Questions
According to v.5, what is the basis of a Christian’s faith in Christ Jesus and love for all the saints?
Where do we find true hope (v. 5)?
Who do you know who needs to “know” (v. 7) (realize/see/understand) that the gospel is the message that God offers grace to those who believe His son?
Worship in Song
Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jbe7OruLk8I
Prayer
Thank God for the true hope that we find in the message of the gospel that leads us to believe in the Son and love the brethren. Praise Him for being a gracious God and for giving His Spirit to enable Christians to bear His fruit and to love one another.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Family Worship (Day 1): Colossians 1:3–8
3 We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints; 5 because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth; 7 as you also learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, 8 who also declared to us your love in the Spirit.
Summary: Paul learns from Epaphras, his fellow-worker, about the status of the believers at Colossae. Paul is both encouraged by their faith in Christ as reported to him by Epaphras and concerned about a heresy which undermines who Christ is and what He has done by suggesting Christ is not sufficient for salvation. Paul begins his letter by expressing his thanksgiving for the authentic Christian life that characterizes the believers at Colossae. Paul wants the Colossians to appreciate that they already have true life which springs from the truth of the gospel. One of the greatest weapons we have against any heresy which undermines the person or work of Jesus Christ is gratefulness for all we have been given in Christ – everything we need for now and forevermore!
Questions
Paul is thankful for the believers at Colossae because they give evidence of being Christians.
What is the evidence of the Christian life that Paul mentions?
What Christians are you thankful for because their lives are consistent with their claim to be followers of Christ?
Worship in Song
Listen to By Faith http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-YISm700Pc
Prayer
Thank God for Christians you know whose lives are characterized by faith in Christ Jesus, love for all the saints in the Spirit, and increasing fruitfulness as they walk with Christ. Pray that God would embolden you to live as an example for which others can be thankful. Pray that you would always have gratitude for your life in Christ so that no one could tempt you to believe that Christ has not provided everything you need for life and godliness.
Summary: Paul learns from Epaphras, his fellow-worker, about the status of the believers at Colossae. Paul is both encouraged by their faith in Christ as reported to him by Epaphras and concerned about a heresy which undermines who Christ is and what He has done by suggesting Christ is not sufficient for salvation. Paul begins his letter by expressing his thanksgiving for the authentic Christian life that characterizes the believers at Colossae. Paul wants the Colossians to appreciate that they already have true life which springs from the truth of the gospel. One of the greatest weapons we have against any heresy which undermines the person or work of Jesus Christ is gratefulness for all we have been given in Christ – everything we need for now and forevermore!
Questions
Paul is thankful for the believers at Colossae because they give evidence of being Christians.
What is the evidence of the Christian life that Paul mentions?
What Christians are you thankful for because their lives are consistent with their claim to be followers of Christ?
Worship in Song
Listen to By Faith http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-YISm700Pc
Prayer
Thank God for Christians you know whose lives are characterized by faith in Christ Jesus, love for all the saints in the Spirit, and increasing fruitfulness as they walk with Christ. Pray that God would embolden you to live as an example for which others can be thankful. Pray that you would always have gratitude for your life in Christ so that no one could tempt you to believe that Christ has not provided everything you need for life and godliness.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Family Worship (Day 2): Romans 1:8-15
Day 2 - Prayers for the strengthening of the church
9For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers, 10making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you. 11For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established— 12that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.
Summary: Paul is eager to get to Rome to encourage the believers there, to be encouraged by them, and to allow God to work through Him to "establish" or strengthen the church. It is God who will do the establishing of the church as they remember their mutual faith that came through the hearing of the gospel. Paul is so overwhelmed with thinking about Rome that he prays for them every time that he prays! He cannot help but pray for the believers at Rome. The only person who could stop Paul from getting to Rome was God Himself.
Questions
Have you ever wanted something this badly? What? Why?
Imagine you are one of the Christians in Rome reading Paul's letter for the first time. How would it make you feel to know he prayed for you all the time and wanted to encourage you?
Worship in Song
The only hope for the church to be strengthened in the faith - to grow as disciples - is the faithfulness of God to finish what He has started.
Sing Great is thy Faithfulness
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0k1WhFtVp0o
Prayer
Parents, lead your family in praying that God would strengthen your church and that he would allow your family to be a part of the mutual encouragement that comes only through a common faith in Christ.
9For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers, 10making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you. 11For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established— 12that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.
Summary: Paul is eager to get to Rome to encourage the believers there, to be encouraged by them, and to allow God to work through Him to "establish" or strengthen the church. It is God who will do the establishing of the church as they remember their mutual faith that came through the hearing of the gospel. Paul is so overwhelmed with thinking about Rome that he prays for them every time that he prays! He cannot help but pray for the believers at Rome. The only person who could stop Paul from getting to Rome was God Himself.
Questions
Have you ever wanted something this badly? What? Why?
Imagine you are one of the Christians in Rome reading Paul's letter for the first time. How would it make you feel to know he prayed for you all the time and wanted to encourage you?
Worship in Song
The only hope for the church to be strengthened in the faith - to grow as disciples - is the faithfulness of God to finish what He has started.
Sing Great is thy Faithfulness
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0k1WhFtVp0o
Prayer
Parents, lead your family in praying that God would strengthen your church and that he would allow your family to be a part of the mutual encouragement that comes only through a common faith in Christ.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Family Worship (Day 1): Romans 1:8–15
Day 1 - Gratitude for our local church
8First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.
Summary: Paul thanks God that the faith of the believers at Rome is being reported widely. Everywhere Paul goes, people are talking about the believers at Rome and their faith - no doubt the impact of their faith.
Questions
Am I thankful for the entire body of believers? Am I expressing this thanksgiving to God with prayers in the name of His Son, Jesus?
What would cause our community to believe that our chuch takes faith in Christ and the message of His gospel seriously?
How can our family be a part of helping our local church make a global impact?
Worship in Song
Sing In Christ Alone - Only in Christ can we express proper gratitute for His church
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLy8ksqGf9w
Prayer
Pray that God would use your family and your church in such a way that others have reason to thank God for the impact that your faith in Christ made in their lives.
Pray for an unreached people group - a group with little to no access to the gospel.
8First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.
Summary: Paul thanks God that the faith of the believers at Rome is being reported widely. Everywhere Paul goes, people are talking about the believers at Rome and their faith - no doubt the impact of their faith.
Questions
Am I thankful for the entire body of believers? Am I expressing this thanksgiving to God with prayers in the name of His Son, Jesus?
What would cause our community to believe that our chuch takes faith in Christ and the message of His gospel seriously?
How can our family be a part of helping our local church make a global impact?
Worship in Song
Sing In Christ Alone - Only in Christ can we express proper gratitute for His church
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLy8ksqGf9w
Prayer
Pray that God would use your family and your church in such a way that others have reason to thank God for the impact that your faith in Christ made in their lives.
Pray for an unreached people group - a group with little to no access to the gospel.
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