Our Tweeners DTX lesson on Sunday June 20th finished up a month of looking at The Ten Commandments. This week we really look at how the commandments are tied to our thoughts and how we please God with our thoughts.
Below are follow-up questions for you to discuss with your family…one for each day of the week. Parents are encouraged to guide the depth of discussion based on the age of their children. Please make it a priority to engage in these Faith-Fueling family discussions!
Monday June 21st: Have one person draw a simple picture of your house or family but don’t let anyone else see it. Then give everyone else pieces of paper and have everyone face away from each other. The person who drew the picture will try to describe what they drew line by line as the other people try to recreate the exact picture. The goal is to see who can recreate the picture the best without ever seeing it. Have fun and compare drawings when finished. Your drawings were created just by your thoughts. Describe and explain if you think your thoughts are a big part of your life and who you are? How? Read 2 Corinthains 10:5. What are we supposed to do with our thoughts? What does take captive mean? Everyone share how you want to try to take captive your thoughts this week in order to be more of what Jesus made you to be. Close in prayer.
Tuesday June 22nd: What do you think hurts the most? Getting hit by someone and hurting physically or being made fun of by someone and your heart and feelings get hurt? Read Matthew 5:21-22. What does God think hurts more – killing someone or being angry with them? Of course on the earth there are greater punishments and consequences when you kill someone, but in God”s eyes and heart it all hurts Him the same. Each person t ake some time to confess to each other where you have “killed” someone in your family this week by your thoughts, words or actions and ask for forgiveness. Then forgive each other and pray for God to help us from killing each other in any way.
Wednesday June 23rd: What are some things your friends own that you think would be fun to have for yourself too? Parents share too! Do you know what coveting is? Discuss. (look it up on line or in a catechism). Read Phillipians 4:11-13. How was Paul able to be content no matter what situation he was in? Do you think you are content with what you have or covet what you don’t have? Discuss and then pray for God to show you all the great things in your life and to be thankful for these many awesome gifts.
Thursday June 24: Think of a time you wanted something, a possession, and you did not get it. Share. Can you think of any way that you might be better off because you did not get it? Read Psalm 119:36-37. Everyone name some way that they want to try to be less selfish. How can you put more of God’s Word in your life? Do you think more of God’s Word helps us be more content and less selfish? Why? Close by praying together.
Friday June 25: We please God with our thoughts – with our good thoughts that is. What are some great family memories you can think of that make you smile and you can think of when you need some God pleasing thoughts? Read Phillipians 4:8. What specific things can each of you do to encourage each other to think on pure, lovely, excellent and worthy things? Close in prayer.
