Restoring daily worship to the Christian Household
Importance of Spiritual life at Home
Matthew Henry (1662-1714); English non-conformist Pastor and
Bible commentator; an emblem of faithful father hood; Talks about: A Church
in the House.
Introduction
“A Church in the House, a Sermon concerning Family- Religion”
Henry’s sermon for our time.
The Churches in A’sia salute you. A-qui’la and Pris-cil’la salute you much in the Lord, with the Church that is in their house;1 Cori. 16:19.
This illuminates the importance of Spiritual life at home.
He shows fathers, in very specific ways, how
to make their houses, little churches. Henry’s household like ‘gates of
heaven’ where parents governed all family life by the Word of God.
A Church in the House kind of message promises to expand our
vision beyond our thinking of our own era and fortify us with timeless
principles that the Great Designer has established.
Head of the household the father
The contents and potency of a man’s vision of home life. This can go and spiral down as; crack house or godless house or lukewarm house or a household of God. Holy Scriptures are the main reference point for connections between Christian homes & Church. Beauty of a Christian home is based on the loving direction of the head of the household the father. Fathers; functions as; prophets, priests and kings.
Home is a type of church
Christ is the head of the church; and the husband head of wife;
Eph: 5.Children are trained; and as a church they are equipped; Eph:4
&6. Church is charged to deliver the whole counsel of God; Acts 20.
Home life meant to be saturated with God’s word; Deut:6.
*Good Mentor for Matthew Henry
Philip Henry his father was his mentor; Matthew used his father’s
hand written notes of expositions to teach his own children at home. Made O.T and
N.T Bible Commentaries. George Whitefield and Charles Spurgeon used his
commentaries.
Spiritual
disciplines at home
The simplicity of his methods are worth to consider. “His
piety at home, embraced the whole compass of relative religion; he was an
example to be believers’ not only as a husband, a father, and master; but also
as a son, a son-in law, a brother, and a friend.”
Beautiful Home life
He drew from the great well of Holy Scriptures. God-centered
home life was the foundation from which he took every opportunity to breathe
the joy of the Lord into it.
Baptismal Covenant signed at 1686 by him and his daughters
“I take God the Father to be my chiefest good and Highest
end. I take God the Son to be my Prince and Savior. I take God the Holy Ghost
to be my sanctifier; teacher, guide, and comforter. I take the Word of God to
be my rule in all my actions. And the people of God to be my people in all
conditions. And this I do deliberately, sincerely, and freely for ever.”
Scott T. Brown narrated, “Creating this kind of home
life is one of the greatest difficulties for heads of households today,
particularly as everything in modern life seems to work against it. I hope this
sermon will help the fathers in their journey to be like the Heavenly Father”.
Reformation must Begin
With the Church that is in their House; 1 Cor. 16:19. Nymphas
had a Church in his house; Rom. 16:5; Brethren in La-od-i-ce’a and
Nymphas; Church in their house; Col: 4:15. Apph’i-a and Archip’pus;
fellow soldier; Church in their house: Phil. 2.
Questions to our Hearts.
Is Spiritual life flourishing or
withering in our house?
“Is it upon the throne or underfoot in your home?”
Transformation must Begin: “Salt must be cast into the springs, and then
the waters would be healed.”
Reminder
Remember therefore how you have received and heard, and hold fast,
and repent. If therefore you shall not watch, I will come on you as a thief,
and you shall not know what hour I will come upon you; *Rev: 3:3
Recommendations!
That the families of Christians should be little churches.
OR
That wherever we have a house, God should have a church in it.
Families are little Churches
Families were the primitive churches of the Old Testament,
before men began to call upon the name of the Lord. Public religious
assemblies, which always ought to have the preference. The Lord loves the
Gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob; Psa. 87:2.
A Church in the house does not usurp the
office of the church
“We must not forsake the assembling of ourselves together,
under excuse of exhorting one another daily at home.”
What does it mean to have a church in the house?
Sacred Societies: families:
Devoted to God; Employed for Him; Churches are societies devoted to God.
Called out of the world-;God has set them apart for Himself.
Ex. 19:6; 1Pet. 2:9.
Houses Consecrated to God
{All that the servant had was his master’s for ever}; Ref: Gen. 12:5; God called Abram out of Ur of Chaldees. Put themselves and their all under a Divine conduct and government.
Even little families can be churches
“The master of the family gives up all his right, title, and interest, in his house, and all that belongs to it, unto God…to be used by Him, and disposed by Him” Baptism was ordained for the discipling of the Nations, Matt. 28:19; Rev. 11:15. Baptism households are discipled: Lydia’s and Jailor’s: Acts.16:15,33; & the Word was for all the families of Israel, Jer. 30:1. Baptized families, that own their Baptism and adhere to it, and in their joint and relative capacity make profession of the Christian faith, may so far be called little churches.
Dedicating your Household to God
-Dedication of private houses; common practice: Deut: 20:5
-A Psalm or Song at the dedication of the house of David: Psalm 30
- Dedicating to the service and honor of God: so it would be a Bethel, a house of God; & not a Bethaven, a house of vanity and iniquity.
- Householder dedicates his house habitually and virtually: Gen: 28:22
- Gospel obedience and easy services; I own Him to be my land Lord, and I hold all from and under Him.
- Let Holiness to the Lord be written upon the house, according to the Word which God has spoken: Zech: 14: 20, 21
- Let me and mine be only, wholly, and for ever His.
The Dedication of your Homes
-Ref: Psalm: 24:9; “Lift up your heads, O, ye gates…..King of Glory shall come in.” Bring the ark of the Lord into the tent you have pitched. “Look upon your houses as temples for God, places for worship, and all your possessions as dedicated things, to be used for God’s honor, and not to be alienated or profaned.”
*Churches are societies employed for God
3 Things are necessary for maintaining a Church in the House.
a. Keep up Family Doctrine, Not only Baptism, must dwell with your families as men of knowledge 1 Pet: 3:7; communicate your knowledge for the benefit of others. Read Scriptures and check if the family members understand! Each family member has a Bible; Book of the law is not a rarity as in the days of King Josiah. It is better to be without bread in your houses than without Bibles. USE the Bibles at your Houses; Make a solemn reading of the Scripture a part of your daily worship in your families. Much to the honor of God and to your family’s edification. “If you persist in the neglect of it, you may thank yourselves. The guilt will lie wholly at your own doors.” [Add the story of Muslim countries] • This will equip you in the Word for every good work. Matthew Henry recommends Psalms for devotion and Solomon’s Proverbs in our manner of life.
Reading the whole Bible
“When you only hear your children reading the Bible, they are tempted to look upon it as no more but a school book. But, when they hear you read it to them in a solemn, religious manner, it comes as it ought, with more authority.”- Matthew Henry.
[Benefit: you are modeling to your children and their belief grows] * You travail in birth again till you see Christ formed in them and you pray for them—I personally like this.
Reference:
A Church in the House; Restoring
daily worship to the Christian Household; -Matthew Henry; edited by
Scott Brown
Matthew Henry (1662-1714); English non-conformist Pastor and
Bible commentator; an emblem of faithful father hood.
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