Parents' Corner | January 30, 2019
Following the flood, God wanted to have a fresh start. God commanded Noah in Genesis 9:1 to “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.” This command echoes the one given to Adam and Eve in Genesis 1:28. God intended the paradise of the garden to spread into the whole world, but sinful people had other desires. Genesis 10 accounts for the nations that spread out in the land after the flood (Genesis 10:32). The people moved east and settled in a valley. This story continues the cycle of disobedience to God and a choice to sin that will be a constant reminder of our need for a Savior.
In Genesis 11:2, Scripture indicates that instead of filling the earth as God commanded, these people devised a plan to build a city and a large tower into the heavens. Read Genesis 11:4. The people’s motive was clear: “Let us make a name for ourselves.” The people didn’t want to be scattered. They didn’t believe God would give them what was good if they obeyed Him. They sought to obtain for themselves what they believed was good. The people tried to build a monument with its top in the heavens, but they succeeded only in separating themselves from God and from each other. God confused their language and scattered them over the earth. They were unable to finish building the city, so the city was called Babel—which sounds like the Hebrew word for “confused”—because there the Lord confused the people’s language.
People chose to make themselves famous instead of God. They ignored God and did not do what He wanted them to do. God mixed up their language and spread out the people all over the earth. One day, Jesus will bring His people back together. People from every group and every language will worship Him together.
This week you have the opportunity to tell your children about God’s better plan: His plan not for people to reach up to Him, but His plan to reach down to people by sending His Son, Jesus, to live the perfect life we couldn’t live and die the death we don’t want to die. That is the gospel. Pray that your children would have open hearts to receive it.
Family Ministry Director
The Well Community Church
Family Starting Points
January 27, 2019
Scripture Memory: Ephesians 2:8
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith. It is not from yourself. It is the gift of God.”
Big Picture Question:
What is sin? Sin is breaking God’s law, and sin separates people from God.
Bible Story: “The Tower of Babel” (Genesis 11:1-9)
- People disobeyed God and did not spread out and fill the earth.
- People decided to make a tower to reach to the sky.
- God mixed up their languages.
Family Discussion Starters:
- What are some talents or gifts God has given the members of your family?
- How have you been tempted to use those talents to make people think you are great?
- How can you use your talents to show how great God is?
- Talk about how your family can bring glory at church and in your community.
- Go further: Identify a specific way you can use a talent or gift to honor God, and do it!
- “God’s Covenant with Abraham” (Genesis 12:1-3, 15:1-21, 17:1-9)