Family Bible Study

Week One The Main Thing: Seeing and Knowing God for Who He Is
Each Sunday during the series on GodCentered Community, we will be producing a leaflet with five days of studies for you to use if you wish. These studies will be based in Deuteronomy 6 and will cover different lessons on what we can learn from what God says to his people through Moses. The aim would be for us to find 10 minutes a day, perhaps over the dinner table, for five days in the week, when as a family we can sit down and learn together from Gods Word. This weeks studies cover something of the background to Deuteronomy by looking at Moses life, at the Exodus and the giving of the law at Sinai before considering the centrality and exclusivity of God. The questions and suggestions for each days study are only there as a guide; please use and adapt as is appropriate for your family. Our prayer is that this series will encourage us all in our responsibility to pass on the truths of our faith to the next generation.

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These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Deuteronomy 6:6

Deuteronomy 6 shows how important it is for families and individuals to both know and obey God and his commands. This short series of Bible studies are designed to encourage us to read Gods Word and pray together as families seeking to be Gods obedient children.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION and are copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Hodder and Stoughton Ltd, a member of the Hodder Headline Plc Group. All rights reserved.

Daily Bible Studies

Monday Todays Bible reading: Exodus 3:1-12 Thought for the Day: Who was Moses?
God gives the law to the children of Israel through Moses, so the focus of the discussion today and tomorrow is on helping your children to learn about Moses and the Exodus. Question: 1. Who was Moses? These are some of the things you may want to explain or discuss with your children: He was born in Egypt under difficult circumstances (Exodus 1:11-2:2) He was saved miraculously from death by the bravery of his mother and sister (Exodus 2:3-10) He was raised by Pharaohs daughter as an Egyptian (Exodus 2:10) After having to escape from Egypt, Moses was called by God to be the one who would lead the Israelites out of slavery (Exodus 3:1-22) After God brought the 10 Plagues on the Egyptians he miraculously brought the Israelites out of Egypt (Exodus 12:31-42; 13:17-14:31).

Tuesday Todays Bible reading: Exodus 20:1-17 Thought for the Day: Why the Law?
We left the Israelites yesterday having just escaped from Egypt. Today we look briefly at the time in Sinai when God gave the Law to the Israelites. Question: 1. What is the Law? These are some of the things you may want to explain or discuss with your children: Having left Egypt, the Israelites arrived at Sinai, where Moses received the Law from God. The fundamental section of the law is what we call the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17; Deuteronomy 5:6-21). These commandments and the other laws form the basis for Gods covenant relationship with Israel, the most important command being the first one. Discuss why God might give commands to his people.

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Wednesday Todays Bible reading: Deuteronomy 1:3-8 Thought for the Day: Why was going into the land delayed for 40 years?
Deuteronomy records the second time the Israelites come to the borders of the Promised Land, forty years after the first. Our concentration today is on why that delay was necessary and may give opportunities to discuss the meaning of faith and obedience to Gods commands. Question: 1. Why did the Israelites not enter the promised land 40 years earlier? These are some of the things you may want to explain or discuss with your children: The Israelites were fearful and lacked faith in God on the first occasion (Numbers 13:31-14:4) Caleb and Joshua were the only ones of that generation to enter the land because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly (Numbers 14:24).

Thursday Todays Bible reading: Deuteronomy 5:6; 6:4-5 Thought for the Day: God must be central to our lives.
The first commandment emphasizes the need for Gods people to place Him at the very center of all they are and do. The verses in chapter 6 help us to see what that means and places it in the context of worshipping God. This is an opportunity to discuss how important it is, and how good it is, to worship God - and perhaps to look at what that means on a daily basis. Questions: 1. Why do you think God demands that he should be central to our lives? These are some of the things you may want to explain or discuss with your children: You may want to consider reading Psalm 1 together in this context 2. What does it mean to place God at the centre? Here you may want to consider ways in which you as individuals and as a family can show that God is central. Ask your children for ideas; any that make sense, why not put them into practice? If, as a result of this discussion, you are convicted of having failed to place God at the centre, then humbly accept that and ask forgiveness. Our children will learn a lot from us when we are willing to admit our own failings and show how we receive Gods forgiveness.
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Friday Todays Bible reading: Deuteronomy 5:7; 6:4-5 Thought for the Day: Idolatry is the foundational sin.
Idolatry can be a difficult subject for us as, unlike in the time of Moses, few of us are surrounded by people who literally bow down to idols of stone! However, this is an opportunity to discuss with our children what can become an idol. Questions: 1. What options for life does the Bible offer us? These are some of the things you may want to explain or discuss with your children: There is no no third way between worship of the one true God and idolatry. There is a clear link between the law against idols and salvation through faith alone. Whatever we trust in, and love, more than anything else becomes our functional savior. This may be an opportunity to talk with your children about the meaning of salvation. You may want to explain how repentance is about turning from the things of the past and to God; and how true faith means relying on the death and resurrection of Christ, and that alone, for our forgiveness and salvation. 2. What are the idols of our culture? One way, perhaps the most common way, we worship idols is not by turning to something bad but by raising something that may be good (work, family, health) into something that has ultimate value so all other decisions are made in the light of that priority. What might we be giving our love to instead of our Creator and Redeemer?

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Family Bible Study

Week Two The Main Thing: Worshipping God with Heart, Soul and Mind
Last weeks Family Bible Studies looked at who Moses was and gave a brief introduction to the Exodus and the Israelites wandering in the desert, before considering how important it is for us to truly make God central in our lives - to obey the first commandment. John writes, We love because he first loved us (1 John 4:19). True worship is a response to Gods love and grace, a response that takes in all that we are and have. As Christians, we have received a new heart (Ezekiel 36:26); our whole being - the heart, soul and mind of this weeks studies - has been renewed, and Paul encourages us, in view of Gods mercy [to] offer [our] bodies as living sacrifices to God - this is [our] spiritual act of worship (Romans 12:1). This weeks studies focus on the living sacrifice of worshipping God. We will look at two fundamental reasons why we worship him and then at what true worship is. May God bless you as you seek to truly worship him as a family this week.

Daily Bible Studies

Monday Todays Bible reading: Isaiah 40:25-31 Thought for the Day: Worship our Creator.
To worship God means beginning at the beginning: with God as our Creator. In this passage, Isaiah reminds Israel that their God is a great God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. This truth is to give them faith when the world around seems dark (verse 27) and strength to continue to serve him (verse 31). Questions: 1. How does Isaiah show that God is worthy of our worship? These are some of the things you may want to explain or discuss with your children: The natural world reveals Gods eternal power and divine nature (Romans 1:20). In Old Testament terms, to name something (verse 26) is to show you have authority over them. Verse 26 also makes clear that God is not only the Creator, but is also the Sustainer of all things. 2. What does Isaiah say will be the result of true worship of God? In verse 31, he talks about those who hope in the Lord. True worship, placing God at the centre of all we are and do, involves hoping in God. This might be a good time to remind your children of the importance of hoping in God, of truly placing their trust in him and him alone.
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Tuesday Todays Bible reading: Isaiah 48:17-19 Thought for the Day: Worship our Redeemer.
The truth of God as our Redeemer is often linked with that of him as our Creator (the earlier part of Isaiah 48 draws just such a link). This passage helps us see something of what worshipping God as our Redeemer means. Questions: 1. What does Redeemer mean? These are some of the things you may want to explain or discuss with your children: You might want to use the story of the Exodus, which we looked at last week, to explain this. God has freed his people from captivity to service. Discuss what redemption means for us as Christians. What have we been freed from? What have we been freed to? (Romans 3:22-26; 12:1-2) 2. What does having God as our Redeemer mean on a daily basis? Here you may want to look at Gods demands for obedience (verse 18), remembering that our obedience to Gods commands is a result of our redemption, not a means of redemption. Gods promises of blessing (verses 18-19) need to be seen in the context of the New Testament. We still can expect peace and righteousness as a result of being redeemed, but the promise of literal, physical descendants is to Israel, and for us this needs to be considered in more spiritual terms.

Wednesday Todays Bible reading: Ephesians:17-32 Thought for the Day: Worshipping God with our heart.
In biblical terms, the heart is the centre of the will; it is where we make decisions. So to worship God with our heart is about how we behave. This follows on from the truth we encountered yesterday about Gods looking for obedience in his people. Questions: 1. What does this passage say are some of the actions that we as Christians should avoid? These are some of the things you may want to explain or discuss with your children: For children, some of the things mentioned may well be irrelevant, but we have all squabbled and argued with someone else!! Lovingly explain how, as Christians, we need to leave this behavior behind.

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2. What does this passage say about the type of behavior God expects? Forgiveness is perhaps top of the list here and gives an opportunity to remind our children of the reality of having our sin forgiven. Pauls image of taking off one piece of clothing and putting on another is a good one to help explain the change that God expects of his people.

Thursday Todays Bible reading: Galatians 5:16-26 Thought for the Day: Worshipping God with our soul.
Behavior is not everything in the Christian life, for love is deeper than action. How we behave comes out of who we are, and this is where the soul comes in. Worshipping God with our soul is about handing our innermost being over to his control and allowing Gods Spirit to work at transforming us into the likeness of Jesus. Question: 1. What does Paul say should be the hallmarks of Christian character? These are some of the things you may want to explain or discuss with your children: You will probably not have time to look at the whole of the fruit of the Spirit, but take one or two aspects and discuss them with your children. Discuss how the fruit of the Spirit grows, bringing in the importance of continual repentance and forgiveness as part of developing Christian character.

Friday Todays Bible reading: Mark 7:14-22; Romans 12:1-2. Thought for the Day: Worshipping God with our mind.
True worship of God involves the whole person - including the mind. Jesus shows that evil thoughts are the first sign of an evil heart and lead on to evil acts. Paul commands us to renew our minds as part of what worship truly means. Question: 1. How can we worship God with our mind? These are some of the things you may want to explain or discuss with your children: The way we think about things will affect the way we behave. As Christians, we need to be transformed by Gods Spirit to see things the way he does. This will involve the way we consider our work, money, relationships, indeed every area of life. We are bombarded by views of the world which are anti-Christian; worshipping God with our mind means we reject those views to hold to biblical views.

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You might want to take opportunities this week to discuss with your children advertisements on television or in magazines to see how the view of the world they project is different from the Christian view.

Family Bible Study

Week Three The Main Thing: Being a disciple in every area of our lives
Last weeks studies focused on the living sacrifice of worshipping God with all our heart, soul and mind. This week we move on from there to consider what it means to be a true disciple. We will see the need for a new heart and for us to make sure that Gods Word is in our heart. It has been said that the Christian faith is but one generation away from extinction. In order for the church to survive, we must be engaged in two things. Firstly, evangelism and reaching out to those who have not yet heard and responded to the gospel. Secondly, we have a responsibility to pass on the message of the faith to the next generation. Like evangelism, this is a responsibility that we all have but which lies particularly on the shoulders of parents, who are commanded by Paul to raise their children in the training and instruction of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4 May God bless you as you explore the meaning of whole-hearted, whole-life discipleship as a family this week.

Monday Todays Bible reading: Deuteronomy 6:1-6 Thought for the Day: Writing Gods commandments on our hearts.
We are back with the main passage for this series and today we consider what God says to his people about how he expects his commandments to be on our hearts so that they govern all that we say and do. Questions: 1. What does it mean for Gods commandments to be on our hearts? These are some of the things you may want to explain or discuss with your children: The emphasis in verse 6 is upon inward obedience. This would be an opportunity to review what we looked at last week, when we saw that the heart is the place where we make decisions. For Gods commandments to be on our hearts suggests that as we think about things and then make decisions, those thoughts and decisions should come from, and be guided by, our love and worship of God.

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2. What can we do to put Gods commandments into our hearts? One important way is through the memorization of Scripture. You might want to read Psalm 119:10-12 in this context. Discuss with your children how you might all make Scripture memorization an important part of your Christian life.

Tuesday Todays Bible reading: Ezekiel 36:26-27 Thought for the Day: A new heart from God
As Christians, we know that to have a heart that is right before God, we need to receive that heart from him. This short passage from Ezekiel reminds us that God not only gives a new heart but, by his Spirit, he also gives us the desire to follow his commands. Question: 1. What does it mean to have a new heart? These are some of the things you may want to explain or discuss with your children: This is an opportunity to discuss with your children what real faith is all about. Perhaps you might like to give your own testimony of how God changed your heart. You will want to refer to the cross and to the forgiveness we have in Jesus and the need to trust him and him alone. You will also want to emphasize that we cannot know and love God without this new heart and without knowing his Word, as we looked at yesterday.

Wednesday Todays Bible reading: Deuteronomy 6:7-9 Thought for the Day: Displaying Gods commandments in our lives.
If Gods commandments are truly on our hearts, then they will become part of the fabric of our lives. Question: 1. How can we show the inward reality of our faith in our everyday lives? These are some of the things you may want to explain or discuss with your children: This passage suggests that just having designated times of worship as a family or a church fellowship is not enough. What God expects of us is that his commandments should be talked about and lived out in everything we do. Perhaps you can ask your children how they think you can all improve in showing your faith on a continual basis.

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Thursday Todays Bible reading: Psalm 1:1-6 Thought for the Day: Delighting in Gods law
This Psalm contrasts the person who loves God and the people who do not. It reminds us of the need to meditate on Gods law (to have it in our hearts) and gives promises, from God, about his protection for his people. Question: 1. What does it mean to delight in Gods law? These are some of the things you may want to explain or discuss with your children: You may want to ask yourself, before talking about this with your children, how your delight in Gods law might be evident to them! Perhaps emphasize the fact that it is through Gods law being in our heart that we have true life. You might want to read John 11:24-26; 14:6; 17:3. 2. What does God promise to those who delight in his law? Gods promise is that he will watch over us. Perhaps you will want to explain that this does not mean life will always be easy, but that God will always be in control and working things out for our good (Romans 8:28).

Friday Todays Bible reading: Joshua 4:1-9 Thought for the Day: Marking your journey of faith
God commands Joshua to set up twelve stones as a memorial to the miracle of crossing the River Jordan. They were to be a talking point for the Israelites in the future, a way of reminding them of Gods miraculous provision in the past and a way to strengthen their faith. Questions: 1. What memorials do you have as a family of Gods guidance and provision for you? These are some of the things you may want to explain or discuss with your children: This would be a good time to share something of your testimony of Gods goodness to you over the years. Perhaps a time to share times when, as a family, you have seen Gods hand at work.

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2. How can you make sure that you remember the important times of Gods goodness to you? Why not ask the children to come up with ideas as to how you can remember these important events? One thing you might want to encourage your children to do is to ask questions of you, as parents, about how you have seen God at work.

Family Bible Study

Week Four The Main Thing: Gods Word makes a difference
Last weeks studies focused on the responsibility that each of us has, but which lies particularly on the shoulders of parents, of raising our children in the training and instruction of the Lord Ephesians 6:4. We have seen that the oneness of God demands a response in our lives that is total and which might be summarized as wholelife discipleship. This weeks studies (the last in the series) continue this same theme by considering how important it is for Gods Word to be central in our lives. Fridays study is an opportunity for you to look back over the past four weeks and consider how God has spoken to you as parents, children and family. Discussing Gods Word together doesnt have to end with this series. Why not consider ways in which you can continue to spend time as a family around the Bible. May God bless you as you explore the meaning of whole-hearted, whole-life discipleship as a family this week.

Monday Todays Bible reading: Deuteronomy 6:3-9 Thought for the Day: Guarding the door
The doorway to our home is where we, as Christians, meet the world. In John 17:15 we read these words of Jesus, My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. So we remain in the world and in continual contact with its ways of thinking and doing things - ways which often run contrary to Scripture. Questions: 1. What does it mean to write Gods commandments on the door-frames of our house? These are some of the things you may want to explain or discuss with your children: The Jews did this literally, but we have tended to see it as a picture of how we need to ensure that all that happens in our lives is filtered through Gods Word.
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2. What negative influences are there on our lives which we might we need to put through this filter? You may want to talk about television and other forms of media. Why not ask your children what negative influences they have seen and then discuss how using the truths of Gods Word we can counteract them.

Tuesday Todays Bible reading: Proverbs 3:1-6 Thought for the Day: Acknowledging God in all things
This passage echoes some of the thoughts we are familiar with from Deuteronomy. Questions: 1. What are the three promises in this short passage? These are some of the things you may want to explain or discuss with your children: The promise of long life and prosperity obviously has to be seen as a picture of Gods blessing. We do not have a promise of perfect health and abundant wealth! It is also worth pointing out that the promise of straight paths does not mean a life without problems. 2. What does God expect of us in order for him to be able to fulfil his promises? This brings us very much back to the main points of our series about having Gods commands written on our hearts and trusting in him and him alone. One point worth making is that God is not a machine. He does not bless because we act in certain ways whether he wants to or not; rather he blesses as an act of grace in response to his peoples worship of him. His blessing is not, therefore, a given but another reason for praise and renewed worship.

Wednesday Todays Bible reading: Proverbs 6:20-23 Thought for the Day: Gods Word is a lamp
In Verse 23, there are three pictures of the way that Gods Word should influence our lives. The main idea is that it is only Gods Word which can show what is right and just and true, and which leads to life.

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Questions: 1. How does Gods Word shed light on our lives? These are some of the things you may want to explain or discuss with your children: This would be an opportunity to share how knowing Gods Word has helped you to change ways you think and act, or to show how an attitude or influence that your children will have met fails to live up to Gods standards. 2. How does Gods Word bring life? Another opportunity, if you wish to use it, to talk about the reality of salvation in Christ. In John 5:24, Jesus links hearing his words with having eternal life and so provides a good point of contact between what we have learned from the Old Testament and what is needed for salvation.

Thursday Todays Bible reading: Hebrews 13:7-8 Thought for the Day: Following the example of others
Last week we saw how it can be helpful to mark our journey of faith in some way. This passage from Hebrews encourages us to look at other people we know who are Christians and follow their example. Questions: 1. What can we learn from looking at the lives of other, perhaps more mature, Christians? These are some of the things you may want to explain or discuss with your children: As we have seen, parents have the primary role of raising their children in the faith, but being able to point to other Christians and how they show the reality of their faith is important as well. We are not simply a group of individuals, or even individual families; we are the family of God, people saved into community. 2. Why does the writer remind people of who Jesus is in this context? This may be to encourage his readers and, therefore, us. When we look at other Christians and their lives of faith, we may become discouraged, thinking we cannot be like them. The writer, though, reminds us that our Lord and Saviour is the same for us as he was for them, so the same Spirit of Jesus is in work in us as he was in others.

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Friday Todays Bible reading: Deuteronomy 6:4-9 Thought for the Day: Bringing it all together
We have now come to the final day of our studies on Deuteronomy. As you read the verses we have concentrated on over the past four weeks, take time today to simply sum up what you, as a family, have learned. Encourage each other with any examples of the way in which God has spoken to you over this series. As parents, encourage your children by telling them where you have seen them seek to put into practice what you have been discussing together. You may want to ask them how they think you should continue to worship together as a family. You might like to end by reading Psalm 119:9-16 as a prayer of commitment that, together, you will seek God with all your heart and learn to delight in his decrees.

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