Christmas Morning Family Worship

Christmas Morning

Family Worship

Gather everyone around. If you have a manger scene that is “kid-friendly” have it nearby.  Make sure to place Jesus in the center.  Light a candle.  Sing a favorite Christmas song, like “Joy to the World, the Lord has come.” Have someone read this:

Luke 2 (The Message)

^1-5″About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire. This was the first census when Quirinius was governor of Syria. Everyone had to travel to his own ancestral hometown to be accounted for. So Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth up to Bethlehem in Judah, David’s town, for the census. As a descendant of David, he had to go there. He went with Mary, his fiancée, who was pregnant.

^6-7While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the hostel.

^8-12There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and God’s glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.”

^13-14At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s praises:

Glory to God in the heavenly heights,
Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.

^15-18As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. “Let’s get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us.” They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed.

^19-20Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The sheepherders returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they’d been told!”

Sing Happy Birthday to Jesus.  Pray, “Thank you God for this special day and for sending Jesus.  Help our family to remember You all through our day.  Amen.”

We hope your Christmas morning is full of faith filled traditions, to pass your faith in Christ to the next generation.  Merry Christmas!

HomeConnect, November 14, 2010

God Speaks to Elijah in a Whisper

Link:

http://www.markandmack.com/goodies/whisper.htm

Enjoy reading this short but poignant story. How does this story compare to God speaking to Elijah? Why might God sometimes choose to speak in a whisper instead of a thunderous voice? What are some ways we can move closer to God to better hear him?

Link:

http://www.christianitytoday.com/cl/2001/002/18.10.html

Read the personal testimonies on this site. Choose someone from one of the stories, and pretend you are in that circumstance. Would you have reacted as he or she did? Why or why not?

Read 1 Kings 19:9-18. Then discuss the following questions as a family:
• How do you think Elijah felt when it first began to thunder? How must he have felt when he finally realized that God’s message was in a whisper?
• Have you ever been so scared that you suspected “thunderous” consequences despite your prayers? Were your needs met? How? When?
• Do you think it is important to listen for God’s whisper? Why? What does this tell us about God?

Group Publishing: http://teachersupport.group.com/faithweaver/homeconnect/fall-2010/week-11-(november-14)

HomeConnect, November 7, 2010

Elijah Challenges the Prophets of Baal

Link:

http://www.cybersalt.org/cleanlaugh/3rdexplanation.htm

Ask a family member to read the story on this Web site aloud. Enjoy this child’s explanation of the nature of God and have a good laugh! Then point out the things in the story that aren’t quite right. Perhaps you can come up with a list of reasons we should choose to serve God, based on who hereally is.

Link:

http://www.christiananswers.net/kids/home.html

This site is full of good reasons for serving God. See how many you can find. Then ask each person in the family to pick his or her favorite reason for serving God and share it with everyone.

Join hands, close your eyes, and just think about what it means to serve God. Privately commit to serve God in new ways throughout the upcoming week.

Group Publishing: http://teachersupport.group.com/faithweaver/homeconnect/fall-2010/week-10-(november-7)

HomeConnect, October 24, 2010

The Kingdom Divides

Link:

http://www.epa.gov/safewater/kids/watertreatmentplant/index.html

Click on this URL to follow a drop of water. Where does it go? What did you learn about water? about following a path? Explain why it helps you know where to go when you have a path to follow.

Link:

http://games.yahoo.com/games/kidsmz.html

Sometimes you can get lost even when you have a path to follow. Try to find the way that will lead you through the maze at this site. What was confusing about the maze? Would it have helped to have had a guide? Explain your thoughts.

When we choose to follow God, we may find that there are things and people in the world that cause us to be confused. But we don’t have to give in to confusion. God offers us a lighted path, complete with a guide.

Ask a family member to read Psalm 119:105 and John 16:13. Then discuss and answer the following questions as a family:
• What is the light along God’s path?
• Who is our guide on life’s path?

PRAY Oh, God of the universe, teach us to follow you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Take Home Resource:

http://teachersupport.group.com/media/26802/fa10%20adult%20ttlh%20l08web.pdf

Group Publisher:

http://teachersupport.group.com/faithweaver/homeconnect/fall-2010/week-8-(october-24)

HomeConnect August 22, 2010

Abigail Makes Peace

Link:

http://dir.yahoo.com/Society_and_Culture/Issues_and_Causes/Peace_and_Nonviolence/Organizations/

Link:

http://www.spiritual-endeavors.org/peace/peace-orgs.htm

Link:

http://www.clpgh.org/subject/international/peace.html

Check out the lists of organizations that advocate peace. Some are local. Others are national and even international in their scope and outreach. Are you familiar with any of them? Next consider what you can do to promote peace in your corner of the world.

On a sheet of paper, draw a vertical line down the center. On one side, write the heading “Actions” and on the other side, write “Words.” Encourage everyone to brainstorm ways to solve conflicts peacefully through actions and words, listing suggestions under the appropriate headings. Post the list in a prominent place so that it can be a reminder of God’s desire for us to get along with one another.

Group Publishing:http://teachersupport.group.com/faithweaver/homeconnect/summer-2010/week-12-(august-22)

HomeConnect July 11, 2010

God Speaks to Samuel

Link:

http://www.sandiegozoo.org/education/science_sound.html

Link:

http://www.eduref.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Language_Arts/Listening_Comprehension/LST0001.html

Link:

http://www.edb.utexas.edu/fieldexp/SampleSeminars/SampleSeminar3.php

Link:

http://www.eduref.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Language_Arts/Listening_Comprehension/LST0003.html

Try any of the listening activities at these URLs. Then ask a family member to read 1 Samuel 3:1-21.

• What did you learn about listening from the activities at the various Web sites?

• What did Samuel learn from Eli about listening to God?

• Explain how God can guide and direct us when we recognize his voice and listen.

Ask family members to note on a small piece of paper an area of their lives in which they promise to listen for God’s guidance. Fold the paper, and tape it closed. Then trade papers with other family members, each person committing to pray for the need written on the paper without actually reading it. Remember, God knows the need; we don’t have to. Reassemble in a week and allow family members to share how God has led them. Rejoice in answered prayers.

Group Publisher:http://teachersupport.group.com/faithweaver/homeconnect/summer-2010/week-6-(july-11)

HomeConnect July 4, 2010

God Answers Hannah’s Prayer

Link:
Click on this URL to read about a psychologist’s plan to use relationships to cure depression. What sort ofheavenly relationship would truly cure depression?

Link:

http://www.depression-helper.com/depressioncure.htm

At this Web site you will find that the author believes the answer to sadness and depression is to choose to be happy. As a family project, make up a list of things that you believe will make you happy.

Ask a family member to read the story of Hannah in 1 Samuel 1:1-26. Hannah was unhappy because she wanted a son. When she gave her cares to God, he answered her prayers. She was so happy that she gave her son back to God!

As a family, review the list of things that you believe will make you happy. Then discuss the following questions:

• If God gave the things on your list to you, would you be willing to give them back to God? Why or why not?

• What relationship can bring happiness instead of sadness? How do you find that relationship? How did Hannah find it?

Prayer: God, thank you for caring for us when we are sad. You are everything that we might ever want. Nothing on any list that we might write can compare to the joy of having you as our Savior and best friend.

Group Publishing:http://teachersupport.group.com/faithweaver/homeconnect/summer-2010/week-5-(july-4)

Kid’s Fascination with Dinosaurs

Where did Dinosaurs come from? Are they in the Bible?

Many parents may have heard these questions or questions like these at some point in their parenting.  Why?  Why are kid’s fascinated with Dinosaurs?

I believe it has much to do with secular influence of modern society.  Let me explain!  What show do most of our children watch on TV?  Does “Dora,” or “Diego” sound familiar?  What about movies?  Does the movie “Land Before Time,” ring a bell?

These types of TV shows or movies peek our children’s interest in the mystery of the giant creatures, the Dinosaurs.

In my own family, my son recently requested a Dino Birthday.  When we had a family day he requested to visit a museum that had Dino bones.  Just a few weeks ago I heard a story about a child asking his Awana leader about Dinosaurs in the Bible.  This past week I received an email from a parent asking for a resource for their child’s interest in the giant creatures.

So, this peeked my own interest and guided me to study on the topic myself.  It is important for parent’s to do the same.  Start with the Bible and use it as the framework of your study.  There are other books that can help guide you as well, such as The New Answers Book, by Ken Ham.

Here is a brief start to what I have found.

Dinosaurs!  Here are two texts to begin with; Genesis 1:24-25 and Job 40:15-24.  The Bible provides the framework for explaining the beginning and the end of the Universe.

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” Proverbs 1:7

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Proverbs 9:10

From Ken Ham’s book The New Answers Book, he points out the connection that God created all kinds of land animals in Genesis 1:24-25.  All living creatures lived in harmony with each other, until the fall of Adam and Eve.  It was not until then we see a death of an animal.  God shed an animal’s blood in the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3:21 and clothed Adam and Eve.  Death entered in to the world after the fall of man.

The Big, SO WHAT?

So, what does this mean for me, you may ask?

This is a foundational start to understand and begin to answer our children’s fascination with Dinosaurs and other question about the world. We help them develop their Christian worldview. If we want our children’s faith in Christ to last for a lifetime we (parent’s) need to grow in our faith in Christ.  Let me encourage you to grow with your children and it is OK to say, “I don’t know,” to your child’s questions.  But do not stop there.  Say, let’s find out together.  Make a Faith Moment out of your search together.

May the Lord bless your times together as a family!

Bobby

Texting While Driving

Confession time!

Do you text while driving?

It seems whenever new technology comes out, it creates new problems when it is joined with driving.  Maybe you don’t text and drive, but do you email and drive?

Before “texting” there was talking on the phone while driving.  That combination alone may have caused many accidents on the road.  Before cell phones it was messing with your radio while driving that created problems for motorists.

Either way you look at it, anything that distracts us from the task at hand while driving can create a dangerous situation.  Life is full of distractions.  In a similar way I think anything that distracts us from loving God and loving others can create dangerous situations in life.

Jesus gave us a summary of the two must important focus in life.

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Matthew 22:36-39, NIV)

If we love God and love others, we may reconsider daily distractions.  Any maybe “texting” and emails should be saved for red lights!

In His Grip,

Bobby