How to Lead Family Devotions: A Practical Guide

Few topics stir more quiet guilt in Christian homes than family devotions. Most parents believe they are important. Many intend to do them. Fewer feel consistent or confident. Busy schedules, tired evenings, distracted children, and unrealistic expectations slowly crowd them out.

But Scripture never calls parents to perfection. It calls them to faithful leadership.

Family devotions are not about producing spiritual moments on demand. They are about cultivating a home where God’s Word is normal, central, and honored. And God has spoken clearly about whose responsibility that is.

The Call to Disciple Your Family

Family discipleship is not an optional add-on to the Christian life, nor is it delegated primarily to the church. God places the responsibility squarely on parents.

Deuteronomy 6:7 reminds us: “You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.” 

Notice the setting for family discipleship? It’s not a classroom, and not even a church sanctuary. Those aren’t excluded from discipleship but the primary place God assumes we disciple is in our daily lives within the home! As we live, drive, walk, talk, play, rest, and everything in between. God’s design has always been that His Word would shape the ordinary rhythms of daily life. Fathers and mothers are the primary disciplers of their children and the church supports this calling, but it does not replace it.

Paul reinforces this pattern in the New Testament saying, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).

Scripture assumes intentional instruction will take place. 

What Family Devotions Are, and Are Not

I remember a church member with very young children loathing the challenges they were facing while doing family devotions. It was not orderly, children lost focus, and chaos ensued. We joked that he needed to borrow some church ushers to get his “congregation” under control. Humor aside, I was hoping to offer him some wisdom when I asked how long he was aiming for. He responded, “A couple of songs then I try to give them a message for 20-25 minutes.” I laughed with admiration but also, with sympathy! Unless your two-year-old is John the Baptist reincarnated, a 25 minute sermon after 2 songs is more like a fantasy than a reality. Many dads and moms get frustrated because their expectations for little hearts are much too high in the early years. They will grow to focus longer, but when just starting out, keep it simple! Family devotions are not miniature church services. They are not sermons. They are not a test of theological expertise. Parents are not called to impress their children, but to lead them with simplicity, truth, and love.

Family devotions are simply the Word of God opened in the home, with parents guiding, children listening, and Christ exalted. They are meant to be:

- Ordinary, not impressive
- Consistent, not complex
- Relational, not performative
- Scripture-centered, not creativity-driven

The goal is not to raise children who can just parrot information, but children who learn (over time) that God’s Word governs all of life.

Why Many Families Struggle

Most parents abandon family devotions for predictable reasons.

Some feel intimidated. “I don’t know enough.” Others feel defeated by inconsistency. “We miss too many nights.” Still others carry unrealistic expectations. “If it’s not meaningful every time, why bother?”

But Scripture never demands expertise, only faithfulness. Just like we don’t give up after their first time trying baseball or volleyball, we don’t give up on spiritual training. Growth takes time and guess what? Parents are being trained too! God does not ask parents to have every answer. He asks them to open His Word, speak truthfully, and model dependence on Him.

What Faithful Family Devotions Accomplish 

Family devotions rarely feel dramatic. They often feel quiet, even awkward. But over time, they accomplish more than parents realize.

They normalize Scripture.
They model spiritual leadership.
They create space for questions and repentance.
They teach children how to pray.
They anchor the home in truth rather than emotion.

Children may not remember every passage read, but they will remember that the Bible mattered in their home. Seeds are being planted, even when growth is not immediately visible.

Start Small and Remain Steady

Jesus compared the kingdom of God to seeds scattered quietly, not fireworks exploding instantly. He said, “The kingdom of God is like a man who casts seed upon the soil” (Mark 4:26). Like a farmer, seeing a harvest takes regular cultivation and steady patience.

Faithfulness over time matters more than intensity in the moment. Five minutes nightly will accomplish far more than thirty minutes sporadically. Clarity is better than creativity. Consistency is better than perfection.

5 Simple Steps for Leading Family Devotions

1. Choose a Realistic Time and Protect It
Pick a time that actually works for your household. It can be after dinner, before bed, or at breakfast. The best time is not about being ideal; it is about what is repeatable. Start small. 5 to 10 minutes is sufficient.

2. Read the Bible, Not About the Bible
Open Scripture itself. Read a short passage: a Psalm, a Proverb, or a Gospel story. Let God’s Word do the heavy lifting. As Psalm 119:130 says, “The unfolding of Your words gives light.” 

3. Ask One or Two Clear Questions
After reading, ask simple questions and keep it limited to 1 or 2 (3 max):
- What does this teach us about God?
- What does this show us about Jesus?
- How should this shape how we live?

And remember this: Participation is encouraged, not forced! But train your children to think and engage the truth with real questions. Give them permission to question and give them biblical answers! 

4. Pray Briefly and Honestly
Keep prayer simple and sincere. Thank God for His Word. Ask for help to obey. Pray for real needs. Children learn how to pray by hearing parents pray humbly.

5. Do Not Quit When It Feels Ineffective
Some nights will feel flat. Some children will appear disengaged. That does not mean nothing is happening.

Galatians 6:9 encourages the Christian: “Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.”

Parents, you do not need to be impressive. You need to be intentional. Faithfulness is never wasted.

Open the Bible. Read it aloud. Pray simply. Repeat tomorrow. If you miss a day or two, get back in the saddle and keep going by the grace of God. This is how homes are shaped, consciences are formed, and children learn (albeit slowly!) to fear the Lord. God delights to bless ordinary obedience offered in faith.