All the Marbles Day 36

Our words are so important! Are yours encouraging, supportive, positive? Or do they tear down, degrade, scare, confuse or just leave others wondering if you love them, recognize them as creations of a Father who loves them?

Read James 3:1-12, a letter written by Jesus brother James, talks about the power of our tongue as teachers, as parents, as disciple-makers of our children. Do you keep your promises? Give them your undivided attention? Have you taught them to wait when you are engaging with others, not because they aren’t important but because others are important too, and they need to learn others are a creation of God too and deserve your love and respect too?

Use your words intentionally today, and in your disciple journey with your kids, be intentional too!

If you are interested in a simple “journey guide” to discipling your children, sign up for “All the Marbles” Blog delivered to you're me (top right corner) and it will come straight to your inbox. Discipling is a journey, I encourage you to start with Day 1, but more importantly, I encourage you to start!

We are still digging into how our leather-bound or Superhero Bible came to be. The books/letters included in the Bible didn’t just happen by chance! Their history is amazing!

(1) Review: What is a Testament? (a covenant, promise) What is another name for what we call the “Old Testament” in our Bible? (the Hebrew Bible, Hebrew Scriptures or the TaNak) What is the Hebrew name for the first five books? (The Torah) What does Torah mean? (The “teachings.”) What else do we call these books (The Law, the Pentateuch, or the Books of Moses) Which 5 books are in the Torah (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy.) Do you remember the name of the other two scrolls in the TaNak? (Nevi’im and Ketuvim) What does Nevi’im mean? (The “prophets”) The Nevi’im consists of what kind of books? (narratives and prophets) Which books are the Former Prophets or Narrative Books? (Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings, our Bible splits Samuel and Kings’s into 2 books, more on this later) Which books are the Latter Major Prophets? (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel) Which books are The Minor Prophets? (Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah) What is a prophet? (A prophet is a person who proclaims the will of God and guides the people.). What does Ketuvim mean? (The “writings”) Which books are included in the Ketuvim? (Poetry books: Psalms, Lamentations, Song of Solomon & Wisdom books: Proverbs, Ecclesiastes & Short Stories: Esther, Ruth, Jonah & History books: Ezra, Nehemiah, Chronicles, Chronicles is divided into 2 books in our Bible)

(2) What is in our New Testament? Look at the table of contents as you walk through what is in our New Testament.

• The first four books (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) are biographies of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. Each written within 40-50 years after Jesus' death by first-generation followers. Eyewitness accounts of the events, more on these tomorrow!

• Next, Acts, some say this is the Acts of the Church, but it is also the Acts of the Apostles (the guys who walked with Jesus and Saul turned Paul, more on his story another day.)

• Then, letters from the apostles. Paul wrote 13, and in our Bible, they are organized longest to shortest.

• Then Hebrews (more of a sermon than a letter and the author is unknown) letters written by James and Jude (Jesus brothers!) Peter, John, and then the book of Revelation (things of the future.)

(3) Continue to work on your summary of Genesis 1-11 as a family. This may take several days, take your time! This sets the plot/storyline for the entire Bible.

Kids learn by repetition, so keep reviewing! Jesus is the center of our faith (grace alone, faith alone, in Christ alone.) The Bible is God’s redemptive story throughout history. It is not the center of our faith, but it is the big picture story. Teach your kids the Books of the Bible, where they came from, what part of the story they tell. Then, when others question their faith, they are rooted and can stand firm on Jesus and the Scriptures!

Even if you don’t use anything written here, use your Bible, and disciple your children!!! It is a great honor and our responsibility as parents!

I am praying for you and your family and this journey together!