Heart Connex Parents Page - October 9-11, 2011 - Giving and ...
Truth Flowing from One Generation to the Next—Through Strong Heart Connections
PA R ENTS PAGE October 9-11, 2011 Giving and Character Building—Richard Ross, Ph.D. 1. Heart Surprise (Today the parent goes first): Say: I will never forget (name) because he/she helped me through a tough time in my life. Thanks to God for (name). 2. Read Scripture: Invite a family member to pray. Ask family members to read Matthew 6:1-4. Discuss the Truth and Untruths in light of these passages. Truth • God wants believers to give to the needy without boasting about it. Untruths • It’s OK to brag about what you do for the poor. • If you don’t brag about your good actions, nobody will. • Be sure to perform kind acts where everyone can see you. 3. Explore Scripture: Point out that in biblical days, a “hypocrite” was a Greek actor who wore a mask and appeared to be somebody else. Explain that the Scriptures emphasize the importance of being honest and not trying to get people to think more of you because of an act of charity. Say: God expects us to help the needy, but He doesn’t expect us to make a spectacle out of it. Share that the Scriptures encourage us not to worry about who gets the credit for good deeds. Say: God rewards those who help the needy in His own way and in His own time. 4. Think It Through: A teenager will lead this step. 5. Nail It Down: Say: Today’s devotion is built on three steps. Share that the first step involves understanding that God expects us to be busy helping needy people, while the second step involves God’s desire for us to do things without worrying about who will get the credit. Say: He doesn’t want us to do things so others will think highly of us. Explain that the third step involves understanding that God will reward us for doing right things with respect to needy people. Say: I want to challenge you to do something to help a needy person this week without worrying about getting recognized for doing it. 6. Pray: A teenager will lead this prayer. 7. Blessing: Say: You are blessed for helping the needy and for giving God the credit. Parent Tip: Sensitive kids who mess up and are disciplined want to restore their relationship with parents, but they don’t know how to do this. They don’t know how to get the warmth back. Parents who lead with grace must take the initiative to communicate that all is well and the relationship is restored.
Copyright © 2011 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention
PA R ENTS PAGE October 9-11, 2011 Giving and Character Building—Richard Ross, Ph.D. 1. Heart Surprise (Today the parent goes first): Say: I will never forget (name) because he/she helped me through a tough time in my life. Thanks to God for (name). 2. Read Scripture: Invite a family member to pray. Ask family members to read Matthew 6:1-4. Discuss the Truth and Untruths in light of these passages. Truth • God wants believers to give to the needy without boasting about it. Untruths • It’s OK to brag about what you do for the poor. • If you don’t brag about your good actions, nobody will. • Be sure to perform kind acts where everyone can see you. 3. Explore Scripture: Point out that in biblical days, a “hypocrite” was a Greek actor who wore a mask and appeared to be somebody else. Explain that the Scriptures emphasize the importance of being honest and not trying to get people to think more of you because of an act of charity. Say: God expects us to help the needy, but He doesn’t expect us to make a spectacle out of it. Share that the Scriptures encourage us not to worry about who gets the credit for good deeds. Say: God rewards those who help the needy in His own way and in His own time. 4. Think It Through: A teenager will lead this step. 5. Nail It Down: Say: Today’s devotion is built on three steps. Share that the first step involves understanding that God expects us to be busy helping needy people, while the second step involves God’s desire for us to do things without worrying about who will get the credit. Say: He doesn’t want us to do things so others will think highly of us. Explain that the third step involves understanding that God will reward us for doing right things with respect to needy people. Say: I want to challenge you to do something to help a needy person this week without worrying about getting recognized for doing it. 6. Pray: A teenager will lead this prayer. 7. Blessing: Say: You are blessed for helping the needy and for giving God the credit. Parent Tip: Sensitive kids who mess up and are disciplined want to restore their relationship with parents, but they don’t know how to do this. They don’t know how to get the warmth back. Parents who lead with grace must take the initiative to communicate that all is well and the relationship is restored.
Copyright © 2011 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention
