
FAMILY WORSHIP TRILOGY
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Additional Information
• Introduction
• Opening Statement
| Opening Statement |
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Having a house filled with children keeps my mind busy. My thoughts include the fact that the seatbelt needs be replaced on seat number eight in our van. The belt needs replacing because one of my daughters decided to tie the belt in a knot just before she released the belt back into its slot. A number of great minds have attempted to unravel the knot but to no avail. Living in a home with 6 young women (my wife included) is quite an adventure. Of course there is the adventure of attempting to "borrow" MY bathroom. Yet there is also the adventure of seeking to get into the hearts and minds of my girls. Sometimes it seems like trying to unravel the knot in our seatbelt---impossible. However, the Lord in His grace allows me glimpses into the hearts of my wife and daughters. I am richer for each glimpse. The six girls that surround my life with beauty present a great opportunity for me -for us as a family. We have an opportunity and vision to glorify God! Family life is important but not as an end in itself. The objective is not simply a happy family - but God Himself is the goal. When God, instead of family, is the objective then the garden in which the family is planted can grow and produce sweet fruit (Psalm 128)! This guide is designed to encourage family worship. God can be worshipped in a general way as, for example, the sunrise and the sunset are seized to draw attention to the greatness of God in creation. Creation is a God glorifying classroom. This classroom should be used to instruct our children as to the creative genius of our great God. More specifically God can be worshipped in our families during biblically driven family gatherings. In these gatherings the Scripture is read, God is sought in prayer and songs of praise are sung. Family worship is seeking to impress the character of God upon each member of one’s family so that they might know who God is and respond joyfully to what is true about God! Ultimately of course no one has the power to imprint God upon the hearts of others. We are dependent on God. He has chosen to use His word through His people to lead others to know Him. Therefore we have every reason to be hopeful in our efforts to teach our children (and others) when we are faithful to use the means that God has promised to bless. In the pages that follow you will find assistance in applying God’s word in your daily family gatherings. It is God’s design that we see the family in a larger more visionary context. My children are the children of previous generations (Psalm 78:4) and they are arrows of God’s glory that are to be launched into future generations (Psalm 78:6; 127:3-5). Godly family life requires us to look backwards to those who have gone before and to look forward to those that will come after us. We are to learn the lessons of God’s providence in the past and send those lessons into the future. This sort of vision encourages hope, faithfulness and worship in a family. I pray that your family will have a vision for God’s glory this Christmas season!
