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THIS WEEK:
From the Sermon: Advent Hope: Hebrews 10:19-23
NEXT WEEK'S SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 2:13-17
Preacher: Pastor Jon Needham
Scripture: Hebrews 10:19-23
MAIN POINTS: 1) God’s Promise, and 2) Our Hope
Merry Christmas! As we enter our first week of Advent, we are reminded of the hope that we have in Jesus. God is the promise keeper, and because of that our hope is secure in Him!
Family Discussion Questions:
1. What’s something that surprised or confused you about this Bible passage?
2. What is the definition of hope that we see in the bible?
3. How are Hope and Promises related?
4. What circumstances threaten your hope?
5. When you are tempted to despair, what can you do to remember the hope you have in Christ Jesus?
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 to go over all five on one night a week, 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
- Romans 8:18-24a
- Revelation 21:1-5
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:
HOPE God doesn’t just tell us to have hope, but He gives us hope through the keeping of His promises. He IS hope! God’s promises are secure and our hope is satisfied in and through Jesus Christ.
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 & Fasting Focus:
CHURCH Spend some time this week praying for the Advent season, that those invited to church would attend and respond to the Gospel of hope preached to them.
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:
Joy to the World
Joy to the world the Lord is come.
Let earth receive her King.
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and heaven and nature sing.
Joy to the world the Savior reigns.
Let men their songs employ;
While field and floods, rocks, hill,s and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as the curse is found.
He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders of His love.
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 9:6 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty
God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
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 45: Is baptism with water the washing away of sin itself?
Answer: No, only the blood of Christ can cleanse us from sin.