MONTHLY ARCHIVES: December 2016

Conversation Starters: Saved by God’s Son

Posted by Karah

dsc_5266THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE: It’s not always easy to determine the purpose of some things. Maybe you’ve even questioned your own purpose. One person who never questioned His purpose was Jesus. The gospels of John and Luke begin their account of Jesus’ life by making sure their readers had a clear understanding of Jesus’ purpose. Simply put, Jesus’ purpose was to rescue us.

Concept: Saved by God’s Son

Preschool

Luke 2:1-20

LIFE POINT: The king ordered all people to be counted. Joseph and Mary traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem to be counted. While in Bethlehem, the couple had to stay in a place with animals. Mary had Baby Jesus. She wrapped Him in cloths and laid Him in a manger (feeding box for animals). In the fields, shepherds watched their sheep. An angel appeared. The shepherds were afraid. The angel told the
shepherds to not be afraid. The angel told the shepherds about the baby. More angels appeared and praised God. The shepherds left for Bethlehem and found the baby, just as the angels said. When the shepherds left, they told everyone about the baby. The shepherds returned to the fields, praising God for what they had seen and heard.

LIVE IT OUT: Use time driving in the car or waiting in line to sing simple Christmas songs. Enjoy the tunes and words that make the Christmas season special. Tell your child that God sent Jesus because He loves us.

Kids

Luke 2:1-20

LIFE POINT: The king ordered that all the people be counted in the home town of their families. Joseph was from the family of David. He and Mary traveled to Bethlehem. Mary and Joseph discovered that there was no place for them to stay. Mary gave birth to Baby Jesus. She wrapped Him in soft cloths. She laid the baby in a manger. Nearby shepherds watched over the sheep. An angel appeared and told the shepherds about the baby. More angels appeared and praised God. The shepherds hurried to Bethlehem. They found Mary and Joseph and Baby Jesus, just as the angel said. The shepherds left, telling everyone they saw about the baby.

LIVE IT OUT: Help your child memorize Isaiah 9:6. Focus on the names of Jesus used in this prophecy. Talk about how your child thinks these names apply to Jesus.

Students

John 1:1-5, 9-14

THE POINT: Jesus came to earth to rescue us. What’s your favorite movie about a rescue mission? Why What’s the difference between following Jesus and believing in God? Discuss the following quote:

“Although my memory’s fading, I remember two things very clearly: I am a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior.”1 —John Newton

LIVE IT OUT: Encourage your student 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 Rescued:
• Discuss with your student the relief that comes with being rescued.
• Talk about different times that he or she has felt rescued. Then, discuss how he or she has been rescued by God.

If he or she plans to do Rescue Plan:
• Guide him or her to walk you through a “rescue plan” of sharing with their friends and peers who need to be rescued by Jesus.
• Encourage and pray for your student while he or she is trying to show Jesus’ love to friends and peers.

1. “John Newton > Quotes,” Goodreads [online], [accessed 11 June 2015]. Available from the Internet: www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/60149.John_Newton


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Conversation Starters: Freed by God’s Forgiveness

Posted by Karah

img_1116THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE: God is holy. Therefore, He must punish sin. From the beginning, God has set a standard of righteousness, and failure to live by that standard brought death and separation from Him. In the end, no one gets by with their sin. As Romans 6:23 says, “The wages of sin is death.” But Jesus offers all people forgiveness and grace. No matter what we’ve done, we can know the freedom of God’s forgiveness.

Concept: Freed by God’s Forgiveness

Preschool

Luke 1:39-56

LIFE POINT: After the angel told Mary she would have a special child, she quickly went to visit a relative named Elizabeth, who was also going to have a baby. When Mary spoke to Elizabeth, the baby in Elizabeth jumped. Elizabeth knew something special was going to happen to Mary. Elizabeth told Mary she was special among women because of the baby she was to have. Mary sang a praise song to God. Mary thanked God for the promises God had given Abraham and his family members for years to come. Mary knew the promises God told her would come true. Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months, and then she returned to her home.

LIVE IT OUT: Print the name Jesus in the center of a sheet of paper. Give your child markers, crayons, or stickers to decorate the name. Remind your child that Jesus is God’s Son.

Kids

Luke 1:39-56

LIFE POINT: Mary traveled a long way to visit Elizabeth. When Mary arrived at Elizabeth and Zechariah’s house, she called out a greeting to Elizabeth. As soon as Mary called out, Elizabeth felt the baby inside her jump for joy. Right away Elizabeth said, “Mary, you are the most blessed of women. Your child will also be blessed!” Immediately, Mary began to praise God. She said, “I will tell of the greatness of God. God, my Savior, has looked on me with favor. All people will call me blessed because of what God has done for me.” For three months, Mary visited Elizabeth. Then she went back to Nazareth.

LIVE IT OUT: Discuss with your child the meaning of the word Savior. Tell your child to print the word Savior vertically down the left side of a paper. Help him think of words that describe a savior that begin with each letter.

Students

John 8:2-11

THE POINT: We deserve punishment, but God forgives. When was the funniest time you were caught red-handed? Are we responsible for exposing the sin of those around us? Explain. Discuss the following quote:

“Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart.”1 —Corrie ten Boom

LIVE IT OUT: Encourage your student 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 Don’t Forget:
• Ask your student to read Matthew 18:21-35. Guide your student to summarize what he or she learned in the passage.
• Lead them to explain what this parable taught them about God.

If he or she plans to do Priority Prayer:
• Help students understand the importance of praying for those with whom we have conflict.

1.”Corrie ten Boom >Quotes >Quotable Quote,” Goodreads [online], [accessed 11 June 2015]. Available from the Internet: www.goodreads.com/quotes/423740-forgiveness-is-an-act-of-the-will-and-the-will


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Conversation Starters: Adopted into God’s Family

Posted by Karah

img_1157THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE: God the Father has chosen us, and He desires to adopt us into His family. We don’t need to remain as orphans, crying and hoping for the love and acceptance of a Father. Instead, we are loved by God and can receive from Him an immeasurable gift: adoption into His family.

Concept: Adopted into God’s Family

Preschool

Isaiah 1:1; 6:1,8; 7:14; 9:6-7; 11:1-5

LIFE POINT: The prophet Isaiah had a vision (dream). A prophet told people what God wanted them to know. In his vision, Isaiah saw God. God asked whom He could send to tell people God’s messages. Isaiah told God to send him; he would go. Isaiah told the people that God would give them a sign. A sign is “an action or event that points to something special.” This sign would be a woman giving birth to a son whom she would name Immanuel (another name for Jesus). Isaiah told that the child would be born for the people. The child would be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, and Prince of Peace. The child would bring peace and rule over the people with love.

LIVE IT OUT: Provide a simple advent calendar that your child will enjoy. Take time each day before
Christmas to read the Bible and do an activity to make the coming of Christmas focus on Jesus.

Kids

Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; 11:1-5; Micah 5:2

LIFE POINT: Isaiah was God’s prophet. He told of God’s promise to send the Savior. God told Isaiah what to tell people about the Savior. Isaiah said God would give the people a sign: a virgin would have a son and call Him Immanuel. Isaiah told other names for the Savior: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, and Prince of Peace. Isaiah explained that the Savior would come from the family of Jesse, King David’s father. The Savior would be wise, understanding, strong, and a good judge. Micah was another prophet who spoke God’s message. Micah told the people where the Savior would be born. God promised that the Savior would be born in Bethlehem.

LIVE IT OUT: Help your child search the Scriptures to read more about God’s plan to send Jesus to
be the Savior. Many prophets in the Bible wrote down these prophecies. God planned for Jesus from the
beginning of time.

Students

1 John 3:1-10

THE POINT: God, our perfect Father, loves us. When have you felt a strong sense of belonging? Do you find it hard or easy to love unconditionally? Explain. Discuss the following quote:

“The Gospel is not a picture of adoption, adoption is a picture of the Gospel.”1 —John Piper

LIVE IT OUT: Encourage your student 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 Don’t Hide It:
• Share your story of meeting Jesus with your student, and then guide him or her to do the same.

If he or she plans to do Who’s Who:
• Ask your student to intentionally pray for their friends who don’t know Christ. Set aside time each day to pray with your student.

1. Chelsea Patterson, “Delighting in the Greater Adoption,” The Gospel Coalition [online], 11 March 2014 [accessed 11 June 2015]. Available from the Internet: www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/
delighting-in-the-greater-adoption


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