This resource is designed to allow your family to have time in God’s Word BEFORE your children attend church. Because God’s plan is for parents to be the primary spiritual nurturers of their children’s faith, we want YOU to be the one to introduce this part of The Big God Story to them.

Blessing

Did You Know?

For more information about blessing your child see the Blessing section in HomeFront: A Spiritual Parenting Resource.

Teachable Moments

For additional support in spiritual parenting and to learn more about creating transforming environments in your home, be sure to pick up HomeFront: A Spiritual Parenting Resource from your church or download at HomeFrontMag.com. You can also access the HomeFront app for your iPhone, iPad, or Android device.

After reading Scripture, discuss the following together:

Remember Verse for the environment of

God Desires Our Devotion

Part of The Big God Story

Younger Kids

Older Kids

3.9

Luke 10:38–42 Mary and Martha were sisters who had different priorities. Martha was distracted with the busy work of cleaning and cooking, but her sister, Mary, simply wanted to be with Jesus.

• The Jewish educational system was separated into three different levels for boys.

• In Jesus’ day, women faced very clear societal expectations about how they were to keep the home.

• Only the top male students—the Talmidim, or disciples—would be chosen to sit at the feet of a rabbi and imitate what he did.

• Mary disregarded societal expectations to spend time with Jesus.

• In what ways was Mary acting like a disciple? What made her an unusual disciple?

• What did Martha want Jesus to do? How did Jesus respond?

• What are some things that distract you from devotion to God?

Your child may have difficulty understanding what it means to sit at Jesus’ feet because she cannot see Him. Talk with your child about ways we can spend time with Jesus even though we can’t see Him physically with us.

As your child gets older, his schedule may become full of clubs, sports, and other activities. Ask him where time with Jesus fits into that list. Consider asking your child about reprioritizing in order to make spending time with Jesus the most important thing he does.

© 2013 David C Cook. TruResources are developed in partnership with ROCKHARBOR Church and a national network of family and children’s ministry leaders. All rights reserved.

A blessing to pray over your child:

(Child’s name), may you be completely devoted to Jesus. May you love Him with all of your heart, all of your mind, and all of your soul.

Just for FunSit in a chair and encourage your children to sit at your feet. Then

read Luke 10:38–42. Explain to them in the Jewish educational

system the boys who reached the highest level of education

would sit at the feet of the rabbi to learn. Ask “Why do you think

Martha complained to Jesus?” and “How did Jesus respond to

her?” Explain that God wants our sincere devotion—that means

choosing to be with Him over anything else that takes up our time.

Pray together, asking God to show you what could be keeping you

from giving God the devotion He desires.

COURSE CORRECTION

All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all.(Isaiah 53:6 NLT)

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