Published 8/21/19
By: Michael and Tiffany Ross
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”
Family Quest
Launch a building project using clay. . .and uncooked spaghetti. Instruct your child to create a tower using these materials. Position her creation in the middle of a beach towel. The project is timed: she must finish the building project within ten minutes—and the taller the structure, the better. Also issue a warning: “An earthquake will test the strength of your creation!”
Talk It Out
· When the time is up, start the earthquake. Tug on one end of the towel and test the strength of the structure. Discuss: What made your tower strong or weak?
· A good foundation is important, especially when it comes to our faith in God. How can we have a “good foundation”?
· Why is it wise to build the foundation of our faith on the “rock” of Jesus?
Parent-Child Connection
As you teach today’s lesson, emphasize that the Christian journey is a lot like an Olympic competition. We identify ourselves with Christ, we train spiritually, we discipline our hearts and our minds, and we press ahead with our “eyes on the prize”—eternity with God. At times the competition is thrilling, and at other moments it’s downright grueling. Life gets turbulent, and continuing seems too painful, too hard—utterly impossible. (Maybe we’re consumed with doubts or a nagging fear or a deep-rooted insecurity.) So when life overwhelms us, how can we stay in the competition? By shifting our focus from the challenge we face to the sufficiency of our Coach: Jesus Christ. Say this: “Let’s open our Bibles and read all of Hebrews 11 for a thorough understanding of what an iron-willed commitment is all about.” Then emphasize these verses from Hebrews 12: “Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (verses 1–3).
Talk to God
As you pray, encourage your child to (1) thank Jesus for being so big and mighty and (2) ask the Lord to help him appreciate what He has done for him.
© 2015 by Back to the Bible
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