Resources for Family Worship

Bibles

English Standard Version (ESV)
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
New American Standard Version (NASB)
New International Version (NIV)
New King James Version (NKJV)

Each of these translations will serve you well. Some versions, like the ESV, NASB, and NKJV, are more literal (word-for-word) translations. The NIV is more of a thought-for-thought translation. While it tries to remain faithful to the original languages, it seeks to relay the idea behind a passage without necessarily being tied to a word-for-word process. The HCSB attempts to bridge the gap between word-for-word and thought-for-thought versions. Wherever possible, its translations are word-for-word. But when the word-for-word translation would make no sense in English, they revert to relaying the thought behind the passage.

Choose your Bible carefully and prayerfully and then commit to reading it. It will serve you well.

Storybook Bibles and Other Devotional Resources

The Big Picture Story Bible by David R. Helm and Gail Schoonmaker.

The Child’s Story Bible by Catherine Vos. This book can serve as an intermediate step between a storybook Bible for younger children and a full text Bible for older children.

ESV Children’s Bible (Illustrated). Includes the full text of the English Standard Version with lots of full color illustrations.

Handbook to Renewal: Renewing Your Mind with Affirmations from Scripture and Handbook to Prayer: Praying Scripture Back to God by Kenneth Boa. Excellent little books that walk the reader through times of prayer and personal worship. The books have three months of material, after which you read through them again.

Holman Christian Standard Bible Read to Me Bible for Kids. This Bible contains the entire text of the Bible (Holman Christian Standard Bible translation) but also 41 Bible stories with illustrations.

The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name by Sally Lloyd-Jones. This is an excellent resource that shows how Jesus Christ plays a role even in the stories of the Old Testament. Highly recommended for homes with younger children!

Table Talk: A book of Beginnings by Alison Mitchell. Contains three months of Bible readings based in the books of Genesis, Matthew and Acts. Also contains puzzles and questions.

XTB 1: The book of Beginnings by Alison Mitchell. A series of daily Bible reading notes for children of the 7-11 age group, with puzzles, pictures and prayers.

A Year with Your Children in the Bible: A Family Devotional Resource by Jim Cromarty. A daily devotional resource that provides a passage of Scripture to read and then a devotional thought to discuss.

For the Advent season: Jotham’s Journey: A Storybook for Advent by Arnold Ytreeide. Specifically for reading during the season of Advent. An exciting fictional adventure story that follows the journey one little boy takes to find the true Messiah. Each reading concludes with a passage from scripture and a devotional thought tied to the day’s reading. The story continues in parts two and three of the Jotham Trilogy, Bartholomew’s Passage and Tabitha’s Travels.

Music

Awesome God and To Be Like Jesus by Sovereign Grace Music

Cross-Centered Worship by David Ward

Seeds of Courage, Seeds of Faith, Seeds of Praise, Seeds of Purpose, and The Power of Encouragement by Seeds Family Worship

More Information on Family Worship

Seeds Family Worship’s Families page

Sojourn Community Church’s For Parents page (Specifically a resource for parents of Sojourn Community Church in Louisville, Kentucky, but their Family Worship Guide, which is available as a PDF file, is an excellent resource.)

“Family Worship: In the Bible, in History & in Your Home” by Donald S. Whitney

“Rediscovering the Lost Treasure of Family Worship” by Jerry Marcellino

Big Truths for Young Hearts: Teaching and Learning the Greatness of God by Bruce A. Ware

Family Driven Faith: Doing What It Takes to Raise Sons and Daughters Who Walk with God by Voddie Baucham

The Family Worship Book: A Resource Book for Family Devotions by Terry L. Johnson

Pastor Daddy by Lindsay Blair and Bobby Gilles