Thu Nov 5

Listen up, little ones

Especially for the littles in your household.

Listen for the words seed and word.

Reading

Luke 8:1-21—Hear the Word of God and Do It

Optional Reading

James 1:19–27

Keys for kids

Also for the littles. Young households might choose, after Keys for Kids, to go directly to praise and prayer.

Jesus proclaimed good news.
Some really heard this good news and came to Christ.
Jesus calls us to hear God’s Word and do it.

Questions

(Some read the ?s before the notes/ ask them after.)

What were the four soils and what did they represent?
What do you do with the light of the Word?
What is evidence that we are part of Jesus’s family?

Catechism

WSC #90

How is the Word to be read and heard, that it may become effectual to salvation?

That the Word may become effectual to salvation, we must attend thereunto with diligence, preparation, and prayer; receive it with faith and love, lay it up in our hearts, and practice it in our lives.

(Proverbs 8:34; 1 Peter 2:1-2; Psalms 119:18; Hebrews 4:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:10; Psalms 119:11; Luke 8:15; James 1:25)

Children's Catechism 116-117

What is the fourth petition?

“Give us this day our daily bread.”

What do we pray for in the fourth petition?

That God would give us all things needful for our bodies and souls.

Notes

(See Saturday for authors.)

Luke 8 emphasizes Jesus’s words. In fact, we could safely say that all four gospel accounts of the life and ministry of Jesus emphasize Jesus’s words. In red-letter editions of the Bible (which I am not a fan of) about 20% of the gospels are red-letters, or Jesus’s direct words.

Here in our reading, Jesus’s words come forth with a call to hear and listen. The Word is good news. Listen to the Word and bear fruit. The Word brings light. And those who hear the Word and do it (hold on to it, take it to heart, obey it, practice it) are identified as belonging to Jesus’s family. And of course if you don’t hold on to it and do it you are not in Jesus’s family, or at least are not giving evidence of being part of Jesus’s family.

So, what do you do with the Words of Jesus—the Word of God? Does it get trampled underfoot and devoured by the birds—taken away by the devil? Does it grow for an instant and wither away—received with joy for a short time? Does it get choked out by thorns—the concerns and pleasures of the world? Or do you hold on to it, do it, and by enduring, produce fruit?

Swedish Method questions

See the Sunday notes for meaning of the symbols.

Praise

Psalm 119m, 22c

Prayer

Pray that you will hear and do God’s Word.
Pray for the preparation for preaching God’s Word this Lord's Day.
Pray for a member of our church, for your family, and for a non-Christian friend/family member.