MONTHLY ARCHIVES: April 2018

Conversation Starters: Life in the Community

Posted by Karah

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE: Serving people who can benefit us is not difficult. “Scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours” is a reality in the business world and even in many relationships. Serving, then, becomes about me, and not about the other person. That mindset is absent in Scripture and is to be absent in the church; in fact, believers are called to serve even those who have no means to repay a kindness.

Concept: Life in the Community

Preschool

Acts 6:1-7

LIFE POINT: More and more people were becoming part of the church in Jerusalem. The people in the church knew they should help one another. Some of the people did not have enough food to eat. Many of those people were widows, ladies whose husbands had died. The disciples were busy teaching about Jesus. They decided to choose seven men to be special helpers to help the widows and other people who needed help. They chose Stephen, Philip, and five other men. These men were wise and loved God. The disciples prayed for the seven men. The special helpers helped the widows and other people who needed food. The disciples were able to tell more and more people about Jesus. Many people became part of the church.

LIVE IT OUT: Talk with your child about the people who help and serve at your church or in your community. Explain to your child how each of these people’s jobs helps others learn more about God and Jesus.

Kids

Acts 6:1-7

LIFE POINT: More and more people were becoming part of the church every day. Some people noticed that there was a problem. There were widows who were being left out and not getting enough food. The disciples gathered together the other people from the church to talk about this problem. The disciples said that they were busy teaching others about Jesus. They needed some other people to help take care of those in need. The disciples told the people to choose seven men who were wise and full of the Holy Spirit to be helpers. The whole group was pleased with this decision. They chose Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus to be the helpers. The men met with the disciples and they prayed together. The Word of God continued to spread. The number of people who learned about Jesus in Jerusalem grew quickly.

LIVE IT OUT: Discuss the different jobs that pastors, missionaries, or camp staff have. Expand your discussion beyond just those that your child knows. Help your child learn how each person’s job furthers the kingdom of God and helps people know about Jesus.

Students

Matthew 25:31-40

THE POINT: Living for Christ means serving the needs of others.
• What do you like best about your community?
• How could looking to the end affect the way we see people?
• What keeps us from reaching out to those who need our help?
• With so many needs, how do we decide whom to help?
Discuss the following quote:

“Those who belong to Christ are sheep in this respect, that they love to get together. Sheep go in flocks, and so do God’s people.”¹— Charles Spurgeon

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: Pray for the opportunities to serve alongside your student this week.
• COMMUNITY: Determine areas in your community that you and your student can minister and serve needy people together.
• CULTURE: Make a commitment with your student to serve the needy and seek those many would deem the least of these.

 

¹“Sheep Go In Flocks, and So Do God’s People, ”First Love Publications, 11 February 2016, [accessed 13 September 2013]. Available from the Internet: http://www.firstlovepublications.org/quotes/sheep-go-inflocks-and-so-do-gods-people.


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Conversation Starters: Life Reflected

Posted by Karah

CONNECTION POINT: Share the love of Jesus everywhere.

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE: Work is more than a paycheck. It is more than just a job. Whether we are the CEO of a large business or an intern on the lowest rung of the corporate ladder, our true work is to honor Christ and reflect Him in our work relationships, attitude, and productivity. Our day-to-day work might be forgotten next week, but the witness we give through our work can impact eternity.

Concept: Life Reflected

Preschool

Acts 3:1-4:21

LIFE POINT: One day Peter and John met a man at the temple (church) gate. The man could not walk. He asked Peter and John for help. Peter told him, “I don’t have any money, but I will give you what I do have. In the name of Jesus, get up and walk.” The man’s feet became strong. He was able to walk. The man went walking and jumping and thanking God. When the people saw the man walking, they were surprised. Some people were angry. They arrested Peter and John. The leaders asked Peter and John what happened. Peter and John said that the man was able to walk by the power of Jesus. The leaders told Peter and John to stop talking about Jesus. Peter and John said they would listen to God. They would not stop telling people about Jesus. Many people believed in Jesus, and the church grew bigger.

LIVE IT OUT: Help your child name the people who tell him about Jesus—teachers, family members, and others he can name. If your preschooler is older, he can start telling friends what he knows about Jesus, or he could invite them to church.

Kids

Acts 3:1-4:21

LIFE POINT: Peter and John were going to the temple. Outside of the temple was a man who could not walk. He asked Peter and John for help. Peter told him to get up and walk. The man went began walking and jumping and thanking God. The people were amazed. Peter told the people about Jesus and that they needed follow Him. Some leaders didn’t like what Peter and John were saying. They put the men in jail. The next day, the leaders asked Peter and John about the man’s healing. Peter told them that the man was healed by the power of Jesus. The leaders warned the men to quit talking about Jesus. Peter and John said that they could not stop talking about what they had seen and heard. The leaders let them go because so many people were praising God because of what they heard.

LIVE IT OUT: Does your child tell others about Jesus? Help him think of one or two friends who need to know about Jesus. Practice what he could say to help his friends come to know the Savior of the world.

Students

Colossians 3:22-4:1

THE POINT: All work is a reflection of your relationship with Christ.
• What work are you most proud of?
• How can we maintain a Christlike attitude, even in work we don’t enjoy?
• How are the things you work at an opportunity to serve God?
• What steps might help you focus on Christ as you work?
Discuss the following quote:

“Read the Bible. Work hard and honestly. And don’t complain.”¹—Billy Graham

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: Talk with your student about any personal struggles he or she may be facing, and pray for not only solutions but an attitude of peace while handling them.
• COMMUNITY: Pray with your student for his or her friends facing difficult situations, and create a community that is open and encouraging.
• CULTURE: Discuss with your student how the way Christians behave in challenging situations will look different from others in our culture.

¹“Billy Graham Quotes,” Brainy Quotes [online], [accessed 13 September 2016]. Available from the Internet: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/b/billygraha403083.html.


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Conversation Starters: Life in Relationships

Posted by Karah

CONNECTION POINT: People show love for Christ by their work.

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE: One of the hottest topics in recent years has been the defining of the family. With the attempt to create a new definition, the family roles have also been redefined. God created us with only one definition of the family and specific roles for each of us. As we carry out the roles we’ve been given, we experience life as a family at its best. A family centered in Christ is a strong family.

Concept: Life in Relationships

Preschool

Acts 2

LIFE POINT: One day some of Jesus’ friends were meeting together. Suddenly they heard a sound like a very strong wind. It filled the house where they were meeting. They started to speak in different languages. This helped Jesus’ friends to tell people about Jesus in different parts of the world. Peter began to speak to the people. He told them about Jesus. Many people believed what Peter told them. They wanted to obey God and be baptized. The people began to meet together every day. They learned more about what God wanted them to do. The church friends shared everything they had. They ate meals together. They helped each other whenever someone had a need. Each day more and more people came to meet with the church friends. They learned about Jesus, too.

LIVE IT OUT: Encourage your child to tell you the Bible story she heard at church this past week. Remind your child that she goes to church to learn about Jesus. Help your child thank God for the teachers who tell her about Jesus.

Kids

Acts 2

LIFE POINT: Jesus’ disciples were all together, praying. A sound like wind came and filled the house. They saw what looked like tongues of fire over them. The believers were filled with the Holy Spirit. They were able to speak in different languages. Other people heard what was going on and were amazed. Each person heard the believers speaking in his own language. Peter stood up and spoke to the crowd. He told them that the prophet Joel said this would happen. Peter told them the story of Jesus and how He died on the cross and rose again. They asked, “What should we do now?” Peter told the people to trust in Jesus, repent, and be baptized. About three thousand were baptized that day. The new believers devoted themselves to the teachings about Jesus, spending time together, sharing meals, and prayer.

LIVE IT OUT: Does your child love going to church? The church began and helped spread the good news of Jesus throughout the world. That is what the church is still doing. Talk about ways your church spreads the good news about Jesus.

Students

Ephesians 5:22-28; 6:1-3

THE POINT: Home is where our identity in Christ is clearly lived out.
• How should we understand the meaning of the word “submit” in these verses?
• How do these verses compare and contrast with the families we see today in movies and TV?
• How does honoring our father and mother change over time?
Discuss the following quote:

“The same Jesus Who turned water into wine can transform your home, your life, your family, and your future. He is still in the miracle-working business, and His business is the business of transformation.”¹—Adrian Rogers

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: Spend time talking with your student about handling conflicts and resolving problems in a way that honors God.
• COMMUNITY: Share stories with your student about you and your parents and how you may have struggled honoring them as a student. Pray with your student that he or she would honor God by honoring you.
• CULTURE: Discuss with your student how respecting people with authority reflects our attitude toward God.

¹Adrian Rogers, “The Transforming Power of Christ,” Love Worth Finding, 1 June 2001, [accessed 13 September 2016]. Available from the Internet: https://www.lwf.org/articles/posts/the-transforming-powerof- christ-10479.


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