Family Connection
08.30.2012
“He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God. I will be honored among the nations. I will be honored in the earth.’” Psalm 46:10
I have a confession to make, I am terrible at this. I struggle with resting in God. I don’t have a problem doing, but I do have a problem resting in Him. This isn’t a new problem; it’s something I have always struggled with. I was reminded of this yesterday when someone recommended a book to me on this subject. I remembered that someone else recommended that same book to me back in 1985. I remember starting the book but then I put it down because I didn’t like what it was telling me. Maybe I should buy it again, read it and actually put it into practice. One of the best things I can do for my children as I try to teach them how to live a life pleasing to God is to actually model that life myself. If I can’t be authentic and transparent with my children about my own struggles, it will be hard for me to urge them to have an authentic and transparent relationship with God. I would appreciate your prayers for me in this area.
This week we will be talking about humility in big church and with the children. We will be focusing on loving others by putting them first and urging the children to avoid selfishness. We will be doing this in our Early Childhood ministry as well as our K-4 ministry. One of the biggest ways we can remain humble is to admit when we need help and consider others as more important than ourselves. I would encourage you to talk to you children about these things this week.
We will teach the children that the prescription to stay healthy this week is humility. Here are the Parent Talk discussion sheets we will hand out to your children this weekend:
God Loves Me No Matter What I Do
Basic Truth: God Loves Me
Key Question: Who loved us first?
Bottom Line: We love because God loved us first.
Memory Verse: “We love because he first loved us.” 1John 4:19, ESV
Story Summary:
Joseph helped his brothers get food when they were hungry even though they were mean.
(Based on Genesis 42-46)
Family Activity:
At bedtime read the story of Joseph with your child from a children’s story Bible. The Beginner’s Bible and The Jesus Storybook Bible are both excellent. Remind your child that just like Joseph with his brothers, God Loves Me No Matter What I Do.
In our K-4 ministry, we will be handing out the following God Time questions:
Humility-Questions for parents to children
Today your children learned: “I can show love to others when I put them first.” Ask them, “What does this mean to you?”
Read John 13:1-9; 12-17; 34-35 with your children. In this passage, Jesus washes his disciples’ feet and then teaches them that they should do the same if they are His followers. Talk with your children about how Jesus showed humility before His disciples.
Talk with your children about humility and pride. Try to help them understand that the pride the Bible warns against is when we think we are better than everyone else and how that can change the way we look at people. Ask them to give examples of pride and humility from their perspective.
Read 1 Peter 5:5-7 with your children. Talk with your children about ways they can show humility rather than have a “me first” attitude. Try to come up with a way to point out positive examples of humility around the house this week.
The verses we are memorizing for this series are: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”-Matthew 22:39 and “We love because He first loved us.”-1 John 4:19 (NIV) Why don’t you work on these verses together this week?
We are very excited about this series and the at-home discussions that will come about because of what everyone is learning together. I would love to hear how it goes! In our K-4 ministry we will be focusing on Jesus washing the disciples’ feet and how we can make the wise choice when we choose to show love to everyone.
Thank you for allowing me to be part of the spiritual development of your children.
Walking by your side,
Brett Humphrey
Pastor H
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