Weekly Inspiration
“Every
father should remember that one day his son will follow his example instead of
his advice”
~Anon
Family Closeness
Game:
Finger grab
A simple but fun game to play in pairs
or more. Face your partner and both perform the following actions on the count.
(It is better if someone else counts out loud for you)
- Place your left hand out flat with the palm up.
- Point the index finger of your right hand out, sticking in the air.
- Place your index finger of your right hand, pointing down, into the palm of your partners left hand.
- As you try to pull your finger up and away the other person has to try and grab it, while at the same time they are pulling their finger out of your palm and trying to grab your finger.
Sharing:
- Questions for stimulating discussion in your family.
- Are you more like a cat or a dog? Why?
- What do you think the best thing about being an adult or child is?
- Would you rather never play or never win?
Story
With your family read: Mark 8.27-30
Questions
for Discussion:
- What two questions does Jesus ask his disciples in this reading?
- Why do you think he asked this?
- What answer does Peter give for himself? What does Jesus say to him?
- Why do you think Jesus told Peter not to tell anyone?
About
the Bible Bit
Jesus and his
disciples are in a place where many different Gods are worshiped both local and
of Greek origins. It is amongst this that Jesus asks his disciples who they
think he is and Peter answers that he is the Messiah, God’s Son. He recognises
that he is the one the Jewish people have been waiting for.
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. It is important that you read them first as some readings
you may feel need to be read in a children’s version of the Bible.
Isaiah 51 The Lord’s comfort for Zion
Isaiah 52 The
Lord’s coming salvation
Isaiah 53.1-12 The suffering servant
Jeremiah 1 Jeremiah’s
Call
Jeremiah 2.1-3.5 Jeremiah’s message
Prayer and Celebration
We are in the season on Lent, the forty days
preceding Easter Day. This is traditionally a time of repentance (saying sorry
and turning from sin). The resources for prayer and celebration for the next
five weeks will focus on ways your family might “celebrate” well this season.Lent is a good time to focus on God’s care and
provision and on our dependence on him, but also on saying sorry
Lent is a season of remembering to say sorry to God for missing the mark.
While Lent is a time of repentance and penitence it does not have to be a
morbid time as we also look forward to the Resurrection of Jesus at Easter. Why
not use some symbols to help your family get a feel for the Season of Lent.
Some of the following things could be used during your family prayer time or
mealtime ritual to mark the season.
Smell: Rosemary.
Taste: Salt.
Colour: Purple.
Feel: Hessian
Sound: “I’m sorry”
This is a possible prayer to use during this season at the
meal table or other times.
God calls us to say sorry for wrong doing.
God calls us to remember that he made us.
God calls us to remember his promises.
God calls us to live a new way,
not by might,
not by power,
but by faith…
How will we live by faith:
The cross?
We will take it.
We will take it.
The bread?
We will break it.
We will break it.
The pain?
We will bear it.
We will bear it.
The joy?
We will share it.
We will share it.
The Gospel?
We will live it.
We will live it.
The love?
We will give it.
We will give it.
The light?
We will cherish it.
We will cherish it.
Family
Time
Rainbow Wall
This Lent begins with the story of the flood. The rainbow is an enduring
symbol of God’s promise. Why not make the rainbow your symbol for Lent, remembering the promise of God.
Create a rainbow on a wall at home adding a new colour each week.
Week 1: Purple - remember
God forgiveness
Week 2: Blue
- remember God healing love
Week 3. Green
- remember Gods creation
Week 4. Yellow - remember Gods promises
Week 5 Orange - remember Gods presence in time of
temptation.
Week 6. Red - remember God
son Jesus, died on cross rose again
(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
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