The Family Table
Feeding the Faith of LEFC Families
TFT: You Can Do This!
April 29, 2024
Dear LEFC Parents,
Here are some items to set the table for disciple-making in your family in the week ahead:
Handout – Family Devotions Workshop
Abe Skacel’s three page handout from last weekend’s workshop is now available for downloading from the church website.
The Gospel Project at Home
Today’s Bible Study is “Peter Was Rescued from Prison” (Volume 11: Unit 32: Session 4). Ask your kids what they learned in Kids Bible Class this morning and/or do the family devotional you can find at this link.
Snack and Yack!
When the auditorium empties after worship, girls and boys (grades 3ish-7ish) who listened to the sermon (remember to fill out a handout!) are invited to Pastor Matt’s office for a tasty treat and a brief discussion with an LEFC elder couple about the message.
FCA Night of Worship
Some of the high school students in the West Branch FCA club are planning a “Night of Worship” at the WB Auditorium on Friday May 3rd, 6:00-8:00pm. This may be something you might encourage your teen to attend (or go with them!). Contact the FCA Advisor Dave Learish with any questions.
It’s Not Too Late To Sign Up For Summer Camp
There are still (but very limited) open spots for summer camp at Miracle Mountain Ranch. There are many weeks of camps for all ages. See Marilynn Kristofits for more information if you are interested in going.
And for dessert…
Our recommendation for family discipleship this week is a practical and encouraging guide to family worship.
Last Sunday, at the Family Devotions Workshop, Abe Skacel recommended Family Worship by Donald S. Whitney as a valuable resource for getting started with regular times of family devotions.
The basic idea is that family worship is both biblical and something that every family should AND CAN do in some form.
The table of contents shows the simple flow of the book:
1. As for Me and My House, We Will Serve the Lord: Family Worship in the Bible
2. Here the Reformation Must Begin: Family Worship in Church History
3. Read, Pray, and Sing: The Elements of Family Worship
4. No Family Worship Situation Is Unique: But What If . . . ?
5. Isn’t This What You Really Want to Do: Start Today
The book also includes a discussion guide. Maybe you should get together with a couple of other families and mutually encourage each other to get this going in your home? You can do this!
More:
– Read the first chapter.
– Listen to an short essay by the author: 5 Reasons to Prioritize Family Worship
– Listen to a set of interviews at FamilyLife with the author: Family Worship — Then and Now
– And don’t forget that you have access to The Gospel Project at Home as a resource both for keeping your kids current with the lessons in Kids Bible Classes and for your whole family to learn together. (See the explainer below for the details.)
Abe and Jordyn Skacel have Family Worship in their home library and would be happy to loan it to your family to jumpstart your devotions together.
We hope your family eats it up.
Matt Mitchell, Pastor
Holly Crumrine, Family Table Editor
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EXPLAINER: THE GOSPEL PROJECT AT HOME
For the last several years, our Children’s Church ministry has utilized The Gospel Project as our Bible study curriculum. The Gospel Project is really excellent–it takes our Little Learners and Bible Explorers chronologically through the whole Bible over the course of three years while always focusing on Jesus as the center of the big story. If your student was in Little Learners or Bible Explorers this morning, they received a coloring page and take-home sheet that corresponds to this lesson. You have also been given a full-color Big Picture Card that you can use to reinforce the lesson with your child, as well.
To reinforce what your kids are learning each week in Children’s Church, you can now access The Gospel Project At Home online. Each week in this email, there will be a link to follow to get this free resource which includes:
1. A guide to using the Gospel Project at Home.
2. Scripture to read and discuss with a recap video of the Bible Story (Preschool and/or Elementary).
3. Scripture memory verses and a song to sing together.
4. Prayer prompts and family activities that correspond to the lesson.
Please consider setting aside at least 10-15 minutes once a week for a family devotional time using this resource as a guide. We are hoping The Gospel Project At Home will help keep all of our LEFC kids “on the same page,” and feed their faith in Jesus.
This might be especially helpful if for some reason your child has to miss a week of Children’s Church. You can show them the Bible story video to keep them up to speed on what the other children are learning.
**Note: The first time you access the link, you will need to register a free account with Lifeway’s Ministry Grid. This will also provide you ongoing access through the “training” tab to many other discipleship resources including the Gospel Project at Home for previous weeks. Many hours of excellent things to absorb for free!