Family Discussion Guide: Understanding and Applying the Sermon
Objective: To help family members of all ages understand and reflect on the themes of the sermon and apply them in their daily lives.
This sermon focuses on the importance of having a "fire" for God and dealing with challenges or "snakes" in our lives by casting them into this fire. It's a call to deepen our relationship with Jesus and maintain spiritual fervor.
Discussion Questions:
For Young Children (Ages 5-10):
Activity: Draw a picture of a fire and write or draw some things you want Jesus to help you with.
For Preteens and Teenagers (Ages 11-18):
For Adults
Stewarding Your Spiritual Fire:
Activity: Plan a family prayer evening or a Bible study to collectively strengthen your spiritual foundation.
Fire Building Exercise:
Instructions:
Discussion:
Conclusion:
Close your family discussion with a prayer, asking God to help each member maintain and grow their spiritual fire. Pray for strength to overcome challenges and for unity in your spiritual journey.
Reflection:
At the end of the week, revisit your discussion. Share any changes or insights you've experienced since implementing the sermon’s teachings in your daily life.
Objective: To help family members of all ages understand and reflect on the themes of the sermon and apply them in their daily lives.
This sermon focuses on the importance of having a "fire" for God and dealing with challenges or "snakes" in our lives by casting them into this fire. It's a call to deepen our relationship with Jesus and maintain spiritual fervor.
Discussion Questions:
For Young Children (Ages 5-10):
- Understanding the "Fire of God":
- What do you think it means to have a "fire" in your heart for Jesus?
- Can you name some things that make you excited, and how can being close to Jesus make you feel that way too?
- Casting Off Snakes: What are some things that make you feel scared or bad? How do you think Jesus can help you with those?
Activity: Draw a picture of a fire and write or draw some things you want Jesus to help you with.
For Preteens and Teenagers (Ages 11-18):
- Personal Fire and Passion:
- How do you keep your relationship with Jesus alive and exciting?
- In what ways can you place “fuel” on your spiritual fire, like praying or reading the Bible?
- Identifying "Snakes":
- What are some challenges or "snakes" in your life that try to disrupt your relationship with God?
- What steps can you take to "cast them off"?
For Adults
Stewarding Your Spiritual Fire:
- How do you maintain your spiritual vitality amid daily responsibilities?
- Reflect on the role of prayer, scripture study, and fellowship in sustaining your spiritual fire.
- Identify areas in your life where you feel spiritually attacked or stagnant. How can you use the sermon’s teachings to deal with these areas?
- How can you support your family in maintaining their spiritual fire?
Activity: Plan a family prayer evening or a Bible study to collectively strengthen your spiritual foundation.
Fire Building Exercise:
Instructions:
- Each family member writes down (or draws, for younger children) one or more "snakes" or things they want to overcome or improve in their spiritual life.
- Gather as a family and, if possible, create a small, safe fire in a fireplace or use a candle to symbolize the spiritual fire.
- As each person shares what they wrote, they "cast" their paper into the fire as a sign of giving it up to God.
Discussion:
- After the activity, discuss how you felt casting your challenges into the fire and encourage one another to keep building your individual and collective spiritual fire.Closing Prayer
Conclusion:
Close your family discussion with a prayer, asking God to help each member maintain and grow their spiritual fire. Pray for strength to overcome challenges and for unity in your spiritual journey.
Reflection:
At the end of the week, revisit your discussion. Share any changes or insights you've experienced since implementing the sermon’s teachings in your daily life.
Posted in Wednesday 02-05-25