We are in a season of worship that we never thought we would see. It is so strange to not go to the Revival Building every Sunday and see you and all of the kids. When we started family service a while back I had no idea we would all be doing family service every week in our homes. Sometimes that can be challenging and downright exhausting. It can feel easier to do it at a different time or simplify it for the kids. I am not saying any of those options are wrong but I will say I have seen amazing fruit in the families that have been “all in” on Sundays as a family. Now we will be gathering in small groups in our home. For some of you this can cause added anxiety. Whether you are going into another family’s home or welcoming others into yours. So I wanted to give you some practical steps, some encouragement and a challenge as you consider this ongoing season, worshipping together in our homes as small units of our church family.
We continue in Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians, learning the opportunities for children and parents, especially fathers, to honor one another in ways that please God our Father.
20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.
Ephesians 6:1-4 (ESV)
6 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Kids response: Justification means our declared righteousness before God. Sanctification means our gradual, growing righteousness.
Full response: Justification means our declared righteousness before God, made possible by Christ’s death and resurrection for us. Sanctification means our gradual, growing righteousness, made possible by the Spirit’s work in us.
Scripture: 1 Peter 1:1-2
To those who are elect exiles . . . according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
Prayer: Our Savior and Lord, you have completed the work of our justification. You have begun the work of our sanctification, and we trust that you will carry us through to its completion. Transform us day by day into your likeness, conforming us to your ways. Amen.