Heart Connex Parents Page - June 12-14, 2011
Truth Flowing from One Generation to the Next—Through Strong Heart Connections
PA R ENTS PAGE June 12-14, 2011 Attributes of God—Richard Ross, Ph.D. **SPECIAL NOTE: Beginning in July 2011, Heart Connex will discontinue its e-mail delivery, but families will still be able to access the devotions at www.lifeway.com/heartconnex. 1. Heart Surprise (Today a parent goes first): Say: Some parents pressure their children to follow in their vocation. I release you from that pressure, and I release you to follow God’s plan for your life. Let me explain it this way . . . 2. Read Scripture: Invite a family member to pray. Ask family members to read Ephesians 3:20-21; Job 42:2; Psalm 147:5; and Hebrews 1:1-3. Discuss the Truth and Untruths in light of these verses. Truth • God is all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-present. He also is holy, just, loving, and forgiving beyond human understanding. Untruths • God is like a grandfather who watches the earth but can’t do much about things. • God is the cosmic policeman who only exists to punish our mistakes. • God is really whatever we imagine Him to be. 3. Explore Scripture: Read aloud Job 42:2. Talk with your family about the power of God and His ability to accomplish all His plans. Read aloud Psalm 147:5. Lead a discussion about God’s brilliance and understanding. Just to spark thinking, ask: Which would be more difficult: balancing the gravitational fields and motion of multiple galaxies or designing the intricacies of an atom? What if you could do both? Read aloud Ephesians 3:20-21. Explain that we should study the attributes of God, but we also need to acknowledge that He is far beyond what we can even imagine. Ask: Could God, just by thinking the thought, cause the entire universe to cease to exist? Assure your family that this is the case. Explain that God created everything, manages and sustains everything, and someday will bring an end to the physical world—for His purposes and for His glory. 4. Think It Through: A teenager will lead this step. 5. Nail It Down: Read aloud Hebrews 1:1-3. Explain that while we have many ways to know about God and His attributes, the clearest way God has revealed Himself is through Jesus. Say: If you want to know what God is like, look to Jesus. In Him, God became a man so we could understand Him better. 6. Pray: A teenager will lead this prayer. 7. Blessing: Say: I bless this family for acknowledging God for who He truly is. Parent Tip: To help your teenager get a clearer view of God and His attributes, you first need to know how she perceives Him now. This week, talk with your teen about how she and her friends see God. Encourage her to locate some verses to see how her concept of God matches up with the Scriptures. Copyright © 2011 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention
PA R ENTS PAGE June 12-14, 2011 Attributes of God—Richard Ross, Ph.D. **SPECIAL NOTE: Beginning in July 2011, Heart Connex will discontinue its e-mail delivery, but families will still be able to access the devotions at www.lifeway.com/heartconnex. 1. Heart Surprise (Today a parent goes first): Say: Some parents pressure their children to follow in their vocation. I release you from that pressure, and I release you to follow God’s plan for your life. Let me explain it this way . . . 2. Read Scripture: Invite a family member to pray. Ask family members to read Ephesians 3:20-21; Job 42:2; Psalm 147:5; and Hebrews 1:1-3. Discuss the Truth and Untruths in light of these verses. Truth • God is all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-present. He also is holy, just, loving, and forgiving beyond human understanding. Untruths • God is like a grandfather who watches the earth but can’t do much about things. • God is the cosmic policeman who only exists to punish our mistakes. • God is really whatever we imagine Him to be. 3. Explore Scripture: Read aloud Job 42:2. Talk with your family about the power of God and His ability to accomplish all His plans. Read aloud Psalm 147:5. Lead a discussion about God’s brilliance and understanding. Just to spark thinking, ask: Which would be more difficult: balancing the gravitational fields and motion of multiple galaxies or designing the intricacies of an atom? What if you could do both? Read aloud Ephesians 3:20-21. Explain that we should study the attributes of God, but we also need to acknowledge that He is far beyond what we can even imagine. Ask: Could God, just by thinking the thought, cause the entire universe to cease to exist? Assure your family that this is the case. Explain that God created everything, manages and sustains everything, and someday will bring an end to the physical world—for His purposes and for His glory. 4. Think It Through: A teenager will lead this step. 5. Nail It Down: Read aloud Hebrews 1:1-3. Explain that while we have many ways to know about God and His attributes, the clearest way God has revealed Himself is through Jesus. Say: If you want to know what God is like, look to Jesus. In Him, God became a man so we could understand Him better. 6. Pray: A teenager will lead this prayer. 7. Blessing: Say: I bless this family for acknowledging God for who He truly is. Parent Tip: To help your teenager get a clearer view of God and His attributes, you first need to know how she perceives Him now. This week, talk with your teen about how she and her friends see God. Encourage her to locate some verses to see how her concept of God matches up with the Scriptures. Copyright © 2011 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention
