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THIS WEEK:
From the Sermon: Exodus 1
Preacher: Pastor Jon Needham
Scripture: Exodus 1
MAIN POINTS: 1) The Power of the Christian Family 2) The Importance of Strong Christian Men 3) The Tactic of Righteous Deception
This week marks the beginning of a new sermon series in the book of Exodus. This isn’t only a story of what happened in the past, rather it’s a story of what continues to happen in our broken world. We see God’s promises, evil threatening those promises, and God overcoming evil. The story of Exodus is, in many ways, our story.
Family Discussion Questions:
1. What’s something that surprised or confused you about this Bible passage?
2. What makes ordinary families so important to a culture or society?
3. Tell about a strong, Christian man in your life? What sets them apart from other men? How can you grow to be a stronger Christian man?
4. What differentiates righteous deception from sinful lying?
5. How does the beginning of Exodus relate to our current culture and history?
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 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:
- Genesis 2:15
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:
PROMISE KEEPER: God makes promises and they are always kept. You can trust and rely on what God says because he never breaks a promise.
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:
FAMILY: Please spend some time this week in prayer for Christian men, that they would be strong and courageous in this increasingly hostile world.
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:
In Tenderness
In tenderness He sought me
Weary and sick with sin
And on His shoulders brought me
Back to His fold again
While angels in His presence sang,
Until the courts of heaven rang
O-o-oh the love that sought me!
O-o-oh the blood that bought me!
Oh the grace that brought me to
the fold of God
Grace that brought me to the fold
of God
He died for me while I was sinning...
Needy and poor and blind
He whispered to assure me...
“I’ve found thee; thou art Mine.”
I never heard a sweeter voice,
it made my aching heart rejoice
Upon His grace I’ll daily ponder
And sing anew His praise
With all adoring wonder,
His blessings I retrace
It seems as if eternal days,
are far too short to sing His praise.
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:
Psalm 119:130 “The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.”
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 30: What is faith in Jesus Christ?
Answer: Receiving and resting on him alone for salvation as he is offered to us in the gospel.
