The pastoral staff and I are together reading Disciplines for a Godly Man (updated) by R. Kent Hughes. Hughes was one of my professors during my Doctoral Cohort. By the time I began my doctoral work, “Disciplines” had been out for close to 20 years.
Dr. Hughes practices what he preaches and writes. Each Tuesday at 9 AM the pastoral staff discusses another chapter. Whether a man is a pastor or not he’ll always benefit from reading and re-reading this book. Ladies, this is a great Father’s Day gift (just sayin’). One of the (many) impacting chapters in this book has to do with worship and getting ready for Sunday worship (as a subtopic). Rereading it took me back to my days as a father of young children. One of the things we did right was to create an anticipation of sorts for Sunday worship. We talked about going to church and worshipping God, God’s love for us and the children and how we should love Him back.
In chapter 9 Hughes gives great advice on practical steps to prepare the family for Sunday. I won’t cover them all here because I want you to invest spiritually by buying and ingesting and digesting what he writes in his book. Nevertheless, let me touch on a few practices that fathers and mothers of young children—and teens to young adults—can do to prepare the family for Sunday. Getting babies and toddlers ready Sunday morning (particularly if you have a number of small children) can be like herding cats on Sunday. Getting them up, fed, dressed, and out the door can be a challenge. Getting yourself ready presents its own challenges. There’s nothing like getting all stressed out and frenetically getting everyone out the door 15 minutes late and exchanging glances and barbs with your spouse on the way to church. It teaches children profound and lasting lessons of the worst kind, giving them a peculiar impression of the Christian faith and Christian worship.
What to do? If you don’t do this already, make plans with your spouse and then your family to pre-prepare by laying out clothes the night before, getting to bed at a decent hour, prepping breakfast the night before (if necessary) so that you can be ready to roll come Sunday. The “grab and go” scenario that this sets up is markedly stress-free compared to the alternative. This can be done any time on Saturday before the day gets away.
Spiritual preparation is far less complicated and more impactful. For example, take time at the dinner table to pray for Sunday worship when you say the blessing. Consider reading the passage or chapter of the Bible that is going to be preached on Sunday and discuss it at the table—or just mention it. Mention throughout the day that you are looking forward to church (tomorrow/Sunday). Set aside a few minutes to pray together as a family for the service, the sound techs, the ushers, the musicians, the Sunday school teachers, the pastor, the passage, and the work of the Lord in the hearts of His people.
Last and not least, make sure everyone goes to bed at a decent hour. It will be easier to get them out of bed in the morning and young children will be less cranky—adults, too. Plan a wake-up time that allows for the family to get ready without a frenzied rush. As you consider what I’ve written here… think through for yourself other steps you can take to prepare yourself, your heart, and your family for Sunday worship. And when it’s over, then what? Consider discussing at lunch or dinner how you as a family can, collectively and individually, apply the sermon. See you Sunday!