MONTHLY ARCHIVES: February 2016

Conversation Starters: God’s Promise of Victory

Posted by Karah

IMG_2618THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE: All of us would love a life where everything turns out just as we desire. Unfortunately, reality paints a different picture. Sometimes what we encounter is a minor inconvenience, and sometimes it is a life-changing catastrophe. Regardless of our circumstances, we can still experience good things from God. In fact, God can use those very difficulties to work His goodness into our lives.

Concept: God’s Promise of Victory

Preschool

1 Samuel 24

LIFE POINT: King Saul went to look for David. Saul entered a cave. Saul did not know
David and his men were hiding in the back of the cave. David quietly cut off part of Saul’s robe without Saul knowing it. David called out to Saul and said, “The people said that I want to hurt you. I will not hurt you because God chose you to be king. Look, part of your robe is missing because I cut it off. Saul, know I have done nothing to you.”
Saul called out to David and then cried. Saul told David that David did a kind thing by not hurting him. Saul told David that he would be the next king. Saul asked David
not to hurt his family. David promised to never hurt Saul’s family, and then Saul returned home.

LIVE IT OUT: Help your child make a list of people who are special to him. After writing the list, read aloud each name saying, “God loves [name of person].”

Kids

1 Samuel 24

LIFE POINT: King Saul wanted to kill David. Saul took his army to find David in the desert. King Saul went into a cave alone. He did not know that David and his men were hiding in the back of the cave. David quietly sneaked up to Saul and cut off part of Saul’s robe. When Saul left the cave, David called to him. “I did no harm to you, but I could have done so.” David showed the cloth he had cut. “You have done good to me. May God reward you. I know you will be king one day. Promise that you will care for my
family,” Saul said. David promised to do what Saul asked.

LIVE IT OUT: Have you ever had to make a decision that was hard? Discuss one with your child. Help her to see that God will guide her through her decisions, even when
they are hard.

Students

Romans 8:28-39

THE POINT: God’s goodness and love overcome life’s difficulties. When has something seemed too good to be true in your life? What are some things you have thought could separate you from God’s love? Discuss the following quote:

“There is One who remains faithful even when we doubt. One who is a firm foundation when our steps falter. One who holds on even when we let go. Keep your eyes on Him … ”1 —J.D. Greear

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 Overcome:
• Make your note cards for your student and place them in their cars, lunches, or backpacks as an encouraging reminder that God’s goodness will overcome.

If he or she plans to complete Loving Reminders:
• As a family, make “loving reminder” note cards and choose a person (or people) to whom you will give these out.
• Discuss with your student the importance of loving others as Christ loves us.

1. J.D. Greear, “J.D. Greear > Quotes,” Goodreads [online], [accessed 16 March 2015]. Available from the Internet: www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/3400717.J_D_Greear


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Conversation Starters: Promise of Answered Prayer

Posted by Karah

_MG_5461THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE: The majority of Americans claim to pray. We seek God’s assistance or intervention for everything imaginable, but not every prayer is answered as desired. God is not reluctant to hear us or answer us, but He knows our hearts and what we truly need. Jesus taught us to pray with persistence and trust that our heavenly Father will answer.

Concept: God’s Promise of Answered Prayer

Preschool

1 Samuel 17:12-50

LIFE POINT: Three of David’s brothers were soldiers in King Saul’s army. David’s father, Jesse, told David to take food to his brothers. David found his brothers and gave them food. While there, David heard the Philistine giant, Goliath, talk
mean to the Israelites. The men backed away from the giant. David learned about the things the king promised to anyone who took down Goliath. David told the king he would fight Goliath. David picked up five smooth stones. David put a stone
in his sling and swung it. He let the stone go. The stone hit Goliath in the forehead. Goliath fell to the ground. David brought down Goliath and saved the Israelite people.

LIVE IT OUT: Print the word HELP in the center of a sheet of paper. Read the word to your child. Say, “God helps you.” Let your child decorate the word with crayons and stickers.

Kids

1 Samuel 17:1-50

LIFE POINT: David took food to his brothers in the army. He heard the giant Goliath talking to the army. “Send someone out to fight me. If they win, we will serve you. If I win, you will serve us.” No one wanted to fight Goliath. He was over 9 feet tall!
David decided to fight the giant. He couldn’t wear the king’s armor because it was too big. Instead, he picked up five small stones and carried his sling. David slung a stone. It hit Goliath’s forehead. The giant fell to the ground. David killed Goliath and won the fight.

LIVE IT OUT: Share with your child times when you have felt God’s presence during trouble. List some times that your child feels are hard for him. Help him to pray and ask for God’s guidance and presence during those times.

Students

Luke 11:5-13

THE POINT: God always answers persistent prayer. When have you found it pays to
be persistent? How can we be patient, yet persistent in our relationship with God?
Discuss the following quote:

“Storms can bring fear, cloud judgment, and create confusion. Yet God promises that as you seek Him through prayer, He will give you wisdom to know how to proceed …”1 —Paul Chappell

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 Communing with God:
• Discuss with your student different distractions that keep us from communing with God.

If he or she plans to complete Fervent prayer:
• Encourage your student to evaluate whether he or she is truly making prayer a priority.
• Pray with your student on a regular basis, and point out to him or her when you see God’s faithfulness through an answered prayer

1. Paul Chappell, “Quotes About Prayer,” Christian Quotes [onine], [accessed 16 March 2015]. Available from the Internet: w ww.christianquotes.info/quotes-by-topic/quotes-about-prayer/#ixzz3QasYCx1J


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Conversation Starters: Promise of Provision

Posted by Karah

IMG_9128THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE: We don’t always make wise or correct decisions. When we discover our error or sin, how should we respond? Psalm 34 shows us that God responds to us when we turn to Him for help and deliverance. Life under God’s care is good because He provides all we truly need. In His love and faithfulness to us, God provides.

Concept: Promise of Provision

Preschool

1 Samuel 16; Psalm 23

LIFE POINT: Saul was sad because God was no longer pleased with him as king. Saul’s helpers said, “Let us look for someone to play the lyre for you. The music will make you feel better.” One of Saul’s helpers told him about David who played the lyre. David came to live with Saul and became one of his helpers. Whenever Saul was sad, David played the lyre for the king. Saul felt better when David played music.
David often used music to sing prayers to God. Psalm 23 is one of David’s prayers:
The Lord is my shepherd. I have everything I need. God is with me every day. I never have to be afraid. God will love me all the days of my life. I will worship God forever.

LIVE IT OUT: Use a cardboard tube to whisper into your child’s ear. Say something like “God loves you” or “God helps you.” Ask if she could hear what you said. Comment that God always hears our prayers.

Kids

1 Samuel 16; Psalm 23

LIFE POINT: David was the youngest son of Jesse. David’s job was to take care of the sheep. He took the sheep to green grass and clear water. He kept the sheep safe from wild animals. When David was still a boy, God chose him to be the next king of Israel. David had to wait until he was older to be the king. King Saul’s servants knew David played a harp. They brought David to play the harp for the king. David wrote Psalm 23 praising God for taking care of him as a shepherd cares for his sheep.

LIVE IT OUT: Talk with your child about some requests she might make to God in prayer. Discuss with her how best to pray for each of the requests. Help her understand that God always answers prayer but not always in the way we want.

Students

Psalm 34:1-14

THE POINT: God provides for those who choose to live under His care. When and how has God responded to your needs? What does it mean to taste God’s goodness?
Discuss the following quote:

“…He longs to relieve our worries and has promised to supply our most fundamental needs.”1 —Charles R. Swindoll

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 Prayer Partner:
• Share with him or her how you’ve seen God’s faithfulness in your life.

If he or she plans to complete Encouragement Jar:
• Have your student write down way God has been faithful to them on slips of paper, then put them in an Encouragement Jar. Parents participate in this as well.
• After a few weeks, gather together and pull out your slips of paper. As a family, take some time to thank God for His faithfulness in your lives.

1. Charles R. Swindoll, “Quotes About Provision,” Goodreads [online], [accessed 16 March 2015]. Available from the Internet: www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/provision


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