Below is a worship guide to consider for your family worship. One of the rhythms of grace we desire to cultivate at GLBC is family worship in our homes. We believe the Bible particularly holds fathers responsible for leading their families, and for mothers when their husbands are unable for any reason.

Below is a worship guide to consider using, but feel free to use whatever your family usually does. It is based on the sermon last week from Matthew 13:3-9, 13:18-23, so if you haven't had a chance to listen to the message from last week, be sure to do so!

1. Read Psalm 1
2. Pray together.
   • Consider praying through our prayer calendar.
     January Prayer Calendar 
3. Sing Together
   • Songs to consider
     In Christ Alone by Keith & Kristyn Getty
     Is He Worthy? by Andrew Peterson
4. Read and Discuss James 1:19-27
5. Questions to consider (the questions will depend on the age of children):
   • "James offers timeless wisdom on sinful anger and hasty speech (vv. 19–20). He then broadens out the exhortation, calling on believers to “get rid of all moral filth” and cultivate the implanted Word of God (v. 21). For the genuine Christian, the Word of God has a lasting and growing presence in their life. Verse 22 provides a succinct summary of many themes in the letter: “Do not merely listen to the word [of God], and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” Superficial, nominal, non-transforming faith is not saving faith. Just as a mirror reveals what our faces look like, so the Word of God reveals who we really are and calls us to repentance, faith, and obedience. “The perfect law that gives freedom” (v. 25) is the Old Testament Scriptures as fulfilled and interpreted by Jesus (cf. Mt 5:17). True freedom is found in obedience to Jesus, something that is only possible for the Spirit-empowered, born-again believer. True religion, warns James, is not a matter of thinking oneself to be religious. True religion, in God’s eyes, is keeping away from wickedness (e.g., evil speech, various moral pollutions in the world) and aligning oneself in word and deed with the priorities of God (e.g., caring for those in society who face the direst material circumstances)." (The NIV Grace and Truth Study Bible, Robert Plummer)
     • What is the right response of a child of God to the Word of God? Why?
     • In the arena of faith, how are the actions of “hearing” and “doing” different? How are they related?
     • What must we do to properly receive God’s Word (v. 21)? How do we do this?
     • What examples does James give as behavior indicative of true faith? Why do you think he chooses these particular actions?
   • "As important as the proper reception of the Word of God is, without obedience to its truths it is not only without benefit, but also becomes a further judgment against its readers. Obedience to the Word is the most basic spiritual requirement and is the common denominator for all true believers. The bottom line of true spiritual life is not a momentary feeling of compliance or commitment, but long-term obedience to Scripture.Genuine believers receive Christ and continue in Him. They hear His Word and do it. They know His commandments, and they keep them. They do not claim to know God yet deny Him with their deeds. The validation of salvation is a life of obedience. It is the only possible proof that a person really knows Jesus Christ. If one does not obey Christ as a pattern of life, then professing to know Him is an empty verbal exercise." (John MacArthur, James)
     • Reflect on your life and habits. Do your actions show that you have received Christ and are following Him in obedience?
     • Are you aware of any specific situations in your life in which you are not doing what you know God’s Word calls you to do? Why the reluctance on your part to obey? Ask God to bring about His desired transformation in your life.
6. Sing together.
   • Songs to consider
     All My Boast is in Jesus by Matt Boswell and Matt Papa
7. Pray together.

I pray that your time with your family and those around you will be filled with the Spirit as we lift high the Name of Jesus in our homes!
Daniel