Should the husband lead Bible discussions and prayers when the family is gathered together?
Question:
Hi,
If God were to bless me with a wife and kids, I would like for the family to have Bible study sessions as a family. Would it be proper for my wife to lead the discussions at times? Or to pray? Or it should always be the husband? How about the kids?
Answer:
"A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet" (I Timothy 2:11-12).
Generally, the husband is responsible for the teaching in a household. I know, it is not a popular concept in today's society. Popularity never drove Christianity. "And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4). His wife helps in the instruction and teaches when he is not there, but he remains the leader. "My son, hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother" (Proverbs 1:8). Even when the father is not there, he should be setting the curriculum, so to speak, and making sure his family is getting a well-balanced education in the Scriptures.
"But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God" (I Corinthians 11:3).
In prayers too, it is the husband who leads. It doesn't mean the wife doesn't pray, but in group settings, it is the husband who leads the prayers.
With children, you want to teach them to pray, so have them say their prayers privately, such as at bedtime or before their meals if everyone is not able to eat together. Have the boys who are older and have become Christians take turns leading the family in prayers before meals. In this way, they learn to take on the responsibility when they become husbands.
Exceptions can come up when dealing with a husband who is not a believer, but I am assuming that is not an issue in your case.
