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THIS WEEK:
From the Sermon: Luke 2:10-14
NEXT WEEK'S SCRIPTURE: Luke 2:22-38
Preacher: Pastor Rusten Harris
Scripture: Luke 2:10-14
MAIN POINTS: 1. The World at War 2. The Good News of Peace 3. The Public Witness of Hope
Our last week of Advent has us looking at the beloved carol, “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day”. In a world full of darkness, suffering, and weary with evil, we can find peace in Christ Jesus.
Family Discussion Questions:
1. What’s something that surprised or confused you about this Bible passage?
2. What is the reason for all the evil and darkness in the world?
3. What can we learn about God when we consider the evil in the world?
4. What efforts has man attempted to bring peace to the world? How have those efforts fallen short?
5. How have you proclaimed the Good News of the Gospel publicly? If you haven’t, why is that?
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
- 2 Peter 3:9
- Hebrews 2:14-15
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:
PATIENT God would be just and right to obliterate all of mankind right now because of sin. But God waits. He waits for His children to repent and call on His name so they can have eternal salvation through Christ Jesus.
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 all the Christmas Eve services happening. Pray that those who only attend church on this day would hear the Good News of the Gospel and submit their lives to Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
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:
Silent Night
Silent Night, Holy Night,
All is calm, all is bright,
Round yon virgin,
mother and child,
Holy infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.
Silent Night, Holy Night,
Shepherds quake at the sight;
Glories stream from Heaven above,
Heavenly Hosts sing Alleluia,
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born!
Silent Night, Holy Night,
Son of God, Love’s pure light,
Radiant beams from Thy Holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord at Thy birth,
Jesus, Lord at Thy birth.
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 4: What is God?
Answer: God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth.