MONTHLY ARCHIVES: February 2015

Conversation Starters: Honor God

Posted by Karah

DSC_0965THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE: Words can last a lifetime. We can use our words to build up or tear down, but as the church of Jesus Christ, we are given only one option: build up. The Holy Spirit can empower us to use what we say to glorify God.

Concept: Honor God 

Preschool

Exodus 20

LIFE POINT: God gave the people ten special rules called commandments to help them know what to do. These are the rules God spoke.
**I am God. There is no other God. Love only Me.
**Do not make anything of gold or wood to worship. Worship only Me.
**Always say God’s name with respect.
**Work on six days, but rest on the seventh. It is a day special to God.
**Obey your father and mother.
**Do not kill anyone.
**Keep your marriage promises.
**Do not take anything that is not yours.
**Always tell the truth.
**Do not want other people’s things.
When the people heard thunder and lightning, they were afraid. Moses said, “Do not be afraid. God wants you to love and obey Him.”

LIVE IT OUT: Ask your preschooler some ways she can obey you (parents). Remind her that just as we obey our parents, it is important to do what God wants us to do.

Kids

Exodus 20

LIFE POINT: God gave the people ten special rules, called Commandments, to help them know how to live and what to do. These are the rules God spoke:
I am God. There is no other God. Love only Me.
Do not make anything of gold or wood to worship. Worship only Me.
Always say God’s name in a respectful way.
Work on six days, but rest on the seventh. It is a day special to God.
Obey your father and mother. Do not kill anyone. Keep your marriage promises. Do not take anything that is not yours. Always tell the truth. Be happy with what you have. Do not want other people’s things.Then the people heard thunder and saw lightning. They were frightened. Moses said, “Do not be afraid. God wants you to love and obey Him.”

LIVE IT OUT: Help your child think of ten ways kids can obey their parents. Write them down and number them from 1-10. Remind your child that just as people should obey their parents, it is even more important to do what God wants them to do.

Students

Ephesians 4:25-32

THE POINT: Our words matter. Do your words tear down or build up? Discuss with your student the power of words. Discuss the following quote:

“Somehow, what’s in our hearts, good or bad is eventually translated into words and deeds.”1 —Andy Stanley

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 Watch Your Words:
•Challenge your student to be mindful of his or her words this week.
•Share with your student a time in your own life where your words got you in trouble.

If he plans to do Good Words:
•Challenge your student to memorize Psalm 19:14.
•Memorize Psalm 19:14 yourself. Discuss with your student how you best memorize Scripture.
1. Andy Stanley, Enemies of the Heart (Colorado Springs, CO: Multnomah Books, 2011), 31.


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Conversation Starters: Christian Unity

Posted by Karah

IMG_8012THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE: All sports carry a high level of excitement in championship games, but the excitement is even greater when a team with only average talent wins. Talent has a role in winning games, but what can really make a difference is when the individual players work together as a single unit—a team. This principle is all the more critical when we’re talking about the life and ministry of the church. The Holy Spirit empowers believers to work together in complete unity.

Topic: Christian Unity 

Preschool

Exodus 5-12

LIFE POINT: The Israelites worked hard for Pharaoh. God spoke to Moses. “Go and tell Pharaoh to let My people go. I will show Pharaoh My power. Tell the people of Israel that I will free them.” Moses and Aaron went to speak to Pharaoh. “God says, ‘Let My people go!’ ” said Moses. Pharaoh said, “No!” To show His power, God made the water in the Nile River undrinkable. But Pharaoh did not let the people go. Eight more times they went to Pharaoh. Each time God made something happen to the Egyptians—frogs, gnats, loss of cattle, boils, hail, locusts, and no sun in the day. Pharaoh did not let the people go. Moses told the people to get ready. God knew that Pharaoh was finally going to let the people leave. The people did what God said. The next morning, Pharaoh allowed the people to leave Egypt.

LIVE IT OUT: March around the room playing follow the leader with your child. Remind him that God had a plan for Moses to lead the people and Moses obeyed. Help your preschooler learn that God has a plan for his life, too.

Kids

Exodus 5-12

LIFE POINT: The Israelites worked hard for Pharaoh. God spoke to Moses. “Go and tell Pharaoh to let My people go. I will show Pharaoh My power. Tell the people of Israel that I will free them.” Moses and Aaron went to speak to Pharaoh. “God says, ‘Let My people go!’ ” said Moses. Pharaoh said, “No!” To show His power, God made the water in the Nile River undrinkable. But Pharaoh did not let the people go. Eight more times they went to Pharaoh. Each time God made something happen to the Egyptians—frogs, gnats, loss of cattle, boils, hail, locusts, and no sun in the day. Pharaoh did not let the people go. Moses told the people to get ready. God knew that Pharaoh was finally going to let the people leave. The people did what God said. The next morning, Pharaoh allowed the people to leave Egypt.

LIVE IT OUT: Remind your child that God had a plan for Moses to lead the people and Moses obeyed. Help your child learn that God has a plan for his life, too. Help him begin to discover what that plan is.

Students

Ephesians 4:1-6

THE POINT: Unity within the body of Christ takes work. How do you handle discord?Discuss with your student the appropriate way to handle disagreements between believers. Discuss the following quote:

“To gather with God’s people in united adoration of the Father is as necessary to the Christian life as prayer.”1 —Martin Luther

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 Build Unity:
•Suggest some ways your student can help build unity within his or her peer group.
•Commit to build unity in your own group of peers.

If he plans to do Encourage Others:
•Discuss your student’s ideas of how to be an encourager this week.
•Generously encourage your student this week.

1. “Martin Luther Quotes, “ Brainy Quote, [cited March 19, 2014]. Available from the Internet: http://www.brainyquote.com.


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Conversation Starters: Refuge

Posted by Karah

DSC_2695A Study in the Psalms

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE: When life seems to turn against us, we need someone to stand with us. We need to know we are not alone when we experience loss. God, who never disappoints or hurts us, walks with us. He provides what we need and strengthens us with His presence. Our desire should be to look back at the storm and say that we are nearer to God and now look more like Him because of His presence.

Psalm 23

Preschool

Luke 1:26-38; Matthew 1:18-24

LIFE POINT: Mary lived in the town of Nazareth. One day an angel visited Mary. She was surprised. “Do not be afraid,” the angel said. “God has a message for you. You will have a baby. He will be special. He will be God’s Son.” Mary did not understand how this could happen. But she believed God. She said, “I will do what God says.” One night when Joseph was sleeping, he had a dream. God sent an angel to give Joseph a message. “Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife,” the angel told Joseph. “She will have a special baby. The baby is God’s Son. You will name the baby Jesus.” Joseph believed God and did what God told him to do. He took Mary to his house. Mary and Joseph became a family. God chose a special family for Jesus.

LIVE IT OUT: Review the Bible story with your child. Tell her that God chose a special family for Jesus because families care for one another.

Kids

Luke 1:26-38; Matthew 1:18-24

LIFE POINT: Mary was a young woman who lived in Galilee in a town called Nazareth. Mary was engaged to a man named Joseph. Gabriel was an angel sent by God to Mary. Gabriel said, “Do not to be afraid. You will have a son. You should name the baby Jesus.”
Mary did not understand how she could have a baby. Gabriel reminded Mary that nothing is impossible for God. Mary said she would do whatever God wanted her to do.
When Joseph heard about the baby, he was unhappy. Joseph knew he was not the father of this baby. He would not marry her. One night, an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream. The angel said that Joseph should not be afraid to marry Mary. The angel explained that this was God’s Son. He said, “Name Him Jesus.” When Joseph woke up, he did what God’s angel told him to do. Joseph and Mary were married.

LIVE IT OUT: Help your child recite Matthew 1:21 from memory. Help him write a short thank-you prayer for the Savior, Jesus.

Students

Psalm 23

THE POINT: No matter what you are going through, God is with you. Tell your student about a difficult season in your life when you knew God was with you. How did God reveal Himself to you during this time? Discuss the following quote:

“Without a shepherd, sheep are not a flock.”1 —Russian Proverb

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 your student plans to complete Refuge:
• Memorize Psalm 46:1 with your student. Post it around your home as a reminder that God is always with you.

If your student plans to complete Encouragement Box:
• Help your student make a box that he/she can fill with encouraging words.
• Give your student notes of encouragement or Scripture that he/she could add to the box.

1. “Shepherd,” ThinkExist.com, [cited 2 May 2014]. Available from the Internet: http://thinkexist.com.


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Conversation Starters: Peace

Posted by Karah

IMG_1504-001A Study in the Psalms

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE: “I could have some peace in my life if it weren’t for ….” We could all complete that statement with something that, at best, is annoying or, at worst, causes pain in our lives. Peace is not just the absence of irritating circumstances or challenging problems. We can experience truth in the midst of trouble. Psalm 46 points us to the source of such peace: God Himself.

Psalm 46:1-11 

Preschool

Luke 15:11-24

LIFE POINT: Jesus was teaching people about God’s love. He told a story
about a father and a son. Jesus said, “A father had two sons. The younger son said, ‘Father, give me my share of all that you own.’ The son took all that was his and left. He traveled to a faraway country. He wasted his money on wrong choices. When a famine came, he had no food and no money. He finally got a job taking care of a man’s pigs. The son was so hungry he thought about eating the pigs’ food. The son realized he needed to go home and tell his father that he was sorry. So the son returned home. When the son was near his father’s house, the father saw him. The father ran to him, hugged, and kissed him. ‘I am sorry,’ the son said. The father was so happy his son was home. The father had
forgiven his son and they all had a big party.”

LIVE IT OUT: Forgiveness is a hard concept for preschoolers to comprehend. Begin teaching your child about forgiveness by modeling forgiveness for him.

Kids

Luke 15:11-24

LIFE POINT: One day Jesus told a story about a man who had two sons. The younger son asked his father for his share of the money and left. The son spent his money foolishly and soon had nothing left. There was a famine. Food was hard to find. The son got a job so he would have money for food. The only job he could find was feeding pigs. He was hungry and he wanted to eat the pigs’ food! The son remembered his father’s house. He decided to go home, ask for forgiveness, and ask to work as his father’s servant. Before the son got home, his father ran to greet him. The son began telling his father that he had done wrong. His father didn’t wait. He forgave him and ordered the servants to, “Bring the best robe for my son. Put a ring on his finger. Put sandals
on his feet. Let’s have a feast and celebrate! This son of mine was lost, and now is found!”

LIVE IT OUT: Help your child make a list of sins (or wrong choices) she has done on a certain day. Lead her in a prayer of forgiveness.

Students

Psalm 46:1-11

THE POINT: God is the source of peace when your world falls apart. Discuss with your student some things that people mistakenly try to find peace in. Discuss the following quote:

“God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.”1 —C.S. Lewis

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 your student plans to complete Be Ready:
• Help your student answer the question,”Why do you have peace?”
• Pray that your student would have an opportunity to share his/her answers.

If your student plans to complete Stronger:
• Ask your student how he/she would complete the sentence: “I would have some more peace in my life if it weren’t for…”
• Pray for your student to find peace in a relationship with Jesus Christ.

1. .S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (New York, NY: HarperCollins, 2001), 50.


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