Family Devotions!!

Family devotions are notorious for giving migraines to parents and causing children to groan. Formal family devotions at home can range from breakfast Scripture readings, bedtime prayers, or even "sermonettes for Christianettes from the dinette." But even these can come across as irreverently artificial, canned, and hokey, further creating a gap between church and home.

Christian parents realize the value of time at home spent with God—but how do we do it?

Family faith-building need not always be structured to be effective. Whether the setting is formal or impromptu, the purpose is a conscious effort to strengthen communication, to experience communion, and to build community.

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 gives us the best way to meet these goals. Moses says that "these commandments...are to be upon your hearts." We are told to "impress them on [our] children." How? By talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates." WOW! Here's movement; crafts (gee, we should even write on our doorframes—get out those stencils!); conversation; and creative, hands-on teaching at its best—all to be done with our children.

Activities that are natural yet directed, routine yet imaginative, personal yet spiritual, nurture faith at home. A spiritual home will produce a spiritual child who matures into a spiritual adult.

Coming Soon: CLUBHOUSE Z Starting September 9th at 6:30 PM
Our Olympian Club will be changing titles but keeping the goods. The O.C. will be changing it's name to Clubhouse Z. Inside Clubhouse Z will be skits, games, praise and worship and most importantly interactive Bible teaching. Clubhouse Z will be effective partner for the home and it will challenge the boys and girls to do their devotions at home.

On Sunday August 23rd we will begin registration for Clubhouse Z and also providing recommended resources to help you start devotions in the home. Look for the Clubhouse Z table in the Ministry Atrium.

PB