Family Worship Guide Week 40

READ PRAY Family Worship Guide Week 40 This week we continue our study of First Timothy. Timothy was a young pastor in the church at Ephesus. Paul wrote this letter to Timothy to tell him how he should lead the church. Paul was the missionary who had planted the church at Ephesus and preached there for three years (Acts 20:31). Read 1 Timothy 6:3-10. To be rich can lead to forgetting that God is our provider, and to be poor can lead to anger with God over one s circumstances (Proverbs 30). The conclusion then is that contentment is not found in your bank account balance, but rather your satisfaction is joy over the Lord s supply and trust in His provision. Lead the family in discussing the way that each member spends their money. Is a pursuit of riches what characterizes the finances or is sacrificial spending for the sake of the kingdom the goal? Read Matthew 6:19-34. Matthew 6 gives an incredible portrait of the danger of money and the joy and peace of relying completely on God for our resources. Discuss whether or not we can trust God with what we need in this life and why. The command not to seek riches is an important one in our culture. Yet these texts show us that it is not that we should avoid money, but that we should learn to trust God as our provider and fix our eyes on our mission during our lives. Contentment and trust is not always easy, yet these texts promise us a peace and joy that will not be found in any other way. Questions: How does 1 Timothy 6:3-10 fit into your understanding of the rest of 1 Timothy? How does the section regarding false teachers fit into the exhortations about money? Talk together about how your resources as a family can best be used to advance the gospel. How has your family engaged in the church s goal to live radically for the sake of the gospel? If your family was involved in The Radical Experiment, talk together about how it helped the way your family lives. If your family was not involved, consider taking some time to go to www.radicalexperiment.org/stories/ and see how God used a teaching series like this one to change our church. Bottom Line: We are to be joyfully content with what we need, trusting God to provide for us and avoiding the pursuit of riches and the love of money. A land of 4 million people, Croatia sits as a centerpiece in Europe as a place in recent history, marked by conflict and ethnic strife. Long- Term Communist mismanagement and the war with Serbia undermined a previously solid economy. Though recovery is in process, there are still challenges with high unemployment and low wages among Croatia s citizens. Politically focused in the 1990 s on the Balkan war, Croatia s transition from nationalist politics to liberal democracy anticipates their complete entrance into the European Union for 2013. However, the profound impact of historic and recent hatred among Croats, Serbs and Bosnians could continue to hamper the affected nations for generations to come. The iron bond shackling ethnicity to religion impedes progress and stifles spiritual breakthrough. The Catholic Church is highly influential in Croatia. It has one of the highest active Catholic populations in Europe and enjoys an unofficial favored status though Croatia is a secular state and freedom of religion exists. Evangelicals are one of the few groups straddling the ethnic divide that exists between Bosnians, Croats and Serbs. Many people from all ethnicities have become Christians and been brought into fellowships together. Therefore Evangelical churches are spreading. Still relatively small in size and number, new fellowships are popping up around the country and need prayer for unity, leadership and theological training. Josip and Kelly Debeljuh are Long- Term Missionaries sent out by Brook Hills to help in this advancement of the gospel. Josip was born and raised in Croatia and now has returned to his homeland to share and teach others about Christ. He does this by engaging college and high school students through basketball camps and coaching teams in the local area. There he shares the gospel and has been discipling two or three of these young men as they grow in their faith. When not taking care of their 4 children Kelly spends time with local women by teaching art Copyright 2011 The Church at Brook Hills www.brookhills.org 1

classes and inviting them to her home to share coffee. Let s pray for Josip, Kelly, and their children as they seek to glorify God in Croatia and see the church grow through the opportunities God has given their family. SING This week we are singing All to Us written by Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, Jesse Reeves and Matt Maher. This song is an honest confession that declares God as being all to us. Though many times our lives do not reflect it, we know from scripture that God has given us all that we need. James 1:17 says, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." In 2 Peter 1:3 we find that "His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence". As we sing this song, let us acknowledge God as our creator and redeemer and the giver of all good and perfect gifts. Let us give Him the glory that He alone deserves, because He is our treasure. Our satisfaction is in him alone, and we trust in his provision in our lives. It is by His grace that we have been given Christ and are made right before Him. Let us make it our prayer as we sing that our lives would reflect that God is all to us. MEMORIZE 1 Timothy 6:6-7 Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 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 Him together. Preschool Before you begin: Grab your Bible and a small suitcase and stuff it so full that it looks like it may burst. Read 1 Timothy 6:6-7. Now talk with your preschooler about the overstuffed suitcase. Ask if they like to go on vacations or trips. Show them the suitcase and ask them what is wrong with the suitcase you ve packed for your next trip. Encourage your child to respond. Open the suitcase and take a look inside with your preschoolers. Wow, there s a lot in here! There are socks, shoes, shirts, pants, belts, etc. I ve tried to pack too many things. I should have only packed what I needed. Taking more than I need doesn t make sense, does it? Now explain to your preschooler what it means to have enough. God wants us to be happy with what we have and to find happiness in helping and telling others about Jesus. God wants us to share the good news about Jesus with everyone. Pray with your child and thank God for all he has given you and for caring for your family. Thank God for giving you everything you need and ask him to help you to remain happy with what you have. Children Materials Needed: o A book that your child loves or that is a great read- a- loud story. o Several catalogues from doll or toy stores, sport stores or clothing stores- - whichever appeal most to your child, but keep them hidden - maybe in a bag under the sofa. Part 1 o Have your child join you on the couch for some snuggling/reading time. Read the story for about 5-15 minutes (depending on ages of kids) or until a chapter is over. When you stop reading, tell them how it brings you a lot of joy to spend time with them. Ask your child to describe how it makes them feel to sit together as you read. (Possible answers might be "happy", "relaxed", "peaceful", "loved", "secure", or "special".) Tell them that when www.brookhills.org 2

you feel happy and relaxed at the same time that is called being "content". Tell them that God wants us to be content. Part 2 (Can be done on the following night) o Have your child join you on couch for some snuggling/reading time. Pull out the catalogues and look through them together for about a minute and then suggest making a wish list. After listing several items, take the catalogues away even if there are protests to keep looking. Ask your child if it was hard to find things for the wish list. Ask them if looking at the catalogues gave them the happy, relaxed feeling from the previous night when you were reading together or different feelings. (Possible answers might be "confused because it was hard to pick", or "frustrated because I wanted to see more items ".) Ask them which of the items are needed for them to live. Relate how easy it is to find more things we want no matter what we already have. Tell them that God does not want us to spend our time chasing after, or pursuing, things to buy or money because this will not help us be content or to trust Him more. God knows just what we really need. o God wants us to be joyfully content with simply what we need, trusting God to provide for us and avoiding the pursuit of riches and the love of money. o Pray as a family that God would give you hearts that take delight in Him above all other things and find great contentment resting in Him. Students In verses 3-5, Paul warns the Church that every thought must be tested by the Word of God. Otherwise, a believer will stray from teaching that accords with godliness. Study Paul s description of such a person. Does your life display any of these characteristics? In what specific ways can you guard your heart and mind? Money is a double- edged sword. While it may be leveraged for God s glory among the nations, it may also be squandered for selfish gain. Guesstimate the total amount of money you spend in a typical week. What percentage do you give to causes that advance the gospel? What percentage do you spend on unnecessary items? Discuss some practical ways you can increase your giving toward eternal purposes. According to verse 6, godliness with contentment is the biblical ideal for all Christ followers. Describe how you think a person embracing this ideal might live. What would his lifestyle, spending habits, and attitude toward money be like? Compare your answers with the reality of your own life. In what areas are you succeeding? In what areas do you need improvement? As members of a consumer- focused culture, we are bombarded with the temptation to spend money in excessive and useless ways. What safeguards can you put in place to guard yourself from such temptations? Discuss these as a family. The love of money can be a very subtle pitfall, which requires Christ followers to continually evaluate themselves. Reflect on your own life. Are you content with how God chooses to provide for you? Do you joyfully embrace a lifestyle of simplicity? Dialogue as a family about possible blind spots that are preventing you from fully glorifying God in your stewardship of money. Copyright 2011 The Church at Brook Hills www.brookhills.org 3

Prayer Week 40 Lives/Church As Paul begins to close out his letter to Timothy, he once again addresses false teachers, but this time he takes aim at their lack of contentment, clearly portrayed in their love of money. These short verses comprise one of the most poignant, piercing indictments of materialism in all of the New Testament. This is a particular danger for us in the culture, context, and community where we live, and so this Sunday we will consider what contentment looks like and how we must resist, in every way, the love of money. Pray that you would be free from the love of money in your own life. Pray for a contentment that propels radical giving and radical living for the sake of the glory of Christ to saturate our church. Pray that our church would be guarded from an unhealthy legalism and that we would handle our possessions with joy and grace. Local Local Church: Shades Mtn. Baptist - Danny Wood Focus: Daniel Cason Ministries - a ministry to urban children through their K.I.D.S. Christian Music Center and camps; a ministry to the homeless, hungry, and needy in downtown Birmingham by providing food and clothes; and a ministry to urban shut-ins. Monday: Pray that God will provide godly volunteers for the many outreach initiatives taking place each week (danielcason.org). Tuesday: Pray for faith for those who lead this ministry. Pray they will follow God s leadership, and use the resources that he provides in the best way to advance the gospel. Wednesday: Pray that God will provide the resources to repair the roof of their ministry center building downtown which was recently damaged by a storm. Thursday: Pray that God will provide volunteers who can clearly and boldly share the gospel through their daily bread feeding ministry and food and clothing distribution center. Friday: Pray that God will be exalted in their daily worship time in a way that all attendees would see him as he is and want to worship and serve him the rest of their lives. Saturday: Pray that God will bless their annual Bread of Life Thanksgiving Outreach efforts at Boutwell Auditorium with resources, volunteers, and gospel conversions. Global Short Term Teams: India and South East Asia Partner: Brook Hills Long-Term Missionaries The Debeljuhs serving in Croatia Monday: Josip and Kelly serve in Croatia and are expecting their fifth child in October. Pray for a safe delivery for both Kelly and their new child. Tuesday: Josip has been discipling a young man named Igman who will begin bible school this next year. Pray for their relationship to grow and for opportunities for Igman to make more disciples. Wednesday: It can be difficult living in an area where you do not speak the language. Pray for God to give favor and motivation as Kelly continues to learn the local language. Thursday: With the societal influence of the religious traditions in Croatia, most of the people are not open to the gospel. Most do not want to talk about God, which makes it tough to engage people. Pray for God to open doors and give Josip and Kelly opportunities to share the gospel. Friday: Pray for Josip and Kelly to take advantage of the opportunities God presents them to build relationships and disciple others with the gospel. Saturday: Pray for God to strengthen Josip and Kelly s marriage as they minister to others and raise their children in Croatia. Pray for God to give wisdom to Josip as he leads his family for God s glory. Scripture Memory Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 1 Timothy 6:6-7 All To Us by Matt Redman, Matt Maher, Jesse Reeves and Chris Tomlin Precious cornerstone sure foundation You are faithful to the end We are waiting on You Jesus We believe Let the glory of Your name Be the passion of the Church Let the righteousness of God Be a holy flame that burns Let the saving love of Christ Be the measure of our lives We believe Only Son of God sent from Heaven Hope and mercy at the cross You are everything You re the Promise Jesus You are all to us Yes You are When this passing world is over We will see You face to face And forever we will worship Jesus You are all to us Copyright 2010 worshiptogether.com Songs/ sixsteps Music/Vamos Publishing/Said And done Music/Thankyou Music/spiritandsong.com Publihing Due to copyright limitations, we are only allowed to print the lyrics to this song with no chords. We encourage you to download an mp3 of this song from itunes. Copyright 2011 The Church at Brook Hills