MONTHLY ARCHIVES: May 2017

Conversation Starters: One Great Purpose

Posted by Karah

CONNECTION POINT: Praise God for His creation!

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE: Where do I fit in? It’s easy to fill our lives with things and activities. Busyness can drown out the quiet, nagging question that asks: What’s the purpose of all I’m doing? What have I really accomplished? God created us for so much more than what we often settle for. He created us with purpose and for a purpose. Life becomes rich and full as we discover and live out God’s purpose for our lives.

Concept: One Great Purpose

Preschool

Genesis 1:20-25, 30

LIFE POINT: On the fifth day, God said, “Let the waters be filled with living animals and let birds fly in the sky.” God made the very largest of sea animals and every other living animal that moves in the water. He filled the waters of the seas, oceans, and rivers with fish and creatures of all kinds. He made birds with wings to fly in the sky.
On the sixth day, God made all the wild animals, farm animals, and animals that crawl on the ground. He made everything that has life in it. He gave the animals food to eat from the plants He made. God had made all the different kinds of animals in two days. God looked at all the animals He had made and saw it was good.

LIVE IT OUT: Children love animals. If you have a pet, give your child some responsibility for helping care for that pet. Depending on your child’s age, he can give food and water, bathe, walk, and clean up after the pet. Remind your child that the pet is a creation of God.

Kids

Genesis 2:4-24

LIFE POINT: In just six days, God had created an amazing world from nothing. God spoke, and everything was created: light; the sky; the sun, moon, and stars; seas; dry land; every kind of animal; people. God had spoken everything into creation. But God formed man out of dust of the earth and breathed life into him. God planted a beautiful garden in Eden and placed the man in the garden. God provided every kind of tree that grew food. The garden had everything the man needed.
God knew that it was not good for the man to be alone. The man needed a helper. So God brought all the birds and animals to the man. The man gave a name to each one, but none of them was like the man. None could be the man’s helper. So God caused the man to sleep. God took one of the man’s ribs and used it to make a woman. They were the first family.

LIVE IT OUT: Discuss with your child what the term “in God’s image” means. What about the creation of people was different from all other things? List some special characteristics your child has that are special to her.

Students

Isaiah 43:1-7

LIFE POINT: We were created to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.
• How has God used specific moments in your life to teach you more about Himself?
• What distracts us most from enjoying God’s love?
• What does it look like to glorify God in our everyday lives?

Discuss the following quote:

“God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.”1—John Piper

LIVE IT OUT: Here are some ways you can encourage your students to live out their faith with Christ personally, in community, and in their culture:

• CHRIST: Take time this week to sit down with your student and enjoy who God is by slowing down and intentionally spending time with Him.
• COMMUNITY: Identify places in your community with volunteer needs that you and your student can fulfill. Use the opportunity to serve with your student and display the character of God toward others.
• CULTURE: Encourage your student to reread the Scripture from this week looking specifically for how it describes our relationship with Christ, and then use the message to encourage others.

1. John Piper, “Christian Hedonism: Forgive the Label, But Don’t Miss the Truth,” desiringGod [online], 1 January 1995, [accessed 4 March 2016]. Available from the Internet: http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/christianhedonism


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Conversation Starters: One Great Creator

Posted by Karah

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE: How did we get here? Some people wrongly assume this question only has two views: science has the answer in evolution or religion has the answer in faith. Many scientists, however, hold to neither evolution nor faith, but they believe in an Intelligent Designer. Intelligent design presents a stronger argument than the random, purposelessness found in evolution. The Bible goes beyond talking about an intelligent designer; it gives us a picture of the character of the Creator.

Concept: God Created Everything

Preschool

Genesis 1:1-19

LIFE POINT: In the beginning God made the world. The world was dark and empty. God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. He called the light day and the dark night. He made the first morning, the first evening, and the first day. On the second day, God separated the water. He called the space above the water sky. The night came and then a new day. On the third day, God spoke, and there was land and water gathered in place on the earth. He filled the land with all kinds of trees and plants. He made trees that grow fruit and plants that make seeds. God saw it was good. The night came and a new day. On the fourth day, God said, “Let there be lights in the sky.” He made the moon and stars to give light at night. He made a brighter light, the sun, to give us light for the day. God looked at everything He had made and saw it was good.

LIVE IT OUT: Late springs and early summer are great times for outdoor exploring. Use these times outdoors to call attention to all that God has made. Take time to pray with your child and thank God for His creation.

Kids

Genesis 1:1-2:3

LIFE POINT: The world was dark. God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. He called the light “day” and the dark “night.” On the second day God separated the sky from the water. On the third day, God made the dry land. Then God spoke and trees and plants of all kinds were created. God placed in the sky the sun for day and the moon and stars for night. This was His work on the fourth day. God spoke and the water was filled with every kind of fish and water creature. The sky was filled with birds. The fifth day ended. On the sixth day, God made every kind of creature that lived on the land. God made people: male and female. He created them to be in His own image—to be like Him.
Creation was complete. God saw everything that He had made and saw that it was good. And on the seventh day, God rested.

LIVE IT OUT: Talk with your child about ways to take care of God’s creation. Discuss different areas—
animals or plants—that she is most interested in. Develop a strategy together for a project your child can
complete.

Students

Psalm 33:6-9, 13-15; Colossians 1:15-17

THE POINT: God created us and knows each of us.
• How does accepting the reality of a Creator affect our lives?
• Where do we see evidence of God’s care and concern in shaping our hearts?
• How do these verses impact your understanding of what it means to follow Jesus?
Discuss the following quote:

“There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, Mine!”1—Abraham Kuyper

LIVE IT OUT: Encourage your student to take practical steps to take his or her faith and Live It Out. Here are some ways you can encourage your students to live out their faith with Christ personally, in community, and in their culture:
• CHRIST: Work alongside your student to find ways that God is working all around you and in you each day.
• COMMUNITY: Humanity was designed to live in community and encourage each other to grow in faith together. Gather a group together this week to study how creation reflects God’s love.
• CULTURE: We have been made in God’s image, and as His children, we can reflect Christ’s love for the world to see. Discuss how this may look in your daily life with your student.

1. “Abraham Kuyper > Quotes,” Goodreads [online], [accessed 1 February 2016]. Available from the Internet: https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/385896.Abraham_Kuyper.


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