MONTHLY ARCHIVES: May 2015

Conversation Starters: Psalm 91

Posted by Karah

IMG_0695THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE: We do all we can to protect ourselves and people we love from
danger. Nothing we do actually guarantees protection. As a result, we can live in constant fear, or we can adopt an “I’m not afraid of anything” attitude. The Bible, however, offers us a more complete choice: to trust God and His protection.

Concept: Psalm 91

Preschool

Luke 15

LIFE POINT: Jesus was talking to people about God’s love. Jesus told three stories, or parables. First Jesus told about a lost sheep. Jesus said, “If you have one hundred sheep and one gets lost, you will go find it. You will call your friends and have a party because you found your sheep. In the same way, God and all of heaven will be happy when people decide to love and follow Him.” Next Jesus told about a lost coin. Jesus said, “Suppose a
woman has ten coins and loses one. She will light a lamp and look everywhere for it. She will call her friends together and say, ‘Celebrate with me! I found my lost coin!’ Even more so, God and all of heaven is happy when people decide to love and follow God.” The third parable was about the lost son. Jesus wanted people to know that God and all of heaven celebrates when people decide to love and follow God.

LIVE IT OUT: Involve your preschooler in using the Bible. Let him turn the pages. Point out where certain verses are found. Point to the name Jesus. Help him to learn that
the Bible is a book for him.

Kids

Luke 15

LIFE POINT: Jesus told three stories, or parables, to teach the Pharisees how God felt about sinners. Jesus asked, “If you had 100 sheep and one was lost, wouldn’t you look for the lost one? When the sheep is found, you would call your friends. You would say, ‘Rejoice with me! I found my lost sheep!’ Heaven is excited when one sinner turns from sin!” Then Jesus told about a woman who had 10 silver coins. When she lost one, she searched carefully everywhere until she found it. She was excited and called her friends and neighbors to share the good news. Jesus explained that God’s angels are even more joyful when a sinner turns from his sin! Finally, Jesus told the third parable about the lost son. The father was happy his son came home. The father told his older son, “We
must celebrate. We must rejoice. Your brother is found!”

LIVE IT OUT: Talk to your child about how you protect him. Help him think of ways God protects him. Thank God for that protection.

Students

Psalm 91

THE POINT: A close relationship to God is my ultimate protection. How has God protected you in your life? Share with your student a specific time when you trusted God to protect you. Discuss the following quote:

There are no ‘if’s’ in God’s world. And no places that are safer than other places. The center of His will is our only safety – let us pray that we may always know it!”1 —Corrie Ten Boom

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 Playlist:
• Help your student create a playlist with songs that remind him of God’s protection.
• Encourage your student to have a quiet time using this playlist.

If your student plans to complete Faithful Protector:
• Memorize 2 Thessalonians 3:3 with your student.
• Share with your student how the Lord has been faithful in your own life.

1. “Corrie Ten Boom Quotes,” Goodreads.com, [cited 7 May 2014]. Available from the Internet: https://www.goodreads.com.


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Conversation Starters: Miracles

Posted by Karah

DSC_1133THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE: We can only do so much to protect ourselves from the world around us. Unfortunately, storms—economic, health-related, or even literal ones—enter our lives, bringing havoc and leaving us devastated. In those moments, we see how powerless we really are. Only one Man—Jesus Christ—has ever had full power and authority over the storms we face. We can trust Him over life’s circumstances.

Concept: Miracles 

Preschool

Mark 4:25-41; Luke 8:22-25

LIFE POINT: Jesus had taught people about God. He told His helpers (disciples), “Let’s go to the other side of the lake.” They got into a boat and began to sail across the lake. Jesus fell asleep on a cushion in the boat. Suddenly a great wind began to blow. The wind blew so hard that waves of water splashed into the boat. The helpers were frightened! They thought the boat would sink. The men woke up Jesus and cried out for help. Jesus stood up and said, “Be quiet! Be still!” Immediately the wind stopped blowing, and the waves became calm. Jesus asked the men, “Didn’t you know I could help you?” The helpers were amazed that even the wind and waves obeyed Jesus.

LIVE IT OUT: Does your child get frightened during storms? Help comfort your child by reminding her about the Bible story and that Jesus is always with her. Help your child say a prayer, asking God for help.

Kids

Mark 4:25-41; Luke 8:22-25

LIFE POINT: On that day when evening had come, Jesus told His disciples, “Let’s cross over to the other side of the sea.” So they left the crowd and took Him along since He was already in the boat. And other boats were with Him. A fierce windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion. So the disciples woke Jesus and said to Him, “Teacher! Don’t You care that we’re going to die?” Jesus got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Silence! Be still!” The wind ceased, and there was a great calm. Then He said to them, “Why are you fearful? Do you still have no faith?” And the disciples were terrified and asked one another, “Who then is this? Even the wind and the sea obey Him!”.

LIVE IT OUT: Help your child look through the Bible and find miracles that Jesus performed. Make a list of each miracle and where it is found. Say a prayer of thanks for Jesus, God’s Son.

Students

Mark 4:35-41

THE POINT: Jesus has power over all my fears. How do you usually react to
life’s storms? Talk with your student about a moment when you panicked instead of trusting the Lord. Discuss the following quote:

“God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform; He plants His footsteps in the sea, and rides upon the storm.” 1 — William Cowper

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 or she plans to complete Uh Oh:
•Sit down with your student as he or she makes a list of storms in life.
•Pray that your student will see the power of Jesus in a greater way this week.

If he or she plans to do Calm Down:
•Take time to praise God with your student for His power and might.
•As your student prays over different storms in life, pray for them as well

1. William Cowper, “God Moves in a Mysterious Way,” Cyber Hymnal, [cited 14 September 2014]. Available from the Internet: http://www.cyberhymnal.org.


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Conversation Starters: Service

Posted by Karah

IMG_8170THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE: Many people consider themselves “self-made” people, but the truth is no one gets anywhere without the assistance of others. Other people know they need the help of others, and they build their relationships only around what they can get out of the other person. Our relationships would have more success if, instead of focusing on how the other person can help us, we focused on how we can help and serve the other person.

Concept: Service 

Preschool

Acts 11:19-30

LIFE POINT: Many new people were learning about Jesus in the church at Antioch. The people in Jerusalem heard about this church and sent Barnabas there to help teach the people. After Barnabas saw the good things happening in Antioch, he went to find Saul to bring him to Antioch. They worked together to teach the people about Jesus. One day a prophet named Agabus came from Jerusalem to the church in Antioch. He told how the area including Jerusalem would have a famine. This meant the people would have no food. The helpers (disciples) and people at the church gave what they could to help the people in Jerusalem. Barnabas and Saul took the gifts to the people in Jerusalem.

LIVE IT OUT: Involve your child in a church project that helps people. Distributing flyers for a church event, visiting in a nursing home, or helping on a cleanup day are simple projects your child could participate in.

Kids

Acts 11:19-30

LIFE POINT: Because of persecution, many believers were scattered to various cities. They still spoke about Jesus, and people in these cities began to believe. More and more people started to believe, and soon a very large church had started. This news spread all the way to Jerusalem where Barnabas was. He traveled to Antioch to check things out. When Barnabas arrived, he saw what God had done. He was glad and encouraged them. He saw a great number of people learn who Jesus was. A prophet named, Agabus, shared that there would be a very severe famine throughout the entire Roman world. And what did the church do? The Bible says that the disciples decided to provide help for the believers who lived in Judea. They sent gifts with Barnabas and Paul to give to the church in Judea. The believers in Antioch were the first to be called Christians!

LIVE IT OUT: Involve your child in a church project that helps people. Working in a food pantry, distributing food to the needy, or doing yard work for a senior adult are jobs in which your child could participate.

Students

Galatians 5:13-15; 6:1-5, 10

THE POINT: Take advantage of the opportunity to serve. Do you enjoy helping others?When was the last time someone reached out and helped you? Discuss the following quote:

“What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like.”1 — Augustine

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 or she plans to complete Self < Others:
•Help your student find ideas for ways to serve others by searching the Internet together.
•Encourage your student to put a calendar of service opportunities in a place your whole family will see it.

If he or she plans to complete How Can I Help?:
•Invite your student to hold you accountable to grow in how often and how well you help others.
•Ask your student to pray for you as you serve others this week.

1. “Saint Augustine Quotes,” Brainy Quote, [cited 14 September 2014]. Available from the Internet: http://www.brainyquote.com.


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Conversation Starters: Love

Posted by Karah

DSC_1613THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE: We’ve probably all heard someone say, “I love him, but I don’t like him right now.” In that attitude, we treat love as some sort of concept we are required to embrace—especially with relatives—but there are no concrete, day-to-day expressions of love. Yet the starting point for any strong relationship is love—love that is expressed in both attitudes and actions. Jesus modeled this kind of love for us, and calls us to do the same.

Concept: Love 

Preschool

Luke 10:25-37

LIFE POINT: One day as Jesus taught, a man asked Him a question. “Who should we help?” Jesus answered the man by telling a story. “A man walked along a road to another town. Some bad people took his money and clothes. They hurt him and left him lying by the side of the road. Two church helpers walked down the road and saw the hurt man. They did not stop to help but crossed to the other side and kept walking. A third man walked by. He was a Samaritan, a person from the country of Samaria. He stopped to help. He bandaged the hurt man’s cuts, put him on a donkey, and took him to an inn. He paid the innkeeper to care for the man.” Jesus asked the man which one of the people was a neighbor and helped. The man said the Samaritan. Jesus told the man to do the same and help everyone.

LIVE IT OUT: Involve your child in thinking of and completing a project that helps a person in need. Perhaps you could choose a neighbor on your street.

Kids

Luke 10:25-37

LIFE POINT: A man asked Jesus: “Teacher, what how can I inherit eternal life?” Jesus asked what the law said. The man replied, “ ’Love God love your neighbor.’ But who is my neighbor?” Jesus responded by telling this story. A man was traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. On his way, he was attacked by robbers and left on the side of the road. A priest, then a Levite, came down the same road. When they saw the man,they crossed over to the other side of the road and continued on his way. Then a Samaritan came down the road. He bandaged the man’s wounds, put him on his donkey, and took him to an inn to take care of him. The next morning, he gave money to the innkeeper to take care of the man. He pledged to pay back the innkeeper.

LIVE IT OUT: Help your child make an acrostic. Print GOD LOVES ME down the left side of a sheet of paper. Help your child think of words beginning with each letter that show that God loves her.

Students

John 15:9-14

THE POINT: Let love overflow into every relationship. Are you known as a loving person? Why or why not? Who is someone you can choose to love in a more intentional way this week? Discuss the following quote:

“Love one another dearly always. There is scarcely anything else in the world but that: to love one another.” 1 —Victor Hugo

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 or she plans to complete Dwell:
•Talk to your student about what it means to dwell in the love of Christ.
•Memorize John 15:9 with your student.

If he or she plans to complete The Price is Right:
•Help your student by discussing what you’ve sacrificed because of your great love for him or her.
•Encourage your student to love others selflessly and sacrificially.

1. Victor Hugo, Les misérables, (New York: Carleton, 1869), 165.


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