Family Worship Guide for August 9, 2026
Prepare for Songs and Psalms
A Song to Learn This Week
Practice this hymn with your children, and talk about what it means.
120 | “The Solid Rock,” Edward Mote, John Rees, William Bradbury
From The Sing! Hymnal: “In Matthew 7 Jesus offered a memorable simile, admonishing his listeners not to be like a foolish man who built his house on sand, which was then destroyed by floods. The lesson here is a spiritual one, and the Bible tells us, ‘No one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ’ (1 Cor. 3:11). We can withstand ‘every high and stormy gale’ if we are anchored properly to the Rock.”
Responsive Reading: Psalm 15
Read the Psalm together. Practice saying it responsively. Try memorizing one or more verses.
O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent?
Who shall dwell on your holy hill?
He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart;
who does not slander with his tongue and does no evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend;
in whose eyes a vile person is despised, but who honors those who fear the Lord;
who swears to his own hurt and does not change;
who does not put out his money at interest and does not take a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things shall never be moved.
Talk About the Songs and Psalms
Choose a verse from a song or psalm. Read it together and discuss these questions using the “Swedish method:”
- What do you notice about these words? What do you like? What is surprising?
- Is there anything you don’t understand? Is there anything you wonder about?
- What do these words tell you about God? What do they tell you about yourself?
- Talk to God together about what you’ve discussed. Praise Him, thank Him, and ask for His help.
Prepare for Children’s Worship
Use this guide to prepare your children for their time learning in the classroom on Sunday morning (and for the Old and New Testament readings).
Unit 14 Memory Verse | Deuteronomy 13:4 — “You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and hold fast to him.”
Unit 14 Big Picture Q&A | Why do Christians continue to sin? | Preschool: Because we still have hearts that want to sin. | Elementary: Christians continue to sin because we still have a sin nature, but when Jesus returns, He will make us sinless like Him.
Bible Story | “Elisha the Prophet,” 2 Kings 2; 4–5. Read this story to your children from the Bible or from a storybook Bible. Prompt your children to describe the characters and events of the passage.
Christ Connection | Elisha spoke the truth of God and performed miracles. Jesus taught with the authority of God and performed miracles as well. Elisha was a prophet, but Jesus is the Son of God, our Savior.
Introduction to the Story
As Elijah’s time on earth was coming to an end, God appointed Elisha as a new prophet to His people. Elisha asked Elijah if he could inherit a double portion of his spirit. To this Elijah replied, “If you see me being taken from you, you will have it.” Elisha looked on as Elijah was taken up to heaven, and by God’s grace, Elisha received his request.
How did Elisha’s ministry point others to the one true God? Through miracles, God displayed His power through Elisha, confirming that he was a prophet. God also revealed His wisdom and truth by speaking through Elisha.
Through the many miracles Elisha performed, we not only see the power of God over His creation, but also His care and provision for people. From making bad water drinkable to healing Naaman—a commander from an enemy army—Elisha’s miracles pointed people to recognize the one true God. Only the Lord could raise a dead boy to life and miraculously meet the needs of the widow who was in debt. God’s Spirit was on Elisha, empowering him to be a light to the people of Israel.
Elijah and Elisha were both special prophets, performing miracles and being messengers of God’s truth. But there is One greater than Elisha and Elijah. Jesus not only performed miracles and taught with authority; He is also the true Light of the world who saves people from sin. Help boys and girls understand that when we follow Jesus, we receive the Holy Spirit who empowers us to be more like Jesus and shine like lights in the world, proclaiming to all that He is the one true God.
Watch the Biggest Story video about Elisha
Prepare for Pulpit Ministry
This Week’s Text | John 7:37–39
Some Context for Adults | From the ESV Study Bible: “While v. 14 makes reference to ‘the middle of the feast,’ this is now the last and greatest day of the Feast of Tabernacles. Jesus’ invitation refers back to OT prophetic passages such as Isa. 55:1 (see also Isa. 12:3). thirsts. That is, ‘thirsts’ for God (see note on John 4:14). To come to Jesus and drink means to believe in him, to enter into a trusting, ongoing personal relationship with him. Both the image of ‘coming’ to Jesus as one would come to a person and the image of ‘drinking’ imply not mere intellectual assent but a wholehearted personal involvement and participation. Although there is no specific Scripture passage from the OT that matches Jesus’ words here, he is apparently giving a summary of the teaching and implication of several passages that picture the inward work of God in a believer as a river of water flowing out to bring blessing to others (see Prov. 4:23; Isa. 58:11).”
COMA Questions
Context, Observation, Meaning, Application
- What do you remember from the previous story in the Gospel of John?
- What do you notice about this passage? Are there any words you don’t know?
- What do you think is the message or story of this passage?
- What do you think God wants you to think or do after reading this passage?
Pray | After you have read and discussed the passage, thank God for His Word and ask Him to apply it to your life. Ask for the specific applications you identified in your discussion.
