familyworshipguide’–week5’ · 2 !! children’ • beforeyoubegingrab!aflashlight.! •...
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Copyright ©2012 The Church at Brook Hills www.brookhills.org
Family Worship Guide – Week 5
MEMORIZE Matthew 5:16 – In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
READ Read Matthew 5:14-‐16. These three verses are part of a much longer teaching of Jesus that is traditionally known as the “Sermon on the Mount”, which contains some challenging but practical ways in which we are to live our daily lives as Christ-‐followers. As citizens of God’s kingdom, our new life in Christ stands in stark contrast to the world around us, just as light shines brightly in darkness. A city, with all of the lights from its inhabitants, situated on a hill can be seen from all around for great distances. This logic was used in Israelite households, as they would take their small lamps and set them up high so that they would provide light to more of the room. In the same way, when we live in such a way as Jesus taught, our good lives are seen by others all around us resulting in God receiving glory for the work he has done in us. Questions: How are we, as Christians, the “light of the world”? How do our lives “shine” for the world around us? How do our good works result in others giving glory to God? In what ways are you currently letting your light shine? Bottom Line: As citizens of God’s kingdom, our new lives in Christ shine brightly for others to see resulting in them glorifying God for the work he has done in us.
SING Let’s continue in worship by singing ‘Lord, I Need You,’ a worship song released in 2011 on the album entitled “Passion-‐ Here For You”. As we sing let’s worship God for being our Creator and Sustainer. He is our Only Defense and Righteousness in that he has made us alive together with Christ by his grace. We are completely dependent on him. We need him every hour. Visit our website for a link to this song: http://www.brookhills.org/gathering/this_week.html.
SUGGESTIONS These suggestions were created by the age-‐group ministry leaders as a way to help parents better communicate the biblical truths discussed in the Family Worship Guide. These suggestions are intended to help parents facilitate God-‐centered discussions with their children. Parents should prayerfully use these suggestions, and any other means necessary, to help their children discover the truths of God’s word and worship Him together.
Preschool
• Before you begin open your Bible to Matthew 5:16 and locate a flashlight and a cloth or scarf. • Now, turn out the lights in the room and turn on the flashlight. • Tell your preschooler that Jesus wants us to be a light to those around us. What do you think would happen if we cover
the flashlight with the cloth? Cover the flashlight to show how no light can be seen because of the covering. • Explain how when the flashlight is uncovered, the light helps us to see everything in the room and see the way we need
to go. Jesus wants us to be a light as we tell people about him and show them the way they need to go. Jesus tells us that we can be a light of the world, too, by showing others what he is like. People will know that you belong to Jesus when they see you doing what is right.
• The Bible says that Jesus wants us to be a light and guide to others. Let’s think of some ways to shine our light to others. Jesus wants to use you to make a difference in the world!
• Close by reading Matthew 5:16 again.
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Children • Before you begin grab a flashlight. • Turn the flashlight on and off a few times, and then take it apart. • Show the children the bulb and explain that the light from the bulb is what everyone sees. Matthew 5:16 says that if we
are Christians our light should bring glory to God. Our light should be an example to others. What do others see when they look at your light? What are ways we dim our light? Read Phil 2:14-‐15 and talk about how grumbling and arguing can dim our light.
• Show the lens. Talk about how it is hard for the light to shine brightly if the lens is dirty. We keep things clear in our relationship with God and with others by confessing and repenting, or turning away, from our sin.
• Show the battery. Explain that if the battery is weak the light will be dim. If it is corroded it won’t work at all. A battery really doesn’t seem to do anything just by itself, but when it’s connected to something like a light bulb it shows its incredible power. Point out that the battery has two poles so it can connect to the flashlight. Talk about how two things, prayer and time in the Word, are the two poles in our lives necessary for our lights to shine brightly. Through prayer and Bible reading we get power to shine brightly for the Glory of God.
• Pray together confessing your sin to God and asking for his power to shine through each of you. Students
• Discuss why it is essential for followers of Christ to live differently than non-‐believers. o How are a believer’s actions a reflection of his or her relationship with God? o How do your actions affect peoples’ view of Jesus? o How do your actions affect peoples’ view of the Gospel?
• Share examples of actions that would prompt others to give glory to God. o Which of these actions are you demonstrating in your own life? o Which of these do you struggle with? o Which of these could you begin living out?
• Letting our light shine before others requires us to be bold and unashamed of the Gospel. Honestly evaluate your life over the last year.
o What evidence is there that you are bold for the Gospel? o Do you avoid or embrace spiritual conversations with lost people? Why? o How is God using you to share the gospel in someone else’s life?