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Daily Family Bible Studies

We need to study God's word together as families

Introduction

1. Text: Psa. 1:1-3.

2. With vitamin pills, what was intended to be a supplement may become almost the total source of our nutrition.

3. In spiritual matters, may we not depend so entirely on congregational activities for our nourishment that we come to associate "Bible study" mainly with "church"?

   1. If we study the Bible at all outside the church building, is it not almost always "studying our lesson" for a class that is at the church building?

   2. If the time we spend preparing for and attending Bible classes "at church" were subtracted from our weekly schedules, would there be any significant Bible study left?

   3. If what we have picked up from sermons and Bible classes were deleted from our minds, would there be any Bible knowledge left? What about our children?

4. Whatever the congregation is able to offer to supplement our own study of the Bible is a wonderful blessing not to be despised -- and we need to be taking fuller advantage of these opportunities.

5. But do we suppose that when we have "studied our lesson" for Sunday morning or Wednesday night that we have done all that is needed for our families to be spiritually strong? Cf. Josh. 1:8,9.

6. Can anyone question that we need to be studying God's word as families -- and doing so daily?

I. GOD HAS ALWAYS WANTED HIS WORD STUDIED
AND TALKED ABOUT IN THE HOME

1. Abraham was to "command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord"
   (Gen. 18:19).

2. Parents in Israel were to teach their children what God had said - Deut. 4:5-10.

3. The things of God were to be talked about not just at special "religious" times, but during the ordinary activities of daily living in the home - Deut. 6:6-9.

4. Children are to be "trained up" in the way they should go - Prov. 22:6.

5. Fathers are charged with nurturing the children in the Lord - Eph. 6:4.

II. THIS IS PARTLY ACCOMPLISHED BY REGULAR
DAILY FAMILY BIBLE STUDIES

1. The study and learning of God's word is too important to be left to chance -- or to hit-or-miss, haphazard means. (The assumption that somehow, someway we and our young are going to "pick it up" is a risky assumption.)

2. We need to engage in regular daily periods of family Bible study.

3. In most families, two questions immediately arise:

   1. When can we do it?

   1. As to the time for family study, for most of us it will be at breakfast, supper, or bedtime.

   2. Anymore, most families are busy -- but there is no greater priority than our spiritual needs.

   3. If we have to admit that we are so busy about the things of this world that there is not any feasible time that the family can study God's word together on a daily basis, is that not some kind of danger signal?

   2. What can we use as a study guide?

   1. As to study guides that can serve as a basis for our study, there are a number of good materials and helps available.

   2. But no two families are alike, and any material done by others will have to be adapted and used with discretion.

   3. By far the best thing is for the head of the household to organize his own method of teaching the Bible to his family. Cf. Eph. 6:4.

   4. Obviously, when the husband is not a faithful Christian, the wife will have to assume responsibility for the spiritual training of the children.

   5. Husbands, what does it say about us if we know our way around in the Bible so little that we are incapable of opening its pages at the breakfast table and imparting something from its text that is suited to the needs of our own family? Cf. Hb. 5:12.

   6. Why do we think we study the Bible in the first place, if it is not to be able to bring specific passages to bear on specific needs that arise in daily living, especially with regard to our families? Cf. 2 Tim. 2:15.

4. However we work out the "mechanics" of our daily family Bible studies, we simply cannot neglect the teaching of God's word in our homes.

5. We must not be those who "hide" the truth about God from our loved ones. Cf. Psa. 78:1-8.

Conclusion

1. The spiritual strength of our families should not depend on whether the congregation has a good "teaching program."

2. A brief "devotional" or family Bible study each day would seem to be the minimum daily requirement for the learning of God's word in the home -- much needs to be done beyond that!

3. If our children learn God's word at all, will they later be able to remember that it was from their family that they learned it? Cf. 2 Tim. 3:14,15. Cf. 1:5.

4. But whether we have children at home or not (indeed, whether we are married or not), we need to be making our homes places where the Bible is studied and God is worshiped -- each day.

5. Before it is too late, let us resolve to build this into our lives -- indeed, to build our lives around this!