How to build a family altar
The family altar is not a piece of furniture. It is the household's habit of coming together, at the same hour of the day, to worship the living God. Fifteen minutes is enough. Once a day is enough — morning, evening, or after supper. What matters is that it is kept.
The six movements below shape a household's fifteen minutes. A five-minute short version follows, and a variation for households with only one adult and small children.
Movement 1 · About 1 minute
Call to worship
Open with a verse said aloud — the parent, an older child, or whoever is leading tonight. The household knows it has begun.
“O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.”
Psalm 95:6 · KJV“This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
Psalm 118:24 · KJV
Movement 2 · About 3 minutes
A hymn
Sing one hymn together — a verse, or all of it. Untrained voices in an untrained kitchen are still a joyful noise to the Lord.
Try Be Still and Know, All My Days I Will Praise, or another hymn from the household Hymns for the Heart library.
One verse is enough“Sing unto the LORD a new song; and his praise from the end of the earth.”
Isaiah 42:10 · KJV
Movement 3 · About 3 minutes
Scripture reading
Read three to five verses aloud — slowly, unhurried. Whichever household member can read best today reads. Follow a plan (see below), or open the Bible where the household last stopped.
Use the household's 7-day reading plan or 30-day John and Acts plan.
Or read straight through a Gospel, three to five verses at a time“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”
2 Timothy 3:16 · KJV
Movement 4 · About 3 minutes
A reflection question
One short question, asked to the whole household. Let each speak, or let the silence hold. Do not correct answers; the passage will do its own work over the weeks.
“What did you hear tonight?”
A first question, always safe“Where in your day did that passage meet you?”
For a household of teens and adults“What one word did God say to us?”
For a household with small children
Movement 5 · About 3 minutes
Petition and praise
Each household member says one thanksgiving and one petition aloud. Even the youngest child. The prayer of a small mouth counts.
“In every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”
Philippians 4:6 · KJV“Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength.”
Psalm 8:2 · KJV
Movement 6 · About 1 minute
Closing prayer and benediction
The head of the household — or whoever is leading — closes with a short prayer, then speaks a benediction over the family.
“The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.”
Numbers 6:24–26 · KJV“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.”
2 Corinthians 13:14 · KJV
A five-minute short version
On the nights the household has only five minutes — and there will be many such nights — keep the shape, not the length. The family altar is the habit, not the running time.
- Call. “This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” — Psalm 118:24
- Read. One short passage aloud — three verses, no more.
- Ask. “What did you hear?” — one round the table.
- Pray. Each says a single sentence — a thanks or a request.
- Bless. “The LORD bless thee, and keep thee.” — Numbers 6:24
For households with only one adult and small children
When the household has one grown-up and small children, the family altar bends toward the youngest. Keep it very short. Let the child sit in your lap. Let the child hold the Bible even before they can read. The child will remember the smell of the page and the warmth of your arm long after they have forgotten the words.
- Sit. One chair, one lap, one Bible.
- Sing. One line of a hymn or a chorus the child knows.
- Read. One verse. Say it twice.
- Pray. A sentence for each family member by name; a sentence for the child's tomorrow.
- Bless. Put your hand on the child's head. Say: “The LORD bless thee, and keep thee. Good night, dear one.”
Continue Your Journey
Where else this page opens into the household library.