Watch the “Lord’s Day Live!” video then copy the following “Doodle Bible School” and “Application Sermon Questions,” click the “Submit Answers” button below each set of questions and paste the questions into the email. Answer the questions and send them to us. Read “Family Secrets” then follow the same instructions to submit the “Thought Questions.”
Doodle Bible School
Lesson 31
Were you able to watch the entire lesson?
1. What is the theme of Exodus 31?
2. Can you doodle the picture clue?
3. God filled the man with ability, intelligence, knowledge, and what else? (31:3)
4. Can you quote the memory verse?
5. Who was specifically named by God as being filled with His Spirit? (31:2)
6. The Sabbath was to be what between God and His people? (31:13)
7. What was to happen to anyone who profaned the Sabbath? (31:14)
8. How many days were designed for work? (31:15)
9. With what were the two tablets of testimony written? (31:18)
10. Have you ever written anything with your finger? What was the surface that you used? How impressed would you be to see God use His finger to write in stone?
Application Sermon Questions
Lesson 31
Were you able to watch the entire lesson?
1. How important was the observance of His Sabbaths? (Exodus 31:13)
2. What was the first reason God gave for Sabbaths being important? (Exodus 31:13)
3. What event do the Sabbaths honor? (Exodus 31:17)
4. What was the second reason God gave for Sabbaths being important? (Exodus 31:14)
5. What was the third reason God gave for Sabbaths being important? (Exodus 31:16)
For additional ways to capitalize on the information in the chapter above, click the link below.
Home Church Worship Guide – Exodus 31
Reading Assignment
Lesson 15
Q: What is the secret to encouraging the elderly or shut-in and their caretakers?
A: Not too long ago, I was asked to write down some thoughts about what would have helped my family when we were taking care of my mom during her final years. I decided to divide the list into three categories –
1) Things I wish people would have done
2) Things I wish people would not have done
3) Things people did that were a blessing
Today, I’m just going to share the first one because it is the longest and I don’t want to bog you down with too much detail. Lord willing, I will be able to share the last two in next week’s email.
I realize that you may still be young and nowhere near the responsibility of caring for an elderly person, but I decided to share these thoughts because you may know someone who is currently in this situation or know an elderly person who would appreciate having you do some of these things for them. Involving your children or grandchildren in these activities is a great learning experience for them. Older people love being around children, especially when we are mindful to limit our time to 20-30 minutes but come often.
Also, not all shut-ins are elderly. We often forget those who are well below the age of retirement and, due to illness or an accident, are unable to do all the things we take for granted. I have a family member who is in his early 60s and mostly confined to his bed. The last time I saw him, he mentioned how much he appreciates having other people to talk to since “it gets boring staring at the ceiling all day.”
Things I wish people would have done:
- Call once a week or month just to let them know you thought about them (or text or email if they do that kind of thing). I understand it’s usually hard for the elderly to hear, but it helps break up their long days to have someone contact them.
- Send cards for any occasion or just to say you care.
- “Adopt” the shut-in as your special person to check up on, send notes and bring little gifts to, spend time with – even those who have family members taking care of them. They get tired of seeing the same scenery every day. Having someone else show up once or twice a month is a treat!
- Before bringing food, ask if they have any food restrictions, allergies, or dislikes. It’s discouraging to have a wonderful-looking meal brought in that no one can eat or can only eat one part of it. The family feels bad for wasting it and for not being able to tell you how good it tasted.
- Sit with the shut-in/hospitalized person for a couple of hours once a week while the caregiver runs errands, naps, eats out, or for an hour every day while the caregiver takes a walk, showers, naps, etc. Talk with them, read and/or sing to them, show them photos and look at their photos, color with them or work puzzles or play games, comb their hair, or anything they enjoy that you are both comfortable doing together.
- Have the caregiver order groceries or a meal from their favorite restaurant, then you pick it up and deliver it to them. Help them put the groceries away or visit with their loved one while they put them away. If delivering a meal, wash dishes, clean a room or two, do laundry while they eat or offer to help feed their loved one.
- Do their laundry: 1) All at once at a laundromat or your house 2) A load or two several times a week at their house or yours 3) Several loads twice a week, etc. Whichever schedule works for you and them, but be sure to use the same detergent, fabric softener (if they use any) and stain remover they always use to avoid any problems.
- Work in the yard, flower bed or garden.
- Bring them flowers from your own garden or their garden or from a friend’s. Take pictures of their flowers when they are in bloom so they can enjoy the beauty of their garden.
- If they are able to sit in a wheelchair, offer to take them outside for some fresh air and sunshine. Talk about what you see and feel, such as the clouds, flowers, people, or the wind and sunshine on your skin. Appreciate God’s creation.
- Order meals or groceries and have it delivered. Find out from them or family members what they need and/or like.
- Send gift cards to help with expenses or money to buy meals at the hospital.
- Make up baskets from time to time with their favorite fruit or snacks, cards, photos of the outside world, things that they can do (coloring pages, puzzles, fidget toys, crossword or word find books, etc.)
Most of the things on this list are little things, but they are huge to the shut-in and their caretakers. Just being recognized by you and other people as someone who is valued and thought of is a blessing to them!
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. -Philippians 2:3-4
Thought Questions: What is something that you have done to encourage the elderly, shut-in, or caretakers? Do you believe this is an important ministry? Why?