5 Things Every Congregation CAN Do to Encourage Families

[Editor’s note: Today’s post comes to us from Dan Jenkins. Dan is a great gospel preacher, and we appreciate him taking the time to write for us. To find out more about Dan, read his information following today’s article.]

It is obvious that the strength of the church is found in the homes of those who make up the local congregation. However, we tend to often limit our consideration to those homes and families where there are Christian parents and young children. The reality is this: because of our changing world this is only one kind of family. Remember that there are families in the church where there are single parents. Then there are families in the church where there is only one parent who is a Christian. There are also families with empty nests where the children who were once part of that family no longer are there. The church must not overlook these kinds of families and their needs. Finally there are single people, widows, widowers and others people in the congregation. This final group is not overlooked in the Bible for the psalmist said, “God sets the solitary in families” (Psa. 68:6). The church must realize that congregations are used by God to help these individuals be part of a family. However, our emphasis in this study will focus on “regular” families.

Congregations CAN Remind Parents of Their Role in the Spirituality of the Family

As the church has focused on children there has developed a tendency for our homes to rely on the church for the spiritual welfare of the home. Years ago, homes were places which reflected the instruction of Moses, “You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise it” (Deut. 6:7). Congregations need to remind parents that it is impossible for the local congregation to develop deeply spiritual young people without the assistance of the home. There is perhaps no greater help congregations can give to families than to regularly emphasize this truth.

Think about this. Sometimes we tend to say that the church is losing its young people, but such is not the case. The church was never given young people, they were given to parents. The primary blame for the lack of spiritual development of the family lies with the family. It is vital that families be reminded of this truth.

Congregations CAN Provide Tracts, Books, Blogs, Classes and Seminars About the Family

This point might seem unnecessary, but the average Christian family likely does not have a reliable source to find materials that would enhance the spirituality of the family. Church leaders would be wise in using the assembly to provide information and help create homes that are closer to God. There are devotional tracts and booklets, and entire books which could help in this area. In this technological age there are blogs written by godly men and women which most homes are not aware even exist. In view of the demise of spirituality in the home, congregations should regularly have sermons, Bible classes and special workshops to make our homes different from those in the world. In the absence of these truths based on His word, our homes are being shaped by the ungodly and often seem no different from those homes where God is not honored.

Congregations CAN Help Families Become Part of the Church and its Worship

The presence of children in worship and their behavior have created a situation in the church where some families may feel they are not welcomed in the assembly. Those of us who grew up in the church, sitting beside our both of our parents in the pews, forget that the world has changed and so has the membership of those in the church. Many young parents were raised by parents who rarely took them to worship and what we have known by our own experiences are unknown to them. One congregation surveyed its membership to discover how many young parents actually grew up sitting in the assembly every week and 60% of young parents never had this blessing.

Because of this, congregations would be wise to provide instructions and encouragement to those who are struggling with their children. We should praise those parents when they are doing things right (such praise simply reinforces the right way to train children), instead of staring down parents when their children create awkward situations which disturb the worship. Older Christian women can become “grandmothers” to such children in worship to show by example how it should be done.

Some Christians also contribute to the negative behavior of children by playing with children who sit around them or in front of them. Such not only disturbs the attention of others in the assembly, but also makes children view worship as a “fun” time and not a worship time.

Congregations CAN Help New Families Feel a Part of the Local Congregation

The church is an ever-changing and growing congregation of God’s people. New families are moving into the area. There are also newlyweds who have created a new family and often struggle to find their place. There are families with new children and the presence of these children changes their place in the makeup of the congregation. There are newly baptized husbands/wives whose mates were already part of the church, but now there is a family united in Christ. Each of these new situations should be addressed by older Christians.

Congregations CAN Be Part of God’s Plan to Put the Solitary into Families

It is in this area where the church is often the weakest. In far too many places activities primarily involve couples; thus, single, divorced, widows, and other lonely people need to know what family is all about. The Lord describes the church as a family (1Tim. 3:15), and God expects His people to be the family for solitary people. God knew there would be widows and described pure and undefiled religion as being shown by how we help widows and orphans.

So look around the congregation where you worship. Then as part of that congregation do all you can to help the families in that congregation. It can make an eternal difference in the lives of those around you.

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Dan Jenkins has preached for over fifty years around the world and for the past thirty-five years has preached in West Palm Beach, Florida. He and his wife have four children, thirteen grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. There is an abundance of material found on the website of the Palm Beach Lakes congregation:  www.pblcoc.org

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Photo background credit: Keoni Cabral on Creative Commons