Under any system of society ... the family
holds the future in its bosom.
~Charles Franklin Thwing
Family Closeness
Game:
Which
of these stories is true?
Have
each family member think of three stories. They could be personal stories,
from the news, or even from something like a Ripley’s Believe It or Not. Two of
the stories must be false and one must be true. Family members have to guess
which one is the true story.
Sharing:
Questions for
stimulating discussion in your family.
- The most wonderful thing about this planet is . . .
- It is important to be honest because . . .
- Some one who needs prayer/thoughts at the moment is . . .
Story
With your family read: John 15.1-8
Questions
for Discussion:
- What do you think Jesus is telling us in this passage?
- What does it mean to be connected to Jesus?
- What do the branches get from the vine?
Prayer and Celebration
The prayer Jesus taught is a great model for how we might
pray and how we might teach our children to do so. Each week we will look at a line of the Lord’s prayer
and discover what we can learn about prayer from it.
Forgive
us our sins,
as
we forgive those who sin against us.
These
lines of the Lord’s pray encourage us to reflect on where we have missed the
mark in our relationship with God, with others, with ourselves and with
creation. It also makes us question where we are not forgiving others.
Discuss
with your family some of the ways that humans are sinful.
Discuss
why forgiving others is important if we are to ask for forgiveness.
Take
some time in silence to ask God for forgives for those things on our hearts and
also to forgive others.
Service
(starting in your home)
Question:
how can I give power to the other? One answer: Encourage III.
Work
with your child on an aspiration that is important to them. It may relate to
school, music, sport or a hobby or other. A tremendous endorsement in personal
power is the knowledge that a skill has been acquired, a measure of mastery has
been gained. Sometimes we might be drawn to the child whose interests match our
own – say I prefer rugby over soccer. It
is vital to engage in the things that interest our children, more than
ourselves. This is a long-term project. This is not something to tick off in 7
days time. Stay committed to the task. Remember the guiding question however:
how do you give power to your child. This will ensure you are working for their
goal and not your own.
Family
Time
Bonus Family Activity
This week,
create a Love Poster. On the top of the poster, write: "Love one another
as I have loved you." Brainstorm practical ways family members can love
each other the way Jesus loves your family. (Share bathroom time, take out the
trash without being asked, say nice things to each other, etc.) Discuss the
cost of each activity. (How will you have to change to live out what your
family wrote down?) At the bottom of the poster, write the word
"Sacrifice." Discuss the meaning of the word and how love demands
sacrifice. End the discussion by reading John 15:9-14. Emphasize Jesus died for
us because he loved us and was willing to sacrifice everything for us.
from word-sunday.com
Larry Broding (Copyright 1999-2002)
(This material is based on and draws from earlier Faithful Families emails by Stephen Harrison and Richard Browning: An Unless Ideas Production.) Unless otherwise noted all material on this blog is copyright Stephen Harrison and Richard Browning
