A Family Built by God

A Family Built by God is Richard Steele's practical guide to establishing and maintaining a godly household. Steele believed that the family was the fundamental unit of both church and society, and that households ordered according to God's design were essential to spiritual health. This treatise provides comprehensive guidance for building such a family.

Steele begins with the foundation: parents must themselves be believers walking with God. No amount of technique can substitute for genuine godliness in parents. Children learn more from what they see than from what they're told. The family's spiritual health depends first on the parents' spiritual health.

Family worship receives extended attention. Steele advocates daily gathering of the household for Scripture reading, prayer, and praise. He provides practical guidance on when to worship, how to conduct family devotions, and how to engage different ages. Regular family worship, he argues, shapes the household's entire atmosphere.

The instruction of children forms another major section. Steele addresses teaching the catechism, explaining Scripture, preparing children for public worship, and helping them understand their need for Christ. He emphasizes beginning early and teaching consistently, adapting instruction to children's capacities.

Household management receives practical treatment. Steele addresses the ordering of daily schedules to make room for spiritual duties, the governance of servants, hospitality, and the use of material resources. All aspects of household life should serve spiritual ends while meeting legitimate temporal needs.

For modern readers concerned about family spiritual life, Steele offers substantial help. His vision of the household as a spiritual unit challenges individualistic approaches to faith. His practical guidance on family worship provides a starting point for those uncertain how to begin. His integration of spiritual and practical concerns models holistic Christian living.