Faithful Families Resources October 30 2011

Weekly Inspiration

 Let no Christian parents fall into the delusion that Sunday School is intended to ease them of their personal duties. The first and most natural condition of things is for Christian parents to train up their own children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Katherine Walden

Family Closeness

Game:

If I went to mars...

This game can be played with a range of starting statements such as:

If I went to Mars I would take...

I went to the shop and I bought...

I went on holidays and I took...

The first player makes up something that they took or bought and says for example:

If I went to Mars I would take a green apple.

The next person make something up and adds it to the previous persons, for example.

If I went to Mars I would take a green apple and a hat.

Each successive person adds another thing to the list while reciting all the objects previously named. When using this with your family see how many time you can go around the table before someone makes a mistake. How many objects can your family remember?

Sharing:

These questions are to stimulate a sense of openness, sharing and discovery about your family. The key is to listen!! A simple pattern to use might be:

• What is the best thing and the worst thing that happened to you this week.
• What is something that you might say thank you to God for this week? (One for the adults particularly to share: Where have you been aware of God’s presence in your life this week. What “God moments” happened to you this week?)
• What is one thing you think you are good at? Tell the members of your family something you think they are good at. 

Story:

With your family read: Matthew 25.1-13

Questions for Discussion:

This is a parable about being ready to meet Jesus.

• What made five of the bridesmaids wise?
• Who do you think the bridegroom is in the story?
• The job of the bridesmaids was to meet the groom. Why were five not ready?
• How can we always be ready for Jesus? 

Journey through the Bible will provide five readings each week you can use in order to get a good overview of the full sweep of the story of God and His people. There are a variety of ways you might use these readings. As a parent you might read them to get a better understanding of how the divine drama unfolds. You could read them to your children and discuss them. Some are longer than others and might need to be broken up.

Genesis 46.1-7, 28-34             Jacob brings his whole family to Egypt

Exodus 1.1-22                         Israelites in Egypt                  

Exodus 2.1-10                         The birth of Moses

Exodus 2.11-25                       Moses flees to Midian

Exodus 3.1-22                         Moses at the burning bush

Prayer and Celebration

This week learn a new prayer off by heart, together. Write or find a prayer that you can use with your family every night at mealtimes and family sharing times. The prayer does not have to be complicated, but simple enough for everyone to remember. It might include some lines of thanks or praise or asking. Here is on prayer you might learn together.

Lord Jesus Christ, we thank you for all the benefits you have won for us, for all the pains and insults you have borne for us.  Most merciful redeemer, friend and brother, may we know you more clearly, love you more dearly, and follow you more nearly, day by day. 

St Richard of Chichester [1197-1253]

Show and Tell Night

Get each of your family members to share something. It could be a picture they like, a hobby or interest, something they have learned, ma joke or story, something they have made or made up, a game, something they found in the back yard.

(This material is based on and draws from earlier Faithful Families emails by Stephen Harrison & Richard Browning: An Unless Ideas Production.) Unless otherwise noted all material on this blog is copyright Stephen Harrison and Richard Browning

Faithful Families Resources October 23 2011

Weekly Inspiration

In bringing up children, spend on them half as much money and twice as much time.

Author Unknown

Family Closeness

Game:

Zip Zap

This is a  basic game consisting of two words- "Zip" and "Zap". Someone will begin the "flow" by turning to the person next to them and saying "Zip". The flow will continue in the same direction with everyone saying "Zip" until someone decides to reverse the flow by saying "Zap." At that time, the person who just got "zapped" will look at the "zap"-er and say "Zip!" Flow then reverses from it's original with everyone saying Zip again. Example: The "Zip" starts clockwise around the circle until 1 person looks the other way and says "Zap." Then the "Zip" flows counterclockwise until someone else says "Zap."

Zip continues the flow, Zap reverses it.

If someone says the wrong word, mumbles, stalls, or looks the wrong way for the word they said, they're out. Continue playing until down to 2 players. 

(The Source for Youth Ministry)

Sharing:

What is or was your favourite nursery rhyme as a child?

What is or was your favourite outdoor game to play as a child?

Story:

With your family read: Matthew 22.34-40

Questions for Discussion:

What does it mean to love God with all your heart, mind and soul?

What might this look like? Sound like? Feel like?

What does it mean to love your neighbour as yourself?

What might this look like? Sound like? Feel like?

Journey through the Bible

Journey through the Bible will provide five readings each week you can use in order to get a good overview of the full sweep of the story of God and His people. There are a variety of ways you might use these readings. As a parent you might read them to get a better understanding of how the divine drama unfolds. You could read them to your children and discuss them. Some are longer than others and might need to be broken up.

Genesis 43.1-14          Joseph’s brothers return to Egypt

Genesis 42.16-34        Joseph’s brothers return to Egypt

Genesis 44.1-17          The missing cup

Genesis 44.18-34        Judah pleads for Benjamin

Genesis 45.1-28          Joseph tells his brothers who he is.

Prayer and Celebration

Squeezy Prayers

One way to pray is to use "squeezy prayers" Everyone holds hands in a circle. An adult will begin the prayer. When they have finished they  squeeze the persons hand next to them to show it is there turn. They  may pray out loud, or silently, or may squeeze on to the next person.  When the squeeze has reached the starting person they may say another closing prayer or just: Amen.

Here are suggestions for ways of using the squeezy prayer: 

• Using a squeezy prayer ask God for something that is needed in the world…like peace,or understanding or for help in a particular problem in the world.
•  Using a squeezy prayer say thank you for a good friend or friends. Say them by name and even say something you like about them.
•  Using a squeezy prayer say thank you for something that you are good at. A gift God has given you.

Story Night

Dedicate a night to telling stories. Ask each member to bring and tell a story. This could be something that happened to them, a story they have made up or the retelling of a story that they have read. Stories are not allowed to be read.

(This material is based on and draws from earlier Faithful Families emails by Stephen Harrison & Richard Browning: An Unless Ideas Production.) Unless otherwise noted all material on this blog is copyright Stephen Harrison and Richard Browning

Faithful Families Resources October 9 2011

Weekly Inspiration

The family should be a closely knit group. The home should be a self-contained shelter of security; a kind of school where life’s basic lessons are taught; and a kind of church where God is honored; a place where wholesome recreation and simple pleasures are enjoyed.

Billy Graham, “My Answer”

Family Closeness

Game:

Feely Bag

Get two bags or two old socks. Place identical items in each of the two bags or socks. Some suggested items to use are: bottle caps, cotton balls, small sponge pieces, keys, large buttons, etc. Show your children the two bags and match each set of two items one to one. In this way, the child will see and understand that there are two identical items of each kind. Refill the two bags or socks and give one of the bags containing identical objects to the child. Take one of the objects out of the bag and show it to the child. Tell the child to feel in his bag for an object that is just like the one that you took out of your bag. Remind the child to "feel" not look.

Sharing:

• When do you feel closest to your family?
• When do you feel God’s presence with you the most?
• What is your favourite place to be by yourself? 

Story:

With your family read: Matthew 22.15-22

Questions for Discussion:

[The Pharisees thought they could trick Jesus with this question about taxes. If Jesus said, ‘no don’t pay tax’, then he would be in trouble with the Romans, but if he said, ‘yes, pay tax’ then the people would think he approved of Rome. His answer here suggests we need to honour the Government and honour God.]

• What things should we do to be a good citizen?
• What things should we do to be faithful to God?
• Do you think the two ever come into conflict?
• If being a good citizen conflicted with being a faithful disciples what would you choose to do? 

Journey through the Bible

Journey through the Bible will provide five readings each week you can use in order to get a good overview of the full sweep of the story of God and His people. There are a variety of ways you might use these readings. As a parent you might read them to get a better understanding of how the divine drama unfolds. You could read them to your children and discuss them. Some are longer than others and might need to be broken up.

Genesis 39.1-23          Joseph and Potiphar’s wife

Genesis 40.1-23          Joseph in jail

Genesis 41.1-4            Pharaoh’s dreams

Genesis 41.41-57        Joseph in charge of Egypt

Genesis 42.1-38          Joseph’s brothers come to Egypt

Prayer and Celebration

Praying ACTS

Often children get into the habit of always praying thank you prayers or always praying asking prayers. One way to help them broaden their idea of prayer is to teach them this simple way of remembering some different types of prayer.

A – adoration : Prayers telling God how wonderful He is.

C – confession : Prayers saying sorry for the wrong we have done.

T – thanksgiving : Prayers thanking God for all He has done.

S – supplication: Prayers asking God for the things we and others need.

On different days of the week you might like to get your family to talk about and pray each of the different types of prayers. Alternatively you could write the four letters on pieces of paper and pick them out of a hat to determine which one you will use. When it come to confession prayers help your children think not just about their own personal sin but the things we as a people have failed to do – like care for the environment or the needy.

Photograph Night

Get a new roll of film and take your family on an adventure. Make a list of photos they must take at particular places and go out and get them. Eg. photo with a policeman, a funny photo, a photo with at east two animals.

(This material is based on and draws from earlier Faithful Families emails by Stephen Harrison & Richard Browning: An Unless Ideas Production.) Unless otherwise noted all material on this blog is copyright Stephen Harrison and Richard Browning