Theme: Ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5: 20)
Click or tap on the day number of your choice to jump down the page to the notes for that day:
FOREWORD
The Psalmist teaches us about how good it is when family is united (Psalm 133). A united family is a haven of blessings. It pleases God to see us living together in love, peace and harmony. In this regard, family life cannot never be understood and experienced outside perimeters of the divine law. We always have to go back to principles outlined by the One who has in the beginning instituted the family set up.
In that understanding, we are meeting once again as a church to commemorate and cherish that which God Himself has instituted and made holy, i.e. family. This booklet has been prepared to help us have time of reflection and meditation as we seek to keep our families firm on the unshakable foundation of the word of God. The topics have been selected and arranged in a way that will help each member of the family unit rediscover his/her position and role in this sacred institution. The book is coming at the right time especially that we are living in a world that has got quite a number of emerging trends that have brought in new definitions in as far as family unit is concerned. We wish all of us a blessed Home and Family week.
Revd. Dr. K. Paradza (Mission Director)
Acknowledgements
This publication of the Home and Family Week was prepared by Rev. G. Hokonya. We want to express our profound gratitude to this woman of God for this exhibition of generosity through the sharing of wisdom. May God bless her. The manuscripts were edited by Revd. W. Machirori. We thank him for the sacrifices. Our Local Languages Committees continue to be our pillar of strength as they always make sure that we have access to literature in our mother tongues. We pray for showers of blessings to be poured upon such committed vessels.
May God bless Methodist families during this Home and Family Week.
Revd. O. Chagudhuma (Research and Publications Coordinator)
DAY 1: SUNDAY
HEBREWS 10:25
‘LET US NOT GIVE UP MEETING TOGETHER, AS SOME ARE IN THE HABIT OF DOING, BUT LET US ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER AND ALL THE MORE AS YOU SEE THE DAY APPROACHING’
Christians are encouraged to meet from time to time in order for them to remain strong in Christ. We meet on Sundays for church services and also other stipulated days for other fellowship sessions. Make it your lifestyle that you are present during such gatherings.
Excuses
What are most excuses given by Christians who fail to be together with others?
How genuine are the reasons?
It is advisable to create time for worship because you end up with excuses for everything.
Discussion
How do you feel when you miss a church service?
It is important to faithfully attend services, choir practice, class meetings and other fellowship meeting you have joined.
Also encourage your children to fellowship meetings always. Let us convince family members, friends and neighbours to be Christians, invite them to church they are part of the family.
Our Sundays usually begin with classes. These are very important and it should be our culture to attend classes. If we have midweek classes try to be present.
The way we give notices may need adjustment. For example a Steward will say, “On Sunday we start with classes at 10am and the main service at 11am.” Both are equally important our service begins at 10am so that we come together for Bible study. This will improve attendance for members and visitors.
Personal check/Evaluation
Check your personal church and organisational attendance and rate yourself. Do you sometimes give lame excuses for absence?
Let us not give up meeting together for encouragement and spiritual growth.
DAY 2: MONDAY
TOPIC: IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY PRAYERS
READINGS: PHILIPPIANS 4: 6; NUMBERS 6: 24-26
As a family we need prayers for protection, guidance, strength, during grief, for peace, healing, restoration, thanksgiving. We also pray for occasions happening, for examinations, weddings travels and so many prayer points we can think of.
A family that prays together stays together as Psalm 133: 1 says, ‘How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity’. Unity brings peace in the family, we need to pray together all the time. This will give us power to fight the devil together.
As a family we need to have time for family prayers together as a household including the family helpers and visitors. Daily prayers will keep you spiritually uplifted. Usually a day without prayer is a day without power.
We need family blessings in our life. Numbers 6: 24-26 teaches us how to wish and pray for blessings to our family members.
Read the verses again. Support each other with positive words all the time.
Paul gives exhortation, encouragement and prayer saying ‘in everything by prayer with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God’.
At times we fail to thank God for His blessings and only give requests. Paul teaches us to balance our prayers. Thanksgiving shows your appreciation of what God is doing to you , thank Him all the time.
Give each family member an opportunity to lead during family prayers. This is a good way to train children to pray. Support each other in prayer.
DAY 3: TUESDAY
TOPIC: PROJECTS AND HOME IMPROVEMENTS A FAMILY BUSINESS UNIT
READINGS: DEUTRONOMY 8: 18, GENESIS 2: 15 “AND THE LORD GOD TOOK THE MAN AND PUT HIM IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN TO TEND AND GUARD AND KEEP IT”
Work on your space. The economy in which we are living in is very unstable. We have very low wages and some people have no wage to talk about. Families have resorted to engage in both full time and part time business activities and projects. Let your home become your workplace.
During this Home and Family Week discuss on how you can improve the projects you are currently doing. Try to involve every family member. It is important to support family projects be it farming, baking, shops and any other.
Discuss on these 3 scriptures
Proverbs10: 4 “Lazy hands make a man poor but diligent hands bring wealth”.
Proverbs 11: 1 “Be honest in your business measures”.
Proverbs 16: 3 “Pray for your projects”.
When you make profits save for continuity of projects. All children and grandchildren in the family are supposed to buy in the home projects and work together as a unit.
Identify projects you can do as a family, you can start small and grow.
Deuteronomy 8: 18. The Lord gives you the ability to produce wealth.
John Wesley – said:
“Gain all you can
Save All you can
Give All you can”.
He continues to say ‘not at the expense of life or health’. This means Christian ethics are to be observed in our business endeavours.
Give it a try and it can be your life changing opportunity.
DAY 4: WEDNESDAY
TOPIC: FORGIVENESS IS KEY TO ALL RELATIONSHIPS
READING: COLOSSIANS 3: 13
Generally, forgiveness is a conscious deliberate decision to release feelings of resentment or vergence toward a person or group who has harmed you, regardless of whether they actually deserve forgiveness.
Forgiveness is a sign of love. All the time we say the Lord’s Prayer we promise to forgive others as we were forgiven by the Lord. Let us be sincere in forgiveness because it is a burden to the unforgiver.
We live among people close and distant. They offend us but it has to be our culture to forgive.
Let go and make allowance of other people’s faults.
It is a powerful demonstration of loving offenders.
It restores relationships just as the Lord forgave us our sins.
We are family and forgivers will bear one another’s burdens. Learn to say sorry and learn to accept a sorry.
Matthew 18: 21-22 is a discussion showing that you will not count how many times you forgive. Unforgiveness hinders our prayers Mark 11: 25.
Matthew 5: 23-24 gives a very strong point that you cannot proceed with your offering before forgiveness and reconciliation. This is how serious the matter is. Forgiveness is a priority over rituals.
Let us start forgiving ourselves for our shortfalls then forgive anyone who wronged you and ask for forgiveness.
The world will be at peace if we become forgivers.
DAY 5: THURSDAY
THURSDAYS IN BLACK
Wearing black on Thursdays is a declaration that you are part of the global movement working towards a world without rape and violence.
In every country Gender- Based Violence (GBV) is a tragic reality always hidden because victims are often silent fearing stigma and further violence.
We all have the responsibility to speak out against violence.
Genesis 1: 27,28 gives an indication that humanity was created in the image of God and given a blessing and dominion. Let us see one another as bearing the image of God; we will never abuse anyone created in the image of God.
Romans 12: 9-10 – “Let your love be sincere, hate what is evil but hold fast to that which is good. Love one another with brotherly affection, giving precedence and showing honour to one another”.
Galatians 6: 10 says we have the opportunity to do good to all people.
Christians are not supposed to bring harm by violating the rights of others.
Wearing black therefore becomes an awareness and action dress code which works as a reminder that I am my brother and sister’s keeper.
Let us report rape and other cases of abuse. We take it upon ourselves to stop physical, emotional and other forms of violence. Read Titus 3: 2
James 1: 19 shows that human beings are able to control their emotions even if there is provocation.
Lets stop rape and violence and use the toll free 08080 551.
DAY 6: FRIDAY
CLEANING THE HOME ENVIRONMENT
Let us dedicate today for checking the surroundings of our homes. Remove the litter around your home, keep grass very low and trees pruned neatly.
Deuteronomy 23: 12-14. We are encouraged to have toilets for family use.
There is a challenge to the environment about the disposal of diapers. Discuss how we should have a community without messed diapers.
We are able to put garbage in proper places; let us do it well.
Numbers 35: 34 we cannot defile where we live; people no longer respect places and environments; drug sales and disposals openly done in all places even where children live and pass through. This gives children opportunities to experiment which is bad.
Ecclesiastes 3 teaches that there is time for everything, and verse 6 says there is time to throw away. Starting with the kitchen. Let us throw away very old utensils which are no longer worth keeping; get in your pantry and remove expired food and throw away. Let us avoid giving other people expired food items.
We move to the wardrobes remove other clothes and give away to the needy. We can discuss this with our children who have small items and give away.
Move to garages and storerooms and clean up.
Let us look around our church buildings check on the inventory you may need a yard sale to dispose obsolete items. Check in the church vestry where we pray with the preacher.
Let’s make our places more habitable and clean you will like your place with fresh air and clean surroundings.
DAY 7: SATURDAY
GIVING TO GOD’S WORK
All families are part of God’s divine plan. Families carry the responsibility of improving the standard of God’s work
Tithes and offerings are an important part of Christian commitment. By giving we put our love for God before our love for money. Giving supports the church to spread the gospel of abundance to the giver.
Your loyalty is put to test through tithing. Church and family collaborate they are not competitors.
1 Acts 20: 35 it is more blessed to give than receive. We all need blessings from God so we give offerings or any organiser funding needed for God’s work.
Children also give in church. Our Sunday school children and school going kids are part of the church and they give offerings also.
We then encourage our working children to give faithfully to God for everyone is a giver.
The generous find themselves enriched with a deeper sense of purpose, connection and well being.
Giving to the needy (Matthew 6: 2-4)
2 Thus, whenever you give to the poor, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites in the synagogues and in the streets like to do, that they may be recognized and honoured and praised by men. Truly I tell you, they have their reward in full already.
3 But when you give to charity, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.
4 So that your deeds of charity may be in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
This passage is about giving to the poor; let us avoid show off
Discuss the types of offerings we give to God and explain their importance.
Refer to Genesis 14: 19-20, Exodus 35: 22, Deuteronomy 14: 28-29.
Giving in difficult times: 2 Corinthians 8: 1-5
We give generously even when it is not easy for it is a sacrifice according to your blessings. It is called a proportionate gift all the time you come to the Altar. We give with love without complaining 2 Corinthians 9: 7.
We were given 2 hands representing giving and receiving.
Methodist Church: Hillside Circuit 
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