Chapel of the Cross Faith & Family

This interactive Bible time is a great way for your family to gather around God's Word and read, listen, watch, sing, and do activities together that help you learn more about God's great love for you in Jesus.

What does it mean to put God first in my life?

God had rescued the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. He provided daily food for them and gave them streams of water from a rock. God made a covenant with them—if they would obey and serve Him only, they would be His treasured people. God gave them rules to live by—the Ten Commandments— to guide them in their love and service to Him and to one another, and to show them their need for God’s mercy. God specifically told them, “You shall not make gods of silver to be with Me, nor shall you make for yourselves gods of gold” (Exodus 20:23). And yet, when Moses stayed up on the mountain too long for their taste, what did they do? They demanded that Aaron make them a god to follow, and Aaron did it! He took their golden earrings and made a golden calf. This would not turn out well.

Dear God, sometimes other things or people become more important to us than You. Help us to worship You only. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

God wants us to worship Him alone.

• Open your family Bible or a Children's Bible storybook and read this account together OR
• Read this account using an online Bible (Biblegateway.com) Exodus 31:18–32:35 OR
• Listen to the Bible account being read using the video below.
  

• What did the people ask Aaron to do?
• What happened when Moses came back and saw them worshiping a golden calf?
• Disobeying God doesn’t always mean making an idol. What are other ways that we turn away from God and disobey Him?
  

The people asked Aaron to make them a new god because they were tired of waiting for Moses and for God.

Moses was so angry, he broke the stone tablets of the Commandments. He burned the golden calf with fire, ground it to powder, scattered it on the water, and made the Israelites drink it. The people said they were sorry and God forgave them, but they were still punished for their sins.

We disobey God and worship other things when we put other things before God, or when other things become more important to us than God.

God tells us to be sorry and say that we are sorry (repent) when we disobey Him. God forgives us for Jesus' sake. Jesus died on the cross to pay for our sins--that's how much our God loves us!

You shall have no other gods before Me. Exodus 20:3

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Dear Lord God, You are all powerful and all loving. Thank You for being our God, who provides all that we need in body and soul. Thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus, to take away our sins. In Your name we pray, Jesus. Amen.

A portion of these Bible lesson materials are from the Enduring Faith Bible Curriculum from Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission.

Find more resources to help your family draw closer to Christ at cph.org.

Click here for free devotional materials for children, families, and adults.

Chapel of the Cross--Lutheran exists to show the love of Jesus to North County and beyond, so that all may have a living relationship with Christ.

Our Core Values:

• Empowered by the cross of Christ
• People working together
• Opening the Word to all people
• Showing the love of Jesus
• Warm and supportive environment

Email: pastorlaesch@chapelofthecross.org
Website: http://www.chapelofthecross.org/
Location: 11645 Benham Rd, St. Louis, MO, USA
Phone: (314) 741-3737
Facebook: facebook.com/ChapelSTL