Due to the COVID-19 mandatory ‘sheltering’, this message has been filmed from Pastor Michael’s living room. The video also includes a short time of worship and a short children’s message and video. For the children’s message there are questions for your family to discuss, as well as downloadable activity pages to help your child(ren) better grasp the message. This can all be found by clicking HERE  Or just scroll down to the bottom of this page.

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If you have teens, please click HERE for a 7 minute message from Conor just for them.

QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU DIG DEEPER FOR YOUR SMALL GROUP OR FAMILY DEVOTIONS:

Read Luke 14:25-27. Why do you think Jesus seemed to not WANT large crowds following Him? What does ‘Quality over Quantity’ mean in relation to this?

Pastor Michael talked about the Hebrew word for ‘hate’ being the word ‘sane‘ (pronounced ‘soo-nay’). Talk about what that word actually means (‘2nd place’ or ‘to love less than’). Read the story of Jacob and his two wives, Rachel and Leah in Genesis 29:16-31. In many English translations verse 31 states that Jacob ‘hated’ Leah, however, read Genesis 49:29-33. Which wife did Jacob request to be buried with? Why do you think that is?

Remember what the Lord said to the Church in Ephesus, in Revelation 2:3-4 (NKJV) – “and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love”. Why is this a real danger for us today, doing our best to ‘persevere’ and ‘have patience’?

What does making Jesus your ‘first Love’ really look like practically?

IF YOU HAVE EXTRA TIME: During this time where the ‘CORONAVIRUS’ is a pretty scary thing, read Psalm 91 out loud to your group. Really concentrate on verse 1 and verses 10-11. Who are the ones protected?

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

Family Discussion Questions for  “Hosea, Prophet to Israel”

1. How many children did Gomer have? (three, Hosea 1:3-8)
2. What did their names mean? (Jezreel would see trouble, God would no longer have compassion on Israel, and God would no longer treat Israel as His people; Hosea 1:3-8)
3. Was God going to give up on His people forever? (No, God would punish them but then He would restore them; Hosea 6:1-2)
4. How do we know God has stayed faithful to His people? Guide kids to talk about the Bible, God’s Word. Lead them to understand that it tells us of all the ways God restored His people, including sending Jesus to make the ultimate sacrifice for sin.
5. What are ways we are unfaithful toward God? Guide kids to talk about our tendency to put other things, like money, fame, or comfort, before God in our lives. We sometimes worship these things as the most important, when God is really most important.
6. If God remains faithful to us no matter what, why do you think it’s good to obey God? Help kids think through what it communicates to God and the world when we disobey God. Help kids see that God loves us and wants us to love Him. Explain how God’s mercy, grace, and love toward us awakens our hearts to love Him, and our love for God will naturally lead us to obeying Him.

Tell your kids: God’s love for us never gives up or fades away no matter what we do. It cannot be used up or run out. God is faithful to His people even when they do not love Him. He sent Jesus to save us and the Holy Spirit to help us obey. (I encourage you to finish by taking prayer requests and allowing your kids to complete the Bible story coloring page / activity page provided with this session. Then finish by praying together as a family.)