Family Worship Guide for September 20, 2026
Prepare for Songs and Psalms
A Song to Learn During TGP Unit 15
Practice this hymn with your children, and talk about what it means.
45 | “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee,” Henry Van Dyke, Ludwig van Beethoven
From The Sing! Hymnal: “Tertius Van Dyke, son of Henry Van Dyke, beautifully explained what these words meant to him: ‘My father’s hymn . . . is a vital and happy expression of the cheerful note that is the heart of the Christian religion. It begins, as Christianity itself began, in a whole-souled and hearty yes to life as Jesus lived it in God. It is the natural paean that leaps to the lips of a man who receives his life at God’s hands and purposes to live that life in Christ’s law of liberty.’”
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 15 Memory Verse | Psalm 145:9 — “The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.”
Unit 15 Big Picture Q&A | What is God like? God is holy, good, and loving.
Bible Story | “Prophets to Judah,” Micah; Nahum; Habakkuk; Zephaniah. Read to your children from the Bible or from a storybook Bible. Point out that God’s prophets called Judah to repent from sin by obeying the law and loving God and neighbor.
Christ Connection | God sent prophets to His people to warn them to repent of their sin and turn to God. Jesus gave the same message, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” When we trust in Jesus, we are restored to a right relationship with God and have the hope of eternal life.
Introduction to the Story
While the Northern Kingdom of Israel had been destroyed by Assyria, the Southern Kingdom of Judah remained. During the years prior to Babylonian captivity, God continued to send prophets to Judah who called the people to repent of their sin. Even though the prophets pronounced the impending captivity, they also offered hope to the people: God would restore His people and provide salvation.
The prophet Micah spoke to the leaders of Israel regarding their ill-earned wealth. Micah called the leaders of Israel to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. Micah also shared a message of future hope: one day, God would send a new King who would be born in Bethlehem and rule over the restored people of God.
Nahum was another prophet sent to testify to God’s judgment on sin. Nahum described how God would judge Assyria for its bloodshed, evil, and injustice. Nahum’s message was a reminder to be faithful to God and a warning to not act like other evil nations, like Assyria.
Zephaniah begged the people to turn away from sin while there was still time. He showed that God will judge all the evil nations along with Judah.
Habakkuk spoke directly to God, asking Him why He would not stop the violence and sin of the people of Judah. God told Habakkuk that He will indeed judge the people and will bring destruction to the nation through Babylon. While Babylon would destroy Judah, Habakkuk also said he would celebrate in the Lord. Even in desolation and despair, God’s people could rejoice in the hope of salvation.
God sent prophets to share the message of judgment, repentance, and restoration. Jesus willingly took on our judgment so we could turn from our sin and be restored to Him. When we trust in Jesus we are restored to a right relationship with God.
This week, encourage kids to see God’s goodness through His Word. Like the prophets to Judah proclaimed a message of hope, the Word of God shares good news: Jesus died and rose again to save people from sin and death. Rejoice in the God of salvation.
Prepare for Pulpit Ministry
This Week’s Text | John 8:31–38
Some Context for Adults | From the Gospel Coalition Commentary: “Not only were the Israelites slaves in Egypt, but more recently they had been in bondage to a long string of superpowers who swept over Palestine and controlled the area …. Again, however, Jesus makes clear that he is not speaking literally; he is not talking about political domination but about a deeper reality: bondage to people’s innate sin nature, the proclivity to rebel against God inherited from Adam (cf. Rom 5:12–21). For, as Jesus explains, everyone who sins is enslaved by sin, and slaves don’t permanently remain in the house, while sons do. Therefore, if Jesus the Son sets people free, they will experience true freedom. Jesus acknowledges that his opponents are Abraham’s descendants, but their attempts to kill Jesus prove that they are not Abraham’s true spiritual offspring.”
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.
