May 14, 2023
Today we talked about, John 14:15-21
15 “If you love Me, [a]keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another [b]Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
19 “A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. 20 At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. 21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and [c]manifest Myself to him.”
Jesus says if you love me, keep my commandments. Or in other words, if you love me, obey me. Jesus wants us to obey because we love him, it is an act of love, and obedience shows love.
Challenge:
1. Obey Jesus, he requires us to be king, loving, and forgiving. He also requires that we obey our parents and those in authority.
2. Obey your parents and teachers.
3. Know that if you know Jesus you know God too.
Family discussion:
1. How do love and obedience go hand and hand?
2. Is it easy to obey Jesus?
3. What challenges do we have in obeying our parents and those in authority, even as adults?
4. How can I remember obedience is an act of love?
Parents we read: John 10:1-10 April 30, 2023
Jesus the True Shepherd
10 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4
And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them. Jesus the Good Shepherd 7 Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who ever came
[a]before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
Challenge:
1. Spend time reading books about Jesus, talking to Jesus, and Listening to Jesus music. By doing this, you will learn His voice.
2. Listen for His voice.
Family Discussion:
1. Can you fathom the fact that Jesus knows you, not only as his sheep, but He knows you by
name?
2. As you are spending time reading the Bible, singing worship songs, and playing, do you hear
Jesus voice?
3. The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy. Have you ever listened to or followed the thief? Even if it was unintentional.
4. Jesus says my sheep hear my voice; how do you hear Jesus?
Road to Emmaus: April 23
Dear families,
Today we talked about the Road to Emmaus.
Challenge:
Family Discussion
Doubting Thomas: April 16
Parents,
We read the story of Doubting Thomas in the Spark Bible. We talked about
doubting God and how He shows us He is who He says He Is.
Challenge:
1. Trust Jesus even without seeing.
2. Think about why it is hard to trust without seeing.
Family Discussion:
1. Have you ever been walking with God having a good relationship with
him and then tragedy or trauma happened Did it make you question or
doubt God?
2.Were you honest or did you pretend everything was fine and you still
trusted everything? Did you act like your faith was not shaken, or did you
admit it was shaken?
3. Were you Honest with God about it?
4. Did God turn you away because of your doubts and questions? Did he
al low the questions and doubt and show you anything about them?
5. What about when God doesn’t answer the question of why or how?
6. How can you love and support someone that is dealing with questions
and doubts?
Easter: April 9
Parents,
We read the Easter story in the Spark Bible
Challenge:
1. Tell others about Jesus’ death and being alive again.
Family discussion:
1. Imagine that you are Mary and Martha heading to the tomb of your friend, Rabbi Jesus. You are still in shock and disbelief that He was killed. Broken in Spirit, hurting, and grieving you go to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body with oil and spices. You find the tomb empty. Forgetting the fact that you know the story, how are you feeling, what are you thinking?
2. Imagine again that you are Mary and Martha, and you see two huge glowing angels. What are your thoughts and feelings?
3. You are told Jesus is not there He’s alive then told to go tell the others. Are you going to go hide, or go tell the others the wonderfully unbelievable news?
4. What miracles have you seen? Have you shared them?
5. How can you share the unbelievably good news about Jesus with others?
Shares perspective on what to see at the box office, which TV shows are worth watching, what video games are all about, and what music to listen to
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