AT A GLANCE

This week we launched a four-week series on Family Worship, calling believers to restore daily worship in the home as a vital act of devotion. Rooted in Revelation 5, this sermon proclaims that God is worthy of continual praise—not just in church, but around our kitchen tables. With both inspiration and practical equipping, it challenges fathers in particular to embrace their sacred role as spiritual leaders. 

Introduction: Why a Series on Family Worship?

Today we begin a four-week sermon series on Family Worship. In 2020, the COVID lockdowns exposed a weakness in our church—when programming stopped, many seemed disconnected from God. That same year, I was introduced to Donald Whitney’s book Family Worship, and it reignited a commitment in me. I preached a Family Worship series in September 2020 to address this weakness with the help of Whitney’s book. In these nearly five years I have watched the Lord transform families through family worship and I believe it’s time to revisit it.  

The Goals and Tone of This Series

Two things I hope to achieve with this series:
First, to inspire you—showing that worshiping God at home isn’t just beneficial, it’s essential.
Second, to equip you—we’ve provided resources like devotionals, worship playlists, prayer prompts, and Whitney’s book in the Fireside Room. Everything you need to start is available.

Two things I hope to guard against:
First, shame. As Whitney writes, “You cannot expect Christians to do what they have not been taught.” This series is not a scolding—it’s an invitation. My aim is to offer vision and tools—not guilt.

Second, alienation. I will speak directly to the men in our church because God has called men to shepherd their families. The Christian faith is patriarchal by design—not in dominance, but in loving, sacrificial leadership. This is God’s good order, and when practiced faithfully, it’s a beautiful thing.

That said, I know many women bear this mantle alone—single moms, widows, or wives with spiritually passive husbands. God sees your faithfulness. While this is not how it should be, He honors your leadership. To singles and young adults: this message is for you, too. Establishing daily worship in your life now will shape your future home. 

So, over the next four weeks, my prayer is that you would be inspired and equipped—without shame or alienation—to worship the Lord daily, starting right where you are.

REVELATION 5:9-13 

9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” 11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” ¹³ And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

What we have just read in Revelation 5:9-13 is a scene from heaven. John saw the beginning of the final judgment of humanity symbolized with a scroll with seven seals. Asked who in heaven or on earth or under the earth was worthy of opening the scroll, no one was found. No one, except the Lamb who was slain; the Lion of the tribe of Judah who ransomed people for God by his own blood. This is our Jesus! He is our King! And He is ours precisely because He made us His, ransoming us by His blood. 

This is where we begin. This is ground zero of family worship. This is the why of family worship. We do family worship because God and Christ are worthy! I have four assertions this morning that I hope make the case from scripture that it right that we should all worship in our homes daily. 

Assertion #1: We Were Made to Worship God

This is the point of the entire redemption story, “…bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth, everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” Isaiah 43:6–7 God has been forming a people for Himself specifically to worship Him, for His glory. This is the purpose of our entire lives. We are made a people for His glory. 

Paul echoes this in Ephesians 1. “In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1:11–12

You and I were made to worship the One, True, Living God. It is the highest end of our life, the truest aim, the sincerest goal. It is what we were created to do. 

This is what will distinguish God’s people forever and by all who are called His people. “All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name.” Psalm 86:9 What is prophesied in Psalm 86 is revealed in Revelation 7.

“After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude…from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages…crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’” Revelation 7:9-10

This is the distinguishing mark of God’s people no matter when or where they lived or what language they spoke – God’s people worship Him, we give Him glory, forever and ever! Amen. 

Assertion #2: God Is Worthy of Our Worship Forever

“For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the Lord made the heavens.” Psalm 96:4-5

All peoples should worship the Sovereign Creator God. And we should declare His glory among all nations! He is worthy because He is God! It is His due! “Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.” Psalm 29:2 

He is worthy because He is Creator and because He is merciful. “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23 Every day we wake up we experience renewed mercy. This ought to fill us with renewed gratitude every day.

“It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night.” Psalm 92:1-2 Not just in the morning, but also in the evening! It’s a continual state of worship and praise.

“Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.” Psalm 63:3-4 Those who have encountered God’s steadfast love know that it is better than life itself and cannot help but respond in praise!

“For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;  he is to be feared above all gods…Ascribe to the Lord, families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength! Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts!” Psalm 96:4, 7-8 

Did you catch this? Ascribe to the Lord, “families of the peoples…”?! Where else will you bless God and praise His name continually but in your home and with your family?

Assertion #3: Worship Belongs in Our Daily Lives and in Our Homes

“Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.” Psalm 145:2-3

This is not just an Old Testament thing. “Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.” Hebrews 13:15 Doesn’t this resonate with your soul? Doesn’t it feel right that we who acknowledge His name would offer up a sacrifice of praise continually?  

“Sing to the Lord, all the earth! Tell of his salvation from day to day.” 1 Chronicles 16:23 Who are you telling from day to day if not your own family? How could someone say I’m going to go into the world every day and tell people of how great and glorious my God is, but not my kids?! 

It’s obviously right that we first tell our own families for whom we are responsible: our wives, our children, our grandchildren, of God’s salvation every day! Men, this is our responsibility.

Assertion #4: Fathers Are Given This Sacred Responsibility

“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.” Deuteronomy 6:6–7 

What Moses commanded, Paul echoed, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4 It is fathers, preferably with the loving and gentle support of their wives, who are specifically called to disciple their children.

God said this about Abraham, “For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord…” Genesis 18:19 The father of the faith was chosen to pass his faith along to his children. 

Not just Abraham, every faithful father, “He established a testimony in Jacob… which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, that the next generation might know them… so that they should set their hope in God…” Psalm 78:5–7 When fathers demonstrate that they hope in God and when they teach their children why they, too, should hope in God, statistically, those children do hope in God.  

It’s not automatic; it takes diligence. “Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children—” Deuteronomy 4:9 

What a warning to remember God’s works and to pass them on faithfully to your offspring and to theirs. This is the way, men. “Tell your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children to another generation.” Joel 1:3 

Not once do we read that the Levitical priests were given responsibility to tell the children. Not once do we read that the elders of the church are charged with teaching the mighty acts of God to your children. Fathers, it is your role and your responsibility to “train up [your] child in the way he should go.” Proverbs 22:6

Four assertions this morning: you were made to worship God, God is worthy of worship forever, and therefore, God is worthy of worship every day, and finally fathers are given this sacred responsibility to see to that in the words of Joshua, “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15

A Stone as a Witness: A Symbolic Challenge

Just in case these passages of scripture, which are far from exhaustive, are not enough to convince you, we’ve purchased small stones. You’ll see we’ve stacked a few here on stage and we’ve got buckets full of them at each exit. 

They’re an object lesson, perhaps a bit tongue-in-cheek, perhaps a bit edgy. I invite the head of each home present here today to take one of these stones and place it on your dining table or in a prominent location on your kitchen counter as a reminder. 

Why a stone? Here’s why: Jesus said about His worshippers, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.” Luke 19:40 Let these stones be a witness to you. If you will not worship God in your home at least make sure there’s a stone to cry out for you.  

Conclusion: Worship Is a Family Thing

Worship is not just a Sunday thing—it’s a daily thing, which makes it a family thing. You were created to worship God. Your home was designed to be a sanctuary. And men—you were appointed to be its shepherd. The world doesn’t need more impressive church programs; it needs more faithful men opening Bibles, leading prayers, and lifting up the name of Jesus in their living rooms.

So let’s start where we are. Let’s not wait until we have it all figured out. Let’s not let fear or guilt keep us on the sidelines. Let’s remember who He is—the Lamb who was slain, the One who is worthy—and let’s respond with lives of worship, starting at home.