HH 1.5: Family Discipleship Household Hermeneutics

Note for parentsAfter each episode of Household Hermeneutics, we are going to have a second, much smaller episode that will encapsulate the topic of the main episode and provide some resources and other useful things that you can use to teach your kids in a family worship setting. This week’s main episode wasn’t on a specific topic, but more of an introduction, so today’s family worship episode is going to be on the topic of our purpose that is given by God. In future episodes that are on a specific theological topic, the family worship episode will be on the same topic.

Family Worship - The Chief End of ManPeople all over the world and throughout history have struggled with finding their purpose. “Why am I here? What am I supposed to do? What is my purpose?” But did you know that we don’t have to worry about that, because we know the answer?

The Bible tells us very clearly that man was created in order to bring glory to God and to enjoy Him. That means that you and I were created to glorify God by how we live our lives, and to enjoy Him forever. The very first question in the Westminster Shorter Catechism is “What is the chief end of man?” and the answer is given: “Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.”

We can find this in the Bible, so we know it is true. First, let’s look at the first part, the glorifying God part. In 1 Corinthians 10:31 it says, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 6:19b-20 says, “You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”

Next, let’s look for the enjoying God forever part in the Bible. Psalm 144:15b says, "Blessed are the people whose God is the Lord!” It says in Isaiah 12:2 that “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.” In Revelation 21:3-4, it says, “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” All of those things we just read sound like reasons we can enjoy God, right?

Before we go any farther, let’s make sure we all understand what it means to glorify something. To glorify means to give honor, or praise, or admiration. It means to please someone by your actions. So, in the case of our purpose in life, whenever we come to a point where we don’t know what to, or we need to make an important decision, the first question we should ask ourselves is this: how can I glorify God in this situation?

Here is an easy example. If your mom tells you to clean your room, but you don’t want to, you have two options. You could listen to her and clean your room, or you can disobey her and not clean it. But if you ask yourself the question, “how can I glorify God here?” you will find an answer. We know the Bible tells us in the 10 Commandments to obey our parents, so we can know that if our parents tell us to do something, then the way to glorify God would be to obey them.

So, our purpose in life is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. When we know that, and trust it, it can help us through many tough situations.

Memory Verse1 Corinthians 10:31 - “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

CatechismsWestminster Shorter CatechismQ: 1. What is the chief end of man?A: Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.

Westminster Larger CatechismQ. 1. What is the chief and highest end of man? A. Man's chief and highest end is to glorify God, and fully to enjoy him forever.

Keach’s CatechismQ. 2. What is the chief end of man? A. Man's chief end is to glorify