{"id":1404,"date":"2011-01-09T01:59:46","date_gmt":"2011-01-09T01:59:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/markdroberts\/2011\/01\/sunday-inspiration-from-the-high-calling-an-expansive-vision-for-family-worship.html"},"modified":"2011-01-09T01:59:46","modified_gmt":"2011-01-09T01:59:46","slug":"sunday-inspiration-from-the-high-calling-an-expansive-vision-for-family-worship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/2011\/01\/sunday-inspiration-from-the-high-calling-an-expansive-vision-for-family-worship.html","title":{"rendered":"Sunday Inspiration from the High Calling: An Expansive Vision for Family Worship"},"content":{"rendered":"

An Expansive Vision for Family Worship<\/h2>\n
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Psalm 22:1-31<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\nThe whole earth will acknowledge the LORD and return to him.
\n     All the families of the nations will bow down before him.<\/p>\n

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Psalm 22:27<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\nMany years ago while on a sabbatical from my pastoral role at Irvine
\nPresbyterian Church, my family and I visited several prominent
\nmegachurches in Southern California. My children were preschool aged,
\nbut we took them with us to worship. We knew they would have no problem
\nsitting quietly for an hour if we brought coloring books for them.<\/p>\n

\tAt one of the first churches we visited, a friendly usher tried
\ndesperately but in vain to get us to take our children to Sunday School.
\nOn the doors of another church, a sign implored us not to bring our
\nchildren into the worship center because they would bother the adults. I
\nmust admit I was rather put off by the fact that children were not
\npermitted, let alone welcomed, into the main worship service of this
\notherwise friendly church. Yet this practice was fairly common among
\nchurches that served my generation, the Baby Boomers.<\/p>\n

\tToday, there seems to be a growing conviction among many, especially
\namong the next generations, that children need to worship with their
\nparents. Many newer churches include children in the entire worship
\nservice, while other congregations release children for Sunday School
\npart way through the service. Though the approaches may differ, churches
\ntoday are more committed to family worship.<\/p>\n

\tAnd so is Psalm 22. Verse 27 reads: “The whole earth will
\nacknowledge the LORD and return to him. All the families of the nations
\nwill bow down before him.” Notice that it is not just “all nations” that
\nwill worship God, but “all the families of the nations.” The Hebrew
\nword mishpacha<\/em>, translated here as “families,” refers not only
\nto individual households, but also to larger collections of relatives
\n(clans). The use of this word in Psalm 22 paints a picture of people
\nfrom all nations gathering in their families to worship the one true
\nGod.<\/p>\n

\tIn a day when so much in our culture threatens to weaken families,
\nwe ought to be encouraged by Psalm 22:27 to find ways to support family
\nworship. Perhaps nothing will help children to grow in their faith more
\nthan seeing their own parents genuinely worshiping God. Of course this
\ncan happen, not just in church services, but in other settings as well,
\nincluding the home. Family worship includes such activities as praying
\nbefore meals, serving together on a mission trip, and so much more.
\nParents who want their children to know and serve the Lord should strive
\nto live out their faith each day in every dimension of life.<\/p>\n

\tAs the Christian community seeks to support families, we must also
\nremember that we are the family of God together. Those who do not live
\nwith relatives can find a home among their brothers and sisters in
\nChrist. In this way all of us can bow before the Lord and offer our
\nlives in service to him.<\/p>\n

\tQUESTIONS FOR FURTHER REFLECTION:<\/strong> What experiences
\nhave you had of family worship? How does your church encourage families
\nin worship? Or not? How might you implement the vision of Psalm 22 for
\nfamily worship?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
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\nPRAYER:<\/strong> Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us the
\ngift of families. Today I thank you for my own family, for my parents
\nand siblings, for my grandparents, uncles, and aunts, for my wife and
\nchildren.<\/p>\n

\tI also thank you for the body of Christ, my extended family of
\nfaith. How grateful I am for the times when I found a home in your
\nfamily, especially when I was separated from my natural family. Thank
\nyou, Lord, for my brothers and sisters in Christ.<\/p>\n

\tToday I pray for your church, that we will grow in our ministry with
\nfamilies. Help us to welcome families in our life of worship, to find
\nways to support parents and help families be healthy. May our families
\nbecome contexts in which we are encouraged in our faith and worship. May
\nparents learn, not only how to teach their children how to be disciples
\nof Jesus, but also how to live out their own discipleship before their
\nchildren.<\/p>\n

\tFinally, gracious Father, I would ask that your church become more
\nand more a family of love and grace, a place where all are welcomed, no
\nmatter their station in life. Amen<\/em>.<\/p>\n

_________________________________________________<\/p>\n

\tP.S. from Mark<\/strong>
\nRecently, Foundations for Laity Renewal, the parent organization of
\nLaity Lodge and The High Calling, has begun a new ministry for families.
\nLaity Lodge Family Camp offers top quality retreats for families,
\nincluding multigenerational families (grandparents, parents, children,
\netc.). If you’re looking for a way to enhance your family life, I’d
\nencourage you to check out the LLFC website<\/a>.
\nThis year, by the way, we’ll commence building a whole new facility for
\nFamily Camp. I am pleased to be part of an organization that has valued
\nfamilies for decades.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

_________________________________________________<\/p>\n

<\/a>Would you like to receive a Daily Reflection like this one in your email inbox each morning?  <\/p>\n

Here’s how . . . .<\/em><\/strong>
\nThis devotional comes from The High Calling: Everyday Conversations about Work, Life, and God <\/em>(www.thehighcalling.org<\/a>). You can read my Daily Reflections there, or sign up to have them sent to your email inbox each day. This website contains lots of encouragement for people who are trying to live out their faith in the workplace. The High Calling<\/i> is associated with Laity Lodge, where I work.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

An Expansive Vision for Family Worship Psalm 22:1-31 The whole earth will acknowledge the LORD and return to him.      All the families of the nations will bow down before him. Psalm 22:27 Many years ago while on a sabbatical from my pastoral role at Irvine Presbyterian Church, my family and I visited several prominent…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":214,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1404","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sunday-inspiration"],"yoast_head":"\nSunday Inspiration from the High Calling: An Expansive Vision for Family Worship - Mark D. 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Roberts","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-content\/wphb-cache\/gravatar\/f2d\/f2ddf5f080861f66ea230384f9d1bab2x96.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-content\/wphb-cache\/gravatar\/f2d\/f2ddf5f080861f66ea230384f9d1bab2x96.jpg","caption":"Mark D. Roberts"},"description":"The Rev. Dr. Mark D. Roberts is a pastor, author, retreat leader, speaker, and blogger. Since October 2007 he has been the Senior Director and Scholar-in-Residence for Laity Lodge, a multifaceted ministry in the Hill Country of Texas. Before coming to Laity Lodge, he was for sixteen years the Senior Pastor of Irvine Presbyterian Church in Irvine, California (a city in Orange County about forty miles south of Los Angeles). Before his time at Irvine Pres, Mark served on the staff of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood as Associate Pastor of Education. (Thanks to Janel Pahl for taking the photo to the right.) Mark studied at Harvard University, receiving a B.A. in Philosophy, an M.A. in the Study of Religion, and a Ph.D. in New Testament and Christian Origins. He has taught classes in New Testament for Fuller Theological Seminary and San Francisco Theological Seminary. Mark has written several books, including No Holds Barred: Wrestling with God in Prayer (WaterBrook, 2005), Dare to Be True (WaterBrook, 2003), Jesus Revealed (WaterBrook, 2002), After \"I Believe\" (Baker, 2002), and Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (Word, 1993). His most recent book is Can We Trust the Gospels? Investigating the Reliability of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John (Crossway, 2007). He is currently working on a commentary on Ephesians that will be published by Zondervan in 2014. Mark writes a devotional for The High Calling of Our Daily Work, a website associated with Laity Lodge. His \"Daily Reflections\" can be viewed online or sent as a daily email. If you wish to receive this email, just visit TheHighCalling.org and sign up. Mark serves on the editorial board of Worship Leader magazine, where he publishes articles and reviews, including his regular column \"Lyrical Poetry.\" Additionally, he has published dozens of articles in leading magazines and journals. He often speaks for churches and other Christian groups, and has been interviewed on over seventy-five radio programs nationwide. Mark is married to Linda, who is a Marriage and Family Therapist, a Spiritual Director, and a retreat speaker. They have two children, Nathan and Kara.For Publicity Photos and Bio Statements for Mark, please check here. Mark's Dossier Professional History: Senior Director and Scholar-in Residence, Laity Lodge, October 2007 to present. Senior Pastor Irvine Presbyterian Church, June 1991 to September 2007 Adjunct Assistant Professor Fuller Theological Seminary, 1994 to 2007. Courses: New Testament Theology and Exegesis. Adjunct Instructor San Francisco Theological Seminary, 1995 to 2001. Courses: New Testament Greek and Exegesis Associate Pastor of Education First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood, 1987-1991 Teaching Fellow Harvard University, 1980-1983 Education: Ph.D. in the Study of Religion. Harvard University, 1992. Area: New Testament and Christian Origins M.A. in the Study of Religion Harvard University, 1984. A.B. magna cum laude in Philosophy Harvard University, 1979. Phi Beta Kappa; Danforth Fellowship Books: Can We Trust the Gospels? Investigating the Reliability of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Crossway, 2007 No Holds Barred: Wrestling with God in Prayer. WaterBrook, 2005 Dare to Be True: Living in the Freedom of Complete Honesty. WaterBrook, 2003. Jesus Revealed: Know Him Better to Love Him Better. WaterBrook, 2002. After \"I Believe\": Experiencing Authentic Christian Living. Baker, 2002. Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther in the Communicator's Commentary Series. Word, 1993. Contacting Mark: You can reach Mark at: E-mail: mark@markdroberts.com mroberts@laitylodge.org Phone: Laity Lodge: (830) 792-1216 Address: Laity Lodge 719 Earl Garrett Kerrville, TX 78028","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/author\/mroberts"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1404","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/214"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1404"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1404\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1404"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1404"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1404"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}