Heart Connex Parents Page - February 6-8, 2011 - Justice for ...
Truth Flowing from One Generation to the Next—Through Strong Heart Connections
PA R ENTS PAGE February 6-8, 2011 Justice for the World—Richard Ross, Ph.D. 1. Heart Surprise (Today a parent goes first): Say: To help you know me better, I’ll tell you how my plans would change if I discovered I only had seven days left to live. I would . . . 2. Read Scripture: Invite a family member to pray. Ask family members to read Psalm 82:1-5. Discuss the Truth and Untruths in light of this passage. Truth • God expects believers to work toward compassionate justice in every corner of the world. Untruths • People in other countries are not my problem. • Only the strong survive, and I plan to be among them. • For some to win, others have to lose. That’s just how it is. 3. Explore Scripture: Read aloud Psalm 82:1-5. Add the following comments to help your family better understand the passage. • Verse 1: God will judge people of influence—including leaders. • Verse 2: God is aware of all instances of injustice in the world. • Verses 3-4: God demands compassionate justice on behalf of those who are powerless to correct what is happening to them. • Verse 5: When leaders don’t know or don’t care about being just, the world has lost its foundation. Conclude by pointing out that God takes the side of the weak and powerless. Note that He commands all people to treat the weak with justice, but He especially commands this of believers who belong to Him. 4. Think It Through: A teenager will lead this step. 5. Nail It Down: Tell family members that passages like Proverbs 21:3 say that God wants us to do what is right even more than He wants our sacrifices and offerings. Say: Working to secure justice for an individual or group is just as important to God as singing a praise chorus to Him on Sunday morning. In fact, if we close our ears to the cries of the weak, He won’t accept our songs as praise. 6. Pray: A teenager will lead this prayer. 7. Blessing: Say: I bless this family for working to secure justice for those not receiving it. Parent Tip: Parents who make church a priority for their families expose their children to kingdom adults. Teens who attend church regularly are likely to form relationships with significant spiritual mentors, while those who attend sporadically seldom establish such meaningful relationships.
Copyright © 2011 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention
PA R ENTS PAGE February 6-8, 2011 Justice for the World—Richard Ross, Ph.D. 1. Heart Surprise (Today a parent goes first): Say: To help you know me better, I’ll tell you how my plans would change if I discovered I only had seven days left to live. I would . . . 2. Read Scripture: Invite a family member to pray. Ask family members to read Psalm 82:1-5. Discuss the Truth and Untruths in light of this passage. Truth • God expects believers to work toward compassionate justice in every corner of the world. Untruths • People in other countries are not my problem. • Only the strong survive, and I plan to be among them. • For some to win, others have to lose. That’s just how it is. 3. Explore Scripture: Read aloud Psalm 82:1-5. Add the following comments to help your family better understand the passage. • Verse 1: God will judge people of influence—including leaders. • Verse 2: God is aware of all instances of injustice in the world. • Verses 3-4: God demands compassionate justice on behalf of those who are powerless to correct what is happening to them. • Verse 5: When leaders don’t know or don’t care about being just, the world has lost its foundation. Conclude by pointing out that God takes the side of the weak and powerless. Note that He commands all people to treat the weak with justice, but He especially commands this of believers who belong to Him. 4. Think It Through: A teenager will lead this step. 5. Nail It Down: Tell family members that passages like Proverbs 21:3 say that God wants us to do what is right even more than He wants our sacrifices and offerings. Say: Working to secure justice for an individual or group is just as important to God as singing a praise chorus to Him on Sunday morning. In fact, if we close our ears to the cries of the weak, He won’t accept our songs as praise. 6. Pray: A teenager will lead this prayer. 7. Blessing: Say: I bless this family for working to secure justice for those not receiving it. Parent Tip: Parents who make church a priority for their families expose their children to kingdom adults. Teens who attend church regularly are likely to form relationships with significant spiritual mentors, while those who attend sporadically seldom establish such meaningful relationships.
Copyright © 2011 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention
