MONTHLY ARCHIVES: January 2016

Conversation Starters: Promise of Eternal Life

Posted by Karah

IMG_2572THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE: Accomplishments, relationships, and possessions can make us feel happy for a while, but those things can’t ultimately satisfy us. However, the life Jesus offers us goes beyond a transient good feeling; the life He offers promises—and delivers—an abundant life that never ends.

Concept: God’s Promise of Eternal Life

Preschool

1 Samuel 14:49; 18:1-4; 20

LIFE POINT: David went to speak with King Saul. Saul had David stay and live at the palace instead of returning home. David and Jonathan became best friends. The men promised to always be friends. Later, King Saul became angry with David and wanted
to hurt him. David told Jonathan about his father. Jonathan promised to help David.
Jonathan knew that David would have to leave to be safe. Jonathan went to the field and talked with David. The friends said good-bye to each other. Both men remembered
their promise to help one another.

LIVE IT OUT: Name some friends your child has. These could be children he knows or adult friends like teachers at church. Comment that these friends love your child and they love Jesus. King Saul had several children. One of his sons was named Jonathan.

Kids

1 Samuel 14:49; 18:1-4; 20

LIFE POINT: Jonathan and David were best friends. One day Jonathan gave his friend a robe, a sword, a bow, a belt, and a tunic. Jonathan’s father, King Saul, became jealous and wanted to kill David. Jonathan promised to find out what King Saul planned to do. David would hide in a field. Jonathan would signal with arrows. Jonathan shot an arrow. He called to his servant, “The arrow is beyond you!” That was the signal that David was not safe. The two men promised to stay friends. They promised to care for each other and for each other’s families.

LIVE IT OUT: Help your child make a list of friends. Include friends from school, church, and the neighborhood. Explain that the best way to love a person is to tell him about Jesus. Challenge him to share that message with those friends.

Students

1 John 5:6-13

THE POINT: You were created for eternal life in Christ. Why is it sometimes hard for
people to believe that faith in Jesus is enough for salvation? What does 1 John 5:6-13 teach us about Jesus? Discuss the following quote:

“God destines us for an end beyond the grasp of reason.”1 —Thomas Aquinas

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 Eternal Perspective:
• Create your own lists of the things heaven will offer and be free from.
• Share those lists with your student.

If he or she plans to complete Romans Road:
• Challenge your student to memorize the “Romans Road.”
• Place note cards with each verse on it throughout your house as a study help.

1. Thomas Aquinas, “Quotes About Heaven,” Christian Quotes [online], [accessed 16 March 2015]. Available from the Internet: www.christianquotes.info/quotes-by topic/quotes-aboutheaven/# ixzz3Qarw4gyK


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Conversation Starters: Promise of Faithfulness

Posted by Karah

IMG_7649THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE: We live in a society in which commitments and vows are regularly broken. Circumstances and life situations change, and people walk away from a commitment or agreement. Sometimes we “break faith” in a relationship simply because we’ve changed our minds or our feelings. Fortunately, God is not like us. God keeps His word to us and Psalm 89 gives us cause to celebrate God’s faithfulness.

Concept: God’s Promise of Faithfulness

Preschool

1 Samuel 9; 10; 11:12-15; 13:1-15; 15

LIFE POINT: A man named Saul went to look for lost donkeys for his father. While looking, he spoke to Samuel, the church helper (priest). Saul hoped Samuel could help him find the donkeys. Instead, Samuel told him the donkeys were safe and invited
him to a special feast (dinner). God promised the Israelites a king. Samuel poured oil
over Saul’s head and Saul became the king. Saul chose not to follow Samuel’s instructions from God. Because he chose to not obey, Saul’s children could not
become the next kings.

LIVE IT OUT: Make a promise to your child about something you will do later. When you do what you promised, comment that God always keeps His promises.

Kids

1 Samuel 9; 10; 11:12-15; 13:1-15; 15

LIFE POINT: One day, Samuel poured oil on Saul’s head. “God has chosen you to be king.” Later, Saul did become king. Saul prepared to lead the army in a mighty battle. Samuel told Saul to wait for him. Samuel would make offerings to God for the army. Saul got tired of waiting. He made the offerings himself. Samuel was angry. “Why didn’t you trust God? God will punish you.” God told Saul not to take anything from a battle. King Saul chose to take the best things from the enemy. God was not pleased. God decided to make someone else the king.

LIVE IT OUT: Help your child remember God’s faithfulness. Challenge her to memorize Psalm 89:1. Encourage her to print it on a poster board and decorate the sign to remind her of God’s faithfulness and love.

Students

Psalm 89:1-2, 5-8, 15-18

THE POINT: God is faithful in every circumstance. How has God kept His promises
to you? What are some things we can do to increase our trust in God? Discuss the following quote:

“… What modern believers can learn from the patience of biblical saints like Abraham, Joseph, David, and Paul is that waiting upon the Lord has eternal rewards.”1 —Charles 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 or she plans to complete He Is Faithful:
• Share with your student how God has faithfully kept His promises in your life.

If he or she plans to complete List of Gratefulness:
• Work with your student to list a few things they can be grateful for today.
• Discuss with your student why a heart of gratitude is honoring to the Lord.

1. Charles Stanley, “Promises Quotes,” Brainy Quote, [accessed 13 March 2015]. Available from the Internet: www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/promises.html#HfeDdT53xRXoFEW1.99


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Conversation Starters: Hospitality

Posted by Karah

IMG_6605THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE: The best parties have little to do with food or activities. They’re about the people. Think back to your favorite celebration and you’ll likely be flooded with memories of friends and family. Maybe you received an awesome gift, but the memories have more to do with people than the stuff you received. Life is meant to be shared. Hospitality. Friendship. Fellowship. All these experiences point us to God’s kingdom. Jesus, who was constantly interacting with people over dinners and parties, teaches us we can use these moments to extend the kingdom of God to others.

Concept: Hospitality

Preschool

Acts 16:11-15

LIFE POINT: Paul was a missionary (someone who goes and tells about Jesus). He and his friends traveled by boat to a big city. They wanted to tell people in the city about Jesus. Paul and his friends left the city and walked down to the river. A group of women were seated by the river. They had gathered to pray. Paul and his friends sat with the women and told them about Jesus. One of the women, named Lydia, sold purple cloth as her job. Lydia listened to what Paul said. She believed what Paul said about Jesus.
Lydia asked Paul and his friends to come to her house, and they did.

LIVE IT OUT: If your child is old enough, tell him to invite a friend to church. The friends can have a good time learning about Jesus together.

Kids

Acts 16:11-15

LIFE POINT: Paul and his friends traveled to Philippi. On the Sabbath, they looked for a place to pray with others. They went outside the city to the river. They found a group of women praying beside the river. Paul and the men with him sat down. Paul began to tell the women about Jesus. Lydia was a believer in God, but she needed to know about Jesus. Because Lydia and her family trusted Jesus as Savior, they were baptized.
Lydia said to Paul, “If you believe I have trusted Jesus, come and stay at my house.”
Paul and his friends went to her house to stay.

LIVE IT OUT: Challenge your child to memorize Deuteronomy 5:32. Tell him that knowing this verse and calling it to mind will help him follow Jesus’ example on how to
live.

Students

Luke 14:12-24

THE POINT: Hospitality is an easy way to show people Jesus. What do you enjoy most about having friends over? Talk about ways to make entertaining friends both memorable and meaningful. Discuss this quote:

“Hospitality . . . means primarily the creation of a free space where the stranger can enter and become a friend. . . . Hospitality is not to change people, but to offer them space where change can take place..”1 — Henri Nouwen

LIVE IT OUT: Your student is 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 Invite the Outcast:
• Talk with your student about the people who are considered outcasts in their circles—school, church, sports.
• Pray together, asking the Lord to give your student strength and courage to reach out to someone on the fringe.

If he or she plans to complete Switch It Up:
• List some practical ways that you as a family can be hospitable to those around you. After you’ve written out your ideas, make plans to carry them out.

1. Henri J.M. Nouwen, Reaching Out (New York: Doubleday, 2013), 71.


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