Communitas Group Lesson – 6/26/16

"Leading Your Children Well"

Mike McDaniel, Lead Pastor, Grace Point Church of Northwest Arkansas

Icebreaker: How will you celebrate Independence Day? What is a fond memory of family celebrations of the Fourth of July?

Transition: Holidays, reunions, or special days with family create lasting memories (some good and some bad). Hopefully, more good formative memories have come through your times with family. Families create and lead the next generation.

Discussion

1. What is "cultural creep?" How does culture creep into our family life and values? How did culture creep into the people of Israel (Joshua 24:14)?

2. Is guarding against cultural creep a one-time fix? NO! Read of other times God instructed his people to "put away” idols (Genesis 35:2; 1 Samuel 7:3).

3. What is an idol? What are some examples of idols in 21st century USA?

4. What does the phrase mean “what we do in moderation, our children will do in excess?” Can you think of an example when that was true in your life?

5. What does this statement say to you? Grace Point Church exist to:

•Encourage authentic worship of God

•Promote transformative communities with one another

•Activate and arm our members for ministry and mission.

6. Read Joshua 24:15. Break down the words in Joshua’s declaration for his family. Have you ever as a family made such a resolve? Did you “put away” idols before making that commitment?

7. Idols are anything we honor or fear more than God, or serve more than God. As a group make a list of idols that you will have to learn how to put away.

8. Why is Judges 2:6-10 such a sad passage and testimony of a people?

8. How do we guard against Judges 2:6-10 happening in the next generation we are raising?

Application

1. Identify two ways you can remove some of the cultural creep that has slipped into your home. Work on it as a family. Here are some questions to get you started:

•Are we committed to giving God the first part of our days?

•Have we allowed things, commitments to crowd out our families commitment to Sunday morning worship and service?

•Do we invest a minimum 10% of our gross income in the ministries of our church?

•What major decision is before us that we need to slow down and pray more about?

2. Think about the children or young people you influence: your children, grandchildren, siblings,students in your youth group, or children in your Wee World or Planet Kids class room.What can you do this summer to help them further their faith?

Scriptural Background

24:14–15. The stipulations of the covenant renewal were then stated: Israel must fear the Lord and serve Him. In the Hittite treaties all other foreign alliances were to be rejected; so in this covenant Israel was to reject alliances with all foreign gods. Joshua boldly challenged them to choose between the gods of Ur their ancestors worshiped (cf. v. 2) beyond the River (i.e., the Euphrates), the gods of the Amorites in Canaan, and Yahweh. Then, adding example to exhortation, Israel’s venerated leader assured them that whatever their choice his mind was made up, his course clear: as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.