Developing Godly Priorities January 4

Think About It As you have grown, how have your priorities shifted? What was important at different stages of life? Today we will look at the life of a 12-year-old boy – He developed Godly priorities – He demonstrated how to balance them and keep them for life.

Listen for a potential tragedy – today we would issue an “Amber” alert. Luke 2:41-45 (NIV) Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. [42] When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom. [43] After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it.

Listen for a potential tragedy – today we would issue an “Amber” alert. [44] Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. [45] When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him.

Faith of Godly Parents According to the passage, why did Jesus’ parents go to Jerusalem? What kind of patterns were Mary and Joseph setting for Jesus by their family traditions? What positive examples do you remember seeing modeled by members of your family? What contributes to children being faithful to carry on the habits and beliefs that really are significant to their parents?

Faith of Godly Parents What happens when parents try to pass on to their children beliefs or habits which they do not have themselves? According to the passage, how did Jesus get left behind in Jerusalem?

Faith of Godly Parents What do you remember about being lost or inadvertently separated from your parents for a short period of time? What thoughts and questions would go through your mind as a parent of a child who had been separated from you for several days?

Listen for the unexpected place where they found their son. Luke 2: (NIV) After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. [47] Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. [48] When his parents saw him,

Listen for the unexpected place where they found their son. they were astonished. His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you." [49] "Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?" [50] But they did not understand what he was saying to them.

Letting Go of Children Note from the map that this was a 90 mile trip. What do you imagine would be some of the hardships of this trip? Why do you suppose three days passed before Mary and Joseph found Jesus?

Letting Go of Children If you were looking for a 12 year old boy in Jerusalem, where would you look? According to the passage, what was Jesus doing during the three days that He was on His own? How did Mary respond when she and Joseph finally found Jesus?

Letting Go of Children Jesus responded as if they should have known what He was doing. How does this story illustrate the tension Jesus may have felt between obedience to His Father and obedience to His earthly parents? How should we respond when our child’s spiritual growth takes him or her in directions you might not have anticipated?

Listen for ways in which Jesus the child matured. Luke 2:51, 52 (NIV) Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. [52] And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

Obedience to God Joseph and Mary probably saw their parenting role now beginning to change. What happened to Jesus as He grew? Categorize these areas of growth as areas of heavenly training or earthly parental training? Learning from Heavenly Father Learning from Earthly Parents

Obedience to God For each of these ways in which Jesus grew, what are things we can do to foster obedience in the same types of growth? Wisdom Stature Favor with God Favor with Men

Application In what specific ways do you further spiritual development of your children or grandchildren? – Pray for wisdom – Pursue good resources (Bible bookstores, Christian family websites, etc.) – Lead the way in spiritual activities and ministries

Application As a very young man, Jesus desired conversation about spiritual things. – When you’re with younger believers, look for ways initiate God-centered conversation – Be a good listener when kids want to talk about serious things – don’t react so as to discourage their coming to you

Application How would you rate yourself in keeping God as the top priority in your life? – How can you openly use your example to bless younger believers? – Encourage them with the fact that they can finish well in putting God first. – Identify someone with whom they you share the importance of God as all-encompassing priority at all stages of life.

Developing Godly Priorities January 4