Table Talk

August 1, 2012 Why do people lie sometimes? Why is it so hard to tell the truth all the time? Everyone tells a lie sometimes. It may be intentional, or it may be because they dont have all the facts. Lying is a by-product of pride. We lie because we either dont want to be proven wrong, or because we think lying will keep us out of trouble or make us look better. Sometimes we lie to get someone else in trouble or to make him or her look bad. Its hard to tell the truth all the time because none of us are perfectwe all sin. But as we learn more about God and His truth, and fill our hearts and our minds with His Word by reading it and memorizing it, we will find ourselves choosing to tell the truth more often as God transforms us to be more like Him. Part of our job as parents is to teach our kids to be truthful, not because Mommy says so, but because we are training our kids to follow and obey God, and God is truthful.

August 6, 2012 Can God lie? Why? Why not? God cannot lie. He is holy (pure and perfect), so everything He does is right. He does nothing that opposes His holiness. He cannot even accidentally lie, because He knows everything! When God told childless Abraham that he would be the father of a mighty nation, was God lying? No. But after years of waiting on Gods promise and not seeing it fulfilled, Abraham and Sarah might have wondered. When Sarah could no longer have children, they seemed to have given up on the truth of Gods words. They looked to their own ways to make Gods promise come about. But God reiterated His promise that He would make Abraham the father of a mighty nation, and it would be through Abraham and Sarah. God cannot, will not, does not lie. He always keeps His promises. It may take a while before we see His promises come trueand some promises we will not see fulfilled until Heavenbut God is totally truthful all the time!

August 15, 2012 What are lies you hear other people say about God? When discussing this question, it might be helpful to write down some of these things, and then look up Bible verses that prove the truth of God. For example, some people say that God does not exist. The Bible says in Genesis 1 that God created the world and everything in it. In Revelation 22, Jesus says He is the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. All throughout the Bible are stories of Gods miracles and His direct involvement with people. Not only are these examples that God exists, but we also see His love, faithfulness, power, justice, and more. So as you discuss some of the lies we hear from others and from our culture, show your family the truth from Gods Word. One pastor reminds his congregation of the truth of Gods Word by starting off his sermons with this saying: I believe the Bible. It is the Word of God. Every word of God is true. When it differs from my thoughts, my actions, my attitudes, or my values, then I will change. I will change, through the power of the Holy Spirit in me.

August 20, 2012 Name as many things that you can think of that are totally true. (For example, 1 + 1 = 2, there is only one way to God, God is Love, God is Just, God is True) There are many people who say, If I have enough faith in something, it must be true. Others say, If it feels good, then it must be okay. Both of those statements are false. The Bible proves it, and so do the laws of the universe. *Lets use this train as an example:

The engine represents FACT. A fact is anything that is true. It is a FACT that God loves you. We know that because the Bible tells us so (John 3:16; Romans 5:8). The train car represents FAITH. We show FAITH when we believe and trust a FACT. Your faith in God means that you believe what He says in His Word and trust the fact that God loves you. The caboose represents our FEELINGS. Our feelings are important to God, but we cant depend on them to always show us the truth. You may not always FEEL that God loves you, but that doesnt change the FACT that He loves you no matter what. Can a train run without the engine? Of course not! Can the caboose pull the train? No way! In the same way, we need to put our faith in the truth of God and His Word. Our feelings cannot run our lives. Our feelings change all the time. Similarly, we cant just depend on a strong faith either. Our faith, no matter how sincere, will get us nowhere if it is not attached to truth. So use this Table Talk to not only name things that are totally true, but also think of discussing how you know that they are totally true. Dont be afraid to do a little research, or even break this Table Talk into more than one part! *Taken from the 4 Keys 4Kids booklet, pp. 30-31. 2011 Bright Media Foundation
<http://www.dg4kids.com/4-keys-4kids>

August 28, 2012 The Bible is totally true because its Gods Word. Whats your favorite Bible story, and why?