Jesus' Questions: Day 8

I'm trying something new this Lent. My goal is to find a simple way to talk about living our faith with my children on a daily basis, outside of our (more) formal studies of Scripture and Catechism. This series is based on the questions Jesus asks within the Gospel of Matthew. I am brainstorming here some ways to discuss these passages with each of my children and am sharing with you in hopes that you and your children might be blessed by daily faith sharing. If you try this with your children, I would love to hear about your conversations in the comments!

Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea . . . but he was asleep. They came and woke Him, saying, "Lord, save us! We are perishing!" He said to them, "Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?" Then He got up, rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. ~ Matthew 8:24-26

 

Focus ~ Sometimes life is hard, and we can get worried or scared. Our faith can rescue us from those feelings. All we have to pray is, "Jesus, I trust in You."

Littles ~ What scares you? When you are scared today, can you remember to say, "Jesus, I trust in You"?

Middles ~ How would you feel to be one of the apostles in that storm? What would you have said after Jesus calmed the storm?

Bigs ~ When have you felt like your life is a storm? How can you fully trust in Jesus to calm your storms?

Moms ~ Share about a time when you cried out to Jesus during a stormy time.

Jesus' Questions: Day 7

I'm trying something new this Lent. My goal is to find a simple way to talk about living our faith with my children on a daily basis, outside of our (more) formal studies of Scripture and Catechism. This series is based on the questions Jesus asks within the Gospel of Matthew. I am brainstorming here some ways to discuss these passages with each of my children and am sharing with you in hopes that you and your children might be blessed by daily faith sharing. If you try this with your children, I would love to hear about your conversations in the comments!

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves. By their fruits you will know them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? ~ Matthew 7:15

 

Focus ~ Jesus wants us to know that not everything that looks good is good. There are people who will deceive us, and we must be very cautious not to believe everything we hear or read.

Littles ~ Show me how a sheep acts. Show me how a wolf acts. Would you rather be friends with a sheep or a wolf? Why?

Middles ~ Who do you trust to tell you the truth? Why do you trust them?

Bigs ~ Who or what should you not always trust to tell the truth? How can you discover what is true and what is not?

Moms ~ Share about a time when you were lured into believing something false based on what someone said or what you read. (parenting and marriage advice perhaps)

Jesus' Questions: Day 6

I'm trying something new this Lent. My goal is to find a simple way to talk about living our faith with my children on a daily basis, outside of our (more) formal studies of Scripture and Catechism. This series is based on the questions Jesus asks within the Gospel of Matthew. I am brainstorming here some ways to discuss these passages with each of my children and am sharing with you in hopes that you and your children might be blessed by daily faith sharing. If you try this with your children, I would love to hear about your conversations in the comments!

Which one of you would hand his son a stone when he asks for a loaf of bread, or a snake when he asks for a fish? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask Him? ~ Matthew 7:9

 

Focus ~ God doesn't just take care of us and provide for us the things we need. Assuring us of His love, He is generous without measure. He gives and gives plenty of the things we need and the things that will make us truly happy. All we have to do is ask Him and trust Him to do what is best for us.

Littles ~ Name a gift you got for your birthday or Christmas that you really liked. Does God always give us good things?

Middles ~ Tell about a gift you received after asking someone for it. What gift would you like to ask God for today?

Bigs ~ Tell about a gift you received after asking God for it. What gift would you like to ask God for today?

Moms ~ Tell about a time when God did not give you what you asked but things turned out better than they would have if you had received that thing.

Jesus' Questions: Day 5

I'm trying something new this Lent. My goal is to find a simple way to talk about living our faith with my children on a daily basis, outside of our (more) formal studies of Scripture and Catechism. This series is based on the questions Jesus asks within the Gospel of Matthew. I am brainstorming here some ways to discuss these passages with each of my children and am sharing with you in hopes that you and your children might be blessed by daily faith sharing. If you try this with your children, I would love to hear about your conversations in the comments!

Stop judging, that you may not be judged . . . Why do you notice the splinter in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove that splinter from your eye,' while the wooden beam is in your eye? ~ Matthew 7:1-4

 

Focus ~ It is easy to look around us and point out mistakes that other people make. It is more challenging to admit and work on correcting our own faults. Jesus wants us to focus more on our own holiness than that of our brothers and sisters.

Littles ~ What is one thing you did wrong today? How can you do better tomorrow?

Middles ~ Describe a time when someone else made a mistake. Describe a time when you made a similar mistake.

Bigs ~ How can you avoid judging another person when they do something wrong?

Moms ~ How do you keep from comparing yourself to others and focus on your own daily conversion?

Jesus' Questions: Day 4

I'm trying something new this Lent. My goal is to find a simple way to talk about living our faith with my children on a daily basis, outside of our (more) formal studies of Scripture and Catechism. This series is based on the questions Jesus asks within the Gospel of Matthew. I am brainstorming here some ways to discuss these passages with each of my children and am sharing with you in hopes that you and your children might be blessed by daily faith sharing. If you try this with your children, I would love to hear about your conversations in the comments!

If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will He not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? ~ Matthew 6:30

 

Focus ~ Sometimes we can think we need so much more than we have. It is in our very nature to want more. We see something in a store or something a friend has, and we desire it. This isn't isolated to just material things. Maybe we wish we were better at something. Maybe things are really hard, and someone we love is suffering. We must trust in God to take care of us always, no matter what, because He loves us always, no matter what.

Littles ~ Show me with your hands how much you love God. How much does God love you?

Middles ~ What is something you wish were different or better in your life today? Do you think it's something God wants to change? Why or why not?

Bigs ~ How is God challenging your faith in His providence today? Are you wondering about how some situation will turn out in the end? How can you give it to God and trust Him?

Moms ~ Tell about how you remember to praise and thank God for your many blessings (i.e. prayer, gratitude journal, etc.) on a daily basis instead of just ask Him for the things you want and need.