Rev. Jared Lathem may be a newly ordained pastor, but he’s no stranger to church life. Son of the faithful Rev. Dr. Warren Lathem and Jane Baird Lathem, a saint, Jared brings a legacy of ministry into his own calling. So when I saw he had written The Sermon Killing Your Family: When Silence Becomes The Loudest Message, a book about reclaiming spiritual leadership in the home—for parents, grandparents, leaders, and everyday families—I didn’t hesitate. I ordered my first three copies on the spot.

I couldn’t put it down.

For those of us in the kidmin trenches who have spent years waving the banner of family discipleship—cheering for parents to lead at home, in car lines, at ball fields, and around dinner tables—this book is fuel to our fire. Jared doesn’t just talk about it; he lives it. He offers a simple, practical, Spirit-led invitation to turn the dining room table and the bunk bed into sacred spaces for revival.

And he does it with bold clarity:

This is the tragedy of the modern Christian family: fathers who were called to be priests but settled for being providers, and mothers who were called to be intercessors but settled for being schedulers. p. 47

In Chapter 11: Family Altars and Kitchen Table Revivals, Jared paints the hopeful picture of beginning and returning to a time of gathering at the family altar. It’s around the family altar, dining room-living room-beside the bunk bed-on the back porch, when fathers learn to be family priests and mothers learn to be prayer warriors.

Jared lays out simple, uncomplicated elements of the family altar to regularly practice together, starting where you are. He lists the common obstacles, the fruit of faithful altars and the generational impact because “it shapes how children view God, how they approach problems, how they make decisions, how they relate to others.” p. 131

And just when you think the book couldn’t offer more – there it is in the back: a 30-Day Family Devotional Guide: Building A Foundation for Family Faith designed for families who are new to this whole thing of family altar time. Each has scripture and a developmentally appropriate chat question for children, teens, and adults. It’s worth the price of the book.

If you’re ready to play the long game….

If you’re tired of feeling like you’re losing your kids to schedules, screens, and sidelines…

If you’re longing to see revival start right at home… Get this book.

Gather your people.

Light a candle.

Open the Bible.

And get ready to reclaim your family altar.

“The game is not over, but the clock is ticking.” p. 121