Praising God Together as the Church
Month 12: On Mission & Finishing Well · Family Worship
Today's Scripture
Read together: Acts 2:47 & Psalm 122:1
47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. — Acts 2:47
1 I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.” — Psalm 122:1
Memory Verse
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.””— Acts 1:8 (BSB)
📖 Bible-in-a-Year (optional)
Today's reading: Ephesians 4–6
Reading the whole Bible in a year — do this when you have extra time. (Around Day 344 of 365 — "speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.")The Heart of It
Think about the very end of the Pentecost story. The wind and the fire and the bold preaching and the shared meals have all come and gone. Now Luke tells us what the church was doing day by day. They were "praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved" (). Praise was not a warm-up to the real work. Praise was the heartbeat of this Spirit-filled family. And notice the surprise. Their joyful worship drew people in. The watching city saw a community lit up with gladness toward God. And the Lord used that praise as part of His rescuing work. Centuries earlier, David sang the same delight. "I was glad when they said to me, 'Let us go into the house of the LORD'" ().
This is why we gather. We gather as a family, and as the wider church family on the Lord's Day. We do not worship to earn God's love. We worship because we already have it. Praise is simply the right response of a creature to a good and gracious God. And the Holy Spirit loves to fill our singing and our prayers. When your family lifts its voice together, you are joining a song that began at Pentecost and will never end. It counts even when you are off-key. It counts even with a wiggly three-year-old. Gladness toward God is not only good for our hearts. It is also one of the most attractive witnesses a watching world ever sees.
Around the Table
The first church was so happy about God that they sang and praised Him every day. And it made people want to know Jesus!
Let's do it: Sing one praise song together right now, with clapping or jumping.
David said he was glad to go to God's house. Worship is a joy, not a chore.
Let's talk: What is your favorite worship song? What does it help you remember about God?
Their daily praise was tied to daily growth. Joyful worship was part of how God drew others in. Worship is for God, but it also witnesses to others.
Let's go deeper: A genuinely glad, worshiping community is so attractive to people who don't yet believe. Why do you think that is?
💬 Conversation Starter
What is something God has done for our family this year that makes you want to say "thank You" out loud right now? Let's turn it into a one-line praise together.
🛡️ Defending the Faith
The early church worshiped with continuous, joyful praise. They did it openly, even under threat. That is hard to explain if they secretly doubted the resurrection. Sustained, costly praise is the behavior of people who are convinced their risen Lord is alive and worthy. It is not the behavior of people keeping up a pretense.
For Dad · Go Deeper
Family worship is one of the most ordinary and most powerful tools God has handed fathers. shows us why. The Spirit-filled life is naturally a praising life. You do not need to be a musician. You just need to lead consistently. Lead a song, a Scripture, a prayer. And let your children see that you yourself are glad in God, not merely dutiful. Children read our affections more than our instructions. A father who delights in worship is teaching theology that no lecture can match. Keep it short. Keep it warm. Keep it regular. And remember the order of grace. We worship from acceptance, not for it. You are nearing the end of this year of devotions. So let praise be the note your home rings on, not pressure. The Lord still adds to His church through families who are glad to be His.
Draws on: Max Anders, Brave New Discipleship; with Paul David Tripp, Parenting.
Let's Pray Together
"Father, we are glad to come to You as a family. Fill our praise with Your Spirit. Make our home a glad and welcoming place. And keep adding people to Your church as we worship You. In Jesus' name, amen."
We worship because we are loved. And a glad, praising home is a witness all by itself.