Building a God-Centered Family, A Father's Manual

by Matthew Henry, Scott T. Brown (Editor)

Matthew Henry is known worldwide in our time as the author of his famous commentary on the Scriptures. But far less known in our day is the fact that Henry was an emblem of faithful fatherhood during his lifetime. Henry took his duties as a father seriously and it showed. One observer noted that the Henry household was like unto the gates of heaven where he and his wife governed all family life by the Word of God. As an English non-conformist pastor, Henry carried his passion for family discipleship into the pulpit. On April 16, 1704, he preached an abundantly practical sermon entitled, A Church in the House, A Sermon Concerning Family-Religion , as an encouragement to fathers to develop the spiritual life of their families in their homes. Henry exhorted that every house should be a little church. His point was not that the home should replace the church, but that the home should become a fountain of blessing for both the local church and the community at large. The NCFIC is pleased to offer this reprint of Henry's sermon in Building a God-Centered Family, a Father's Manual .

Genres: Christian Living, Family, Theology

96 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2010

About the author

Matthew Henry was an English non-conformist clergyman. Henry's well-known Exposition of the Old and New Testaments (1708–1710) is a commentary of a practical and devotional rather than of a critical kind, covering the whole of the Old Testament, and the Gospels and Acts in the New Testament.

Reviews

[Hollie D · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading Building A God Centered Family by Matthew Henry. This is simply the text of a sermon he preached in 1704. It is directed to Fathers, but its a good read for wives/mothers too. It helps me to better pray and encourage my husband when I read things like this. Its an excellent little treatise, mostly on Family Worship. Highly recommended!

[Chad Newton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short read, basically a sermon in updated language about establishing family worship within the home. Very encouraging and incredibly convicting. “God and religion have in effect no place in your hearts or houses if they have not the innermost and the uppermost place. Christ will come to be an underling. He is not a guest to be set behind the door.”

[Dwain Minor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good little book that encourages the reader to faithfully teach God’s Word in the home. And it has practical instructions.

[William Schrecengost · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good sermon on the importance of family worship

[curtis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent, impeccably biblical, deeply practical counsel. The inexplicably bad formatting of this edition is all that keeps it from a five-star rating.

[Kyzersose · Rating 4 out of 5]

A relevant sermon that will convict those seeking to lead their homes in the ways God intended.

[Simon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good. Challenging father any father and husband.

[Logan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely pithy, succinct, and typical Matthew Henry, this is primarily a call to fathers to be diligent in family worship and in building up the "church" that is in our homes.