Conversation Starters: Distinct in My Relationships

Posted by Karah

6e4c84ec-bf05-42fe-9b18-d97ca8d9e0d4THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE: Busy, noisy lives keep us from hearing the truth of what’s inside us. Greed, selfishness, lust, and a host of other things are hiding in our hearts. But God calls us to live pure lives. It’s not just a call to purity in terms of our actions, but in our very being. It’s a call for absolute agreement in our thoughts, feelings, and subsequent actions. As Jesus lived a 100% pure life, we too
are called to absolute purity in our thoughts, feelings, and subsequent actions.

Concept: Distinct in My Relationships

Preschool

Mark 2:1-12

LIFE POINT: Many people gathered in the house where Jesus was teaching about God. Soon people crowded outside the door. Everyone wanted to hear Jesus. Four friends brought a man who could not walk. The men wanted to get their friend inside to see Jesus. The crowd was so large they could not get to the door. The four men carried him up the steps to the roof of the house. They dug a large hole in the
roof. Carefully, they lowered their friend down through the hole until his mat touched the floor and he was right in front of Jesus. Jesus said, “Get up. Take your mat and go home.” The man got up, took his mat, and walked. Jesus made the man well! The people who saw the man walk could hardly believe it. They said, “We have never seen anything like this!” The people thanked God for what they had seen.

LIVE IT OUT: Help your child choose a favorite friend and plan a special surprise for that friend.
Comment that Jesus wants people to love their friends.

Kids

Matthew 4:18-22; 9:9-13; Mark 1:16-20; 2:13-14; 3:13-19

LIFE POINT: Jesus saw two brothers, Simon Peter and Andrew, fishing in the Sea of Galilee. He called out to them. “Follow Me! You will fish for people!” Immediately, Peter and Andrew followed Jesus.
A little further on, Jesus saw James and his brother John on the shore, repairing their fishing nets. Jesus called to them, too. They left their boat and followed Jesus. Another time, Jesus saw Matthew sitting at the tax office. He said, “Follow Me!” Matthew got up and followed Jesus. One day Jesus went up on a mountain. He called His followers to Him. Jesus appointed twelve of the men to be His disciples,
men He would send out to preach. Jesus called Simon Peter, Andrew, James, John, Matthew, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot.

LIVE IT OUT: Jesus’ disciples chose a life of service to others. How does your child serve Jesus? What acts of service does your family participate in? During a family time, talk about ways your family could be better servants of Jesus.

Students

Matthew 5:27-32

THE POINT: Hold on to purity at all costs. When was the last time you felt like you couldn’t hear yourself think? How do you draw the line between pure and impure in your daily life? Discuss the following quote:

“You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in You.”1 — Augustine of Hippo

LIVE IT OUT: Encourage your student to do one or both Live It Out activities. Here are some suggested ways to help your student:

If he or she plans to complete Tempted:
• Help your student understand that purity is an issue of the heart.
• Lead your student in coming up with a plan of action to help them fight against temptation.

If he or she plans to do Marriage Inspection:
• Discuss with your student God’s view of marriage versus our culture’s view of marriage.

1.William Angerman, “Blessed by God,” C.S. Lewis Institute [online], [accessed 11 June 2015].
Available from the Internet: www.cslewisinstitute.org/node/441


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