Big Idea: Our God wants us to honour Him as a family, and to hear from us, His children.

Bible Passage(s): 2 Chronicles 20:12-13, Ephesians 6:1-5

Parent Prep: This week in our family series we continue to look at what it is to honour God and seek Him first as a household. On Sunday we took some time as part of our worship service to worship and listen to God about what He is saying to our big church family about next steps towards possibly purchasing a building. This process of worshipping, praying and listening as households before the Lord is a powerful way to lead your home, too. We encourage your family to seek the Lord & listen for Him to speak together and pray together whenever you have a decision to make as a family.

Read: 2 Chronicles 20:12-13 and Ephesians 6:1-5 in a children's Bible, or in this easy-to-read version here: 2 Chronicles; Ephesians 6.

Talk

Our God calls Himself our Father, and us, His children. He delights to give us what we need. He asks that we, as families, would come to Him as our loving Father for all that we need. In 2 Chronicles we read the story of the whole family of Judah coming together to listen to what God would say to His children. They pray,

"'Our God…we do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.' All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the Lord." 

We read in Ephesians, that honouring our parents (which means to respect and love them) comes with a promise – 'so that it may go well with you and tha you may enjoy long life on the earth.' It is the same with honouring God, our heavenly Father. We are promised that when we put Jesus first, make Him King over our lives, and honour Him (respect and love Him most), that He will bless us with by being with us and taking care of us all of our days, and even after we die! We can count on our God to never give up on us, and look after us. We can bring all our hard questions, and our tough times to God, and ask Him for His help. He promises He will help us.

Listen

What questions does our family have for God? Is there any big decisions we need to make? Is anyone facing anything scary or uncertain? 

Write these things down as a family. 

Do

As in 2 Chronicles, come together – all family members if possible. Place God's word, open at 2 Chronicles 20:12-13, in the center of your family. Together, pray "God, we don't know what to do. But our eyes are on you. Please help us with __________." Use the list you made together to ask God about these things. Then, stand (or sit) and listen. You might consider playing some worship music, or singing praise to God while you listen. You could place pieces of paper and coloured pens in front of each family member and ask them to write or draw words or pictures that come to mind while you pray. After a few minutes, or as long as you like, thank God for taking care of your family. If God has spoken clearly, talk about that with your family. If there hasn't been a clear word from God, keep coming back, expectantly like this as often as you can. Encourage each other to keep praying and seeking God – He promises to answer and bless HIs children, and He is always faithful. Celebrate answers to prayer together to remind each other of this.