Family Worship (May 24)

Have you ever played a game with someone who always wants to make the rules? Maybe they want to decide what game to play, where everyone stands, who goes first, and what counts as winning. After a while, the game stops being fun because everything has to revolve around one person.

Sometimes our hearts work like that too. We want life to go our way. We want to be right when we argue. We want to control what happens around us. We want everyone to make us happy. The Bible teaches that this kind of thinking can hurt us and hurt other people too.

In James 4–5, God reminds us that He is the center of the story, not us. Jesus is the true King, the true Judge, and the true Lord. When we trust Him instead of trying to run everything ourselves, we can learn to love other people better and live with peace and joy.

James 4:11-17
Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor? Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.

Discussion Questions

1. Why do you think people like to be right or get their own way?
2. What are some ways we try to control things instead of trusting God?
3. How can Jesus help us care more about loving others than just making ourselves happy?

Family Activity - “Center of the Circle” Game
Place a chair in the middle of the room. Tell everyone that the chair represents the “center of the story.” Let family members take turns sitting in the chair and saying silly things like:

“Everyone has to listen to me!”
“Everything should go my way!”
“I should always get what I want!”

After everyone laughs, talk together about how God is supposed to be at the center of our lives. Read Philippians 2:3-8 and discuss how Jesus humbled Himself and served others instead of demanding His own way.

Finish by having each person name one way they can serve someone else this week.

Prayer
Father, forgive us for the times we act like life is all about us. Help us to trust You instead of always trying to be right, be in control, or get our own way. Thank You for sending Jesus to save us and teach us how to love others. Help our family live for Your glory this week. Amen.

Memory Work:

New City Catechism
21. What sort of Redeemer is needed to bring us back to God?
One who is truly human and also truly God.

Memory Verse
Matthew‬ ‭22‬:‭37‬-‭39‬ ‭(CSB‬‬)
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.  , This is the greatest and most important   command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself."