Parents are entrusted with a sacred charge to communicate the truth of God to their children. In Deuteronomy 6:6–9, we read,
“And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”
The New Testament affirms the call for Christian parents to diligently teach their children: “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4). Both fathers and mothers share in this task of imparting the knowledge of God’s holiness and grace to their sons and daughters.
The command is clear, yet its application takes place in as many different ways as there are different families. Are you looking for a biblical discipleship resource to use during your family worship time? The daily Bible studies in each monthly issue of Tabletalk magazine can provide a reliable and flexible structure for studying God’s Word as a family.
In addition to thought-provoking articles on biblical, theological, and practical themes, Tabletalk includes daily Bible studies for each weekday and a study for each weekend. These daily studies can serve Christians in their personal worship during the week, and they can also be an excellent tool for family worship.
Each daily Bible study includes:
A Bible passage reference for study
A selection from that particular passage printed on the page
A devotional commentary on the passage
A brief and concise application of the study (called Coram Deo)
A suggestion of Bible passages for further study on that topic
Two Scripture references that follow a Bible-in-a-year reading plan
The different elements of each daily study can be combined, expanded, or abridged to meet the needs of your family’s worship. For a shorter study, parents can simply read the Bible passage and devotional commentary. For a lengthier session, passages from the “For Further Study” section can be read.
For families with younger children, parents can use the daily studies to ensure their own solid grasp of the text, and the family devotion can simply be reading the text together followed by some age-appropriate questions based on the Scripture reading that parents can devise to match their children’s cognitive and developmental abilities.
Families with children away at college can continue the tradition by ensuring their students have a Tabletalk subscription, which allows the family to continue discussing daily studies and articles together, enabling parents to disciple from a distance. Grandparents can also join for a multi-generational time together in God’s Word. If you’re not subscribed yet, you can try Tabletalk with a three-month free trial.
Whatever age or stage of the Christian life, Ligonier’s ever-expanding library of biblical resources can provide spiritual nourishment to each member of your family as you grow together in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Other Recommended Resources:
Ligonier’s Children’s Book Collection
Ligonier’s Parenting Resource Collection
Ligonier Connect
The Reformation Study Bible
The Reformation Study Bible, Student Edition
Ligonier Ministries