All the Marbles Day 37

Do you assume the worst or the best of your children?

As your children spend more hours under your care than anyone else’s, do you treasure the sweet moments or long for “the old norm?”

Life is about attitude choices. Even amidst “crisis,” you can choose to remain calm and thoughtful verses over-reacting. Notice the “over” in the prior sentence, I’m not encouraging you to do nothing, but I am encouraging you to approach each new “crisis” thoughtfully, with discernment and wisdom. Approach even the smallest “crisis” with the question, “what does love require me to do?”

Jesus sums up His commandment for us to live by in the biography account written by Matthew: And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew‬ ‭22:37-40‬

Love your children well today, assume the best of them. Guide them to be disciples of Jesus who love God and others with all they have.

If you are new to ”All the Marbles” know that 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) Review: What is in our New Testament? (The biographies of Jesus and the Letters to the early Churches.) Which books are the Gospels/Eyewitness accounts of Jesus' life? (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) What books tell about the spread of the Church and the works of the Apostles (Acts.) Which are letters from Paul to early churches and individual believers? (Romans, Corinthians (2 letters) Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Thessalonians (2 letters), Timothy (2 letters), Titus, Philemon.) Which is a sermon or a letter by an unknown author? (Hebrews.) Which were written by Jesus brothers? (James, Jude.) Which were written by other apostles? (Peter (2 letters) and John (3 letters.) Which book tells of things of the future? (Revelation.)

(3) Look up the term canon. (Canon comes from a Hebrew-Greek word meaning “cane” or “measuring rod.”) The term canon passed into Christian usage to mean “norm” or “rule of faith.” The Church Fathers of the 4th century AD first used it to describe which writings would be included in “the Bible.” It is important to note that disciples of Jesus before the 4th century AD were multiplying at a rapid rate with no formal “Bible.” They were using the TaNak, the biographies from those who walked with Jesus along with the letters, sermon, and prophecy, to communicate their faith to others! They did not believe because the “Bible said so,” they believed because the people who walked with Jesus told about His life! As a family, what is your faith based on the Bible or Jesus? (It’s based on Jesus, whose message is recorded in the writings included in our Bible.) Tomorrow we will talk about the Bible being “the inspired Word of God.”

(4) 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!