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THIS WEEK:
From the Sermon: Psalm 87
NEXT WEEK'S SCRIPTURE: Romans 1:1-15
Preacher: Pastor Rusten Harris
Scripture: Psalm 87
MAIN POINTS: 1. The Lord Loves His City 2. The Lord Expands His Kingdom 3. The Lord Gives His People Joy
Psalm 87 is a celebration of God’s Kingdom of people, a new family, and a City of God that the Lord loves, expands, and fills with joy.
Family Discussion Questions:
1. What’s something that surprised or confused you about this Bible passage?
2. Why is it important for a Christian to belong to a church?
3. If Christ loves the Church and gave Himself up for her, how should we reflect that love for the Church?
4. God’s Kingdom expands to include former enemies. How should this encourage us to share the Gospel with those who are far from God?
5. How would you describe the joy that God’s people have in the Lord?
Parent Tip:
· Read the sermon summary together as a family. Build this into your regular routine, perhaps reading together around the table during a meal.
· There are five questions, each with a different theme. You can choose to go over all five on one night a week, do a couple of questions a few times a week, or discuss one question per day.
· Each question is meant to be a conversation starter model for your children on how to answer these questions by sharing your own personal insights.
· Even if your conversations don’t go as planned, don’t be discouraged. ALL time spent talking about and reading God’s word is valuable!
· The more consistent you are in having these discussions, the more fruitful they will be. As this becomes part of your weekly rhythm, your kids will anticipate the questions and listen more attentively at church.
Other Scriptures
- Deuteronomy 7:7-8
- Hebrews 9:24, 12:22
- Ephesians 2:12-13; 5:25
- Isaiah 49:6b
- John 1:12-13; 7:37-38; 17:3
- Isaiah 2:2
- Psalm 46:4-5b
Parent Tip:
Use these additional scriptures as daily reading. This is also a great way to help your children learn to locate passages in the Bible.
Attribute of God:
HOSPITABLE God makes a home here on Earth for His people through His Church as Jesus is preparing an eternal home for us in Heaven.
Parent Tip:We focus on a new attribute of God each week to discuss as a family. Use this time to discuss who God is, answer questions the kids might have, and talk about what that week’s attribute means to each person in your family.
Prayer Focus:
CHOICE Spend some time this week praying for something the Holy Spirit puts on your heart.
Parent Tip:
Each week of the month has its own prayer theme: Church, Family, Community, and Repentance. Use these themes to show your children how to pray. It can be helpful to add this to an already existing routine, like at bedtime or when you’re in the car together.
THIS MONTH:
MONTHLY SONG:
Be Thou My Vision
Be Thou my vision O Lord of my heart
Naught be all else to me save that Thou art
Thou my best thought by day or by night
Waking or sleeping Thy presence my light
Be Thou my wisdom and Thou my true Word
I ever with Thee and Thou with me Lord
Thou my great Father and i Thy true son
Thou in me dwelling and i with Thee one
Riches I heed not nor man’s empty praise
Thou mine ingeritance now and always
Thou and Thou only first in my heart
High King of heaven my treasure Thou art
High King of heaven my victory won
May I reach heaven’t joys O bright Heaven’s Sun
Heart of my own heart whatever befall
Still be my vision O ruler of all
Each month we highlight a different song for you to sing together. Singing is an integral part of worship! Singing as a family helps teach the kids how to worship at church, and as they learn more songs, they will be able to participate more on Sunday mornings. You can practice your songs in the car, at the dinner table, when you wake up, or at bedtime! You can also check out our playlist on Spotify and sing along with your favorite worship songs.
Memory Verse:
Psalm 86:11 “Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.”
Parent Tip:
This is the same memory verse that the whole church is learning and it rotates monthly. Practice reciting it as a family each day at least once. Dinner time is a great opportunity to practice together.
New City Catechism:
Questions 52: What hope does everlasting life hold for us?
Answer: That we will live with and enjoy God forever in the new heaven and the new earth, where we will be forever freed from all sin in a renewed, restored creation.
