Praise

Use the following questions to start a faith conversation:

1. What is praise?
2. How do we use it in our everyday lives? (For example, praising a dog for something well done.)
3. How do we use it with God?
4. Why do you think God deserves our praise?

Praise is the purest form of worship.  When we begin to have an attitude of praise, we free our spirits to live for God.  There is nothing more exciting than the experience of lifting up our hearts to God in praise.  As a family, brainstorm some reasons to offer God your praise.

Getting Your Spiritual Life in Shape

Goals are important.  After all, if we don't have goals, how will we ever know if we've accomplished what we want to be and do in life?

1. Begin today's challenge by reading aloud each of the following statements.  After each statement, have family members answer whether it is true or not true in their lives.
• I set goals for myself, but I seldom ever reach them.
• I set goals for myself, and I almost always reach them.
• My goals in life are unclear.  I am not really sure what I want to do.
• My goals in life are well defined.  They are a priority for me and I work hard to achieve them.
• I know that goals are important, but I have a hard time figuring out what they should be or what steps I need to take to reach them.
• I've never set a goal in my life.
2. Here is an important exercise in goal setting.  Have each person get a piece of paper and write out a short-term goal and a long-term goal for each area listed below.  Note that short-term goals should be something that can be accomplished in one year, while long-term goals should take five to seven years to complete.  Then, most importantly, have members describe what they will do to act on those goals.
• spiritual goals
• relationship goals (family and friends)
• school or career goals
3. Have the family members share their goals.  Which goals in each section can they begin working on today?

The Bible

You may have to go online to find the answers to the questions below.  Have a race to see who can Google faster!

1. How many books are in the Bible?
2. How many books are in the Old Testament?
3. How many books are in the New Testament?
4. What language was the New Testament written in?
5. What language was the Old Testament mostly written in?
6. The New Testament is divided into four parts.  Name the four parts.
7. The Old Testament is divided into four parts.  Name the four parts.
8. Although most of the Old Testament was written in Hebrew and the New Testament in Greek, what was the language Jesus most often spoke?

Worship

For each of the following words or phrases, have family members shout out the first thing that comes to mind.  They shouldn't think too hard about the answer-just say whatever pops into their heads.  When you've done that for each word, go back and discuss each family member's answer.

*Worship music
*Sermon
*Communion
*Offering
*Praying together
*Time with God

Developing a Disciplined Devotional Life

Imagine walking up to your mailbox and finding an envelope addressed to you.  In the upper left-hand corner, where the return address is supposed to go, appears the word "God."  Read the following letter aloud and then use the questions to start a faith conversation:

My Dear Child,
I love you.  I desire to spend as much time with you as possible.  I took great joy in being part of your creation and your salvation.  I consider My sacrifice for you as a sign of My immeasurable love for you.  My child, I want the best for you.  I believe in you.  I look forward to our daily times together.  It gives Me great pleasure to spend time with you. Don't forget, I'm always with you.
Love, God

1.)  How would you feel?
2.)  What kind of decisions would you want to make about spending time with God?
3.)  The average person probably spends more than two hours a day watching television or surfing online, two hours a day listening to music, one hour a day dressing and grooming, and one hour a day eating.  And yet the majority of people spend little or no time each day with God.  A wise pastor once asked, "What is so important that you can't spend 15 minutes a day with God?"  What's your answer?
4.)  What makes it so difficult to set up a regular daily time with God?