MONTHLY ARCHIVES: December 2014

Conversation Starters: Prayer

Posted by Karah

DSC_5660THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE: The church on mission is a threat to Satan. It’s important that we pray for one another—and certainly for those in positions of leadership in the church. God, in ways we don’t always understand fully, chooses to work through the prayers of believers.

Concept: Prayer 

Preschool

Exodus 3:1- 4:17

LIFE POINT: Before Moses led the Israelite people out of Egypt and across the Red Sea, or God gave the Ten Commandments, or Moses spoke to families, Moses talked to God. Here is what the Bible says: One day Moses was tending sheep. He was by a mountain.
Moses saw a bush that was on fire. But the bush did not burn up! Moses went closer to see this amazing sight. Then God spoke to Moses from the bush. God called Moses’ name, and Moses answered. God told Moses to remove his sandals because this was a special place. Then God told Moses His plans to bring the Israelite people out of Egypt.
Moses spoke with God and tried to make excuses. But God told Moses, “You will be the one to do this!” After talking with God, Moses obeyed.

LIVE IT OUT: Help your child roll a piece of paper into a megaphone. Shout “I love You” to God. Pray out loud with your child.

Kids

Exodus 3:1- 4:17

LIFE POINT: Moses was watching some sheep when he saw a bush that burned, but did not burn up. God spoke to Moses from the bush. “You will lead my people out of Egypt,” God said. When Moses led the people in the desert, they found water. But they could not drink it. God showed Moses a tree to put in the water. Then the water was good to drink.
Another time Moses asked God for water. God told him to hit a rock. Water ran out of the rock! God was angry that His people were doing wrong. Moses asked God to keep the people safe. God did not harm the people. Moses went up the mountain. God spoke to him. and gave him the Ten Commandments again. When Moses went down the mountain, his face glowed! The people were afraid when they saw Moses. He told them everything God said to him on the mountain.

LIVE IT OUT: Roll a piece of paper into a megaphone. Shout: “I love you” to God. Plan to pray together and talk to God each day this week.

Students

Ephesians 6:18-22

THE POINT: Support your church with prayer. Do you pray for your church? Commit to praying daily for your church with your family. Discuss the following quote:

“We have to pray with our eyes on God, not on the difficulties.”1 —Oswald Chambers

LIVE IT OUT: Your student has been encouraged to do one or both Live It Out activities. Here are some suggested ways to help your student:

If he plans to complete Prayer List:
•Lead your student by praying with him or her for needs in the church.
•Discuss with your student a time you had to pray with persistence.

If he plans to do Missionary:
•Help your student identify a missionary or missionary family to pray for.
•Post a picture (or name) around your house, committing to pray for this missionary whenever you see it.

1. “Oswald Chamber Quotes,” Goodreads, [cited March 21, 2014]. Available from the Internet: https://www.goodreads.com.


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Conversation Starters: Feeling Insignificant

Posted by Karah

IMG_8459THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE: We all find ourselves from time to time in less than ideal circumstances. We can feel like our dreams are gone or the world has passed us by. The Book of Genesis shows us Joseph, a man whose circumstances were far from ideal, yet he was not defeated by his circumstances. Because we are believers, we can focus on what Christ has done and will do, not on the circumstances we are in.

Preschool

Genesis 39:21- 40:23

LIFE POINT: Joseph was in prison. God cared for Joseph in prison. The head of the prison liked Joseph and put him in charge of all the others. Two of the prisoners were Pharaoh’s cupbearer and baker. The cupbearer brought drinks to Pharaoh, and the baker made Pharaoh’s bread. Each had a dream and wanted to know what it meant. Joseph said, “God will help me know about your dreams.” The cupbearer told Joseph his dream. Joseph said the dream meant he would get his job back. The cupbearer was happy. Joseph asked the cupbearer to remember him when he returned to his job. The baker told Joseph his dream. Joseph told him his dream meant he would not continue to work for Pharaoh. In three days Pharaoh gave a party. The cupbearer got his job back, but the baker did not. All happened just as God had told Joseph. But the cupbearer did not remember Joseph.

LIVE IT OUT: Talk with your child about ways God helps us. Pray together, thanking God for loving us and helping us

Kids

Genesis 39:21- 40:23

LIFE POINT: Joseph was in prison. God cared for Joseph in prison. The head of the prison liked Joseph and put him in charge of all the others. Two of the prisoners in Joseph’s care were king Pharaoh’s cupbearer and baker. Each had a dream and wanted to know what it meant. Joseph said, “God will help me know what they mean.” The cupbearer told his dream. Joseph said his dream meant he would get his job back. The cupbearer was happy. Joseph asked the cupbearer to remember him when he returned to his job. Then the baker told his dream, and Joseph told him his dream meant he would die.
In three days Pharaoh gave a party for all his servants. He gave the cupbearer his job back, but the baker died. Everything happened just as God had told Joseph. But the cupbearer did not remember what Joseph had done for him.

LIVE IT OUT: Talk about dreams. Ask your child about dreams she has had. Explain that God will help your child when she needs help, just as God helped Joseph understand what the king’s dreams meant. Ask what your child would like God to help her with.

Students

Genesis 39: 21-23; 40:5-8, 20-23

THE POINT: Regardless of your circumstance, keep doing what God has gifted you to do. Have you ever felt forgotten? Discuss with your student how God never forgets us.
Discuss the following quote:

“Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat.”1 —Mother Teresa

LIVE IT OUT: Your student has been encouraged to do one or both Live It Out activities. Here are some suggested ways to help your student:

If he plans to complete Gifted:
•Guide your student to identify ways that God can use him or her, even when no one sees.
•Pray for your student to desire to serve for God’s glory, not his or her own.

If he plans to do While You Wait:
•Discuss with your student a time when you felt forgotten.
•Pray with your student to persevere even when he or she feels left behind.

1. Mother Theresa Quotes,” Brainy Quote, [cited March 22, 2014]. Available from the Internet: http://www.brainyquote.com.


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Conversation Starters: Compassion

Posted by Karah

DSC_4357THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE: If this world were all we knew, it would be easy to sink into disappointment and bitterness. What hope do we have if our circumstances always seem against us? If we could see our situations from God’s perspective, we wouldn’t feel hopeless by the way life may have turned out. Like Joseph, we can recognize God’s hand in all that we face.

Concept: Compassion 

Preschool

Genesis 50

LIFE POINT: Joseph’s father, Jacob, grew old. After many years, he died. Joseph and his family were sad. Even the Egyptians were sad that Joseph’s father had died. Joseph said to Pharaoh, “I promised my father I would take him to Canaan, his homeland, after he died. Let me go there.” All of Joseph’s family and his brothers went with him to Canaan. Many Egyptians went with Joseph. Then Joseph returned to Egypt. Joseph’s brothers were afraid of him because of the wrong thing they had done many years before. They were afraid that Joseph would be unkind to them after their father died. Joseph told his brothers, “Do not be afraid. I will not be unkind to you. Even though you were unkind to me, God had a plan for me. He placed me here for a reason.” Joseph was always kind to his brothers and their families.

LIVE IT OUT: Lead your child to think of someone in your family who needs kindness. Help your child make a gift for that person. Note that God wants us to show kindness.

Kids

Genesis 50

LIFE POINT: Joseph’s father, Jacob, grew old. After many years, he died. Joseph and his family were sad. Even the Egyptians were sad that Joseph’s father had died. Joseph said to Pharaoh, “I promised my father I would take him to Canaan, his homeland, after he died. Let me go there.” All of Joseph’s family and his brothers went with him to Canaan. Many Egyptians went with Joseph. Then Joseph returned to Egypt. Joseph’s brothers were afraid of him because of the wrong thing they had done many years before. They were afraid that Joseph would be unkind to them after their father died. Joseph told his brothers, “Do not be afraid. I will not be unkind to you. Even though you were unkind to me, God had a plan for me. He placed me here for a reason.” Joseph was always kind to his brothers and their families.

LIVE IT OUT: Help your child think of a neighbor, friend, or family member who needs kindness. Help your child make a hand-made gift to give to that person.

Students

Genesis 50:15-21

THE POINT: We can trust God is at work on our behalf. What’s something you appreciate now that you didn’t appreciate as a student? Discuss the following quote:

Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right.”1 —Abraham Lincoln

LIVE IT OUT: Your student has been encouraged to do one or both Live It Out activities. Here are some suggested ways to help your student:

If he plans to complete Fear Not:
•Share a fear of yours with your student.
•Encourage your student to memorize Scripture that helps him or her through times of fear.

If he plans to do Trusting God:
•Challenge your student to journal his or her thoughts about trusting God.
•Discuss a time when trusting God brought you peace.

1. “Abraham Lincoln Quotes, “Brainy Quote, [cited March 22, 2014]. Available from the Internet: http://www.brainyquote.com.


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