This Sunday we are looking at how to control your inner critic. This is going to be a fun one to do together as a family! After watching the video use the script below to have a fun time of learning how to keep our minds stayed on Him!
Key Verse- Philippians 4:8 NIV Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Parent/Child Discussion Questions
1. What stood out to you the most from the message? What’s one thing you learned?
2. Why do you think it’s hard to control your inner critic?
3. Read Philippians 4:8 NIV. How could the truth from this verse help you face your inner critic? You can remind your inner thoughts to stop focusing on your mistakes.
4. What is one trash-thought you wish your inner critic would stop saying to you? How can you fight that trash with God’s truth? Ideas: Memorize Bible verses, learn what God really thinks about you by reading the Bible, ask a trusted adult what God’s truth is that would fight the hurtful thoughts you have, write God’s truth out and hang it where you’ll see it often, etc.
5. When do you notice your inner critic getting louder? Examples: when you make a mistake, when you’re at school, when you’re meeting someone new, etc.
6. How does God show His love to you? How can you allow God’s love to be louder in your heart and mind than your inner critic’s voice?
Pray together. Pray that each of your family members would focus on God’s truth instead of the trash their inner critic loves to throw around their minds.
Family Activity- Truth or Trash?
1. Say: We are going to cut Truth or Trash cards apart so we can play a game to remember the truth God says about us—not the harsh lies our inner critic sometimes tells us.
2. Give each family member a Truth or Trash activity sheet and a paper bag.
3. Place markers, pens or pencils, and scissors where your family can access them.
4. Each family member writes their name on the bag, cut the cards along the dotted lines, and put the cards with writing on them into their bag. Have everyone set aside the blank cards.
5. Say: Now, let’s play! If the card is a truth to keep in your heart, say “truth” and show me a thumbs up. If it’s a lie, say “trash” and show me a thumbs down.
6. Use one family member’s bag to pick a card and read it out loud.
7. Each person answers when it’s your turn. You read the back of the card out loud to show the correct answer and learn God’s truth.
8. Say: Your bag is full of some truth to believe—and some lies that belong in the trash. Now, I want everyone to write your own Truth or Trash card with something that you either know is true and want to keep strong in your mind, or something that you know is trash, but you struggle to get rid of.
9. Have your family members write their own statements on one of their blank cards, choosing either a truth they need to hold onto in their mind or a trash-thought they know they need to get rid of.
10. Use the Truth or Trash activity supplement to help your family to find a Scripture that either confirms the truth or proves the trash-value of what they wrote so they can add it to the back of their card.