Family Discipleship Resources

Check out this page each week for easy ways to bring home what your child has been learning.

Watch

Read

Read

Matthew 23

Discuss

Have you ever heard the phrase “putting lipstick on a pig”? It might sound like a rough job for a farmer, but it’s actually a way of describing the useless things people do to make something look better than it really is. No amount of lipstick can make a dirty pig look pretty, and no amount of good deeds can make up for a heart that loves itself more than Jesus. 
 
The religious leaders said they loved God, but they failed to love others. They wanted people to praise them for how well they obeyed the laws, but they didn't obey what Jesus said was the greatest commandment. Jesus said that anyone who followed these religious leaders was being lead further from God, not closer. 
 
Those who trust in Jesus receive a new heart with new desires. They desire to obey God for the right reasons: to honor Him and to share Him with others. Their love for God is shown through the ways they love others.  
 
Jesus said that the greatest commandments are to love God and love others. (Matt. 22:37-39) The religious leaders loved themselves most of all. When we trust in Jesus, He makes us right with God and changes our hearts so we can love and obey Him.
How does loving and serving others show our love for God?
How does God’s love for us motivate us to love others?
What stood out to you in this week's lesson?

Ask

Memorize

Pray

Morning

Ask God to help you see people the way He sees them today. Pray for opportunities to show and share the love of Jesus with others.

Evening

Thank God for the love He has shown through Jesus. Try to think of as many blessings that you have been given through Christ as you can.

Act

For Fun
Play a game of charades as a family. Let kids lead the game by creating a list of occupations, animals, activities, or chores. Cut the list into strips and place in a bowl. One person will draw a strip and act out what is written while the rest of the family guesses the correct answer. Talk with kids about how the behavior of the religious leaders was a charade of what Jesus actually calls His followers to. Remind kids that Jesus wants us to show our love for Him by loving others, not through actions meant to earn the praise of people.

To Serve
Create encouraging cards to anonymously give to people in your life. Remind kids that love is not just a feeling, it is an action. We need to show our love through words and actions because God calls us to do so, not because we want attention or compliments from people.

Resource of the month

Our recommended resource this month is the New City Catechism mobile app. This app provides questions and answers for parents to practice with their kids to teach them theology. "The New City Catechism mobile app makes it easy to take all 52 questions and answers with you wherever you go. The free app also includes suggested Scripture readings, short prayers, and devotional commentary, as well as kid-friendly songs designed to help children memorize each question and answer."
Learn More