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Copyright ©2011 The Church at Brook Hills www.brookhills.org

Family  Worship  Guide  –  Week  8    

READ    Read  Acts  17:16-­‐34    Paul  arrived  in  Athens  during  his  second  missionary  journey.    Upon  arrival  Paul’s  “spirit  was  provoked  within  him  as  he  saw  that  the  city  was  full  of  idols”  (17:16).    As  was  his  normal    custom   he   began   reasoning   with   Jews   and   Gentile   God-­‐fearers  in  the  synagogue.    Following  his  time  in  the  synagogue  Paul  made  his  way  to  the  marketplace  where  he  began  to  converse  with  two  of  the  most  prominent  groups  of  philosophers.    They  called  Paul  a  “babbler,”  a  term  which  referred  to  one  who  pecks  at  ideas  like  a  chicken  pecks  at  seeds  and  then  spouts  them  off  without  fully  understanding  them.        When  Paul  mentioned  Jesus’  death  and  resurrection,  the  leading  philosophers  became  especially  intrigued  and  brought  Paul  to  the  Areopagus.    In  Paul’s  day  the  Court  of  Areopagus  exercised  jurisdiction  over  matters  of  religion  and  morality.  The  council  wanted  to  know  about  Paul’s  “new  teaching,”  which  was  strange  to  their  ears.    In  Athens,  the  ancient  world’s  intellectual  center,  the  people  loved  to  debate  the  latest  ideas,  so  this  openness  gave  Paul  an  opportunity  to  preach  his  message.    Paul’s  message  was  clear:  the  Creator  God,  who  has  revealed  Himself  in  Creation,  has  now  commanded  all  to  repent,   for   everyone   must   give   an   account   to   Jesus   Christ   whom   God   raised   from   the   dead.     Because   God   made  everything,   He   is   supreme   over   all   -­‐   “the   Lord   of   heaven   and   earth”   (17:24).     Such   a   God   does   not   live   in   humanly  constructed   temples,   as   the   Greek   gods   did.     God   is   above   human   temples,   but   He   is   also   self-­‐sufficient   and   is   not  sustained  by  human  provisions  (17:25).    This  sovereign  God  has  omnipotently  decreed  the  history  and  boundaries  for  the  nations  (17:26).    All  people  are  God’s  offspring,  not  in  the  sense  that  they  are  all  His  redeemed  children,  but  in  the  sense  that  they  are  created  by  God  and  receive  their  very  life  and  breath  from  Him  (17:28).        Paul’s  conclusion  was  obvious:  since  humans  have  been  created  by  God,  He  cannot  possibly  be  thought  of  in  the  form  of  an  idol,  an  image  constructed  by  man  (17:29).    This  would  have  been  a  revolutionary  concept  to  those  in  Athens,  whose  city  was  “full  of  idols”  and  “objects  of  worship.”    It  is  this  God    who   now   “commands   all   people   everywhere   to   repent,  because  he  has  fixed  a  day  on  which  he  will  judge  the  world  in  righteousness  by  a  man  whom  he  has  appointed;  and  of  this  he  has  given  assurance  to  all  by  raising  him  from  the  dead”  (17:30-­‐31).    To  a  Greek  it  was  nonsense  to  believe  a  dead  man  could  be  raised  from  the  grave  to  live  forever,  so  some  mocked  Paul.    Others  wanted  to  hear  more  about  what  Paul  was  saying  and  as  a  result  “some  men  joined  him  and  believed”  (17:34).    Questions:  When  Paul  looked  around  Athens  the  text  says  that  his  “spirit  was  provoked  within  him  as  he  saw  that  the  city  was  full  of  idols”  (17:16).    What  “idols”  do  you  see  being  worshipped  throughout  your  city?  What  sort  of  idols  or  gods  do  you  tend  to  worship  rather  than  the  one  true  God?  How  can  you  follow  Paul’s  example  and  openly  share  Jesus  with  others  in  your  city?    Bottom  Line:  Our  God  is  far  superior  to  all  other  gods.        

PRAY  As  you  read  through  Paul’s  second  missionary  journey  (Acts  16-­‐18),  meditate  on  the  conversions  we  see.    How  was  Lydia  converted?    How  was  the  Philippian  jailer  converted?  Ask  God  to  give  you  boldness  this  week  to  proclaim  the  gospel,  and  pray  that  His  Spirit  will  open  the  hearts  of  those  you  share  with  to  hear  the  gospel  and  respond  favorably.    Pray  that  God  will  make  us  a  church  that  passionately  proclaims  His  glory  and  His  gospel  daily!    

SING  We  see  from  Paul’s  witness   to  the  Athenians  a  bold  proclamation  of   the  one  true  God.    He  has  created  us  to  give  our  mind’s  attention  and  heart’s  affection  to  Him  and  Him  alone,  for  He  alone  is  worthy  of  our  praise.    In  light  of  the  truth  we  see  from  this  text,  we  chose  “All  Creatures  of  our  God  and  King”  as  this  week’s  Family  Worship  Song.    Originally  written  by  St.  Francis  of  Assisi  in  the  early  Thirteenth  Century,  this  hymn  has  been  a  call  for  the  church  to  join  in  an  eternal  song  of  praise  for  nearly  800  years.    As  God’s  church  today,  because  of  His  love  for  us  in  Christ,  we  join  this  ancient  anthem  to  

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sing,  “oh  praise  Him,  hallelujah.”    

MEMORIZE  Acts  17:24-­‐25  The  God  who  made  the  world  and  everything  in  it,  being  Lord  of  heaven  and  earth,  does  not  live  in  temples  made  by  man,  nor  is  he  served  by  human  hands,  as  though  he  needed  anything,  since  he  himself  gives  to  all  mankind  life  and  breath  and  everything.    

SUGGESTIONS  These  suggestions  were  created  by  the  age-­‐group  ministry  leaders  as  a  way  to  help  parents  better  communicate  the  biblical  truths  discussed  in  the  Family  Worship  Guide.    These  suggestions  are  intended  to  help  parents  facilitate  God-­‐centered  discussions  with  their  children.    Parents  should  prayerfully  use  these  suggestions,  and  any  other  means  necessary,  to  help  their  children  discover  the  truths  of  God’s  word  and  worship  Hm  together.    Preschool  

• Before   you   begin,   get   your   Bible   and   a   toy   doll   or   animal.    Remind   your   preschooler   that   the   Bible   is   God’s  word.    Everything  in  the  Bible  is  true.    Tell  them  that  God  wants  us  to  obey  Him  and  follow  His  plan  for  us.    We  find  that  plan  in  the  Bible.  

• Read  Acts  17:24-­‐25.  • Remind  your  child  that  the  Bible  gives  us  rules  to  follow.    Read  Exodus  20:3-­‐4.    Explain  to  your  child  that  God  tells  us  in  

His  word  that,  “you  should  have  no  other  Gods  before  me”  and  “you  should  not  bow  down  or  worship  any  false  idols  or  gods”  

• Now  show  your  child  the  toy  and  ask  your  child:    Is  this  toy  real?  Can  it  talk  to  you?    Can  it  hear  you  when  you  talk?    Could  you  pray  to  this  toy?  Would  it  be  able  to  help  you  when  you  pray?    NO!    This  toy  is  not  real.    This  toy  could  not  hear  you  when  you  talk  to  it  or  pray  to  it  because  it  is  not  real.    The  one  true  God  that  created  you,  the  world  and  everything  in  it  is  bigger,  better  and  stronger  than  any  other  toys  or  false  gods.  

• Questions:    Who  created  you?    God  did!    Who  made  the  world  and  everything   in   it?    God  did!    How  many  real  gods  are  there?    There  is  only  ONE  true  God.    

• Conclude  by  praying  God’s  word  in  Acts  17:24-­‐25  with  your  preschooler.      

Children  • Re-­‐read  Acts  17:24-­‐25.  • Help  your  children  understand  the  following:  

o There  is  only  one  Creator-­‐  God.  He  gives  life  to  everyone  and  everything  that  exists  comes  from  Him.  Everything  in  the  universe  is  under  the  category  of  creation.  Because  God  alone  is  Creator,  He  deserves  our  worship,  trust,  and  love.  

o Idolatry  takes  place  in  our  lives  when  we  put  any  created  thing  in  God's  place.  o Idols  are  hardly  ever  physical   statues   like   the  ones   in  Athens  but   rather  "everyday"   things.  They  are  also  very  

often  not  bad  things  but  good  things  that  we  put  in  the  position  that  only  God  deserves.  • How  do  you  know  if  an  idol  is  present  in  your  life?  Here  are  some  helpful  questions  to  ask:  

o Can  you  think  of  anything  that  if  mom  and  dad  took  away  you  would  be  very,  very  angry?  o Complete  this  sentence:  "The  most  important  thing  in  my  life  is    ______."    o When  I  don't  get  my  way,  how  do  I  respond?  

• Pray  as  a  family  that  God  would  reveal  areas  of  idolatry  wherever  they  are  present  in  the  lives  of  each  family  member  and  that   there   would   be   a   continual   turning   from   these   and   trusting   in   Christ   as   they   are   recognized.   Also,   pray  for  opportunities  to  share  the  saving  message  of  the  One  True  God  to  others  who  are  blinded  by  the  idols  and  false  gods  of  this  world.    

Students  • As  a  family,  re-­‐read  Acts  17:22-­‐24  and  discuss  “What  is  Idol  Worship?”  • Case  Study:  Sam   is  a  9th  grader  who  goes   to  Central  Hills  High  School  and   is   involved   in  many  different  activities.  Sam  

recently  made   the   cheerleading   squad   at   school   and   has   also   been   chosen   as   a   student   leader   in   the   praise   band   at  church.    Lately  she  has  found  herself  caring  what  her  school  friends  think  about  her  dress  and  makeup.  It’s  not  that  she  dresses  badly  or  even  that  her  makeup  is  done  incorrectly,  it’s  that  she’s  noticed  the  other  girls  are  wearing  nicer  clothes  and   it’s  obvious   that   the  boys  notice  her   friends  who  wear  more  makeup.  These  observations  have  caused  Sam  to  be  discouraged  by  her  appearance.    As  the  year  goes  on  she  is  spending  less  and  less  time  on  her  relationship  with  the  Lord  

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Copyright ©2011 The Church at Brook Hills www.brookhills.org

and  more   time   getting   prepped   for   school.   Sam   continues   to   lead   in   the   praise   band   and   she   even   plans   to   go   on   a  mission  trip  to  Mexico,  but  her  looks  and  image  continue  to  govern  her  attention,  thoughts,  and  time.  By  the  end  of  the  year,  Sam  is  voted  “most  popular”  by  the  9th  grade  class  and  her  picture  covers  half  a  page  in  the  yearbook.    

• Discuss  as  a  family  the  heart  of  the  young  lady  described  above.  List  any  idols  evident  in  her  life.    Parents:  focus  on  the  idea  of  self-­‐image  or  the  idol  of  misplaced  identity.    

• Idol  worship  isn’t  all  wrapped  up  in  little  wooden  statues.  Make  a  list  of  things  in  your  own  life  that  if  not  present  would  cause  a  sense  of  loss  or  purpose  (i.e.  a  sport,  relationship,  or  habit).  

• Conclude  by  reading  Acts  17:24-­‐25.  Pray  and  ask  Christ  to  show  you  areas  of  idol  worship  in  your  own  life.    

Pra

yer

W

eek

8

Loca

l

Focu

s: M

-Pow

er M

inis

try

Out

reac

h: T

his

wee

k w

e ar

e pr

ayin

g fo

r M

-PO

WER

Min

istr

ies,

a

Chri

stian

soc

ial s

ervi

ces

min

istr

y in

Avo

ndal

e th

at p

rovi

des

oppo

rtun

ities

for

peop

le to

bre

ak

the

cycl

e of

pov

erty

thro

ugh

educ

ation

, lite

racy

an

d he

alth

ser

vice

s.

Loca

l Chu

rch:

Firs

t Bap

tist I

rond

ale,

Pau

l Hic

ks

Mon

day:

Pra

y th

at th

e st

aff w

ould

hav

e w

isdo

m

as th

ey le

ad a

nd te

ach

the

men

and

wom

en

wal

king

thro

ugh

the

educ

ation

and

lite

racy

pr

ogra

ms

at M

-PO

WER

.

Tues

day:

Pra

y th

at th

e pa

tient

s in

the

M-P

OW

ER

Hea

lth C

ente

r w

ill fi

nd p

hysi

cal a

nd s

piri

tual

he

alin

g as

vol

unte

er d

octo

rs, n

urse

s, a

nd o

ther

s sh

are

the

gosp

el in

wor

d an

d de

ed.

Wed

nesd

ay: P

ray

for

God

to s

end

mor

e Br

ook

Hill

s’ s

mal

l gro

ups

and

mem

bers

to s

erve

in th

e ed

ucati

on, l

itera

cy a

nd h

ealth

cen

ters

.

Thur

sday

: Pra

y fo

r G

od to

tran

sfor

m th

e he

arts

an

d m

inds

of m

en a

nd w

omen

par

ticip

ating

in

the

educ

ation

cen

ter.

Frid

ay: P

ray

that

the

liter

acy

tuto

rs w

ould

be

able

to s

hare

the

gosp

el a

s th

ey te

ach

othe

rs to

re

ad th

roug

h th

e M

-PO

WER

Lite

racy

Cen

ter.

Satu

rday

: Pra

y fo

r th

ose

in th

e co

mm

unity

that

ne

ed th

e se

rvic

es o

f M-P

OW

ER b

ut a

re fe

arfu

l of

cha

nge.

Cop

yrig

ht ©

2011

The

Chu

rch

at B

rook

Hill

s

Glo

bal

Part

ner:

Thi

s w

eek

we

are

pray

ing

for

Bas

and

his

orga

niza

tion

wor

king

am

ong

the

Ara

b pe

ople

gr

oup

livin

g in

Det

roit,

Mic

higa

n.

Shor

t Ter

m T

eam

s: In

dia

Mon

day:

The

re a

re a

ppro

xim

atel

y 30

,000

Ara

bs

in th

e D

etro

it ar

ea, t

he la

rges

t pro

porti

on o

f A

rab

Am

eric

ans

for

a ci

ty o

f its

siz

e. P

ray

for

the

gosp

el to

per

mea

te th

is d

ense

unr

each

ed

peop

le.

Tues

day:

Pra

y fo

r w

isdo

m fo

r Ba

s an

d hi

s te

am

as th

ey s

trat

egiz

e an

d se

ek o

ppor

tuni

ties

in

shar

ing

the

gosp

el.

Pray

for

open

doo

rs a

nd

favo

r in

eng

agin

g th

e lo

st.

Wed

nesd

ay: P

ray

that

God

wou

ld p

repa

re th

e he

arts

of t

he A

rab

in D

etro

it to

hea

r th

e go

spel

an

d be

ope

n to

kno

w C

hris

t as

Lord

and

Sav

ior.

Thur

sday

: The

Ara

b cu

lture

is d

iver

se in

nat

ure,

ev

en m

ore

whe

n pl

aced

in o

ur W

este

rn c

onte

xt.

Pray

for

God

to o

verc

ome

the

chal

leng

es th

is

brin

gs w

hen

tryi

ng to

eng

age

peop

le a

nd s

hare

th

e go

spel

.

Frid

ay: P

ray

for

mor

e w

orke

rs to

pla

nt th

eir

lives

am

ong

the

Ara

b pe

ople

livi

ng in

Det

roit.

Satu

rday

: Bas

and

his

team

pro

vide

an

Engl

ish

scho

ol, j

ob tr

aini

ng o

ppor

tuni

ties

and

com

mun

ity o

utre

ach

prog

ram

s fo

r A

rabs

im

mig

ratin

g to

the

U.S

. P

ray

for

stro

ng

rela

tions

hips

with

bel

ieve

rs to

be

built

thro

ugh

thes

e op

port

uniti

es s

o th

e go

spel

can

be

shar

ed.

Live

s/Ch

urch

As

you

read

thro

ugh

Paul

’s s

econ

d m

issi

onar

y jo

urne

y (A

cts

16-1

8), m

edita

te o

n th

e co

nver

sion

s w

e se

e. H

ow w

as L

ydia

con

vert

ed?

How

was

the

Phili

ppia

n ja

iler

conv

erte

d? A

sk G

od to

giv

e yo

u bo

ldne

ss th

is w

eek

to p

rocl

aim

the

gosp

el, a

nd p

ray

that

His

Spi

rit w

ill o

pen

the

hear

ts o

f tho

se

you

shar

e w

ith to

hea

r th

e go

spel

and

resp

ond

favo

rabl

y. P

ray

that

God

will

mak

e us

a c

hurc

h th

at

pass

iona

tely

pro

clai

ms

His

glo

ry a

nd H

is g

ospe

l dai

ly!

All

Crea

ture

s O

f Our

God

And

Kin

gBy

Fra

ncis

of A

ssis

iA

rran

gem

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y D

avid

Cro

wde

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All

crea

ture

s of

our

God

and

Kin

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ft u

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with

us

sing

Oh

prai

se H

imA

lllui

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amO

h pr

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prai

se H

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llelu

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Thou

rus

hing

win

d th

at a

rt s

o st

rong

Ye c

loud

s th

at s

ail i

n he

av’n

alo

ngO

h pr

aise

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of e

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nd a

voi

ceO

h pr

aise

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prai

se H

imA

llelu

iaA

llelu

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ll th

ings

thei

r cr

eato

r bl

ess

And

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ship

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in h

umbl

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sO

h pr

aise

Him

Alle

luia

Prai

se, p

rais

e th

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ther

pra

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the

Son

And

pra

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the

Spir

it th

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in o

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se, p

rais

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e Fa

ther

pra

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the

Son

And

pra

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the

Spir

it th

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h pr

aise

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prai

se H

imA

llelu

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llelu

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Publ

ic D

omai

n. A

rr. C

opyr

ight

©20

03

wor

ship

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ther

.com

Son

gs/s

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to c

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e ar

e on

ly

allo

wed

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rint t

he ly

rics

to th

is s

ong

with

no

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rds.

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enco

urag

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u to

dow

nloa

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mp3

of t

his

song

from

iTun

es.

Scri

ptur

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e G

od w

ho m

ade

the

wor

ld a

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very

thin

g in

it, b

eing

Lor

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ven

and

eart

h, d

oes

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es m

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an,

nor

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e se

rved

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hum

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ands

, as

thou

gh h

e ne

eded

an

ythi

ng, s

ince

he

him

self

give

s to

all

man

kind

life

and

bre

ath

and

ever

ythi

ng. A

cts

17:2

4-25