Habits of the Household by Justin Whitmel Earley
Week 6: Chapter 5 — Family Worship
Read Chapter 5 of Habits of the Household. Key passages: Psalm 78:1–7; Deuteronomy 6:20–25; Ephesians 5:19.
Previewing Week 6 of Habits of the Household
Read 3 of 7 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 10-week guide when you’re ready.
Family worship is one of the most historically rich and practically neglected habits in Christian homes. Earley comes to this topic not with guilt but with an invitation — to begin simply, begin imperfectly, and begin now.
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.Be honest: does your family have any regular practice of prayer, Scripture reading, or worship together outside of Sunday morning? If yes, how is it going? If no, what has gotten in the way?
2.Earley acknowledges that family worship sounds intimidating and often feels like it "doesn't work" — kids are distracted, parents feel unqualified, and the whole thing can feel forced. How does he reframe the goal of family worship in a way that makes it more accessible?
3.Psalm 78 calls each generation to tell the next generation the "praiseworthy deeds of the Lord" so that they in turn will tell their children. This is a vision of faith transmission through intentional storytelling. What stories about God's faithfulness in your own family's history are worth telling your children? Have you told them?
a.Think of one specific moment in your life when you clearly saw God's hand. Have you shared that story with your children?
b.What would it look like to make that kind of storytelling a regular part of your family's rhythm?