Christian Family

Articles on the Family, Men, Women and Children

Family Matters

 

The Christian Family is a little church, a little government and a little society. It shapes the foundation of the church, and of society itself. Future generations depend on the leadership found in the home, and the values they receive there.

The Family is a God-ordained institution, a spiritual and organic unity, that was established for the cultural mandate of 1) glorifying the Creator, and 2) subduing the earth. In this mandate (Genesis 2) the duties of the husband, wife, children, masters and servants are encompassed, and the Scriptures readily set forth a theology of domestical duties. Husbands, wives and children have specific, God-honoring duties to perform in their respective stations in the economy of God’s redemptive plan. Their goal as a family is to 1) honor God, 2) edify the church and 3) promote Christian values in their respective stations of society. All this stems from the moral and spiritual values enumerated in the home and functioning to honor Christ Jesus. In this regard was the Puritan conception of the family or household. Dr. William Perkins described the family as a “little church”, Dr. William Gouge called it the “seminary of the Church and commonwealth…” and Rev. Richard Baxter characterized the home as “a church… a society of Christians combined for the better worshipping and serving God.” Rev. Lewis Bayly taught that “what the preacher is in the pulpit, the same the Christian householder is in his house.” He was quoting Augustine. The family, then, is the most important institution in society paralleling the relationship of Christ and the Church. Thus, Paul, carried by the Holy Spirit, rightly demonstrates this in Ephesians 5:22-6:9 in the manner of the duty of the husband, of the wife, of the children, and of masters and salves in the household.

 

 

How reformed is your family? Daniel Cawdrey has taken William Gouge’s work, “Domestical Duty” and made it usable for today’s reader. An awesome puritan work which includes three other never before published works of Cawdrey.

Does the Regulative Principle only apply to public worship and not private worship? John Jackson shows how God’s word is to be applied in both private and public worship. (This book is not for the faint at heart!)

In actions of good intent, Christians can still bear great sin which causes them harm, and causes God to act in judgment.

It is one thing to understand theological concepts in systematic theology, but it wholly another to apply those concepts in your daily life to the glory of God. Are you a “practical” Christian?

Robert’s work is one of the greatest pieces of puritan sermonizing on original sin, depravity and conversion. If you are aware of Alleine’s “An Alarm to the Unconverted,” you will find Robert’s masterpiece even more convincing and powerful.

Do you spend time each day training up your children in godliness? This new version of the Children’s Shorter Catechism is an extremely effective way in teaching young children the basic principles of the Bible, and the Reformed Faith.

 

The Godly Man’s Picture by Thomas Watson

The Manliness of Jesus by J. R. Miller

Manly Men by J. R. Miller

Manly Gentleness by T.S. Arthur

The Christian Husband by J.R. Miller

Thoughts on Manhood by L. Bray

A Remedy for Decaying Religion by Oliver Heywood (1629-1702)

The Biblical Mandate for Christian Education Part 1 by Rev. Fred Di Lella

The Biblical Mandate for Christian Education Part 2 by Rev. Fred Di Lella

The Biblical Mandate for Christian Education Part 3 by Rev. Fred Di Lella

The Biblical Mandate for Christian Education Part 4 by Rev. Fred Di Lella

A Sad But Instructive History by William S. Plumer (1802-1880)

Directives for Avoiding Dissension in the Home by Richard Baxter (1615-1691)

Family Duty by John Bunyan (1628-1688)

Family Worship by A.W. Pink (1886-1952)

Great Duty of Family Religion by Rev. George Whitefield (1714-1770)

How to Not Foul Up the Discipline of Your Children by C. Matthew McMahon

Meditations For Household Piety by Lewis Bayly (1575-1631)

Motives for Family Worship by J. Merle D’Aubigne (1794-1872)

On the Family and Grace by Jonathan Edwards

Seven Reasons Families Should Pray by Thomas Doolittle (1630-1707)

The Daily Exercise of God’s Word by John Knox (1513-1572)

The Duties of Christian Parents by J. C. Ryle (1816-1900)

The Duties of Husband and Wife by John Dod (1549-1645)

The Duties of Husbands and Wives by Richard Steele (1672-1729)

The Father and Family Worship by J.W. Alexander (1804-1859)

The Mutual Duties Of Husbands and Wives by Richard Baxter (1615­-1691)

The Nature, Warrant, and History of Family Worship by J.W. Alexander (1804-1859)

The Practice of Piety at Meals by Rev. Lewis Bayly (1575-1631)

The Word of God and Family Prayer by Thomas Doolittle (1630-1707)

What God Is to Families by Thomas Doolittle (1630-1707)

Family Worship by Joel Beeke

Testimony before the House and Senate Committee on Education by J. Gresham Machen

Keeping Covenant With God in the Education of Our Children by Greg L. Bahnsen

Classical Christian Education: A Look at Some History by Ben House

Schools Are Religious by Robert R. Booth

The Duties of Parents for Their Children by Richard Baxter

The Special Duties of Children Towards Their Parents by Richard Baxter

The Special Duties of Children and Youth Towards God by Richard Baxter

Gary North’s Introduction to the Children Trap

Homeschooling Resources CLICK HERE

Reformed Theology and Apologetics
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