August 27, 2023
Today we talked about, Matthew 16:13-20
New International Version
Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”4 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter,[a] and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades[b] will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be[c] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be[d] loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
Family Discussion
1. What have you heard others say about who Jesus is?
2. Who do YOU say Jesus is?
3. What do you think the Keys to the kingdom are?
4. What does it mean to bind and loose?
5. Why did Jesus say not to tell anyone?
August 20, 2023
Today we talked about Matthew 15:21-28
21 Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.” 23 Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”25 The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.26 He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss crumbs it to the dogs.”27 “Yes, it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”28 Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.
Jesus ignored the woman and told her no. Wow can you imagine Jesus telling you no, He won’t help you? She would not take no for an answer, even the dogs get the crumbs. Jesus was impressed by her faith, and he healed her daughter.
Jesus was sent to save everyone, but He came to preach, teach, and heal the Jews first because they are His people. Later He would preach, teach, and heal others. Kind of like, He was going to save everyone, but He was going to save His family and community first. She came too soon. Her faith was so great He healed her daughter anyway.
Jesus was actually on His way to her people; he might have been testing his disciples to show them about faith. He wasn’t rejecting her. It was just not her time yet; her time was coming. The dog was referring to a pet, not a scavenger. A scavenger is not at the master's table, a pet is.
Challenge:
1. When you/ we hear a Bible story that brings confusion, study the background.
2. When you feel like God is telling you no, it might be because it is not time yet.
Family Discussion:
1. Have you ever felt ignored by Jesus?
2. Have you ever felt rejected by Jesus?
3. Have you ever prayed, and the answer was, no?
4. What were your thoughts and feelings regarding this passage?
5. What are your thoughts and feelings now?
August 13, 2023
Families,
We talked about Jesus walking on the water and Peter walking on the water.
When they saw Jesus on the after, after the feeding of the 5,000, still probably amazed about what they just saw, tired and exhausted. They were fighting a major storm, they were seasoned sailors, but this was a doozy! Then they see a ghost!!!! Was it real? Were they imagining because they were fatigued and overwhelmed? To their amazement it was Jesus walking on the water! In all boldness, Peter said, “If it’s really you, tell me to come to you”. Jesus spoke, “Come”. Peter with all his faith and courage stepped into the boat and started walking on the water. Then he became distracted by the storm and took his eyes off Jesus and focused on the storm. He sank. Jesus helped him, then said oohh you of little faith, have you been with me this long not knowing what you’ve heard? In other words, have you been with me this long, and still, you don’t trust me?
Challenge:
1. Be bold and ask Jesus for the impossible, even if you are exhausted and overwhelmed (Honestly, it’s the perfect time to ask)
2. Step out in that bold faith, take the risk of faith (walking on the water)
3. When the storms come, yes acknowledge them, they are real, but don’t take your focus off Jesus, don’t focus on the storm, focus on Jesus.
Family discussion:
1. When they saw Jesus on the after, after the feeding of the 5,000, still probably amazed about what they just saw, tired and exhausted, how do you think they felt when they saw a ghost? Now they believed heavily in ghosts and spirits back in that day.
2. How would you feel?
3. How do you think they felt when they realized it was Jesus?
4. How would you feel?
5. Have you ever stepped out in Faith, then got distracted and sank?
6. Have you ever felt like Jesus said to you “oooh you of little faith, have you been with me this long, and still, you don't trust me?” I sure have.
July 30
Today we talked about Matthew 13:44-46 44 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, 46 who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
We looked for treasure! A sand art cross. Jesus is the treasure. We listened to the scripture while we did the sand art. We also got some “pearls” to remind us that the kingdom is Heaven is like a pearl of great price.
Challenge:
1. Look for God and heaven in the world around you.
2. Share where you see the Kingdom of Heaven.
3. Think about the Kingdom of Heaven is like a hidden treasure or a Pearl of Great Price.
Family discussion:
1. Why is the kingdom of Heaven like a hidden treasure?
2. Why does the Bible say it’s hidden?
3. How can we reflect The Kingdom of Heaven?
4. What can we do to seek the Kingdom of Heaven?
July 23
Families today we talked about Matthew 13:1-8; 18-23
A farmer was planting, but an enemy/ bad guy came and threw in some weed seeds with the plants so that they would get mixed up with the wheat. The workers asked if they should try to pluck the weeds out. The farmer told them to wait until they grew, and then let the farmer decide which ones were good and which needed to be tossed out.
We may see that someone is doing bad or wrong, and we might need to tell them that that is not the right choice. We shouldn’t judge them and decide they are bad people. We are to care for them, and let God judge and change them.
Challenge:
1. Remember not to judge someone because you don’t like them, or you don’t agree with what they do.
2. Know it is okay to notice someone is doing wrong or is mean and even to say something to them. It is okay to not be their friend. It is not okay to judge them.
Family Discussion:
1. Why did the farmer say to let the weeds grow with the wheat until harvest time?
2. Knowing Jesus is talking about people, what would happen if all the weeds were uprooted from our lives now?
3. How often do we see someone and decide they are a weed?
4. Who is supposed to be the judge?
July 16
Parents today we talked about, Matthew 13:1-8; 18-23 The Kingdom of heaven is like….a Sower and seeds.
We Planted seeds in a plastic baggie with a wet paper towel, we will watch the seed grow over the summer.
Challenge:
1. When you are excited about something you just learned and want to learn more, don’t stop just because you are no longer excited.
2. Tell your friends about Jesus, even if you think they won’t listen.
3. Choked out but thorns could be being busyness, worry, a lot of thoughts. Still make time to talk to Jesus, read your Bible (or have Mom and Dad read it to you), and talk about Jesus.
Family Discussion:
1. When you learn something, you are excited about or have a project you are excited about, what makes you stop learning or continuing with the project?
2. What chokes you? I know worry, being busy, and racing thoughts sometimes choke or overwhelm me. What about you?
3. How do you make things in your life grow and your relationships grow.
July 2 & 9, 2023
Families, today we talked about, Matthew 10:40-42
A Cup of Cold Water
40 “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. 41 He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. 42 And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”
We had cold water to drink, and some refreshing snacks, and talked about what water does.
Family discussion:
1. What are all the things you can think of that water does or is used for?
2. Jesus is living water; how do these things reflect Jesus?
3. How does water represent the kingdom of Heaven?
4. How can we reflect Jesu’s living water to others and bring them refreshment?
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
Check out this helpful article from Kari van Wakeren titled,