The family altar should not be confused with the quiet time even though both of them have to do with worship and Bible study early in the morning. The quiet time normally ought to come before the family altar. The quiet time involves you alone with God, whereas the family altar involves you and your entire family.
The family altar provides an opportunity for the entire family to meet with God before meeting anyone or doing anything else.
Useful Steps
1. Discuss the importance of this early morning worship with members of your family.
2. Agree on the time for the family altar – say 6:00a.m or 6:30a.m as may suit your family circumstances.
3. Ensure each family member has his or her own copy of the Bibleor the version that best suits their reading ability.
4. You or the mother of the home may act as time keeper to wake upothers for the family altar.
5. Begin with an opening prayer.
6. Then, use choruses to bring everybody to the mood for worship.
7. Your Bible reading can be assisted by a devotional guidewhich assists youwith the text and commentary for each day.
8. After reading the text, each member tries as much as possible to show his or her own understanding of what God has said. The father or the mother will help guide the younger ones.
9. After ensuring that everybodyunderstands what God has said to the family, the worship leader reads the comments in the devotional guideand makes his or her own comments.
10. A member leads in the prayer, remembering to pray on what God has said, interceding for others and praying specifically for God’s guidance for the day.
If there is any prayer request, handle it. This strengthens the family each day and shines the light of God’s word on activities for that day. A family altar can last for 15 minutes to 30 minutes. On weekends and when there is no pressure to go to school or work, it may last longer. In addition to equipping members of your family with the weaponand power of God, you are also training your children to grow in the knowledge of the Lord.
So, do not leave home without it. Please teach your neighbors to do same.
COMMENTS