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THIS WEEK:
From the Sermon: Acts 21:1-36
Preacher: Pastor Brandon Johnston
Scripture: Acts 21:1-36
MAIN POINTS: 1) Following the Spirit, 2) Love and unity of the Church, and 3) Paul's suffering
As Paul travels towards Jerusalem, he makes multiple stops along the way to visit Christians in several different cities. When they learned where he was going, they realized that Paul’s journey would most likely end with his death. They tried to talk him out of going to Jerusalem but instead, Paul listened to the Holy Spirit who had told him to go. Paul willing embraced the likelihood of his own suffering and death because he loved God and he wanted to be obedient to God’s plan for his life.
Family Discussion Questions:
- What’s something that surprised or confused you about this Bible passage? (Look back at your Sermon Notes for help remembering!)
- Read Acts 19:21. How did Paul know that he was supposed to travel to Jerusalem?
- Paul took a gift from gentile Christians for the Christians in Jerusalem. How did this gift help them?
- If Paul knew that going to Jerusalem and Rome meant that he would suffer and die, why did he go?
- Is it easy or hard to trust God’s plan? What do you need to do to obey him?
Parent Tip:
· Read the sermon summary together as a family. Build this into your normal routine, perhaps reading together around the table during a meal.
· There are five questions, each with a different theme. You can choose one night a week to go over all five, do a couple questions a few times a week, or discuss one question per day.
· Each question is meant to be a conversation starter. Model for your children how to answer these questions by sharing your own personal insights.
· Even if your conversations don’t go as planned, don’t be discouraged. ALL time spent talking about and reading God’s word is valuable!
· The more consistent you are in having these discussions, the more fruitful they will be. As this becomes part of your weekly rhythm, your kids will anticipate the questions and listen more attentively at church.
Other Scriptures:
- Acts 19:21, 20:22-23
- Galatians 2:10, 3:28
- Matthew 6:26-30
- John 15:18
- Revelation 22:20-21
Parent Tip:
Use these additional scriptures as daily reading. These are also a great way to help your children learn to locate passages in the Bible.
Attribute of God:
GENTLE: The tenderness of our Father in Heaven is magnified by his power. The One who created the universe with the power of his Word also knit us together in our mother’s womb and wipes away all our tears.
Parent Tip:
We focus on a new attribute of God each week to discuss as a family. Use this time to discuss who God is, answer questions the kids might have, and talk about what that week’s attribute means to each person in your family.
Prayer Focus:
COMMUNITY: This week, pray for the safety and wellbeing of your friends, family, and members of our community.
Parent Tip:
Each week of the month has its own prayer theme: Church, Family, Community and Repentance. Use these themes to show your children how to pray. It can be helpful to add this to an already existing routine like at bedtime or when you’re in the car together.
THIS MONTH:
Beautiful Scandalous Night
Go on up to the mountain of mercy
To the Crimson perpetual tide
Kneel down on the shore,
Be thirsty no more
Go under and be purified
Follow Christ to the Holy mountain
Sinner sorry and wrecked by the fall
Cleanse your heart and your soul,
In the fountain that flows
For you and for me and for all
At the wonderful tragic
Mysterious tree
On that beautiful scandalous
Night you and me
Were atoned by his blood and
Forever washed white
On that beautiful scandalous night
On the hillside you will be delivered
At the foot of the cross, justified
And your spirit restored
By the river that pours
From our blessed Savior’s side
Parent Tip:
Each month we highlight a different song for you to sing together. Singing is an integral part of worship! Singing as a family helps teach the kids how to worship at church, and as they learn more songs, they will be able to participate more on Sunday mornings. You can practice your songs in the car, at the dinner table, when you wake up, or at bedtime! You can also check out our playlist on Spotify and sing along with your favorite worship songs.
Memory Verse:
Ephesians 6:12
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”
Parent Tip:
This is the same memory verse that the whole church is learning and it rotates monthly. Practice reciting it as a family each day at least once. Dinner time is a great opportunity to practice together.
New City Catechism:
Question 13: Can anyone keep the law of God perfectly?
Answer: Since the fall, no human has been able to keep the law of God perfectly.
