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THIS WEEK:
From the Sermon: Exodus 18
Preacher: Pastor Rusten Harris
Scripture: Exodus 18
MAIN POINTS: 1) God Keeps His Promises 2) True Community is Hard 3) God’s Institutions are a Blessing
In Exodus 18, we see new ways that God is preparing his people for the purpose that he has for them. His plan was not just to rescue them from the tyranny of Egypt, but to rescue them from the tyranny of their own sin.
Family Discussion Questions:
1. What’s something that surprised or confused you about this Bible passage?
2. What promises was God keeping in this chapter of Exodus?
3. What challenges come from true community? What blessings?
4. How did God establish institutions in this chapter, and what institutions has he established in our community?
5. What are some institutions that God has set in place that have been particularly meaningful to you?
Parent Tip:
· Read the sermon summary together as a family. Build this into your regular 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 of 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 on 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
- Exodus 3:12; 19:5-6
- Genesis 3:11-12; 12:2-3
- Samuel 15:6b
- 2 Corinthians 1:20a
- John 14:6-7
- 1 Corinthians 1:18
- Philippians 2:3-8
Parent Tip:
Use these additional scriptures as daily reading. This is also a great way to help your children learn to locate passages in the Bible.
Attribute of God:
ORDERLY: God brings order to chaos. He did this in creation, and he does this all throughout history and in our lives.
Parent Tip:All Better.
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 handling conflict incorrectly.
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:
MONTHLY SONG:
The Words of the LORD
The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver tried in a furnace.
The words of the LORD are pure words, refined for seven times.
I don’t much care for your words, you speak and I get nervous.
The words of the LORD are pure words I keep them in my mind.
Help, LORD, for the godly man ceases to be.
The faithful have all left the land, there’s none that I can see.
Everywhere I go now all I hear is vanity.
The words of the LORD are pure, that’s why I keep them close to me.
The wicked strut on every side, taunting with their boasts.
“There is not help for him in God, not from the LORD of hosts.”
But I will trust my Father God, the Son, and Holy Ghost.
Just one Word from Him can save me to the uttermost.
He sees the poor and plundered and He hears the needy groan.
God will arise again in pow’r and take them for his own.
But lying lips and crooked hearts, our LORD has never known.
He cuts them off and burns them up, they reap what they have sown.
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:
Exodus 14:31 - “Israel saw the great power that the LORD used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the LORD, and they believed in the LORD and in his servant Moses.”
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 35: Since we are redeemed by grace alone, through faith alone, where does this faith come from?
Answer: From the Holy Spirit.
