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THIS WEEK:

From the Sermon: "Father, Into Your Hands I Commit My Spirit!"

Preacher: Pastor Jon Needham
‍Scripture: Luke 23:44-46

MAIN POINTS: 1) The Journey, 2) The Meaning, and 3) The Gift of Jesus’ Words 
In our third and final Sunday of the Words from the Cross series, we exam Jesus’ final words, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” It is these words that describe all of Jesus’ life. He has always and will always trust and obey the Father in everything. Jesus becoming a baby, Jesus learning to walk and talk, Jesus being beaten and hated, and finally Jesus dying on the cross were all ways that Jesus committed his spirit to the Father. We, too, must decide who or what we trust and commit our spirits to. If it is Jesus, than our sin and shame is traded for his faithfulness and righteousness for all eternity. 

Family Discussion Questions:‍

1. What’s something that surprised or confused you about this Bible passage? (Look back at your Sermon Notes for help remembering!)
2. List the ways that Jesus committed his spirit to the Father in obedience?
3. In what situations do you struggle to trust God?
4. When you aren’t trusting God, in who (or what) are you tempted to trust?
5. Why isn’t being a good person or doing your best enough to save you from your sin?
   

Parent Tip:
· Read the sermon summary together as a family. Build this into your normal routine, perhaps reading together around the table during a meal.
· There are five questions, each with a different theme. You can choose one night a week to go over all five, do a couple 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 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:‍

• 2 Timothy 1:8-9
• Galatians 2:16
• James 2:10
  

Parent Tip:
Use these additional scriptures as daily reading. These are also a great way to help your children learn to locate passages in the Bible.

‍Attribute of God:

GRACIOUS: God, in his love for us, gave us the ultimate gift that we didn’t deserve: our salvation.

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:

FAMILY: This week, pray for your family and friends who don’t know Jesus and for an opportunity to invite them to one of our Resurrection Sunday services.

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:

Blessed Assurance

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine
O what a foretaste, of glory divine
Heir of salvation, purchase of God
Born of his spirit, washing in his blood

This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior, all the day long
This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior, all the day long‍

Perfect submission, perfect delight
Visions of rapture, not burst on my sight
Angels descending, bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love

Perfect submission, all is at rest
I in my Savior am happy at rest
Watching and waiting, looking above
Filled with his goodness, lost in his love

Parent Tip:
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:

Isaiah 53:6
“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned-every one-to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

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 14: Did God create us unable to keep his law?
Answer: No, but because of the disobedience of Adam and Eve we are all born in sin and guilt, unable to keep God’s law.

Parent Tip:
We are making our way through the New City Catechism with a new question every month. You can practice catechism questions anytime throughout the day! For the complete list of questions, answers and songs, download the free app “New City Catechism” on your device.