Rev. Dr. Terry Johnson writes in his book, The Family Worship Book:

If your children are in your home for 18 years, you have over 5,600 occasions (figuring a 6-day week) for family worship.If you learn a new psalm or hymn each month, they will be exposed to 216 in those 18 years. If you read a chapter a day, you will complete the Bible 4.5 times in 18 years. Every day they will affirm a creed or recite the law. Every day they will confess their sins and plead for mercy. Every day they will intercede on behalf of others. Think in terms of the long view. What is the cumulative impact of just 15 minutes of this each day, day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year, for 18 years?

At the rate of 6 days a week (excluding Sunday), one spends an hour and a half a week in family worship (about the length of a home Bible study), 78 hours a year (about the length of two weekend retreats), and 1,404 hours over the course of 18 years (about the length of eight week-long summer camps). When you establish your priorities, think in terms of the cumulative effect of this upon your children. Think of the cumulative effect of this upon you, after 40 or 60 or 80 years of daily family worship. All this without having to drive anywhere.

Parents, do you value where your children are headed spiritually? Have you really appreciated what an impact you can have on your child’s relationship with Christ?

Terry Johnson is senior minister at Independent Presbyterian Church in Savannah, Georgia. His Family Worship Book is available in the Pastor’s Study Library.