March 28, 2020

Worship Songs for You and Your Family:

We encourage you to take some time to worship God through song. Whether you are by yourself or with your family, take some time to sing praises to Him.

To God Be the Glory

Glory is Yours

I will follow




For families with young children:

Light of the World

Fruit of the Spirit 


Home Study: Home Churching

Watch the introduction:

Read Proverbs 4:23

To guard your heart means to protect it from the corrupting influence of sin. 

Responsibility #1: Yourself

What do you currently do on a regular basis to take care of your own heart?

What are some new things you could try to help build your relationship with God?

Watch this video by some of our young people on how to grow in Christ:

Worship Songs for You and Your Family:
We encourage you to take some time to worship God through song. Whether you are by yourself or with your family, take some time to sing praises to Him.

To God Be the Glory

Glory is Yours

I will follow

For families with young children:

Light of the World

Fruit of the Spirit 

Home Study: Home Churching

Watch the introduction:

Read Proverbs 4:23

To guard your heart means to protect it from the corrupting influence of sin. 

Responsibility #1: Yourself

What do you currently do on a regular basis to take care of your own heart?

What are some new things you could try to help build your relationship with God?

Watch this video by some of our young people on how to grow in Christ:

Psalm 119:9-11

Matthew 6:6

Matthew 6:17-18

Responsibility #2: Your Family

In a family, what do you believe are the roles of husband, wife, and children in spiritual matters?

Read Deuteronomy 6:6-7

This passage tells us first that we should have God’s word written on our hearts, and second that we should teach them to our children.

Why is it important that we be spiritually fed before feeding others?

Read Ephesians 6:4

What is a father’s role in spiritual education within the family?

One survey has found that an entire family becomes Christians 25% of the time if a child is the first to come to faith in Christ. If the mother is first, it rises to between 40% and 50%. If the father is first, it rises to 60%.

Responsibility #3: Your Church

Read Galatians 6:2

Although we are responsible for ourselves, we are told to assist our fellow Christians. This kind of love is even called “the law of Christ”.

What does “carrying each other’s burdens” look like? Give some examples.

Challenges

#1- Make a plan for this week for building your own relationship with Christ. Include specifics: what spiritual disciplines you will practice, when, and how long.

#2- Plan to worship as a family at least twice this week. This could be singing praise songs together, having a special time of prayer, or reading a Bible story together.

#3- Make contact this week with several people from our church. Ask them how they are, if you can help with anything, and how you can pray for them. Don’t give into the temptation of thinking that this sort of thing is the pastor’s job. Help carry each other’s burdens- fulfill the law of Christ.

For Families with Young Children:

Verse: Colossians 2:6-7

Lesson:

Have you ever gardened? You start with a seed or a small plant start. You plant it in some good soil full of nutrients in a sunny spot. You water it. Then you give it time. Now, is that all you do? If you planted a green bean in a good spot and watered it and then just left it alone for a couple months, would you have a whole bush full of yummy green beans? Probably not. You have to keep watering it. You have to pull the weeds from the garden, so they don’t take over and steal the nutrients, water, and sun. You have to protect your plant from insects and critters. If you were taking care of a fruit tree, you would have to prune (or cut away) the old and over grown parts to make room for the healthy good parts.

The same is true with us. If we went to church or turned on the radio and heard a good lesson about Jesus and then just went about our lives without giving it another thought, would we grow as Christians? I don’t think so. Being planted in a good church, family, or group of friends that is filled with joy and helps provide “nutrients” for us is a great first step. In order to grow spiritually though, we have to be fed with God’s word and have living water from Jesus. We need to be in the presence of the SON. If we want to produce “Fruits,” we have to prune out the old bad parts of our lives. We need to protect against the pests in life that can bring us down. Weeding out the bad things that take up space and steal joy is also very important.

A seed that is planted in the best conditions but then ignored will not grow, at not least as big and healthy as it could. We as children of God are the same. We need continual work to grow into everything God wants us to be. It is our job to keep learning about God and talking to Him all week long.

“Digging” deeper:

Can we grow if we only learn and think about God on Sundays? What about if we decided we were only going to eat on Monday? Would that be enough to keep us full and help us get bigger and stronger the whole week?

Like plants, we need strong roots, good soil, living water, and the Son’s light. What are some ways we can help our roots grow strong so we can grow as Christians throughout the week? Who can help you with these?

As Christians, what does it mean to produce “fruits?” Check out Galatians 5:22-23.

Sometimes weeds can be pretty, but that doesn’t mean we should let them have the space instead of the food and flowers we were wanting to grow. Vines with pretty flowers can snake their way through the veggie plants and take them down. The same is true in life. We have to be careful what we allow in our lives. Some video games are fun, but are they planting a good message in our hearts and minds. Some kids at school are popular and fun to hang out with, but are they encouraging and building you up? Some songs are fun to dance to, but are the words and message of the song filling your hearts with joy and love? Think about what in your life might need to be pulled out to make room for more joy!

Activities:

Go on a hunt outside and look for plants and flowers that are growing. Are they growing in a sunny spot or in the shade? In the rocks or in the dirt? If you have some seeds, you could even plant something in a pot. If you do, don’t forget to take good care of it as it grows.

Pick one of the fruit of the Spirit you read about in Galatians that you would like to work on this week. Make a plan with your family so they can help you remember throughout the week. Write down the word on some post-it notes or draw a picture that will help you remember and put them up around the house as little reminders (on the bathroom mirror, by your bed, on the fridge, etc.)

Make a card for someone you know that could use some encouragement and have your parents help you mail it. Maybe share a bible verse with them that will make them smile and bring them joy.

Psalm 119:9-11

Matthew 6:6

Matthew 6:17-18

Responsibility #2: Your Family

In a family, what do you believe are the roles of husband, wife, and children in spiritual matters?

Read Deuteronomy 6:6-7

This passage tells us first that we should have God’s word written on our hearts, and second that we should teach them to our children.

Why is it important that we be spiritually fed before feeding others?

Read Ephesians 6:4

What is a father’s role in spiritual education within the family?

One survey has found that an entire family becomes Christians 25% of the time if a child is the first to come to faith in Christ. If the mother is first, it rises to between 40% and 50%. If the father is first, it rises to 60%.

Responsibility #3: Your Church

Read Galatians 6:2

Although we are responsible for ourselves, we are told to assist our fellow Christians. This kind of love is even called “the law of Christ”.

What does “carrying each other’s burdens” look like? Give some examples.

Challenges

#1- Make a plan for this week for building your own relationship with Christ. Include specifics: what spiritual disciplines you will practice, when, and how long.

#2- Plan to worship as a family at least twice this week. This could be singing praise songs together, having a special time of prayer, or reading a Bible story together.

#3- Make contact this week with several people from our church. Ask them how they are, if you can help with anything, and how you can pray for them. Don’t give into the temptation of thinking that this sort of thing is the pastor’s job. Help carry each other’s burdens- fulfill the law of Christ.

For Families with Young Children:

Verse: Colossians 2:6-7

Lesson:

Have you ever gardened? You start with a seed or a small plant start. You plant it in some good soil full of nutrients in a sunny spot. You water it. Then you give it time. Now, is that all you do? If you planted a green bean in a good spot and watered it and then just left it alone for a couple months, would you have a whole bush full of yummy green beans? Probably not. You have to keep watering it. You have to pull the weeds from the garden, so they don’t take over and steal the nutrients, water, and sun. You have to protect your plant from insects and critters. If you were taking care of a fruit tree, you would have to prune (or cut away) the old and over grown parts to make room for the healthy good parts.

The same is true with us. If we went to church or turned on the radio and heard a good lesson about Jesus and then just went about our lives without giving it another thought, would we grow as Christians? I don’t think so. Being planted in a good church, family, or group of friends that is filled with joy and helps provide “nutrients” for us is a great first step. In order to grow spiritually though, we have to be fed with God’s word and have living water from Jesus. We need to be in the presence of the SON. If we want to produce “Fruits,” we have to prune out the old bad parts of our lives. We need to protect against the pests in life that can bring us down. Weeding out the bad things that take up space and steal joy is also very important.

A seed that is planted in the best conditions but then ignored will not grow, at not least as big and healthy as it could. We as children of God are the same. We need continual work to grow into everything God wants us to be. It is our job to keep learning about God and talking to Him all week long.

“Digging” deeper:

Can we grow if we only learn and think about God on Sundays? What about if we decided we were only going to eat on Monday? Would that be enough to keep us full and help us get bigger and stronger the whole week?

Like plants, we need strong roots, good soil, living water, and the Son’s light. What are some ways we can help our roots grow strong so we can grow as Christians throughout the week? Who can help you with these?

As Christians, what does it mean to produce “fruits?” Check out Galatians 5:22-23.

Sometimes weeds can be pretty, but that doesn’t mean we should let them have the space instead of the food and flowers we were wanting to grow. Vines with pretty flowers can snake their way through the veggie plants and take them down. The same is true in life. We have to be careful what we allow in our lives. Some video games are fun, but are they planting a good message in our hearts and minds. Some kids at school are popular and fun to hang out with, but are they encouraging and building you up? Some songs are fun to dance to, but are the words and message of the song filling your hearts with joy and love? Think about what in your life might need to be pulled out to make room for more joy!

Activities:

Go on a hunt outside and look for plants and flowers that are growing. Are they growing in a sunny spot or in the shade? In the rocks or in the dirt? If you have some seeds, you could even plant something in a pot. If you do, don’t forget to take good care of it as it grows.

Pick one of the fruit of the Spirit you read about in Galatians that you would like to work on this week. Make a plan with your family so they can help you remember throughout the week. Write down the word on some post-it notes or draw a picture that will help you remember and put them up around the house as little reminders (on the bathroom mirror, by your bed, on the fridge, etc.)

Make a card for someone you know that could use some encouragement and have your parents help you mail it. Maybe share a bible verse with them that will make them smile and bring them joy.