Living Hope Church

Welcome to GROW - A Spiritual Formation Week!

We hope that this week will provide a meaningful experience for your family as we commit together to GROW as followers of Christ. Our Prayer is that God will inspire you to pursue Him in new ways and transform your hearts as you GROW with Him.

This week is not the beginning or the end of your journey as a Christian. Instead, it is one step along the long path of discipleship. We hope that each member in your family will be energized by the vision of what God wants to do in your lives.

Don’t be satisfied with where you are at, nor should you be sorry that you are not further along in your walk of growth. Your goal this week is to consider who God wants you to be and to discover your next step to GROW.

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TIll the ground

In this section, your family will complete activities to introduce the key ideas that we will discuss tonight. The supplies you will need to complete these activities tonight are:

-Medium size mixing bowl

-Water

-2 canisters of beads

Fill the bowl halfway with water, and then dump your beads into the bowl. What do you think will happen?

TEACHING TIME

We have to remember that often God’s work in our lives begins very small—like these beads. It’s likely that we are not aware of all the ways that God is forming us to be the person he wants us to be, but he is at work behind the scenes. We must trust that he is working in us and for us, even when we don’t sense his presence. What do you think God wants to do in your life? Who does he want you to be?

Plant the Seed

This section is the main teaching portion of your evening activities. Begin with worship and then watch tonight's teaching video.

TEACHING TIME

In your video session today, Pastor Brooks talked about the major difference between a mustard seed and the massive tree it produces when fully grown. Last night, you talked about the importance of good soil that will allow such a healthy plant to grow. Take a minute to remind yourselves about what you have committed to in order to make sure your “soil” is ready to receive and apply God’s calling upon your family.

GROW WITH THE END IN MIND

Take a moment to think about what you want to be when you grow up. Talk with your family about the dreams you have (Parents—share stories of what you hoped to do or accomplish when you were “older”). Even if your goals are a long ways off, what do you think you could do now to start working toward them? Is there anything you should avoid to keep you away from distraction or unhelpful habits?

Sometimes, it can be difficult to grow when we aren’t really sure what we are growing to become. Talk about what you think it might mean to be a fully grown and mature “tree” in God’s kingdom? Does it look the same for everyone? Are there some things that all Christians need to commit to? Are there certain roles or characteristics to which God has called you that are special for only you?

If you have an idea of what God has in store for you, it will change your actions today. Talk as a family about what habits would be valuable to make part of your normal family rhythm so that everyone can GROW into a strong and healthy “tree.”

Take another look at your beads in the water—look how much bigger they are now! Did you notice them growing this whole time? Did you observe each step of their growth? Where is the water? Talk about how God helps us to grow.

Remember that this is a long process that will require waiting and working. Growth takes time and intentional effort—but God is always working even when we don’t see!

Care for the plant

During this section, your family will reflect on the important points of the teaching and create something to respond to what God is teaching you about how to GROW. For tonight’s activity, you will need:

-Canvas -Paint Marker

-Paint -Brush Markers

-Paint Brush -Paint Smock

-Paper Plate

Tonight you are creating a Spiritual Family Tree to consider the many people who God has brought into the spiritual heritage of your family.

Begin by using the paint marker to draw the outline of a tree on your canvas. You can use the paint marker or other colors to fill in the trunk of your tree.

Dump your paint colors onto the paper plate and lightly dip your finger into it. Then place your painted finger onto one limb of the tree to create a leaf. When it dries, use the brush marker to write your name on the leaf. Have every family member pick a color of paint that they will use to add a “leaf” to your spiritual family tree.

TEACHING TIME

Talk about important people, locations, or events that have helped GROW your faith story as a family. For each person or event, add another “leaf” to the tree and write down its name. Continue to talk about people who have been impacted by your family’s Christian faith.

Have you introduced anyone to God and they became Christians?

Have you helped provide comfort for people in need?

Have you shown God’s kindness to people in your school or neighborhood?

For each question, create new “leaves” on the tree and write their name down.

Look at how big your spiritual family is! Each one of these “leaves” has played a role in helping to GROW your Christian faith. Do you think all of these people know how important they are to you and your family? Think about your life as part of this massive “mustard seed” type tree that makes up the kingdom of God. You might not feel super important, but God has given you have a major part to play in God’s plans!

Till the ground

In this section, your family will complete activities to introduce the key ideas that we will discuss tonight. The supplies you will need to complete these activities tonight are:

-Dish with water

-Pepper

-Dish soap

-Oil in jar

-Antacid Tablets

-Food Coloring

EXPERIMENT 1

Sprinkle pepper in the water dish and dip your finger in the dish. What happens? Now, dip your finger in the container with dish soap and then dip your finger again in the water and pepper. What do you notice that changes? Why do you think this happens?

EXPERIMENT 2

Place the antacid tablets in the jar with oil. Let the tablets begin dissolving for 30-60 seconds. Then, squirt food coloring into the jar and observe what happens. Does the food coloring change the color of the oil? What happens to it? Why do you think this happens?

TEACHING TIME

Notice how in both of these experiments there are some items that do not mix well together. The pepper shot away from the soap on your finger and the food coloring mixed with the antacid bubbles but not with the oil.

Take some time to talk as a family about some things that mix well with your Christian life. How do those things help you grow as a Christian? How do they help you follow God and know him as a close friend?

Now discuss some things that don’t mix well with your Christian life. How do those things create a barrier between you and God?How do they keep you from growing?

plant the seed

This section is the main teaching portion of your evening activities. Begin with worship and then watch tonight's teaching video.

TEACHING TIME

In your video session today, Pastor Ryan talked about making sure the “soil” of your heart was prepared to receive the “seed” of God’s Word. In this discussion time, we are going to have you look deep within your own heart to see what kind of soil lies there. It is important to be honest with yourself and others, or else you will not be able to get rid of the things that stand in the way of your relationship with God.

What is your favorite Bible story?
Go around the room and share your favorite story. Tell everyone what it is that makes the story so interesting to you. As you share, answer some of the questions below about the story you have chosen:
Who are the main characters of the story?
Are there “good” and “bad” characters?
Describe the characteristics and qualities of the main character. What sets them apart from other characters in the story?
What pressures do you think the characters face in this story?
What steps do they take to make sure they can remain faithful to God?
Did the main character make the right choices in the story? What could he or she have done differently?
Did the main character act boldly? Did they go against what others thought they should do or did they follow God?
What was the response of the other characters in the story? How do you think that impacted the main character’s decisions?

care for the plant

-Mirror

-Glass Paint Marker

After you have taken the time to walk through the story and talk about what made the characters stand out, reflect on your own life. In what areas of your life do you struggle to remain faithful to God when those around you are not?

In the parable, the sower faced different obstacles in the soil. Jesus explains what these obstacles represents and encourages us to eliminate anything that stands in the way of a healthy relationship with him. On the back of your mirror, write down two things that are standing in the way of your spiritual growth.

Follow this example:

I am too worried about what other people think of me. I don’t always trust God to provide for my needs.

On the front of your mirror, write down something you commit to doing in order to grow. It doesn’t have to be complicated, but make sure it’s something you can do and will actually help you overcome the obstacles you listed on the back. Be as specific as you can.

For example:

I will serve God even if they make fun of me.

Then take the clip and string and secure it to the mirror. Hang this on your wall or door so you can see it when you get up in the morning and go to bed at night. This mirror will remind you to not stay where you are, but let God continue to work in your heart so you can grow closer to him.