Family Worship Guide for August 30, 2026
Prepare for Songs and Psalms
A Song to Learn This Week
Practice this hymn with your children, and talk about what it means.
239 | “Nothing but the Blood,” Robert Lowry
From The Sing! Hymnal: “Under most circumstances blood is anything but clean. In medical terms it is a biohazard, a carrier of disease. In household terms it is difficult to remove from clothing. But the Bible speaks of something astounding—people’s washing robes in blood and making them pure white (Rev. 7:14). Only the blood of Christ has the power to cleanse (Eph. 1:7). Praise be to God for this incredible gift.”
Responsive Reading: Psalm 121
Read the Psalm together. Practice saying it responsively. Try memorizing one or more verses.
I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.
The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.
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 | “The Northern Kingdom Was Destroyed,” 2 Kings 17. 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 | The kingdom of Israel was destroyed because of their sin. We all sin against God and deserve death, but God sent Jesus to die in our place. Because of Jesus, those who trust in Him will never be removed from God’s presence.
Introduction to the Story
Hoshea was an evil king in the long line of the evil kings of Israel. In Hoshea’s ninth year as king, the king of Assyria captured Samaria, put Hoshea in prison, and moved all the Israelites to Assyria. The kingdom of Israel was officially destroyed.
Why was Israel destroyed? Although God had been patient, the Israelites witnessed their kingdom crumble because of their unrelenting sin. God had freed Israel from the oppressive hand of Pharaoh and brought them out of the land of Egypt. The Lord loved the people of Israel, performed many miracles, and commanded them to worship Him alone. The people of Israel were meant to be set apart as the Lord’s people, but they worshiped false gods and lived like the nations around them.
Through the prophets, God repeatedly warned the Israelites to repent and turn back to the one true God, but the people did not listen. The Lord warned the people, saying, “Turn from your evil ways and keep my commands and statutes according to the whole law I commanded your ancestors” (2 Kings 17:13). The Israelites, however, did not listen. Instead, they rejected God and His covenant and followed worthless idols.
As the people ignored God’s warnings, He became angry. God judged Israel’s sin and allowed Assyria to destroy the Northern Kingdom. He rejected them and cast them out of His presence. The king of Assyria moved the people of Israel out of their land and brought foreigners to live in Israel’s land and cities.
The kingdom of Israel was destroyed because of the Israelites’ sin. God’s gracious patience lasted for years, but the people failed to repent and seek the Lord wholeheartedly. Like Israel, we sin, and all sin deserves death. Those who fail to repent and trust in Christ will be separated from God forever. Yet, the unfailing love of the Lord has provided the way for people to be forgiven and live with God forever. Those who trust in Christ will escape God’s punishment of sin. They will not only find forgiveness but also receive the Holy Spirit who empowers them to live for God.
As you prepare for this week’s session, pray for boys and girls to see their need for Jesus. Pray also that you would be able to clearly communicate the gift of the Savior, thanking God for sending Jesus to restore what we have broken through our sin and disobedience. Rejoice together in the fact that Jesus died and rose again so that we might be saved from certain destruction!
Prepare for Pulpit Ministry
This Week’s Text | John 8:12–30
Some Context for Adults | From the Gospel Coalition Commentary: “On the last day of the feast, Jesus identified himself as the source of life-giving water, an emblem of the Spirit who would be given after Jesus was glorified (cf. Ezek 36:26–27). Now, Jesus asserts that he is the light of the world and the source of eternal life for all who follow him. In both cases, these claims continue the themes of light (1:3–5, 9; 3:19–21) and water (4:10–15) found earlier in the Gospel. They also connect with torch-lighting and water-pouring rites commonly practiced as part of Tabernacles observance. The water-pouring ceremony commemorated God’s provision of rain during the exodus, while the torch-lighting rituals commemorated God’s presence with the Israelites in the wilderness in the form of a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night (cf. Exod 13:21–22).”
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.
