Daily Bible Readings:
These readings are related to the Lectionary readings for this Sunday. Try to take time each day to read the assigned Bible passage.
Sunday Luke 12:13-21 Parable of the rich fool
Monday Deuteronomy 8:6-20 Warnings about forgetting God
Tuesday Ecclesiastes 5:10-20 Worldly riches are meaningless
Wednesday Isaiah 5:8-17 The greedy are doomed
Thursday Luke 12:22-31 Trust God, not material things
Friday 1 Timothy 6:6-11,17-19 Love of money
Saturday 1 Chronicles 29:10-13 David praises the Lord
Sunday Luke 12:32-40 Seek treasures in heaven
• What is your most treasured possession? Why?
• Jesus warned people about wanting to have more and more
things. He said that life is not made up of how much a person has (Luke 12:15). What in life can’t we get from money
or possessions?
• What does faith in Jesus give us that money can’t buy? Devotional Practices:
As a home devotional activity, cut out and decorate credit-card-sized cards featuring these words: “Seek after God and not things”. Place these in your purses or wallets as a reminder to prioritize faith in Christ over the buying, gathering and using of things. Service:
Being “rich towards God” (Luke 12:21) means growing in generosity towards those who are in need. Decide together on a food item or recreational activity (e.g. rental of DVDs or movie outing) to forgo this week. Set aside the money saved to donate to a charity organization. Rituals and Traditions:
Giving consistently and regularly to God’s work in and through the church is a helpful practice for keeping a check on our accumulation of earthly things. Setting aside a portion of our income for church giving reminds us that God is the giver of all we have and puts him first ahead of our expenditure on other things. Talk together about how you determine your financial giving to the church and why it is important to give in this way. If household members (including children of all ages) do not give regularly, decide on a practice that will help them do so e.g. set aside money each Saturday night ready for Sunday morning.
Parent Toolbox: Developing Stewardship in Children
Kids love to get money for birthdays and holidays, but they need to be taught the basics of using their money wisely and in a God-pleasing way. Christian parenting involves teaching our children that all we have comes from God and that we are called to be good “stewards” of our possessions. A good time to start doing so is when children are aged 6-9. Growing children in stewardship involves teaching them about giving, saving and spending (in this order)
Giving: The first thing a child should do when receiving money either as a gift, an allowance, or for any other reason, is set aside a portion of it for God’s work in the church and for care of his world. Saving: The next step in teaching stewardship is to encourage saving. Saving money is a good way for a child to reach for a goal, instead of experiencing instant satisfaction. Spending: The remainder of money given or earned should be available for the child to spend as they like. Children grow in making decisions as they are given the opportunity to do so, advised and guided by their parents.
Taking Faith Home - August 8th
Daily Bible Readings:
These readings are related to the Lectionary readings for this Sunday. Try to take time each day to read the assigned Bible passage.
Sunday Luke 12:32-40 Seek treasures in heaven
Monday Luke 12:41-48 Parable of the servants
Tuesday Matthew 6:19-24 Store up heavenly treasures
Wednesday Matthew 19:16-26 The rich young man
Thursday Matthew 13:44-46 A parable about treasure
Friday Ecclesiastes 9:7-12 Wisdom for living
Saturday Proverbs 2:1-11 The treasure of wisdom
Sunday Luke 12:49-56 Jesus the cause of division
Scripture Verse for the Week:
Faith is being sure of what we hope or. It is being certain of what we do not see. – Hebrews 11:1 (NIRV) Prayer for this Week:
Lord God, please give me a strong faith. Help me trust that you will always keep your promises. Amen. (Hebrews 11:1,11) For Throughout the Day:
Lord Jesus, you are my true treasure. Help me to put you first in my heart today. Amen. (Luke 12:34). A Blessing to Share:
May God give you faith in his promises.
May his faithful love rest on you as you hope in him. Amen.
(Hebrews 11:1; Psalm 33:22) Mealtime Refrain:
We put our hope in the Lord:
God is our help and our shield. (Psalm 33:20) Mealtime Prayer:
Food on our table. Grace in our lives. Praise in our hearts.
Thank you. God! Amen.
Faith Talk:
• Share about a time when you had to wait for something.
• Jesus tells us to be always ready for him to return (Luke 12:35- 40). What can we do to be ready for him?
• How do you feel about Jesus’ returning? Do you think you are ready? Devotional Practices:
In Genesis 15:1-6 we hear that God made a special covenant with Abram, promising him as many descendants as there were stars in the sky! In your home devotion times this week, make up a list of the different promises that God has made to his people e.g. “God has promised to save us”, “God has promised us eternal life”, “God has promised to answer our prayers”. Write each one onto a piece of yellow paper cut into a star shape. Place these onto your walls or ceiling as a reminder of God’s love and grace. Service:
Hebrews 11 lists people from the Bible who showed faith in God. Who have been examples of faith to members of your household? Write letters to these people, thanking them for their example. Rituals and Traditions:
Jesus told his followers to wait for him like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding party. Gather a candle for each member of your household. When you sit down for meals this week, light the candles and say these words (from Luke 12:35):
Leader: “Be dressed and ready for service and keep your lamps burning.”
Response: “For Jesus, our master, is coming.” Parent Toolbox: Surround Your Children with Faith Witnesses!
Hebrews 11 reminds us that as Christians we are part of a long chain of faith that extends right back to Adam and Eve! Living faithfully is never an individual enterprise – to have faith is to be connected to other persons of faith, both past, present and future. As parents, one of the greatest gifts we can give to our children is deep and meaningful connections with other witnesses to the faith. The stories and examples of other Christians confirm, extend and reinforce our own parental witness to God’s gracious activity.
• Be intentional about exposing your children to other Christian adults who can serve as positive and encouraging role models to them.
• Where possible, ask grandparents, aunts and uncles to share their own faith stories with your children.
• Read your children stories about historical figures of Christian faith e.g. Martin Luther, Francis of Assisi, David Livingstone.
Taking Faith Home - August 15th
Daily Bible Readings:
These readings are related to the Lectionary readings for this Sunday. Try to take time each day to read the assigned Bible passage.
Sunday Luke 12:49-56 Jesus the cause of division
Monday John 7:1-12 People divided about Jesus
Tuesday John 9:13-34 Pharisees divided on Jesus
Wednesday Acts 14:1-7 Division at Iconium
Thursday 1 Corinthians 1:10-17 Paul writes about division
Friday Hebrews 10:23-25,35-38 Persevere in the Lord
Saturday Psalm 35 Contend, O Lord
Sunday Luke 13:10-17 Jesus heals on the Sabbath
Scripture Verse for the Week:
Let us look only to Jesus, the One who began our faith and who makes it perfect.
– Hebrews 12:2a (NCV) Prayer for this Week:
Lord Jesus, please help me to trust in you when times are hard. Keep me from falling away from you. Amen. For Throughout the Day:
Lord Jesus, my Savior, help me to keep my eyes fixed on you today. Amen. (Hebrews 12:2) A Blessing to Share:
May God give you a faith that keeps on going. May he keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. Amen. (Hebrews 12:1-2) Mealtime Refrain:
Let us run the race of faith that is before us:
Let us never give up. (Hebrews 12:1) Mealtime Prayer:
Lord, with food you feed us and with love you lead us.
Thank you for giving all we need for living. Amen.
Faith Talk:
• Who has been an encouragement to you in your life? How? (Share your story with your household or small group).
• Hebrews 11 lists people of faith who encourage us by the way they have trusted God. Who or what encourages you in your faith?
• How can you be an encourager of other Christians? Devotional Practices:
Hebrews 12:1 speaks of Christians being surrounded by a “a great cloud of witnesses”. In your home devotion times this week, consider those people who have been faith witnesses to members of your household. Write their names down on pieces of white card and cut into cloud shapes. Make a mobile (you could use a coat hanger as a frame) to hang in your home as a reminder of these people. Thank God for them in your home prayer times. Service:
Plan to surprise someone in your congregation who has encouraged you with an encouragement visit or gift. Prepare a bouquet of flowers or a plate of treats to give them, or organize a small celebration party for them. Share with them when and how they have encouraged your household in following Jesus. Rituals and Traditions:
Hebrews 12:1 encourages us to “get rid of everything that slows us down” from following Jesus. Join in a household ritual of repentance this week. Place a stone or rock on your table to symbolize things in your lives that keep you from living and acting the way Jesus wants you to (e.g. being rude or nasty to each other, lying about something we did or did not do, taking something that doesn’t belong to us, not helping others). Pass the rock around, with each person sharing something they would like to say sorry to God for. When each person has had a turn, say the following prayer. “Dear Jesus, please forgive us for those times when we don’t follow you. Help us to fight against sin and to keep our eyes on you. Amen.” Then throw the rock away to symbolize God’s removal of our sins through Christ. Parent Toolbox: Clouds of Witnesses
Each Christian community is called to be a “cloud of witnesses” to its own children and youth – a community that cheers them on and inspires them through faith-full words and actions. Children and youth who know they are valued unconditionally by loving adults in their congregation learn the nature of God’s love, and have substantial support systems to carry them through the teenage years. For Discussion: Does your congregation understand itself as a “cloud of witnesses” to its youth and children? In what ways can you work to connect your children with faith-full adults who can encourage and inspire?
