Passing the Baton – The Family Altar (Part 2)
August 21, 2025 | 10:57 am
In Part 1 of this series, we talked about the importance of family worship and passing the spiritual baton to the next generation. Research reminds us that fewer than 5% of Christian households worship or study the Bible together outside of church (Barna, 2003). The risk? A generation that grows up knowing how to charge an iPad, but not how to open a Bible app. Yikes!
Judges 2:10 warns us about a generation that did not know the Lord, and Exodus 1:8 shows what happens when leaders forget God’s people. The lesson? If we don’t intentionally build the family altar, we risk raising spiritually malnourished kids who think “devotions” is just a new phone feature!
But here’s the good news: while the family altar has enemies, each one can be overcome—with prayer, patience, and sometimes a bit of laughter. Let’s explore them together.
Historical Misconceptions
Maybe you’ve never done family devotions and don’t know where to start. Or maybe you tried and it felt more awkward than your first dance. Perhaps your spouse isn’t interested and you feel like you’re dragging everyone to the altar.
Zechariah 4:10 says, “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.”
Start small. One verse. One thought. One prayer. Don’t aim for a Sunday service at home. If your spouse isn’t keen, do it with the kids—and who knows? They may eventually join in, just like that person who said they’d “never” drink tea but now can’t live without it (that’s me currently by the way)! God honors mustard-seed beginnings.
Conflicts Between Family Members
Let’s be honest: family devotions can feel impossible if you and your spouse are in the middle of a Cold War. 
This conflict is dressed in pride. My husband and I once prayed for each other after the other had already fallen asleep because we did not want to touch or look at each other while we prayed… confession time!
Ephesians 4:32 says, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Apologize quickly, forgive freely, and don’t let grudges linger. Sometimes the enemy of your altar isn’t laziness—it’s pride. Try singing, sharing funny stories, or even laughing through your awkwardness. We made a “no conflict weekends” policy in our house because most conflicts occurred just before the church service—and let me tell you, it was both practical and hilarious!
Lack of Leadership
Who should lead? Sometimes no one wants to step up, and the altar gets ignored like that gym-subscription or exercise regime you swore you’d use. It is still seating in your January resolution list, untouched!
Joshua 24:15 reminds us: “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
Leadership isn’t about knowing it all; it’s about showing up. Decide together who starts, rotate roles, and yes—let the kids lead! A child leading worship may not sound polished, but it sounds like heaven to God. Trust me!
Laziness and Procrastination
Can you imagine setting up a date with someone, pick out your best outfit, put some makeup, some perfume/cologne, and some good shoes, drive all the way to that exclusive restaurant out of town and your date never shows up? Once there, you call them, you discover that they were at home watching TV instead of coming to be with you.
“We’ll start tomorrow.” But your tomorrow has never come!. Before you know it, tomorrow has turned into next year. Meanwhile, God has been waiting at the table, like a date left stranded at the restaurant. But we refuse to show up!
1 Thessalonians 5:6 says, “Let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober.”
Set a realistic time and place. Use reminders. Make it as natural as brushing your teeth (because spiritual hygiene matters too). If we can binge-watch three episodes of a Netflix series, surely we can carve out 10 minutes to meet with God!
Giving Up
Maybe you tried, and it didn’t “work.” The kids were young and restless, life was messy, or guests threw your rhythm off. You gave up.
Galatians 6:9 encourages us: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Think of it like gardening—you won’t see fruit overnight. Celebrate small wins, like when your child remembers a verse or volunteers to pray. Such progress is proof that seeds are sprouting.
High Expectations
Some believe devotions must be long, deep, or packed with theological brilliance. And because they can’t manage that, they don’t start at all.
1 Samuel 16:7 reminds us: “The Lord looks at the heart.”
Keep it simple. When our kids were younger, their prayers were one-liners. We didn’t “top them up” with long, 
powerful-sounding prayers. Today, they lead prayer and fasting days. Growth takes time. Start small, let it grow naturally, and enjoy the journey.
The family altar is not about perfection—it’s about presence. Like Abraham, lay your family before God and see Him multiply them. Like Gideon, build an altar in the middle of life’s chaos and see Him fight your battles. Like Hannah, pour out your burdens and receive your breakthroughs. Like Elijah, rebuild the altar and watch God’s fire fall.
Your children don’t need flawless devotions—they need parents who model prayer, laughter, honesty, and dependence on God. So start small, keep going, and remember: God isn’t grading your performance. He’s rejoicing that you showed up!
So grab your Bible, gather your people (yes, even the grumpy ones), and light the fire on your family altar.
Tomorrow is not the day—today is!
Reverend Anne