Family Time…Jesus’ Friends Views
Who is Jesus to you? For some parents this is an easy question to answer and others struggle through the answer. In order to teach your own kids, it does help if you have spent some time deciding your response. Your kids will probably reason through this topic in a similar way that you do. So, to prepare it may be helpful to make notes from things you have concluded. This month‘s family time topic from the “Sky Ranch Family Devotional: Follow the Leader” is on “Jesus is God” and the weekly discussion is on “Jesus’ friends views and acceptance.“ This is the last week in the topic that focuses on Jesus is God. Previously, your family has discussed how God told you ahead that Jesus would come to earth, the family that He would be born into, and the location of His birth. You have also looked at what Jesus said about Himself, then what His enemies said and this week what His friends said. All have agreed that Jesus did make the claim to be God in human form. Now, the final decision for your family is to decide what you think about Jesus. Who is Jesus to you?
As a Mom, I knew that I could tell my young kids what I believed and they would probably adopt that belief because I was their Mom. But is that really the best thing for my kids? What happens when they are older and they have to defend their belief to others and I am not there? Will they be able to? I wanted my kid’s faith to be their own. But what helps them own it? When they are about 9-10 years old, kids can begin to reason why they agree or disagree, but you have to help them learn how to reason. I had to begin to ask open ended questions and let them struggle through the answers without frustrating them. I also learned that my kids were ready to learn to reason at very different ages. So, if they weren’t ready to reason, then I had to wait. I also found that kids questions are often the same questions that adult have such as how can I know Jesus is who He says He is? Or if Jesus really is God, why does that matter to me? Those are great questions and worth it to search for those answers!
This week in your family time, I would encourage you to prepare by praying for your family and asking God to prepare everyone’s hearts for this family discussion. It is important for each family member to know what each person individually believes about Jesus. It is also important for the leaders in the family, Mom and Dad, to make a commitment over all of what you want your family’s statement to be about Jesus. As parents, it is useful to clearly state for your kids the direction that you want your family to go by claiming the scripture out loud “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15) At first, there may be family members who are not sure what they believe about Jesus, and that is okay! Kids should not be pressured to have the same belief as their parents. But just others patiently guided you on your journey of faith, you want to patiently guide your kids too. Pray that God will give you the words to guide your kids and pray for peaceful, healthy discussions. Enjoy listening as you hear them share their hearts!
Do you have questions or need prayer for your family? Email me at SkyMoms@skyranch.org.
I will be praying for you!
Stacy
Stacy A. Davis
Sky Ranch Family Devotionals and
Teach Intentionally Author
This week we are in the 1st Topic and 5th Family Time (or page 17) of the Sky Ranch Devotional “Follow the Leader”…
Family Time 5:
Topic 1: Jesus is God…Jesus’ friends’ views and acceptance
Talk with God: Read…Scriptures and questions below.
Colossians 1:13-15 (about Jesus written by Paul) For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son… 15 And He is the image of the invisible God...
- In Col. 1:15, Jesus is whose image?
Colossians 2:9 (about Jesus written by Paul) For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form,
- In Col. 2:9, what dwells in Jesus’ body?
Hebrews 1:3 (about Jesus) And He is the radiance of His (God’s) glory and the exact representation of His (God’s) nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power…
- In Heb. 1:3, who is Jesus?
- In Heb. 1:3, how are all things upheld?
Mark 8:29 (Jesus is speaking) And He [continued] by questioning them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered and said to Him, "You are the Christ."
- In Mark 8:29, who does Peter think Jesus is?
Walk with God: Discuss… What did the group who knew Jesus the best (His disciples) say about Him? But more importantly…what do you say… Who is Jesus to you?
Prayer suggestion… Pray for God’s help to believe Jesus is your God.
Family Time 5:
Leader Answers:
- God
- All of God’s Deity
- The exact representation of God’s nature
- By the Word of Jesus’ Power
- The Christ
- Discussion ideas: The disciples believed Jesus is God. They spent time with Jesus. Hebrews 11:1 tells you that faith is being sure of something that you cannot see. What helps you accept something you know is true?
© 2012 Stacy A. Davis, Inc. All rights reserved.
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