Series Focus Verses: Genesis 1:27 28

God’s plan is for you to be the primary spiritual nurturer of your child’s faith. This resource is designed to allow your family to share time in God’s Word before your child attends youth WHERE WE’RE HEADED NEXT TIME group. At Home Weekly is meant to inspire you toward a deeper personal relationship with Scripture: Genesis 4:1–16 Jesus Christ, equip you to be the primary person presenting these biblical concepts to your God Statement: God Is Just. God Is Merciful. (Cain and Abel) child, and support you as you connect and grow alongside your son or daughter. GATHER AROUND GOD’S WORD SERIES FOCUS VERSES: GENESIS 1:27–28 Not only has God called churches to gather around His Word, but He has called families to as God’s people love God’s Word. They read it, they sing it, they pray according to it, they meditate well (Deuteronomy 6:4–7). Before your child gathers with her youth group around God’s Word, upon it, and they memorize it. This week as a family, begin memorizing the first Focus Verses of have her read it with you first! our series. Here are some suggestions: READ: Read Genesis 4:1–16 together as a family. Give each member a Bible and • Post It. Have each member of your family take three sticky notes, write the Focus take turns reading a few verses at a time. Verses on each of them, and choose a place in the house to post them. This way, God’s Word will literally be hanging on the walls! DISCUSS: Once you’ve finished reading, invite your child to share two things. First, • Picture It. Take a picture of the Focus Verses (either written out or from your Bibles) have them share what they think the most important part of the passage is. This and make it the wallpaper on your phone. Every time you turn your phone on, you’ll should help them think a little deeper about the passage and what it’s communicating. see God’s Word. Second, have everyone share a question they have about the passage. This will not • Popcorn It. Without looking at the verses, have each person recite five words and only give way to good discussion, but it hopefully will excite your child to learn more then pass to the family member to their right. If anyone has trouble, allow other family about the passage at youth group. members to help. For fun, see how fast your family can recite the whole passage from memory together. Make sure to let encouragements abound! • Pray It. Use the Focus Verses as a guide for family prayer. Read them together and CONNECT AS A FAMILY: PAPER PLATE then, as a family, respond to God in prayer. Thank Him for creating us in His image and for the gift of families. Ask Him to help your family to become more and more like ENCOURAGEMENT Him and reflect Him well to others. Let God’s Word guide your words in prayer. The record of Cain and Abel shows the danger of jealousy, bitterness, and hatred within a family. Turn behind-the-back bitterness to behind-the-back encouragement. REMEMBER GOD’S WORDS to His people, “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when Tape a paper plate (non-glossed) onto the back of each member of your family. you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you Once everyone has a plate on his back, invite every family member to grab a get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write marker and write on the plate how they’re thankful to God for that particular them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates” (Deuteronomy 6:6–9). person. Then, once everyone is finished, remove the plates and have everyone May God’s Word fill your home so His love may fill your hearts. read their plate out loud. As they read, lead the way in being quick to affirm what was written. WHAT WE LEARNED THIS WEEK BLESSING Scripture: Genesis 3:1–24 A blessing can be a spoken prayer of commission, a portion of Scripture, or words of encouragement and guidance over your child. For more information about blessing your child, God Statement: God Is Redeemer (Adam and Eve) see the Blessing section in HomeFront Magazine: A Spiritual Parenting Resource Continue the discussion at home. Ask the following. (www.homefrontmag.com).  What did Adam and Eve’s sin break for all humankind?  How has God redeemed us from the fall (see Ephesians 1:7)? (Child’s name), may God’s justice and mercy fill your heart with joy, that it may  What’s one way that we as a family can celebrate how God redeemed us from the fall overflow to other members of your family, your church family, and beyond. As through Jesus (e.g., a celebration dinner, pray together, sing together, etc.)? an overflow of a thankful heart, may your worship never stop.