Jesus in Their Shoes
We’re continuing the conversation we started last week about what it means for our kids to take on the identity of Jesus Christ in their corner of the world. It’s a big, biblical idea that feels really weird for a few reasons.
For one thing, some of the world’s loudest messages are that we should all become better versions of ourselves. Instead, we’re hoping to help our kids trade themselves in to become more and more like Jesus—to take on His I.D. as their own.
In a sense, we want to help them to imagine how He would live their lives if He was in their shoes. How would He act in their group of friends? How would He handle their part-time job? How would He respond to our own less-than-perfect parenting?
The answers to some of those questions—and how to move ourselves closer to living that way in our own lives—is found in Colossians 3:12-17. That’s where we’re pulling our talking point from this week. Hopefully, a few of these questions will help you and your child to talk through some of these big ideas together.
Talking Points
- How do you think God sees you right now? What do you think He thinks of you?
- Why do you think He feels that way?
- How do you think He sees or thinks about Jesus? Would it surprise you to know that the Father thinks about you in the same way He does Jesus?
- In Colossians 3:12, Paul writes that God sees us as “chosen,” “holy” (set apart for something special), and “dearly loved.” Do you understand why God cares so deeply about you and me?
- What do you think God cares more about—that we stop sinning or that we start doing the good things Jesus would do in our shoes? [Parent: Emphasize that God cares most that we live like Jesus; He’s working right now to make us like Chris in every way.]
- In Colossians 3:13, Paul lists five characteristics Christians should “put on” as we put on clothes. How would you define these five things in your own words: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience? [Parent: Emphasize that each of these five things involves taking our minds off of ourselves and putting them on others.]
- In your own words, how would you describe how God has forgiven you? Did you deserve to be forgiven? Why do you think He forgave you?
- Colossians 3:13 tells us to forgive each other in the same way that God has forgiven us. Do you think we think of ourselves as forgiven people? Why or why not?
- How does thinking of ourselves as forgiven help us to forgive others and be more like Jesus?
- Would you describe our home as a peaceful place? Why or why not?
- Can a person’s life be full of some chaos and confusion while they still have peace in their hearts? Why or why not?
- What do you think it means to “let the peace of Christ rule” in our hearts? (See Colossians 3:15.) How do we let Christ’s peace rule—or keep it from ruling?
- How does peace come about when two groups are at war? How do we surrender ourselves to God and to each other to create peace?
- What would be the value of having His peace in your heart at school or in sports or at home?
- Who are some of the most peaceful people you know?
- We’re told in Colossians 3:16 to let the word of Christ live inside our hearts “richly.” Do you think we do a good job of letting Christ’s words live inside of us in our family?
- What are some things we—or you—could do to be more intentional about getting Christ’s word out of the Bible and into our hearts? Will that make any difference in the way we live our lives?
- How important is music to you? How does music influence your mood and/or what you think about? Why do you think music can be so powerful?
- How important are “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs” in your life? Does that Christian music help you feel closer to God?
- Do you enjoy singing songs to God? Songs about God? What’s the value of singing those kinds of songs together with other Christians?
- Which is more helpful to your spiritual relationship with God, singing spiritual songs or listening to others sing them? Why do you think that is?
- If your identity is supposed to be Jesus, how much of the time should you live as Jesus? [Parent: We’re trying to emphasize that we need to live in Christ all of the time.]
- Let’s read Colossians 3:17 together. Does that leave room to have any part of our lives set aside to NOT live “in Jesus’ name”? What does it mean to talk and act “in the name of Jesus”?
- How do you think Jesus would live your life differently if He suddenly became you and went to school for you and went to church for you and went to work for you (without anyone knowing it was not you)? What differences would people notice right away? What difference would they notice over time?
- What things would not change if Jesus started living your life for you? In other words, what are some ways you are already living as Jesus in your life?
- What can we do together to help each other do a better job of living as Christ in our home and world?
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