#156 Family, Shema, and Church

The idea of Shema practices in the home is one that we have taken to heart in the past year. My children are now aged three and four and their increased awareness of the world around them has allowed us to add more Christian practices into our daily life. For example, Every evening we clean the whole house, get ready for bed, and read together. Part of that process is reading at least a chapter of the Bible and talking about it daily. Another part is before bed we pray as a group Psalm 23, the Lord’s Prayer, or whatever seems relevant. Recently we have had them start to pray on their knees at their beds as well. These evening practices have started to make them think about what they believe. We also pray with them at meals. I pray for breakfast, they take turns praying for lunch, and my wife prays for dinner. They are also working on their catechism a few times a week answering questions ‘like what is the Trinity.’

Churches can strengthen families to live out the Shema at home by calling them to be active ministers in the lives of their children. Furthermore churches can set the standard and equip parents to reach that standard. Churches can start to teach a catechism to the children and send parents home with lessons to teach their children. The topic of raising children can be addressed more frequently in the church. Either at home or in the church the call of Deuteronomy 6:5 (NASB) “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might” is a high calling that applies to us all. If we truly love God it will be visible in every area of our life.