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THIS WEEK:
From the Sermon: Daniel 3
Preacher: Pastor Jon Needham
Scripture: Daniel 3
MAIN POINTS: 1) The Threat of Statism 2) The Importance of Vegetables 3)The Presence of God
Idolatry has long plagued humankind, and in Daniel 3 King Nebuchadnezzar boldly commands everyone to worship his golden statue. Bolstered by the resolve of Daniel earlier in the story, our three friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stood their ground and refused to bow down to anyone or anything except the one, true God. Their obedience to God and not man had a great impact on Nebuchadnezzar and the people of Babylon.
Family Discussion Questions:
1. What’s something that surprised or confused you about this Bible passage?
2. What threatens to take the place of God in your daily life?
3. In what ways are you confronted with people in authority replacing God with something else?
4. How has someone else’s resolve made an impact on your own spiritual growth?
5. How does Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s time in the fiery furnace challenge your understanding of God?
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:
- Psalm 2:1-4
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:
CREATOR: All things were made byGod and sustained by God.
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:
REPENTANCE: Spend some time this week repenting of your unkind thoughts.
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.
**For further study on the book of Daniel, you can purchase a helpful book in the foyer by Jon Nielson, Daniel: Faith Enduring through Adversity.
THIS MONTH:
All Glory be to Christ
Should nothing of our efforts stand,
no legacy survive,
Unless the Lord does raise the house,
in vain its builders strive.
To you who boast tomorrow’s gain,
tell me what is your life?
A mist that vanishes at dawn,
all glory be to Christ!
All glory be to Christ the King!
All glory be to Christ!
His rule and reign we’ll ever sing,
All glory be to Christ!
His will be done, His kingdom come
on earth as is above,
Who is Himself our daily bred,
praise Him the Lord of love.
Let living water satisfy
the thirsty without price.
We’ll take a cup of kindness yet,
all glory be to Christ!
When on the day the great I AM,
the faithful and the true,
The Lamb who was for sinners slain
is making all things new.
Behold our God shall live with us
and be our steadfast Light!
And we shall ere His people be,
all glory be to Christ!
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:
Isaiah 40:31
“but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”
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:
Questions 22: Why must the Redeemer be truly man?
Answer: That in human nature he might on our behalf perfectly obey the whole law and suffer the punishment for human sin.
