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THIS WEEK:
From the Sermon: Exodus 6
Preacher: Pastor Jon Needham
Scripture: Exodus 6
MAIN POINTS: POINTS: 1) Moses’ Question 2) Israel’s Despair 3) God’s Answer 4) Our Hope
Israel was experiencing heightened suffering after Moses confronted Pharaoh. Their focus was upside down and they were giving in to despair. Despair is what happens when you interpret God through your circumstances. Hope is what happens when you interpret your circumstances through God’s promises. God encouraged and reminded Moses of those promises and called him to obedience and hope.
Family Discussion Questions:
1. What’s something that surprised or confused you about this Bible passage?
2. What are some examples in the bible of faithful people asking God, “Why?”
3. When does despair lead to sin?
4. What prices of obedience threaten to distract you from the promises of God?
5. How can we guard our hearts against despair?
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 15:7, 16
- 2 Corinthians 1:20
- Hebrews 12:1-3
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:
PURPOSEFUL: Everything God does is meaningful and for a reason. We don’t always get to know what that reason is, but we can trust that God’s reasons are always good.
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: Spend some time this week praying for the political leaders in 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:
Your Labor is Not in Vain
Your labor is not in vain,
Though the ground underneath you
is cursed and stained.
Your planting and reaping are never
the same,
But your labor is not in vain.
Your labor is not unknown,
though the rocks they cry out
and the sea it may grown.
The place of your toil may not seem
like a home,
but your labor is not unknown.
For I am with you, I am with you.
I am with you, I am with you.
For I have called you,
called you by name.
Your labor is not in vain.
The vineyards you plant will bear
fruit,
The yields will sing out and rejoice
with the truth,
For all that is old will at last be made
new;
The vineyard you plant will bear
fruit.
The houses you labored to build,
will finally with laughter and joy be
filled.
The serpent that hurts and destroys
shall be killed,
and all that is broken be healed.
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 6:7 “I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.”
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 31: What do we believe by true faith?
Answer: **See the Apostles’ Creed**
