CREATING THE FUTURE

A WORLD MEETING OF FAMILIES LESSON

MARCH 6, 2015

OPENING PRAYERHear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise.”

(Deuteronomy 6:4-7)

FIRST STEPSBY VINCENT VAN GOGH

- The child is trying to walk.- He is being assisted by the mother.- The Father has set aside his own work

to embrace the child with open arms.

- What else do you see in this painting?

BRAINSTORMING ON THE FAMILY

In PAIRS: list 20 ways that parents help their children to grow.

Form into FOURS. Make a short list of the more beautiful, inspiring ways you’ve listed.

HOW DO PARENTS HELP THEIR CHILDREN TO LEARN…

…to WALK?…to LOVE OTHERS?…to LOVE GOD?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. How is marriage of a man and a woman different from other close friendships?

2. How do parents teach their children differently from other people in our lives? Do you recall a BEST PARENTAL LESSON from your childhood?

3. How is your home a domestic church?

4. Are we comfortable praying, reading the Bible, and discussing faith within our family? Can we make it more comfortable?

5. How can YOU build up the faith of your family, or help your family be more open to faith?

6. How can one family help the faith of another family?

7. Is there an adult in your life whose faith inspires you? What do you admire about them?

BRINGING IT HOME

• Interview a member of your family about his or her own experiences of faith.

• Use the following questions and add your own: • Who taught you about God?

• What helps you to strengthen your faith?

• What is your favorite passage from the Gospels about Jesus?

• What is your favorite way to pray?

• What is one piece of advice you could give to people my age about faith?