It Started at the Dinner Table: Rediscovering Family God’s Way

There’s something sacred about the dinner table.

It’s where lessons are passed down.It’s where laughter becomes medicine.And for many families, it’s where healing quietly begins.

For one young mother in our church, the turning point didn’t come through a conference or a counseling session. It came the night she sat with her husband and their two daughters and—between spoonfuls of jollof rice—asked, “What is one thing God did for you this week?”

At first, her husband chuckled. The girls shrugged. But then her youngest, only six years old, whispered:

“He helped me not be afraid at night.”The room went still.Her husband put down his spoon.Tears came, softly.And just like that, their home became an altar.

Family Is Ministry

God’s first institution wasn’t the church. It was the family. Long before pulpits were built, altars were made in homes.

Bishop David & Pastor Faith Oyedepo in Success in Marriage emphasizes that the family is the “first church” a child will experience. It is where faith is lived, not just preached.

Pastor Faith Oyedepo, in Raising Godly Children, reinforces that parenting isn’t about rules—it’s about replication. Children don’t just learn from what we say—they absorb who we are.

The home, therefore, isn’t a side story. It’s the frontline of spiritual warfare and the primary place of discipleship.

What’s Gone Wrong in Modern Homes?

Many of today’s families are under pressure:

• Parents are overwhelmed and under-equipped.

• Technology replaces presence.

• Busyness replaces intentionality.

• Silence replaces conversation.

But it doesn’t have to be that way.God's blueprint for family still works—if we return to it.

3 Things You Can Do This Week to Rebuild the Family Altar

1. Establish a Family Prayer Time (10 minutes counts!)

No need for sermons. Just gather, pray, and thank God together.Start with, “Let’s each thank God for one thing.”

2. Read Together (One Chapter, One Voice)

Pick a devotional or book like Raising Godly Children. Read one section as a family, then ask everyone, “What did you get from this?”

You’ll be surprised how even the youngest children grasp spiritual truths when the atmosphere is open.

3. Create a No-Phone Zone (Evenings or Meals)

Set a boundary: no devices during dinner or between 7–8 PM. That one hour of presence will pay more dividends than 10 hours of scrolling.

Story: A Father's Change of Heart

here was a man in our church who hadn’t prayed with his family in months. Between work stress and exhaustion, he didn’t think it made much difference.

Then one Sunday, after hearing a message on Building a God-Centered Home, he walked into our bookstore and picked up Success in Marriage. He didn’t say a word to his wife—just began reading silently.

By the third day, something shifted.

He gathered his family, and for the first time in a long time, prayed aloud: “Father, thank You for this home. Help me lead it Your way.”

His wife cried. His children listened.And heaven responded.

The Family as a Revival Center

Imagine if every home became a prayer room.Imagine if our children heard worship before they heard worry.Imagine if our kitchens echoed with thanksgiving instead of tension.

It’s not far off—it’s just one decision away.

You don’t need perfection. You need intentionality.You don’t need a big house. You need a willing heart.You don’t even need to start tomorrow.Start tonight.

Closing Encouragement: Your Family Can Win

Books like Success in Marriage and Raising Godly Children aren’t just books—they’re blueprints. They remind us that God is interested in our homes, not just our Sunday services.

So let’s build homes that echo with worship.Let’s raise children who know God’s voice.Let’s treat our spouse like covenant, not convenience.Let’s bring back the dinner table as a place of ministry.

Because the next revival may not start in a church.It may start in your living room.

"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." – Joshua 24:15