16/08/2026
TODAY'S SUNDAY SCHOOL, 16TH AUGUST, 2026.
FELLOWSHIP IN THE HOME: MAINTAINING THE FAMILY ALTAR
Text: Deut. 6:4–9; Josh. 24:15
1. INTRODUCTION
The home is the first and most important environment where faith is taught, demonstrated, and transferred from one generation to another. Before a child understands the fellowship of the larger congregation, the child should experience fellowship with God within the family.
The family altar is therefore not merely a time when a family gathers to pray. It represents a deliberate commitment by the family to worship God, study His Word, pray together, encourage one another, and build a home where Christ is honoured.
Joshua declared:
“But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” — Joshua 24:15
Joshua did not speak only about his personal faith. He identified his household as a spiritual unit committed to God.
A strong church is built from strong Christian homes. When the family altar is neglected, family fellowship with God can gradually become weak. But when families consistently gather around God's Word and prayer, the home becomes a centre of spiritual growth.
2. AIMS OF THE LESSON
By the end of this teaching, participants should be able to:
Explain the meaning of fellowship in the Christian home.
Define the concept of a family altar.
Identify biblical principles supporting family spiritual fellowship.
Explain what the family altar signifies in Christian fellowship.
Identify challenges that prevent families from maintaining a family altar.
Understand the importance and urgent need for family altar today.
Develop practical ways of making the home a centre of Christian fellowship.
3. DEFINITION OF KEY TERMS
A. Fellowship
Fellowship means shared participation, communion, partnership, or close association around a common relationship or purpose.
In Christianity, fellowship involves communion with God and with other believers.
Acts 2:42 says:
“And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”
Christian fellowship is therefore more than social interaction. It involves sharing together in faith, worship, encouragement, service, and spiritual responsibilities.
B. Home
The home is the basic family environment where members of a household live, relate, learn, and influence one another.
The home is also a significant place for spiritual instruction.
C. Family Altar
A family altar may be defined as a regular, deliberate gathering of family members for Bible reading or teaching, prayer, worship, thanksgiving, and spiritual encouragement.
The expression "family altar" is not presented in Scripture as a prescribed physical piece of furniture. Rather, it describes the spiritual practice of a family intentionally coming together before God.
The emphasis is therefore not on a particular table, room, or object, but on family devotion to God.
4. BIBLICAL FOUNDATION
A. Abraham Practised Household Spiritual Leadership
Genesis 18:19 says concerning Abraham:
“For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD.”
Abraham's household was expected to follow God's way.
This teaches us that spiritual leadership begins at home. Parents cannot leave all spiritual instruction to the church, Bible class teachers, or ministers.
The home has a God-given responsibility to teach God's ways.
B. Israel Was Commanded to Teach God's Word at Home
Deuteronomy 6:6–7 states:
“And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children...”
Notice the emphasis:
God's Word must first be in the parents' hearts.
Parents must teach their children.
The teaching must be diligent.
God's truth should become part of everyday family life.
The family altar provides an excellent opportunity for this instruction.
C. Joshua Made a Household Commitment
Joshua 24:15 declares:
“As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
Joshua understood that his leadership had spiritual implications for his household.
D. Timothy Received Spiritual Instruction from His Family
Paul reminded Timothy of the sincere faith that first dwelt in his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice (2 Timothy 1:5).
He also reminded him that:
“From a child thou hast known the holy scriptures.” — 2 Timothy 3:15
This demonstrates the tremendous influence of spiritual instruction received during childhood.
E. The Early Christians Practised Fellowship in Their Homes
Acts 2:46 says:
“And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house...”
The early Christian community understood that fellowship was not restricted to a public assembly.
The Christian home could also become a place of fellowship, teaching, prayer, encouragement, and spiritual growth.
5. WHAT DOES THE FAMILY ALTAR SIGNIFY IN FELLOWSHIP?
1. It Signifies a Family's Recognition of God
When a family gathers to pray and study God's Word, it is saying:
“God is the centre of this home.”
Psalm 127:1 reminds us:
“Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it.”
The family altar continually reminds the household that success in family life must be built upon God.
2. It Signifies Spiritual Unity
A family may live under the same roof and still be spiritually disconnected.
The family altar creates an opportunity to come together, listen together, pray together, and grow together.
Ephesians 4:3 encourages believers to endeavour:
“to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
3. It Signifies Spiritual Leadership
Parents, especially fathers who have responsibility for leadership in the home, should take spiritual responsibilities seriously.
Ephesians 6:4 commands fathers to bring up their children:
“in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”
Family devotion provides one practical avenue for fulfilling this responsibility.
4. It Signifies the Transmission of Faith
Faith should not stop with one generation.
Psalm 78:5–7 teaches that God's people should make His works known to the next generation.
The family altar allows children to hear God's Word repeatedly and observe their parents practising genuine faith.
5. It Signifies Dependence on God
Family prayer teaches the household to acknowledge God in:
🐝 times of difficulty;
🌹 times of thanksgiving;
🙏 decision-making;
👆 sickness and uncertainty;
🥀 academic and career matters;
🪴 relationships;
💐 spiritual struggles.
Phil 4:6 teaches Christians to bring their concerns before God through prayer and thanksgiving.
6. It Signifies Forgiveness and Restoration
The family altar can create an atmosphere where family members learn to confess wrongs, forgive one another, and seek reconciliation.
Eph. 4:32 says:
“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another...”
A praying family should also become a forgiving family.
6. THE CHALLENGES TO MAINTAINING THE FAMILY ALTAR
1. BUSY FAMILY SCHEDULES
Work, school, business, church activities, appointments, and other responsibilities can crowd out family devotion.
The problem is often not that families have no time, but that spiritual fellowship has not been given sufficient priority.
2. TECHNOLOGY AND DIGITAL DISTRACTIONS
Phones, television, social media, gaming, and other digital activities can compete for the attention of family members.
A family can sit in the same room while everyone's attention is somewhere else.
3. LACK OF SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP
When parents do not take spiritual responsibility seriously, children may grow up without a consistent pattern of family worship.
4. INCONSISTENCY
Some families begin strongly but gradually abandon the practice.
The answer is not perfection but consistency.
5. LACK OF BIBLICAL KNOWLEDGE
Some parents may desire to lead family devotion but feel inadequate to teach Scripture.
A simple approach can help: read a short passage, explain its main lesson, ask one or two questions, and pray together.
6. FAMILY CONFLICT
Unresolved anger, bitterness, marital conflict, and poor communication can make family fellowship difficult.
This is why spiritual fellowship must be accompanied by love, humility, forgiveness, and mutual respect.
7. WRONG CONCEPT OF THE FAMILY ALTAR
Some may think family altar must be lengthy or complicated.
It does not have to be.
A meaningful family devotion can consist of:
Scripture + Explanation + Prayer + Thanksgiving + Encouragement.
The goal is not to impress God or people but to cultivate fellowship with God.
7. THE NEED FOR FAMILY ALTAR TODAY
A. THE HOME IS UNDER GREAT SPIRITUAL PRESSURE
Children and young people are exposed to many competing influences.
Therefore, parents must intentionally provide biblical guidance.
Proverbs 22:6 says:
“Train up a child in the way he should go...”
B. CHILDREN NEED TO SEE AUTHENTIC FAITH
Children learn not only from what parents say but also from what parents practise.
If children see their parents pray, study Scripture, forgive, serve, and trust God, they receive a practical demonstration of Christianity.
C. THE FAMILY ALTAR STRENGTHENS THE CHURCH
Strong Christian homes contribute to strong congregations.
The church cannot effectively build spiritually mature members if the home continually undermines spiritual development.
D. IT BUILDS A LEGACY OF FAITH
The greatest inheritance parents can give their children is not merely property, education, or financial resources, but a genuine knowledge of God and His Word.
Psalm 145:4 says:
“One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.”
E. IT PROVIDES SPIRITUAL PROTECTION
The family altar does not mean that Christians will never face difficulties. Rather, it equips family members with biblical truth, prayer, faith, and spiritual resilience to face life's challenges.
8. PRACTICAL GUIDELINES FOR MAINTAINING THE FAMILY ALTAR
a. SET A REGULAR TIME
Choose a realistic time when most family members can participate.
b. KEEP IT SIMPLE
Do not make family devotion unnecessarily complicated.
c. READ THE BIBLE
Let God's Word remain central.
d. ALLOW FAMILY PARTICIPATION
Children can read Scripture, lead songs, answer questions, and offer prayers according to their maturity.
e. PRAY ABOUT REAL FAMILY NEEDS
Let family prayers include thanksgiving, spiritual growth, school, work, relationships, church, and other legitimate needs.
f. MAKE IT CONSISTENT
A short, consistent family devotion is better than an elaborate programme that happens only occasionally.
g. LIVE WHAT YOU TEACH
The family altar loses credibility when parents pray about Christian values but practise the opposite in everyday life.
9. IMPORTANT LESSONS FOR PARENTS
Parents should remember:
The church teaches the child, but the home reinforces the teaching.
The preacher may preach for an hour, but parents influence children every day.
The Bible teacher may teach once a week, but the family can teach God's Word every day.
Therefore, Christian parents must see themselves as spiritual teachers and examples.
10. APPLICATION
Every Christian family should ask:
💐 Do we regularly pray together?
🪴 Do we read and discuss God's Word together?
🌺 Do our children see genuine Christianity in us?
🐝 Is our home a place of forgiveness and peace?
🌷 Have we allowed phones and entertainment to replace family fellowship?
🌹 What spiritual legacy are we leaving for the next generation?
🌻 If our children imitate our present spiritual life, what kind of Christians will they become?
11. CONCLUSION
The family altar is not about creating a religious ceremony in the home. It is about creating a home where God is known, God's Word is honoured, prayer is practised, forgiveness is extended, and faith is transferred from one generation to another.
Deuteronomy 6:7 teaches that God's Word should be taught diligently to our children and integrated into everyday life.
The greatest question is therefore not:
“Does our family have a family altar?”
but:
“Does our family have a genuine fellowship with God?”
A strong family altar can help cultivate that fellowship.
Let every Christian home make the commitment of Joshua:
“As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” — Joshua 24:15
FINAL CHALLENGE
Build the altar. Gather the family. Open the Bible. Pray together. Live the Word. Pass the faith to the next generation.
When the home is spiritually strong, the church becomes stronger; when the home is spiritually weak, the church eventually feels the effect.
May our homes become centres of prayer, biblical instruction, love, unity, and genuine fellowship with God.
Amen.
Lawrence Esu, Minister
Church of Christ, 40 Stadium Road, Oron, Akwa Ibom State
