conversations in the home

Using God's Word as a catalyst for starting spiritual conversations in the home is easier than you think.  God commands us to impress His commandments upon the hearts of our children by talking about them as we sit at home and when we walk along the road, when we lie down and when we get up (Deuteronomy 6:6-7). 

Check back for a suggested verse for each month of 2011.  Our pastors will provide a verse each month to supplement the sermon series.  Make God's word more real for your kids by discussing at your home the truths we will be proclaiming on Sunday mornings!  Our verse for summer 2011 is: 

Start at a time when the family is sitting down together (even if it is only once a week!).  Other great times are car time (when we "walk" along the road!) and bed time.  Use these times to start conversations about God. 

Here is an easy four week plan:

Week 1:  Focus on your focus!  Choose a verse for the month and discuss it with your kids.  Identify the action words and draw pictures of them.  Use a white or chalkboard to make this more interactive for the kids.  Don't explain it.  Let the kids make the connections so the action words stick in their heads and hearts. 

For example, using February's verse above ask what are the action words in this verse?  How can you draw a picture of pray or give?  Let kids make the drawings on the chalkboard.  Post the whiteboard in your home to spark further conversation.  Let it be the doorpost upon which your family posts God's word.  "Write them [the commandments of God] on the doorframes of your houses and upon your gates."  Just as families in Old Testament times, posted God's commands on their door frames, we can use the whiteboard to post God's word in our homes and spark conversation.

Week 2:  Why is this important?  Discuss why this verse is important to God and to your family.  Make up hand motions for the action words.

Week 3:  What does this verse look like in the real world?  Share stories of how you are being successful (or failing!) at applying the verse to your life.  Be real!

Week 4:  What will our family do?  Talk about your family's commitment to the concepts of the verse.  In the above example, it might be that the members of your family will strive to be thankful, even in difficult situations.  Then, help one another be thankful . . . at all times!

Make your own Doorpost!  For information on how to create a white or chalkboard to serve as your family's doorpost contact Amy Billings.