Family Worship (Feb 15)

Have you ever been really, really tired? Maybe it was after a long school day, a hard practice, or a busy week. When you finally get home, you just want to sit down and rest. But sometimes even when our bodies are resting, our hearts still feel busy. We worry about school. We worry about friends. We worry about the future. We try to fix everything ourselves.

In Hebrews 3–4, God talks about a different kind of rest. It’s not just taking a nap. It’s trusting him. Long ago, God’s people were scared when they saw big enemies in front of them. Instead of trusting God, they panicked and turned away. Their hearts became hard.

God tells us, “Today, listen to my voice.” That means right now. We don’t have to wait. Jesus invites us to stop trying to save ourselves and to rest in him. Real rest means trusting Jesus with our fears and our future.

Hebrews 3:7–8, (NIV)
“So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness,”

Hebrews 4:14–16 (NIV)
“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

Discussion Questions

1. What does it mean to “harden your heart”? How might someone do that today?
2. Why do you think God keeps saying the word “Today”? What is he asking us to do right now?
3. How does knowing that Jesus understands our weakness help us feel safe and at rest?

Activity: The Trust Fall
Have one family member stand and gently lean back while another person stands close behind and catches them carefully. (Make sure it is safe and done gently!)

Afterward, talk about it:

• Was it hard to lean back?
• Why?
• What helped you trust the person behind you?

Explain that faith is like that. We are leaning our whole weight on Jesus. We are trusting that he will hold us. Rest means we stop trying to hold ourselves up and trust him instead.

Then have everyone sit quietly for one minute. During that minute, each person silently gives one worry to Jesus.

Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you that you give us real rest. Help us not to harden our hearts when we feel afraid. Teach us to trust you instead of trying to fix everything ourselves. Thank you that you understand our weakness and welcome us with grace. Help our family rest in you today. Amen.

Memory Work

New City Catechism
6. How can we glorify God?
We glorify God by enjoying him, loving him, trusting him, and by obeying his will, commands, and law.

Memory Verse
Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.