This week we look at Genesis 50 and learn how God does crazy big things when we're pressed against the wall. Then in Matthew 18 we learn that being forgiven means that we need to be willing to help others by forgiving them as well.

Paul reminds Timothy to be in prayer for all people, even leaders, even the leaders we may not want to pray for at all.

Paul writes to Timothy about what it means to be the person who carries God's word to God's people.

Purpose: 

Parent Connection is designed to be an opportunity for you and your child to reconnect with the text for the past Sunday’s lesson and to prepare for the upcoming Sunday’s lesson. This is a fantastic opportunity to take an intentional role in the discipleship of your child.

Re-Connect:

Last Sunday we talked about when God made Saul King (1 Samuel 8-10). We learned that:

*Sin separates us from God because God is holy and cannot stand sin. But, because of Jesus, that separation is removed and we can be with God again.

*The Israelites wanted to be like the other nations with an earthly king, but God wanted a heavenly king for them.

*The heavenly king God intended for us is Jesus.

*Jesus will reign as the ultimate king in perfection for eternity.

Review Question:

*What did you learn about Jesus this week?

*What does sin do to our relationship with God?

*What did God do to fix our relationship?

Forward Connection:

Next week, we are going to learn about Saul’s first big act as king. I recommend you read this passage to help prepare you for next weeks lesson: 1 Samuel 10:9-27.

Paul reminds those who call themselves followers of Jesus that we need to stand out in life. We need to respect and honor and obey even those we don't really want to respect, honor or obey.

Paul wraps up with a discussion about authority and power and weakness. He turns our current understanding of power on its head.

Paul shows here that God doesn't give us what we want in this life but often the things we need most are learned through hardships.

Paul boasts about things normal people would shy away from. Is that foolishness?

There are three readings here and each kind of builds on the other. From obedience to government to warning against wrong doing to calling out wrongs they all are parts of how we live rightly as God's people in the world today.

Paul reminds us that our words both in person and when away should match up to our confession.