Family Worship (June 21)

Imagine you have a toy that is completely broken, and you really need your mom or dad to fix it. You go to their room, but they are busy working on an important phone call. Do you just throw the toy away and give up? No! You wait outside the door, and as soon as they hang up, you knock again. If they say, "Just a minute," you keep waiting patiently because you know they are the only ones who can fix it. In our church sermon, we heard a story about a woman who had a massive problem but no power to fix it herself. She went to a judge over and over again, refusing to give up until he finally helped her. Jesus told this story to teach us that we should always pray and never stop. God is a good Father who always hears us right away.

Luke 18:1-8
Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’
4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”
6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

Discussion Questions

1. Why did the widow in the story keep going back to the judge even when he ignored her at first?
2. What is the difference between asking God for a "lesser hope" (like a brand new toy) and a "Greater Hope" (like asking Him to help us love our neighbors or bring His Kingdom)?
3. How does it make you feel to know that Jesus is always praying for us, even when we forget to pray or feel too tired?

Activity: The Persistent Prayer Wall
Give each family member a sticky note or a small piece of paper. Have everyone write or draw one "Greater Hope" request—such as a friend learning about Jesus, a sick relative experiencing God's peace, or the world experiencing God's justice. Stick these notes on the refrigerator or a designated wall in your home.

Throughout the week, whenever a family member walks past the wall, they must gently tap the note and say a quick, one-sentence prayer for that request. This serves as a visual reminder of the widow's persistence and how our family can "cry out day and night" to a God who loves to answer His children.

Prayer
Dear God, thank you that you are not like the mean judge in the story. You are a good and loving Father who always listens to us. Help our family to pray together and never give up, even when we have to wait for your answers. Thank you for sending Jesus to intercede for us every single day. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Memory Work:

New City Catechism
24. Why was it necessary for Christ, the Redeemer, to die?
Christ died willingly in our place to deliver us from the power and penalty of sin and bring us back to God.

Memory Verse
Matthew 6:9-13
9 “This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from the evil one.