Family Worship Guide – Week 51

READ o The book of Second Timothy contains the final recorded words of the apostle Paul. Paul wrote this letter to his “beloved child” Timothy (1:2) from a Roman prison, where he was awaiting his execution. Church history tells us that Paul was martyred during the reign of Nero between A.D. 64 and A.D. 68. Although Paul was not Timothy’s biological father, he was his father in Christ. Timothy was a young pastor into whom Paul had poured his life. This letter has the tone of a dying father who knows he may be speaking to his son for the final time. He doesn’t waste any words. He tells his son what he most needs to hear. o Read 2 Timothy 3:1-9 In this section of the letter, Paul warns Timothy that perilous times will come “in the last days.” Throughout the New Testament, we see that we are already living in the last days (see for example Acts 2:17). So, what Paul is saying is that the perilous times have already begun, and we need to be on our guard. These perilous times in which we find ourselves are defined by rebellious living (3:2-4) and false teaching (3:5-9). o Paul wants Timothy to stand firm against the lies and godlessness of his time. In order to help him do so, Paul reminds Timothy of three truths: o I. The Reality of Suffering (3:10-13) o II. The Reliability of Scripture (3:14-17) o III. The Responsibility of the Saints (4:1-8) o Read 2 Timothy 3:10-13 The first truth of which Paul reminds Timothy is the reality of suffering. Suffering for Christ had been a normal part of Paul’s Christian experience since he first met Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:16). Here, Paul reminds Timothy that everyone who truly follows Christ will suffer hardship in this life (2 Tim. 3:12), and we also should not be surprised when it happens. Jesus promised us that in this world we would have trouble, but He also promised that He had overcome the world (Jn. 16:33). o Read 2 Timothy 3:14-17 The second truth of which Paul reminds Timothy is the reliability of Scripture. The Bible is utterly truthful and sufficient to give us the strength that we need to persevere to the end. Paul commands Timothy to hold onto the truth of the gospel that he has already learned. o We can have full confidence in the Scriptures because “all Scripture is breathed out by God” (3:16). This means that the very words of Scripture are the very words of God. The Holy Spirit supernaturally led the men who wrote these books to write the exact words that He wanted them to write. o This means two very important things for us. First, it means that the Bible is absolutely true and without error. Since God cannot make a mistake, and since God cannot lie (Heb. 6:18), and since the words of the Bible are the very words of God, then the Bible must be absolutely true and without error. We can trust it completely. o Secondly, this means that the Bible is powerful. Paul tells Timothy that the Scriptures are sufficient to bring us to salvation (3:15), to teach, reprove, correct, and train us for righteousness (3:16), and to equip us for every good work (3:17). In other words, in the Scriptures, God gives us what we need to bring us to faith in Christ and to conform us to the likeness of Christ, so that we live like Christ. Throughout the Bible, we see that the Word of God is powerful, it accomplishes its mission. God created the universe by His Word (Gen. 1; Jn. 1:1-4) and Jesus Christ upholds all things by the Word of His Power (Heb. 1:3). Here we see that God’s Word has the power to change us and make us more like Christ and to give us the strength we need to hold onto Christ to the end. o Read 2 Timothy 4:1-8 The final truth of which Paul reminds Timothy is the responsibility of the saints. As Christ-followers, we have been given a commission to make disciples of all nations, and we need to keep this mission always in the forefront of our minds. It would have been easy for Timothy to begin worrying about his own safety at a time like this. His father in the faith, Paul, was about to be executed for preaching the gospel. But Paul commands him to continue preaching the gospel, and to keep preaching the gospel, no matter what. This is not always popular, even in the church. Verses 3-4 say that many people who outwardly appeared to be believers will turn aside from the hard truth of the gospel and seek out a more “feel-good” message. But Timothy, and we, must continue to boldly proclaim the gospel that has been handed down to us. o In verses 6-8, Paul shows us how he viewed his life, and how we should view ours. We are drink offerings to be poured out to God, and whether we live or die, the goal is that God would be glorified. Paul’s one desire is to fight the fight, to finish the race, to keep the faith, and to take hold of the crown of righteousness laid up for him in

heaven. May God give us all grace to live with such a single-minded focus!

The Bottom Line: God's Word gives us everything we need for life and ministry.

Questions: Parents, put yourselves in Paul’s sandals. If you knew that you had only one chance to speak to your children again and to tell them the most important things for them to know, what would you tell them? How would you prepare them for the trials that they were going to face throughout the rest of their lives in one conversation? Share these thoughts with your children. What are some ways that you have experienced persecution for following Christ? How will you as an individual and you as a family build your life around the Word of God? How will you follow Paul’s command in 2 Timothy 4? While we may not all preach in the pulpit on Sunday morning, we are all called to make disciples of all nations. How will you as a family obey this command, even when it is difficult and unpopular? PRAY o Read Window on the World, pg. 144-145 Riffi Berbers (Morocco) o Use Prayer Card SING o Use lyric sheet and mp3 download of “O Holy Night” o This week our family worship song is O Holy Night. In Second Timothy, Paul encourages Timothy to continue to abide in the Word of God because it is able to make us wise for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. As the church we have assurance, through the Bible and by the Spirit of Christ living in us, that we have been redeemed through the atonement of Christ's death on the cross and through faith in Him we are forgiven and reconciled to God for eternity.

O Holy Night is a song that reflects on the sin and error of the world and the hope that Jesus has come to break the chains of sin and death. Let us rejoice together during this Christmas season with our family and faith family in the grace we have received through Christ! MEMORIZE o 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

SUGGESTIONS These suggestions were created by the age-group ministry leaders as a way to help parents better communicate the biblical truths discussed in the Family Worship Guide. These activities and questions can replace or serve as a supplement to the questions under the “Read” section on Page 1. Remember that these suggestions are intended to help parents facilitate God-centered discussions with their children. Parents should prayerfully use these suggestions, and any other means necessary, to help their children discover the truths of God’s word and worship Him together.

Preschool (Birth-Kindergarten) o Before you begin: Grab a map of the state or city and your Bible. o Tell your preschooler about the map. Explain the different streets and highways. A map gives us important information, such as the number of miles between towns, the names of highways, where roads connect, the names of cities, rivers and lakes. You use the map when you travel to other parts of the city or state so you won’t get lost. o Now, show your preschooler your Bible and explain that it is like a road map. o If we don’t read a road map, we won’t know how to get to a new city, and we’ll get lost. In the same way, if we don’t read our Bibles, we won’t know about God and what He expects of us. The Bible tells us all about God and how to love and obey Him. o The Bible is the most important book ever written. It is a gift from God to teach us how to live. There is no other book that will tell you everything you need to know about God or life. o We should be so happy to learn more about God from the Bible. God is so good and loves us so much! Let’s thank Him together for giving us the Bible to show us who He is and how He wants us to live.

Children (Grades 1-5) o Do you know why we set time aside to have family worship? Tell me some reasons. o Re-read the memory verse for the week. What are some reasons in this memory verse that explain why we study the Bible together in family worship? I have another one. I am doing this with you because God’s Word commands me to train you up in the way you should go and to tell of His works to the next generation. I do this because I love God and I love you. o Paul had this same type of love for Timothy. Let’s see what God put on Paul’s heart not just for Timothy, but for all of us because we know from our memory verse, if it is in the Bible, it is God breathed and useful for us, too. o In 2 Tim 3:10-13, Paul reminds Timothy of all the things that have happened to him and how the Lord had rescued him. Jesus told His disciples in John 16:33, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” o Talk about a time in your life that was hard and God rescued you and helped you over come it. o It’s good to recall things that God has done in our life and share those stories with others. It is how we encourage others. That is why we love and remember stories like David and Goliath and Daniel and the lions den. We never need to forget how mighty God is. Reading the Bible regularly reminds us how God can handle any of the problems we face and rescue us too. o In 2 Tim 3:14-15, Paul reminds Timothy that God’s Word, which Timothy has learned since he was a baby, will make him wise for salvation through faith in Jesus. Reading the Bible helps us to know the true way of salvation so we won’t believe what other people might make up. o In 2 Tim 4:1-8, we see that Paul knows that his work here are earth is coming to an end and he will soon be with Jesus, the one he has longed to see. However, Timothy’s work here on earth is not finished, and neither is ours. We have to keep our faith strong by spending time in God’s Word and praying to Him. He tells Timothy and us to preach the Word and always be prepared to share the truth of God’s Word with others. o The Bible tells us there will be a time when people will not want to hear the truth about sin and how we need the Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ. However, our work assignment is clear - share the truth with others and be faithful and obedient to our God. God is the one who does a work in our heart as we obey Him, and He is also the one who will do a work in the heart of the disobedient as we share the truth of God’s Word with others.

Students (Grades 6-12) o Re-read 2 Timothy 3:1-9. In verses 2-4, there is a long list of character traits of people in the last, “difficult” days. Encourage each member of your family to find one of those character traits that is prevalent in our culture. Look back at that list and ask each family member to identify one of those character traits that could easily trap any

believer, and how to guard against that area miring you down into a harmful lifestyle that could limit your influence on others for the sake of the Gospel. o If God’s Word truly gives us everything we need to live a life marked by Christ, how do others know? Are Christians much different from Non-Christians? Create a family list of things that should be noticeably different about us as Christ-followers. Create two columns on your list: one of things we should do as Christ-followers, and the other of things we should not do as Christ-followers. As your family examines this list, ask each person to target one area with which they will ask God to make a change in them? o Look back at that list one more time. Do you think believers are known more by the things they try to avoid, or by the things they are doing to advance the Gospel? If we truly believe God’s Word is active and powerful, then our faith is evident through our actions and the power at work within us. Are you known for what you do or don't do? What does the Holy Spirit lead you to do that identifies you as a Christ-follower? o Scripture calls the people of God “holy and blameless”, however there are moments and seasons when even Christ- followers act on the habits of their old nature. How might God’s Word equip us to battle the desires of our old nature? Re-read 2 Timonty 3:5. Obeying a checklist of “do’s and don’ts” is a daunting, and ultimately impossible, task. In God’s economy, doing the right things with the right heart is what demonstrates God’s power at work in us. As a family, pray that God will grant His power to you to live a life that sets the stage for the power of the gospel to be demonstrated in your family this week.

Prayer Week 51 O Holy Night Praise By Placide Cappeau de Roquemaure Praise is an act of worship through prayer in which we express our adoration of and love for God. It is Translation by John Sullivan Dwight rejoicing in who God is and the salvation He gives us through Christ. We recognize the many facets of Arrangement by The Church at Brook Hills His character and the work He has done in our lives. It is giving thanks for the blessings He has given us. When we praise God, we give glory, honor and thanks to Him. **Tune guitar to D (down whole step) Biblical Basis for Praise: Deuteronomy 10:21; 1 Chronicles 16:8-13; Psalm 150; Romans 15:8-11; Hebrews 13:15; 1 Peter 2:9 VERSE 1: Cmaj7 Fmaj7 Cmaj7 Take some time for each of those gathered with you to lift up praises to the Lord. O Holy Night the stars are brightly shining Nations: Riffi Berbers (Morocco) G2(add6) Cmaj7 It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth • Ask the Lord to call people who are willing to go to Morocco and share Christ with the Riffi Berbers. Fmaj7 Cmaj7 Pray that the doors of Morocco will soon open to missionaries. Long lay the world in sin and error pining • Ask God to strengthen, encourage, and protect the small number of Riffi Berber Christians. Em2 Bm6(add4) Em2 • Ask the Holy Spirit to soften the hearts of the Riffi Berbers towards Christians so that they will be Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth receptive to the Gospel. G2(add6) Cmaj7 • Pray that God will open the hearts of Morocco’s governmental leaders to the Gospel. A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices • Ask the Lord to raise a strong local church among the Riffi Berbers. G2(add6) Cmaj7 For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn Source: Operation World by Johnstone and Mandryk Am2 Em2 Dm4(add 2) Am2 Fall on your knees Oh hear the angel voices Cmaj7 G2(add6) Cmaj7 Fmaj7 Cmaj7 G2(add6) Cmaj7 Scripture Memory Week 51 O ni - ght di-vine O night when Christ was born G2(add6) Cmaj7 Fmaj7 Cmaj7 G2(add6) Cmaj7 O night di-vine O night O night di-vine G2(add6) Cmaj7 Fmaj7 Cmaj7 G2(add6) Cmaj7 O night di-vine O night O night di-vine

VERSE 2: Truly He taught us to love one another 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is breathed out by God and His law is love and His gospel is peace Chains he shall break for the slave is our brother profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training And in his name all oppression shall cease in righteousness that the man of God may be competent, equipped Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we With all our hearts we praise His holy name for every good work. Christ is the Lord then ever ever praise we His power and glory ever more proclaim His power and glory ever more proclaim