Family Worship (Oct 18)

Keep Looking Up!
Have you ever been asked to do something that seemed really hard? Maybe your parents asked you to tell the truth when you knew you'd get in trouble. Maybe you had to be kind to someone who was mean to you. Doing the right thing isn't always easy!
In Genesis 22, God gave Abraham a very difficult test. He told Abraham to sacrifice his beloved son, Isaac. Abraham didn't understand how everything would work out, but he trusted God enough to obey. And just when things seemed hopeless, God provided a ram to take Isaac's place!
God sometimes allows difficult things in our lives to help our faith grow. He wants us to learn to trust him and obey him, even when it's hard.
And here's the best news: God provided his own Son, Jesus, to take our place and save us from our sins!
When life gets hard, keep looking up! God is faithful!

Read Genesis 22:1-14

Discussion

1. Why do you think it was so difficult for Abraham to obey God? What helped him trust God?
2. What is something God asks you to do that can be difficult? How can trusting God help you obey?
3. God provided a ram to take Isaac's place. How does that remind us of what Jesus did for us?

Family Activity: The Trust Walk
Create a simple obstacle course using pillows, chairs, or toys. Have one family member close their eyes while another gives directions to guide them safely through the course. Take turns being the guide and the person following directions. Keep the path clear of anything dangerous!
Afterward, talk about how it felt to follow directions when you couldn't see where you were going.
Sometimes we don't know what lies ahead, but we can trust God because he loves us and always keeps his promises!

Pray together as a family

Memory Work:

New City Catechism
42. How is the Word of God to be read and heard?
With diligence, preparation, and prayer; so that we may accept it with faith, store it in our hearts, and practice it in our lives.

Memory Verse
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.