Family Devotions: What To Do?

There are any number of things you can do together. For instance, pick a verse from Scripture (such as John 3:16) and disect it to see what it really means.

Or, you can pick one of God's blessed persons (i.e., David as boy or king, Samson, Solomon, etc) and show how they did good, and how they sinned against God (Samson with a woman, David causing Uriah to be killed (which might be a little racey for kids), Solomon supporting some of his wive's idolatry, etc).

The list of potential topics is literally endless. You could even study Revelation and then put together a "time line" of future events. Or admire Paul's love for Timothy and Titus. I could go on and on, such is my love for Bible discussions.

Always remember to point up how many of God's chosen people in the Old Testament (other than the prophets, of course) sinned in some way, and how He forgave every one of them, but often with some punishment to teach them His lesson. That is always a good life lesson for any child, showing how love, devotion, punishment, forgiveness and many other Christian characteristics can be mixed together for the glory of God and those who believe in Him.

Hope this helps...

Matthan

A Baptist minister by the name of Richard Cecil asked this question, "What may be done towards the interests of the children of a congregation?" The result was a “Catechism for Girls and Boys” written in 1798. It was created to instruct children in primary grades, and this is the catechism I use with my family. We have benefited from the use of this collection of Biblical teachings, I read it with my children using its structure to help teach and guide them in God’s word.

We read in Deuteronomy 6 “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” Every effort should be made to pursue and never neglect our duties as parents, instructing our children as soon as they’re able to learn the word of God, bringing them to the knowledge of His commandments and the knowledge of His love for us. Fathers, as heads of the house, the duty rests upon our shoulders to raise our children in accordance with the will of God.

It's important to be consistent. This is a key Biblical principle we need to apply to family study and worship. So many believers today are afraid to lead their families because they’re not sure in which direction to lead; this is where the catechism comes in. It’s structured to direct the family by asking questions that everyone can benefit from, key doctrines are taught in simple terms and Biblical references are given for parents to look up and add further comments on. Biblical doctrine is taught or unfolds as the family works through the questions together. I didn’t grow up in a Christian home and found it difficult to get started, so I’ll offer an outline, just as a rough guide that you may find helpful.

· Open with a short prayer.

· Ask the child/children to read a question from the catechism you’re studying that night, allowing each child to participate.

· Take time to discuss what was read, quality of the teaching is better then quantity of reading, be sure to ask further questions of the children.

· Guide them by encouraging worshipful reading and reverence; this isn’t a time for you to polish your preaching skills.

· Don’t be afraid to sing a hymn or two.

· Finish your time together with a prayer, taking time to encourage your children to make their requests known before the throne of God.

· Without cutting your time together short, keep it around 20 minutes.

The Bible commands us to teach our children His words with no excuse. We, as fathers set the course children will follow the rest of their lives. Help them build that life upon a foundation of reverence and love for God who first loved them.

Below you’ll find a quote taken from a “Catechism for Girls and Boys” by Cecil. This is the catechism I use with my children and find it easy for them to read, the structure is sound and it’s Baptist. The first 33 questions are quoted below and followed by a link to a website that has all 145. These 33 questions deal with God, man and sin the link continues with the Ten Commandments, questions about salvation, prayer, the word and church ordances [baptism and the Lord’s Supper], and a few questions about last things [the end times]. I prayer this was helpful, may slothfulness never over take you in our duties, the task is yours.

20 Questions from part 1 about God, Man, and Sin
1.Q.Who made you?
A. God made me (Gn 1:26, 27; 2:7; Ec 12:1; Acts 17:24-29).
2.Q. What else did God make?
A. God made all things (Gn 1, esp. verses 1, 31; Acts 14:15; Rm 11:36; Col1:16).
3.Q. Why did God make you and all things?
A. For his own glory (Ps 19:1; Jer 9:23, 24; Rv 4:11; 4:15). 4.Q. How can you glorify God?
A. By loving him and doing what he commands (Ec 12:13; Mk 12:29-31; In 15:8-10; 1 Cor 10:31).
5.Q. Why ought you to glorify God?
A. Because he made me and takes care of me (Rm 11:36; Rv 4:11; cf. Dan 4:39).
6.Q. Are there more gods than one?
A. There is only one God (Deut 6:4; Jer 10:10; Mk 12:29; Acts 17:22-31).
7.Q. In how many persons does this one God exist?
A. In three persons (Mt 3:16, 17; Jn 5:23; 10:30; 14:9, 10; 15:26; 16:13-15; 1 In 5:20, 2 In 9; Rv 1:4, 5).
8.Q. Who are they?
A. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (Mt 28:19; 2 Cor 13:14; 1 Pet 1:2; Jude 20, 21).
9.Q. Who is God?
A. God is a Spirit, and does not have a body like men (Jn 4:24; 2 Cor 3:17; 1 Tim 1:17).
10.Q. Where is God?
A. God is everywhere (Ps 139:7-12; Jer 23:23,24; Acts 17:27,28).
11.Q. Can you see God?
A. No. I cannot see God, but he always sees me (Ex 33:20; Jn 1:18; 1 Tim 6:16; Ps 139 esp. vv. 1-5: Pr 5:21; Hb 4:12, 13).
12.Q. Does God know all things?
A. Yes. Nothing can be hidden from God (1 Chron 28:9; 2 Chron 16:9; Lk 12:6, 7; Rm 2:16).
13.Q. Can God do all things?
A. Yes. God can do all his holy will (Ps 147:5; Jer 32:17; Dan 4:34, 35; Eph 1:11).
14.Q. Where do you learn how to love and obey God?
A. In the Bible alone (Job 11:7; Ps 119:104; Is 8:20; Mt 22:29; 2 Tim 3:15-17).
15.Q. Who wrote the Bible?
A. Holy men who were taught by the Holy Spirit (1 Pet 1:20, 21; Acts 1:16; 2 Tim 3:16; 1 Pet 1:10, 11).
16.Q. Who were our first parents?
A. Adam and Eve (Gn 2:18-25; 3:20; 5:1, 2; Acts 17:26; 1 Tim 2:13).
17.Q. Of what were our first parents made?
A. God made the body of Adam out of the ground, and formed Eve from the body of Adam (Gn 2:7; 21-23; 3:19; Ps 103:14).
18.Q. What did God give Adam and Eve besides bodies?
A. He gave them souls that could never die (1 Cor 15:45: Eccl 12:7; Zech 12:1).
19.Q. Have you a soul as well as a body?
A. Yes. I have a soul that can never die (Mt 10:28; Mk 8:34- 38; 12:30).
20.Q. How do you know that you have a soul?
A. Because the Bible tells me so (Mt 10:28; Mk 8:34-38; 12:30).

http://www.reformedreader.org/ccc/acbg.htm

I think for a 12 year old son, you should really look at the old testament stories about David and his mighty men. Show him how amazing the stories are and how interesting the bible actually is. But don't just read it to them, discuss why David made some of his decisions and how he might have felt in certain situations (like when his son betrayed him). Interesting stuff..