1. How do you reconcile your vocational ideals with reality?
2. Which "mundane realities" pose a stumbling block for you? How do you overcome them?
3. When have you been pushed past your perceived capabilities? What did you gain from the experience?
4. How does your family serve others?
Action Point-
Try to think of some people you meet everyday-in your church, your neighborhood, etc.-who could use some love and care. Come up with a plan to minister to those people's needs together. (Your children's ideas may surprise and challenge you!)
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Chapter 18: Serving with a Willing Heart
1. What gifts do you see in your children? How do you nurture them?
2. How can we help our children develop empathy and compassion?
3. When do you insist your children serve?
4. Reflect on how the sin in your life makes you resist responsibility.
Action Point-
In Luke 10: 30-37, Jesus tells the parable of the good Samaritan [Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was; and when he saw him, he had compassion, and went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; then he set him on his own beast and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, `Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.' Which of these three, do you think, proved neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?" He said, "The one who showed mercy on him." And Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."] Read this story to your children. Ask them why this Samaritan, who was not a religious Jew, was considered to be the one who did God's will. What does this teach us about how God wants us to act in our daily lives?
2. How can we help our children develop empathy and compassion?
3. When do you insist your children serve?
4. Reflect on how the sin in your life makes you resist responsibility.
Action Point-
In Luke 10: 30-37, Jesus tells the parable of the good Samaritan [Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was; and when he saw him, he had compassion, and went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; then he set him on his own beast and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, `Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.' Which of these three, do you think, proved neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?" He said, "The one who showed mercy on him." And Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."] Read this story to your children. Ask them why this Samaritan, who was not a religious Jew, was considered to be the one who did God's will. What does this teach us about how God wants us to act in our daily lives?
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Chapter 17: Compassionate Harvest-a Model for Service
1. In what ways do we live out the redemptive kindness of God in service to the needy and downtrodden in society? In our family?
2. How can we help our children look at other people through Jesus' eyes and respond as He did?
3. Share an example of an interruption that turned out to be a ministry opportunity.
4. Jesus never asks us to do what he has not already been willing to do. John 15:13 [Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.] states the Lord's definition of the greatest love a person could give. How did he show this kind of love for us? If you strive to follow his example, how would it change the way you parent your children?
Action Point-
Name three ways in which you have laid down your own life (goals, time or expectations) for your children. In what specific areas do your children need to learn how to lay down their own lives and expectations so they can become mature and ready to serve God?
2. How can we help our children look at other people through Jesus' eyes and respond as He did?
3. Share an example of an interruption that turned out to be a ministry opportunity.
4. Jesus never asks us to do what he has not already been willing to do. John 15:13 [Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.] states the Lord's definition of the greatest love a person could give. How did he show this kind of love for us? If you strive to follow his example, how would it change the way you parent your children?
Action Point-
Name three ways in which you have laid down your own life (goals, time or expectations) for your children. In what specific areas do your children need to learn how to lay down their own lives and expectations so they can become mature and ready to serve God?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
