"Christian Training of Children"- A Book for Parents and Teachers by Charles Spurgeon

"Come, you children, hearken unto me—I will teach you the fear of the Lord." Psalm 34:11

FEED MY LAMBS

The best of the church are none too good for this work. Do not think because you have other service to do that therefore you should take no interest in this form of holy work, but kindly, according to your opportunities, stand ready to help the little ones, and to cheer those whose chief calling is to attend to them. To us all this message comes: "Feed My lambs!" To the minister, and to all who have any knowledge of the things of God, the commission is given. See to it that you look after the children that are in Christ Jesus. Peter was a leader among believers, yet he must feed the lambs.

"The Great Duty of Family Religion" by George Whitefield

Joshua 24:15 — "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

 These words contain the holy resolution of pious Joshua, who having in a most moving, affectionate discourse recounted to the Israelites what great things God had done for them, in the verse immediately preceding the text, comes to draw a proper inference from what he had been delivering; and acquaints them, in the most pressing terms, that since God had been so exceeding gracious unto them, they could do not less, than out of gratitude for such uncommon favors and mercies, dedicate both themselves and families to his service. "Now therefore, fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and truth, and put away the Gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood." And by the same engaging motive does the prophet Samuel afterwards enforce their obedience to the commandments of God, 1 Sam. 12:24, "Only fear the Lord, and serve him in truth, with all your heart; for consider how great things he hath done for you."

The State of Christianity Today!" By Shane C. Montgomery

   It saddens me to see the state of Christianity today.  We have drifted way off course and we do not seem to mine.  You might disagree, you might even respond back that "the Church is better than ever" but can you say that with a straight face?  I know I am not able to.  I am  not one of those doom and gloom people who sees black helicopters everywhere I go.  No, I am rationale in what I so clearly  witness and that is a divorce from the early Church, the true Church and the Church the way Christ intended it to be.  We have veered off to such a degree that we cannot even recognize the danger we are in.  The danger we put ourselves in is one thing, but to jeopardize our own children is foolishness and nothing but criminal negligence on our parts.

The Directory of Family Worship A look at how the Puritans structured Family Devotions and Worship.

The Directory for Family Worship
ASSEMBLY AT EDINBURGH, August 24, 1647, Sess. 10.

ACT for observing the Directions of the GENERAL ASSEMBLY for secret and private Worship, and mutual Edification; and censuring such as neglect Family-worship.

The General Assembly, after mature deliberation, doth approve the following Rules and Directions for cherishing piety, and preventing division and schism; and doth appoint ministers and ruling elders in each congregation to take special care that these Directions be observed and followed; as likewise, that presbyteries and provincial synods enquire and make trial whether the said Directions be duly observed in their bounds; and to reprove or censure (according to the quality of the offence), such as shall be found to be reprovable or censurable therein. And, to the end that these directions may not be rendered ineffectual and unprofitable among some, through the usual neglect of the very substance of the duty of Family-worship, the Assembly doth further require and appoint ministers and ruling elders to make diligent search and enquiry, in the congregations committed to their charge respectively, whether there be among them any family or families which use to neglect this necessary duty; and if any such family be found, the head of the family is to be first adminished privately to amend his fault; and, in case of his continuing therein, he is to be gravely and sadly reproved by the session; after which reproof, if he be found still to neglect Family-worship, let him be, for his obstinacy in such an offence, suspended and debarred from the Lord's supper, as being justly esteemed unworthy to communicate therein, till he amend.