HomeConnect Week 1, March 7, 2010

FaithWeaver HomeConnect - Spring 2010, Week 01 (March 7)

Date: March 7, 2010
Week 1: Jesus Teaches About Good Fruit (Luke 6:43-44)
Bible Study: Our Christ-like actions show we’re Christians.

Link:

http://www.pbase.com/ozlem4ever/rotten_fruit

Look at the photos of the rotting fruits and vegetables in order. Which would you rather see on your dining table, fruit from Day 1 or fruit from Day 40?

Link:

http://www.savoiafoods.com/fruit%20tray%202.jpg

At this site, look at the picture of the fresh fruit on the tray. What does the glow on the fruit tell you about it? How is the fresh fruit different from the rotting fruit that you saw at the first Web site?

In Luke 6:43-44, Jesus uses fruit to teach about the actions of people. Use what you have learned from the pictures you viewed to answer the following questions:
What did you see on the fruit’s skin that showed you that it was rotting? What did the outside signs tell you about the heart of the fruit? Was it useful once it rotted? Why or why not?

What things do you see on fresh fruit that make you want to eat it? What do those things tell you about the heart of the fruit?

What do an individual’s actions tell others about what is in the heart of that person? How do unbecoming actions affect a Christian’s testimony? What actions can you do to show others a healthy walk with Christ?

Group Publishing, http://www.group.com/tips/Default.aspx?tipID=8191

HomeConnect Week 4, February 28, 2010

Date: Sunday, February 28, 2010
Week 13: Jesus Teaches About Loving Enemies (Luke 6:27-38)
Bible Point: Jesus says to treat others as we want to be treated.

Link:

http://www.nncc.org/Guidance/dc14_develop.social.skill.html

Link:

http://www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview?LPid=590

Link:

http://humanresources.about.com/od/workrelationships/a/demo_respect.htm

Use these Web sites to explore approaches for treating people in socially acceptable ways. Then read Luke 6:27-38. Based on this Scripture, how do you think God would like for Christians to treat others? Does God expect more or less than what is “socially” acceptable?

Take a piece of paper and write “Treatment of Others” at the top. Draw a vertical line down the center of the page. Label the first column “Socially Acceptable” and the second column “Acceptable to God.” As a family, think of behaviors that belong in each column. Compare the two sides of the paper. How are they alike? How are they different?

Prayer: God, help us remember to see others through your eyes and to treat them as you would.

Group Publishing, http://www.group.com/tips/Default.aspx?tipID=8095

HomeConnect Week 3, February 21, 2010

Date: Sunday, February 21, 2010
Week 12: Jesus Teaches About Rewards (Luke 6:17-26)
Bible Point: Our lives should focus on what’s important to God.

Link:

http://www.nahee.org/awards/

Browse this site and read about the awards that are offered. In general, what qualities are rewarded? Do you know someone with any of these characteristics?

Link:

http://www.tor.com/homeofthebrave/meettheheroes.html

Look carefully at this site. It tells about heroes who earned awards for their courage. Suppose Christians received bravery awards. What sorts of Christian actions would you reward? Why?

Discuss the following questions as a family:

What are some of God’s rewards?

When will Christians receive God’s rewards? How do you know this?

What sorts of things does God reward? What does this tell us about God’s priorities? What is important to God?

Group Publishing, http://www.group.com/tips/Default.aspx?tipID=8094

HomeConnect Week 2, February 14, 2010

Date: Sunday, February 14, 2010
Week 11: Moses and Elijah Appear With Jesus (Luke 9:28-36)
Bible Study: Jesus showed that he is God’s Son.

Link:

http://www.stellure.com/

At this Web site, you can upload pictures of yourself and then let the computer show you how you would look with your hair cut in various styles. Sound like fun? Give it a try! Now think about this question: How would you know that someone has just been with a hair stylist?

Link:

http://www.jrn.columbia.edu/studentwork/cns/2003-04-11/230.asp

Look at the picture of the barber shaving his customer’s face. Consider this: How would you know that a man has just had his face shaved?

Link:

http://www.news.wisc.edu/6961.html

Check out this photograph and article about “purposeful” exercising. Then answer this question: How would you know that someone has just spent time exercising?

Read Luke 9:28-36 as a family and discuss the following:
What telltale signs let you know that someone has been with a hair stylist, barber, or personal trainer?

How can you tell that someone has been with God? What sorts of “signs” does God leave on those who spend time with him?

How could people in biblical times know that Jesus had been with God? Can you name events in Jesus’ life that show he was in constant contact with his Father? How did this let the world know that Jesus is God’s Son?

Close in prayer, recognizing Jesus as God’s Son and asking that you, too, will bear signs of spending time with God.

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HomeConnect Week 1, February 7, 2010

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HomeConnect Week 5, January 31, 2010

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HomeConnect Week 4, January 24, 2010

Date: Sunday, January 24, 2010
Week 8: Jesus Teaches in a Synagogue (Luke 4:14-21)
Bible Point: Jesus came for all people.

Link:

http://www.fotosearch.com/photos-images/homeless.html

Link:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/homeless/

Link:

http://hazel.forest.net/skjold/photo_pages/homeless.htm

Browse these sites, imagining yourself as the poor child, the forsaken elderly person, the prisoner, or the oppressed victim of poverty. Are there days when you feel spiritually poor or impoverished by circumstances that leave you tired and drained? Share these times with each other.

In Luke 4:14-21, Jesus is preaching in the synagogue. He promises that he has the power to free those who believe in him from poverty, imprisonment, and oppression. Discuss the following questions as a family:

Do you think Jesus meant that he would physically free people? Why or why not?

How might someone be free in Jesus without a change of circumstances? Explain.

As a family, take a few moments to brainstorm all the ways that Jesus frees you. How does knowing that you are free in Christ make you feel?

Group Publishing, http://www.group.com/tips/Default.aspx?tipID=8091

HomeConnect Week 3, January 17, 2010

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HomeConnect Week 2, January 10, 2010

Date: Sunday, January 10, 2010
Week 6: Satan Tempts Jesus (Luke 4:1-13)
Bible Point: With Jesus’ help we can resist temptation.

Link:

http://nutrition.about.com/library/blnutritionquiz.htm

Take the nutrition quiz at this site and enjoy browsing to look at the food pictures. Then consider Luke 4:1-4. Jesus had not eaten for forty days when the devil tempted him with food. Yet Jesus did not give in to Satan. Would you be able to ignore a physical need in order to remain true to God? Why or why not? What would you do to make yourself strong against the devil?

Link:

http://www.santiagogoldproject.de/html/picture_gallery.html

Check out the Santiago Gold Prospect area. The pictures at this site show mountains that are literally full of gold. This is similar to what Satan offered to Jesus, in that it represents unbounded wealth. Given the same choice Jesus was given, would you be able to tell Satan no?

Link:

http://www.corsinet.com/braincandy/dying.html

Study the list of last words spoken by famous people. Do you see a contrast between the words of Christians and the last remarks of others? How have temptations affected the lives of these people? Do you know? Use the Internet to research the lives of several persons who are quoted.

Prestige and popularity are a temping duo. How far would you be willing to go to be popular? Are you ever tempted to “go along” with the crowd, even when you know that it is against what God would want you to do? What should you do when you face such temptations?

Prayer: God, make us strong. Keep us focused on you, so that we can resist temptation. It is you that we want to worship and not the things of this world.

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HomeConnect Week 1, January 3, 2010

Date: Sunday, January 3, 2010
Week 5: The Word Became Flesh (John 1:1-18)
Bible Point: People who know Jesus are God’s children.

Link:

http://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/custommenu.html

Link:

http://www.dltk-cards.com/calendar/

Use either of these programs to create your own customized calendar to celebrate the new year ahead. Don’t forget to use the correct year date! Does it seem odd? Discuss how long it usually takes to get used to using the new date each year.

Discuss the following with your family:

Learning the new year date is a good habit to form, just like brushing your teeth or putting your plate in the sink after dinner. Can you name some other habits that are good ones?

Psalm 145:2 reminds God’s children to bless the Lord and to praise him every day. There is no doubt that blessing the Lord is a good habit. As you think about the year ahead of you, discuss how you can bless the Lord through your daily actions.

Make a list of good habits that bring praise to God. Post the list where everyone in the family can see it all week long. Then plan a time when you can get back together to “compare notes.” Did you form any good habits this week? What were they? Are you able to do any of them all year long? Would these habits please God? How?

Jesus became flesh so that we could be the children of God. In what ways can this thought affect the way you live throughout the coming year?

Group Publishing, http://www.group.com/tips/Default.aspx?tipID=8088