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THIS WEEK:
From the Sermon: Colossians 4:7-18
Preacher: Pastor Jon Needham
Scripture: Colossians 4:7-18
MAIN POINTS: 1) Gratitude, 2) Forgiveness, and 3) Exhortation
This week we ended our time in Colossians. Paul ends his letter listing people who have supported him in different ways throughout his ministry. None of us live out the gospel alone. Paul reminds us to be thankful for each other, quick to forgive, and encourages us to continue in the work that God has called us to.
Family Discussion Questions:
1. What’s something that surprised or confused you about this Bible passage?
2. Who are some of the people God has placed in your life that have greatly
blessed you?
3. What has forgiveness looked like in your life? In what ways do you need to
grow in this spiritual discipline?
4. What does good encouragement look like? What does unhelpful
encouragement look like?
5. What ministry are you being called to serve in? If you aren’t serving already,
what is keeping you from moving forward with this calling?
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 15:36-40
- Colossians 1:13-14; 3:12-13
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:
ENCOURAGER: The Lord leads us in paths of righteousness, equipping and spurring us on toward good works through the Spirit, his Word, and other believers.
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 other churches 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:
We Will Say In That Day
You will see there a highway from God’s own hand
That will lead back the lost to the Promised Land
And the voice of the Savior will call us friends,
Saying, “Join in the song of the Lord!”
We will call back our armies: “Return from war!”
And we’ll make into plowshares our useless swords
Very soon to forget what they once were for
When we join in the song of the Lord!
We will say in that day, “To the Lord, give thanks!”
We will not be afraid, for He comes to save.
We will shout; we will call: “Every tribe and race:
Come and join in the song of the Lord!”
You will see there a banquet for sinners spread
Where we’ll sit with the Lord at the table’s head
And our Shepherd Himself is our wine and bread
And we’ll join in the song of the Lord!
When the remnant return to the promised land
When the highway of God brings us home to Him
We’ll be welcomed with love by our Savior friend
And we’ll join in the song of the Lord!
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:
1 Peter 2:9
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”
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 19: Is there any way to escape punishment and be brought back into God’s favor?
Answer: Yes, God reconciles us to himself by a Redeemer.
