Copyright ©2010 The Church at Brook Hills www.brookhills.org 1 Family Worship Guide – Week 43 READ o In John 7 there is great dispute among the people of Jerusalem, along with the Pharisees, regarding the person and identity of Jesus (John 7:4052). Some believed He was the Christ, others the Prophet, while some wanted to have Him arrested. It’s within this context that Jesus speaks up among the people and reveals His true identity. o Read John 8:1220 The key text in the passage is verse 12. Amidst all the disagreement regarding Jesus’ true identity He boldly declares Himself to be the “light of the world.” He then asserts that, “whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” This declaration by Jesus offends the Pharisees and they confidently tell Him “your testimony is not true.” What was it about what Jesus said that so offended the Pharisees? Why were the Pharisees so offended when Jesus identified Himself to be the “light of the world”? The answer can be found in their understanding of the metaphor of light as found throughout the Old Testament. It is used in two primary ways. First, it is used as a symbol of God and His holiness. Therefore, when Jesus claims to be the “light of the world” He is declaring Himself to be God. This would have obviously agitated the Pharisees. o The Israelites were trained to sing, ‘The LORD is my light and my salvation’ (Ps. 27:1). o At the end of the age the LORD Himself will be the “light” for His people (Isaiah 60:1922; Revelation 21:2324). o The glory of the very presence of God in the cloud led the people to the Promised Land (Ex. 13:2122) and protected them from those who would destroy them (Ex. 14:1925). o Second, the metaphor of light was often used in reference to the coming of the “light” of salvation to all nations. The world is in darkness, a symbol of evil, sin, and ignorance; however, the OT prophets spoke about a day when a great light would come and shine, not just among the people of Israel, but among all nations. o “I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations.” (Isaiah 42:6) o “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” (Isaiah 49:6) o Jesus is the fulfillment of these prophecies and is the One who was appointed as the “light to the world,” that He might bring God’s salvation to the ends of the earth. This reality would have completely dumbfounded the Pharisees. Bottom Line: Jesus is the light of the world and is to be taken to all nations. Questions: In what ways are you walking in the light? In what ways are you walking in darkness? How are you intentionally seeking to take the “light of the world” to the nations? PRAY o Read Window on the World, pg. 162163 Syria o Use Prayer Card SING o Use lyric sheet and mp3 download of “Shine” o Our family worship song this week is “Shine” by Matt Redman. As followers of Christ, we are called to be lights in the world. Just as Christ is ultimately the light of the world, we have been given the Holy Spirit and God’s Word to proclaim the “light” of Christ in the darkness of a world full of people that suppress the truth about God by their unrighteousness (Romans 1:18). Please take some time with your family to declare through song that as the church, by God’s Spirit living in us, we will shine in the darkness for the glory of God in Birmingham and in all the world! MEMORIZE o John 8:12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
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Copyright ©2010 The Church at Brook Hills www.brookhills.org 1
Family Worship Guide – Week 43 READ
o In John 7 there is great dispute among the people of Jerusalem, along with the Pharisees, regarding the person and identity of Jesus (John 7:40-‐52). Some believed He was the Christ, others the Prophet, while some wanted to have Him arrested. It’s within this context that Jesus speaks up among the people and reveals His true identity.
o Read John 8:12-‐20 The key text in the passage is verse 12. Amidst all the disagreement regarding Jesus’ true identity He boldly declares Himself to be the “light of the world.” He then asserts that, “whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” This declaration by Jesus offends the Pharisees and they confidently tell Him “your testimony is not true.” What was it about what Jesus said that so offended the Pharisees? Why were the Pharisees so offended when Jesus identified Himself to be the “light of the world”? The answer can be found in their understanding of the metaphor of light as found throughout the Old Testament. It is used in two primary ways. First, it is used as a symbol of God and His holiness. Therefore, when Jesus claims to be the “light of the world” He is declaring Himself to be God. This would have obviously agitated the Pharisees.
o The Israelites were trained to sing, ‘The LORD is my light and my salvation’ (Ps. 27:1). o At the end of the age the LORD Himself will be the “light” for His people (Isaiah 60:19-‐22; Revelation 21:23-‐24). o The glory of the very presence of God in the cloud led the people to the Promised Land (Ex. 13:21-‐22) and
protected them from those who would destroy them (Ex. 14:19-‐25). o Second, the metaphor of light was often used in reference to the coming of the “light” of salvation to all nations. The
world is in darkness, a symbol of evil, sin, and ignorance; however, the OT prophets spoke about a day when a great light would come and shine, not just among the people of Israel, but among all nations.
o “I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations.” (Isaiah 42:6) o “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” (Isaiah 49:6)
o Jesus is the fulfillment of these prophecies and is the One who was appointed as the “light to the world,” that He might bring God’s salvation to the ends of the earth. This reality would have completely dumbfounded the Pharisees.
Bottom Line: Jesus is the light of the world and is to be taken to all nations.
Questions: In what ways are you walking in the light? In what ways are you walking in darkness? How are you intentionally seeking to take the “light of the world” to the nations?
PRAY o Read Window on the World, pg. 162-‐163 Syria o Use Prayer Card
SING o Use lyric sheet and mp3 download of “Shine” o Our family worship song this week is “Shine” by Matt Redman. As followers of Christ, we are called to be lights in the
world. Just as Christ is ultimately the light of the world, we have been given the Holy Spirit and God’s Word to proclaim the “light” of Christ in the darkness of a world full of people that suppress the truth about God by their unrighteousness (Romans 1:18). Please take some time with your family to declare through song that as the church, by God’s Spirit living in us, we will shine in the darkness for the glory of God in Birmingham and in all the world!
MEMORIZE o John 8:12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in
darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Copyright ©2010 The Church at Brook Hills www.brookhills.org 2
SUGGESTIONS
These suggestions were created by the age-‐group ministry leaders as a way to help parents better communicate the biblical truths discussed in the Family Worship Guide. These activities and questions can replace or serve as a supplement to the questions under the “Read” section on Page 1. Remember that these suggestions are intended to help parents facilitate God-‐centered discussions with their children. Parents should prayerfully use these suggestions, and any other means necessary, to help their children discover the truths of God’s word and worship Him together.
Preschool (Birth-‐Kindergarten) o Two or three days before you begin: Place a small piece of paper or cardboard across a small patch of green grass in
your yard. Place something heavy like a rock on it so it will not blow away. Leave it there for several days. o Take you child outside and explain that grass needs light to grow healthy and green. Remove the cardboard or paper
and show your child the patch of brown grass. Explain that the grass quit growing because it did not have light. (Leave the paper off and the green grass will return.)
o Talk to your child about Jesus and how He is the light of the world. When He is our light, He helps us grow wise and obedient to God. When we follow Him and walk with Him, we want to stay far away from sin. Darkness is a symbol for sin.
o As followers of Jesus, we still sometimes sin and make bad choices, but we will no longer want to continue to sin. We hate the darkness of sin and love the light of Jesus.
o Jesus shines His love on us. He wants us to shine our love on other people too. Jesus came to earth to show us how much He loves us. We need to tell others about Jesus and His love too.
Children (Grades 1-‐5)
o Gather your child(ren) in a room in your home with the least amount of natural light. Talk with them about all the things that love darkness and living in the dark (bats, owls, wolves, etc., but end with roaches). Tell them of the times when you have gone into the kitchen or other rooms, turned on the lights, and seen how roaches would run and hide from the light. Tell your children that this is how many people respond to Jesus and His teaching because they love darkness rather than the light.
o At this point take out your Bible (open to John 8:12), Window on the World (open to Syria, pg. 162-‐163), and take out a flashlight. Turn off the lights in the room and then use the one light to shine on John 8:12 while you read it to them. Explain the verse word by word and phrase by phrase to them. Then read about Syria in Window on the World while you shine the light on it. Talk about the Syrians’ need for the light, too. Tell them that Jesus is the light of the world for all peoples.
o If you have a map of the world or globe, you can even have your child shine the light on it at this point. While the lights are still out and you have the flashlight on, talk to your children about the fact that many Christians in countries where there are few Christians, less Christian influence, and where many people have never even heard the good news about Jesus (light), have to meet by candlelight in secret because they are hated and persecuted so badly by those who live in darkness and hate the light. Then, thank God for Jesus, pray for Syria, and pray for brothers and sisters in Christ who are being persecuted and meeting in secret today. Pray also that the good news of Jesus (the light) would penetrate the darkness in those areas where Christians are being persecuted.
Students (Grades 6-‐12)
o Have you ever felt like you’ve been given a task that seems impossible? List a few of the hardest things you have been asked to do. Does Jesus’ statement about not walking in darkness and having the light of life seem impossible to you?
o Reread John 8:12. Jesus was making it clear who He was, but He was also defining true followers from those that might simply be on the sidelines watching the show. How do you think the disciples felt when Jesus asked them to trust Him with seemingly impossible tasks? He asked them to feed 5,000 people with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. He asked Peter to get out of a boat and walk on water.
o The Greek word for follow in this verse is akoloutheo, and it means “to join as an attendant, to become a disciple.” Those who become Christ’s disciples will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life. This doesn’t mean the disciples would never face dark times or circumstances. But they would never face them apart from Christ Himself. (Follow Me SG Series)
o Read 1 John 1:1:6-‐7. What do you think it means to walk in the light? How might you do this as a family? At school? Among your friends?
Pra
yer
W
eek
43Co
nfes
sion
Conf
essi
on is
our
per
sona
l ack
now
ledg
emen
t of
the
sin
in o
ur li
ves.
God
tells
us
in H
is w
ord
to c
onfe
ss o
ur
sin
to H
im a
nd t
o tu
rn f
rom
it.
Conf
essi
on is
vita
l in
the
life
of e
very
bel
ieve
r as
the
y se
ek t
o be
mor
e lik
e Ch
rist
. If
you
desi
re to
read
som
e pa
ssag
es fr
om s
crip
ture
abo
ut th
is, s
ome
are
liste
d be
low
.
Bibl
ical
Bas
is fo
r Co
nfes
sion
:Pr
over
bs 2
8:13
; Rom
ans
10:1
0; Ja
mes
5:1
6; 1
John
1:9
Take
an
oppo
rtun
ity fo
r th
ose
gath
ered
with
you
in w
orsh
ip to
spe
nd ti
me
in s
ilent
con
fess
ion
to G
od.
Nati
ons:
Syr
iaSy
ria’
s ro
le in
the
Mid
dle
East
is v
ital t
o th
e es
tabl
ishm
ent o
f pea
ce in
the
area
, but
its
own
stab
ility
is a
t •
risk
bec
ause
of i
nter
nal f
acto
rs. P
ray
that
God
mig
ht u
se th
is n
ation
to b
ring
pea
ce to
the
Mid
dle
East
. A
lthou
gh S
yria
n Ch
risti
an m
inor
ities
enj
oy fr
eedo
m a
nd s
tabi
lity,
it is
bec
omin
g in
crea
sing
ly d
ifficu
lt fo
r •
them
to fi
nd jo
bs a
nd h
omes
due
to d
iscr
imin
ation
. Man
y ar
e em
igra
ting
to e
asie
r pl
aces
. Pra
y ag
ains
t th
is tr
end.
Pra
y th
at th
ese
belie
vers
will
be
stre
ngth
ened
and
thei
r co
mm
uniti
es w
ill g
row
aga
in.
The
Prot
esta
nt p
rese
nce
is s
mal
l but
gro
win
g. P
ray
that
all
belie
vers
mig
ht g
ain
a de
ep d
esire
to
grow
•
in g
odlin
ess
and
outr
each
. A
s a
resu
lt of
the
Iraq
situ
ation
, 1.8
mill
ion
refu
gees
hav
e be
en a
dded
to
Syri
a. P
ray
for
God
to
draw
•
peop
le to
see
k th
e tr
uth
mor
e ur
gent
ly in
this
unc
erta
in ti
me
of d
ispl
acem
ent.
Sour
ce: O
pera
tion
Wor
ld b
y Jo
hnst
one
and
Man
dryk
Scr
iptu
re M
emor
y
Wee
k 43
John
8:1
2 A
gain
Jes
us s
poke
to
them
, say
ing,
“I a
m t
he li
ght
of
the
wor
ld. W
hoev
er fo
llow
s m
e w
ill n
ot w
alk
in d
arkn
ess,
but
will
ha
ve th
e lig
ht o
f life
.”
Shin
eBy
Matt
Red
man
Lord
we
have
see
n th
e ri
sing
sun
Aw
aken
ing
the
earl
y da
wn
And
we´
re r
isin
g up
to g
ive
you
prai
seLo
rd w
e ha
ve s
een
the
star
s an
d m
oon
See
how
they
shi
neTh
ey s
hine
for
you
And
You
´re
calli
ng u
s to
do
the
sam
eSo
we
rise
up
with
a s
ong
And
we
rise
up
with
a c
ryA
nd w
e´re
giv
ing
you
our
lives
We
will
shi
ne li
ke s
tars
in th
e un
iver
seH
oldi
ng o
ut Y
our
trut
h in
the
dark
est p
lace
We´
ll be
livi
ng fo
r Yo
ur g
lory
Jesu
s w
e´ll
be li
ving
for
Your
glo
ryW
e w
ill b
urn
so b
righ
t with
You
r pr
aise
O G
odA
nd d
ecla
re Y
our
light
to th
is b
roke
n w
orld
We´
ll be
livi
ng fo
r Yo
ur g
lory
Jesu
s w
e´ll
be li
ving
for
Your
glo
ry
Like
the
sun
so ra
dian
tlySe
ndin
g lig
ht fo
r al
l to
see
Let y
our
holy
chu
rch
aris
eEx
plod
ing
into
life
Like
a s
uper
nova
´s li
ght
Set y
our
holy
chu
rch
on fi
reW
e w
ill s
hine
Copy
righ
t©20
06 T
hank
you
Mus
ic, A
dmin
. EM
I Ch
risti
an P
ublis
hing
Due
to c
opyr
ight
lim
itatio
ns, w
e ar
e on
ly
allo
wed
to p
rint t
he ly
rics
to th
is s
ong
with
no
chor
ds.
We
enco
urag
e yo
u to
do
wnl
oad
an m
p3 o
f thi
s so
ng fr
om iT
unes
.
Cop
yrig
ht ©
2010
The
Chu
rch
at B
rook
Hill
s
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