FamilyWorshipGuide’–Week8’...2 sing,!“oh!praiseHim,!hallelujah.”!! MEMORIZE’...
Transcript of FamilyWorshipGuide’–Week8’...2 sing,!“oh!praiseHim,!hallelujah.”!! MEMORIZE’...
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Copyright ©2011 The Church at Brook Hills www.brookhills.org
Family Worship Guide – Week 8
READ Read Acts 17:16-‐34 Paul arrived in Athens during his second missionary journey. Upon arrival Paul’s “spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols” (17:16). As was his normal custom he began reasoning with Jews and Gentile God-‐fearers in the synagogue. Following his time in the synagogue Paul made his way to the marketplace where he began to converse with two of the most prominent groups of philosophers. They called Paul a “babbler,” a term which referred to one who pecks at ideas like a chicken pecks at seeds and then spouts them off without fully understanding them. When Paul mentioned Jesus’ death and resurrection, the leading philosophers became especially intrigued and brought Paul to the Areopagus. In Paul’s day the Court of Areopagus exercised jurisdiction over matters of religion and morality. The council wanted to know about Paul’s “new teaching,” which was strange to their ears. In Athens, the ancient world’s intellectual center, the people loved to debate the latest ideas, so this openness gave Paul an opportunity to preach his message. Paul’s message was clear: the Creator God, who has revealed Himself in Creation, has now commanded all to repent, for everyone must give an account to Jesus Christ whom God raised from the dead. Because God made everything, He is supreme over all -‐ “the Lord of heaven and earth” (17:24). Such a God does not live in humanly constructed temples, as the Greek gods did. God is above human temples, but He is also self-‐sufficient and is not sustained by human provisions (17:25). This sovereign God has omnipotently decreed the history and boundaries for the nations (17:26). All people are God’s offspring, not in the sense that they are all His redeemed children, but in the sense that they are created by God and receive their very life and breath from Him (17:28). Paul’s conclusion was obvious: since humans have been created by God, He cannot possibly be thought of in the form of an idol, an image constructed by man (17:29). This would have been a revolutionary concept to those in Athens, whose city was “full of idols” and “objects of worship.” It is this God who now “commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead” (17:30-‐31). To a Greek it was nonsense to believe a dead man could be raised from the grave to live forever, so some mocked Paul. Others wanted to hear more about what Paul was saying and as a result “some men joined him and believed” (17:34). Questions: When Paul looked around Athens the text says that his “spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols” (17:16). What “idols” do you see being worshipped throughout your city? What sort of idols or gods do you tend to worship rather than the one true God? How can you follow Paul’s example and openly share Jesus with others in your city? Bottom Line: Our God is far superior to all other gods.
PRAY As you read through Paul’s second missionary journey (Acts 16-‐18), meditate on the conversions we see. How was Lydia converted? How was the Philippian jailer converted? Ask God to give you boldness this week to proclaim the gospel, and pray that His Spirit will open the hearts of those you share with to hear the gospel and respond favorably. Pray that God will make us a church that passionately proclaims His glory and His gospel daily!
SING We see from Paul’s witness to the Athenians a bold proclamation of the one true God. He has created us to give our mind’s attention and heart’s affection to Him and Him alone, for He alone is worthy of our praise. In light of the truth we see from this text, we chose “All Creatures of our God and King” as this week’s Family Worship Song. Originally written by St. Francis of Assisi in the early Thirteenth Century, this hymn has been a call for the church to join in an eternal song of praise for nearly 800 years. As God’s church today, because of His love for us in Christ, we join this ancient anthem to
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sing, “oh praise Him, hallelujah.”
MEMORIZE Acts 17:24-‐25 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.
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 Hm together. Preschool
• Before you begin, get your Bible and a toy doll or animal. Remind your preschooler that the Bible is God’s word. Everything in the Bible is true. Tell them that God wants us to obey Him and follow His plan for us. We find that plan in the Bible.
• Read Acts 17:24-‐25. • Remind your child that the Bible gives us rules to follow. Read Exodus 20:3-‐4. Explain to your child that God tells us in
His word that, “you should have no other Gods before me” and “you should not bow down or worship any false idols or gods”
• Now show your child the toy and ask your child: Is this toy real? Can it talk to you? Can it hear you when you talk? Could you pray to this toy? Would it be able to help you when you pray? NO! This toy is not real. This toy could not hear you when you talk to it or pray to it because it is not real. The one true God that created you, the world and everything in it is bigger, better and stronger than any other toys or false gods.
• Questions: Who created you? God did! Who made the world and everything in it? God did! How many real gods are there? There is only ONE true God.
• Conclude by praying God’s word in Acts 17:24-‐25 with your preschooler.
Children • Re-‐read Acts 17:24-‐25. • Help your children understand the following:
o There is only one Creator-‐ God. He gives life to everyone and everything that exists comes from Him. Everything in the universe is under the category of creation. Because God alone is Creator, He deserves our worship, trust, and love.
o Idolatry takes place in our lives when we put any created thing in God's place. o Idols are hardly ever physical statues like the ones in Athens but rather "everyday" things. They are also very
often not bad things but good things that we put in the position that only God deserves. • How do you know if an idol is present in your life? Here are some helpful questions to ask:
o Can you think of anything that if mom and dad took away you would be very, very angry? o Complete this sentence: "The most important thing in my life is ______." o When I don't get my way, how do I respond?
• Pray as a family that God would reveal areas of idolatry wherever they are present in the lives of each family member and that there would be a continual turning from these and trusting in Christ as they are recognized. Also, pray for opportunities to share the saving message of the One True God to others who are blinded by the idols and false gods of this world.
Students • As a family, re-‐read Acts 17:22-‐24 and discuss “What is Idol Worship?” • Case Study: Sam is a 9th grader who goes to Central Hills High School and is involved in many different activities. Sam
recently made the cheerleading squad at school and has also been chosen as a student leader in the praise band at church. Lately she has found herself caring what her school friends think about her dress and makeup. It’s not that she dresses badly or even that her makeup is done incorrectly, it’s that she’s noticed the other girls are wearing nicer clothes and it’s obvious that the boys notice her friends who wear more makeup. These observations have caused Sam to be discouraged by her appearance. As the year goes on she is spending less and less time on her relationship with the Lord
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and more time getting prepped for school. Sam continues to lead in the praise band and she even plans to go on a mission trip to Mexico, but her looks and image continue to govern her attention, thoughts, and time. By the end of the year, Sam is voted “most popular” by the 9th grade class and her picture covers half a page in the yearbook.
• Discuss as a family the heart of the young lady described above. List any idols evident in her life. Parents: focus on the idea of self-‐image or the idol of misplaced identity.
• Idol worship isn’t all wrapped up in little wooden statues. Make a list of things in your own life that if not present would cause a sense of loss or purpose (i.e. a sport, relationship, or habit).
• Conclude by reading Acts 17:24-‐25. Pray and ask Christ to show you areas of idol worship in your own life.
Pra
yer
W
eek
8
Loca
l
Focu
s: M
-Pow
er M
inis
try
Out
reac
h: T
his
wee
k w
e ar
e pr
ayin
g fo
r M
-PO
WER
Min
istr
ies,
a
Chri
stian
soc
ial s
ervi
ces
min
istr
y in
Avo
ndal
e th
at p
rovi
des
oppo
rtun
ities
for
peop
le to
bre
ak
the
cycl
e of
pov
erty
thro
ugh
educ
ation
, lite
racy
an
d he
alth
ser
vice
s.
Loca
l Chu
rch:
Firs
t Bap
tist I
rond
ale,
Pau
l Hic
ks
Mon
day:
Pra
y th
at th
e st
aff w
ould
hav
e w
isdo
m
as th
ey le
ad a
nd te
ach
the
men
and
wom
en
wal
king
thro
ugh
the
educ
ation
and
lite
racy
pr
ogra
ms
at M
-PO
WER
.
Tues
day:
Pra
y th
at th
e pa
tient
s in
the
M-P
OW
ER
Hea
lth C
ente
r w
ill fi
nd p
hysi
cal a
nd s
piri
tual
he
alin
g as
vol
unte
er d
octo
rs, n
urse
s, a
nd o
ther
s sh
are
the
gosp
el in
wor
d an
d de
ed.
Wed
nesd
ay: P
ray
for
God
to s
end
mor
e Br
ook
Hill
s’ s
mal
l gro
ups
and
mem
bers
to s
erve
in th
e ed
ucati
on, l
itera
cy a
nd h
ealth
cen
ters
.
Thur
sday
: Pra
y fo
r G
od to
tran
sfor
m th
e he
arts
an
d m
inds
of m
en a
nd w
omen
par
ticip
ating
in
the
educ
ation
cen
ter.
Frid
ay: P
ray
that
the
liter
acy
tuto
rs w
ould
be
able
to s
hare
the
gosp
el a
s th
ey te
ach
othe
rs to
re
ad th
roug
h th
e M
-PO
WER
Lite
racy
Cen
ter.
Satu
rday
: Pra
y fo
r th
ose
in th
e co
mm
unity
that
ne
ed th
e se
rvic
es o
f M-P
OW
ER b
ut a
re fe
arfu
l of
cha
nge.
Cop
yrig
ht ©
2011
The
Chu
rch
at B
rook
Hill
s
Glo
bal
Part
ner:
Thi
s w
eek
we
are
pray
ing
for
Bas
and
his
orga
niza
tion
wor
king
am
ong
the
Ara
b pe
ople
gr
oup
livin
g in
Det
roit,
Mic
higa
n.
Shor
t Ter
m T
eam
s: In
dia
Mon
day:
The
re a
re a
ppro
xim
atel
y 30
,000
Ara
bs
in th
e D
etro
it ar
ea, t
he la
rges
t pro
porti
on o
f A
rab
Am
eric
ans
for
a ci
ty o
f its
siz
e. P
ray
for
the
gosp
el to
per
mea
te th
is d
ense
unr
each
ed
peop
le.
Tues
day:
Pra
y fo
r w
isdo
m fo
r Ba
s an
d hi
s te
am
as th
ey s
trat
egiz
e an
d se
ek o
ppor
tuni
ties
in
shar
ing
the
gosp
el.
Pray
for
open
doo
rs a
nd
favo
r in
eng
agin
g th
e lo
st.
Wed
nesd
ay: P
ray
that
God
wou
ld p
repa
re th
e he
arts
of t
he A
rab
in D
etro
it to
hea
r th
e go
spel
an
d be
ope
n to
kno
w C
hris
t as
Lord
and
Sav
ior.
Thur
sday
: The
Ara
b cu
lture
is d
iver
se in
nat
ure,
ev
en m
ore
whe
n pl
aced
in o
ur W
este
rn c
onte
xt.
Pray
for
God
to o
verc
ome
the
chal
leng
es th
is
brin
gs w
hen
tryi
ng to
eng
age
peop
le a
nd s
hare
th
e go
spel
.
Frid
ay: P
ray
for
mor
e w
orke
rs to
pla
nt th
eir
lives
am
ong
the
Ara
b pe
ople
livi
ng in
Det
roit.
Satu
rday
: Bas
and
his
team
pro
vide
an
Engl
ish
scho
ol, j
ob tr
aini
ng o
ppor
tuni
ties
and
com
mun
ity o
utre
ach
prog
ram
s fo
r A
rabs
im
mig
ratin
g to
the
U.S
. P
ray
for
stro
ng
rela
tions
hips
with
bel
ieve
rs to
be
built
thro
ugh
thes
e op
port
uniti
es s
o th
e go
spel
can
be
shar
ed.
Live
s/Ch
urch
As
you
read
thro
ugh
Paul
’s s
econ
d m
issi
onar
y jo
urne
y (A
cts
16-1
8), m
edita
te o
n th
e co
nver
sion
s w
e se
e. H
ow w
as L
ydia
con
vert
ed?
How
was
the
Phili
ppia
n ja
iler
conv
erte
d? A
sk G
od to
giv
e yo
u bo
ldne
ss th
is w
eek
to p
rocl
aim
the
gosp
el, a
nd p
ray
that
His
Spi
rit w
ill o
pen
the
hear
ts o
f tho
se
you
shar
e w
ith to
hea
r th
e go
spel
and
resp
ond
favo
rabl
y. P
ray
that
God
will
mak
e us
a c
hurc
h th
at
pass
iona
tely
pro
clai
ms
His
glo
ry a
nd H
is g
ospe
l dai
ly!
All
Crea
ture
s O
f Our
God
And
Kin
gBy
Fra
ncis
of A
ssis
iA
rran
gem
ent b
y D
avid
Cro
wde
r
All
crea
ture
s of
our
God
and
Kin
gLi
ft u
p yo
ur v
oice
and
with
us
sing
Oh
prai
se H
imA
lllui
aTh
ou b
urni
ng s
un w
ith g
olde
n be
amTh
ou s
ilver
moo
n w
ith s
ofter
gle
amO
h pr
aise
Him
Oh
prai
se H
imA
llelu
iaA
llelu
iaA
llelu
ia
Thou
rus
hing
win
d th
at a
rt s
o st
rong
Ye c
loud
s th
at s
ail i
n he
av’n
alo
ngO
h pr
aise
Him
Alle
luia
Thou
ris
ing
moo
n in
pra
ise
rejo
ice
Ye li
ghts
of e
veni
ng fi
nd a
voi
ceO
h pr
aise
Him
Oh
prai
se H
imA
llelu
iaA
llelu
iaA
llelu
ia
Let a
ll th
ings
thei
r cr
eato
r bl
ess
And
wor
ship
Him
in h
umbl
enes
sO
h pr
aise
Him
Alle
luia
Prai
se, p
rais
e th
e Fa
ther
pra
ise
the
Son
And
pra
ise
the
Spir
it th
ree
in o
neO
h pr
aise
Him
Oh
prai
se H
imA
llelu
iaA
llelu
iaA
llelu
ia
Prai
se, p
rais
e th
e Fa
ther
pra
ise
the
Son
And
pra
ise
the
Spir
it th
ree
in o
neO
h pr
aise
Him
Oh
prai
se H
imA
llelu
iaA
llelu
iaA
llelu
ia
Publ
ic D
omai
n. A
rr. C
opyr
ight
©20
03
wor
ship
toge
ther
.com
Son
gs/s
ixst
eps
mus
ic
Due
to c
opyr
ight
lim
itatio
ns, w
e ar
e on
ly
allo
wed
to p
rint t
he ly
rics
to th
is s
ong
with
no
cho
rds.
We
enco
urag
e yo
u to
dow
nloa
d an
mp3
of t
his
song
from
iTun
es.
Scri
ptur
e M
emor
yTh
e G
od w
ho m
ade
the
wor
ld a
nd e
very
thin
g in
it, b
eing
Lor
d of
hea
ven
and
eart
h, d
oes
not l
ive
in te
mpl
es m
ade
by m
an,
nor
is h
e se
rved
by
hum
an h
ands
, as
thou
gh h
e ne
eded
an
ythi
ng, s
ince
he
him
self
give
s to
all
man
kind
life
and
bre
ath
and
ever
ythi
ng. A
cts
17:2
4-25