FOCUS OF THE MONTH: KNOWING JESUS CHRIST

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Jesus is the difference between Christianity and every other religion in the world. The pivotal question of life that only the Christian faith can answer is simply this: What are we to make of Jesus Christ? If we are to enable our children to faithfully respond to questions and challenges to their faith, we must ensure that they fully understand Who Jesus is and know what their relationship with Him is. For week one, ask the first question over an unhurried meal. Let the children think about it and then offer their own answers. The children should talk more than the parents. Throughout the week, offer the different reasons highlighted and let the children discuss them. (Parents, read through the relevant Bible passages in advance.) Challenge the children to look up other verses addressing the question.
Do the same for the following questions each week for the month.

QUESTIONS TO HELP YOUR FAMILY GROW

Week One:

Who is Jesus?

Read: Matthew 16:13-16, John 1:1-14, Colossians 2:9–12

• Jesus is the only begotten Son of God — this means that He is and always was God, unlike us, who are God’s adopted children and always and only human but Jesus was also fully human, God Incarnate, or made flesh, when He came to earth to save us.
• The Bible also calls Jesus the Word, or God’s Wisdom, Who created the world and knows everything As the Son, Jesus is the second Person of the Trinity, with the Father and the Holy Spirit — three Persons in One God.

Week Two

How do we come to know Who Jesus is?

Read: Matthew 6:16-17, 1 Peter 1:8-12

• The Bible is the Story of Jesus — in civilizations where there is still a tradition of detailed oral storytelling, they understand all the other Bible stories such as Noah and the Flood and David and Goliath as leading up to the one main plot of the story: Jesus; and that is the way the writers of the Bible, inspired by the Holy Spirit but writing in their own historical contexts, intended us to understand it, “that the whole universe was made for Christ and that everything is to be gathered together in Him”
• Jesus lived on earth during a particular time in history — this is very important to understand because it underscores the significance of Jesus as our King; historical facts and contexts about rulers are always important to understand, because they shaped the world we live in today, and what Jesus did here on earth has changed the future for all eternity!
• Jesus is now “seated at the right hand of God the Father” (Colossians 3:1) still involved in ruling the world
  today, and He will come and live in all our hearts and rule our lives too if we will accept Him.

Week Three:

How can I have a relationship with Jesus like He wants me to?

Read: John 3:16-21, Romans 6:3-23, 2 Corinthians 6:2

• Admit to God that you are a sinner and have done wrong things, and ask for His forgiveness.
• Believe that Jesus is God’s only Son, and that He died on a cross for you and rose again.
• Commit yourself to a life of following and obeying Jesus and serving others.

Week Four:

What do I do now that I know Jesus?

Read: Matthew 28:18-20, John 21:15-24, Ephesians 2:13-22

• Tell others about Him — Jesus wants to have the same wonderful relationship He has with you with everybody; and the wonderful thing about that is, that when He brings a new member into His family through you, then you get another wonderful relationship with another member of the family yourself!
• Follow Jesus — read what He tells us in the Bible, listen to what He says to you in your heart when you pray (and other times as well — be sure you’re paying attention!), try to be like Him in every way: this not only brings you closer to Him, but also helps others to come to Him by understanding what He is like, so you get two blessings in one.
• Jesus is coming back to earth someday, to take all of His family to live with Him in His Kingdom eternally — be ready and waiting to welcome Him with praise and joy!