MONTHLY ARCHIVES: November 2018

Christmas Conversation Starters: The Blameless Way

Posted by Karah

CONNECTION POINT: God’s Word tells about Jesus.

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE: Psalm 119 is dedicated to explaining how the richness and depth of God’s Word impacts our daily lives. Every stanza expresses excitement praising the value of God’s Word. Psalm 119 praises the total sufficiency of God’s Word to meet every need in your life. Nothing else can claim that promise and make good on it. When we live by God’s Word we can have true and lasting Joy. The goal of this Psalm is for God’s people to admire and hunger after His Word, so that their character and lives will be transformed by it.

Concept: The Blameless Way

Preschool

Isaiah 9

LIFE POINT: Isaiah was a prophet who lived a long time ago. A prophet tells people messages from God. Isaiah wrote the messages God told him on a scroll. These messages became part of the Bible. God chose Isaiah to tell people some wonderful news. Isaiah wrote that a special child would be born. He would be God’s Son and would be born to a young woman. His name would be Jesus. Jesus would become a man and would always do what was right. Jesus would love and care for people. He would teach people about God. He would help people understand God’s rules and that God loved them. People heard or read the words Isaiah wrote on the Bible scroll. They believed the words were true. They knew Jesus would be born like God said. They waited for the birth of the special baby for many years.

LIVE IT OUT: Waiting can be hard for preschoolers. Explain that people waited many years after Isaiah told them that Jesus would be born. Plan for an Advent activity to help your child wait for Christmas.

Kids

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

LIFE POINT: Isaiah and Micah were prophets. Prophets were men who told people God’s messages. Isaiah and Micah told God’s messages and wrote them down. God told Isaiah that a special child would be born one day. God told Isaiah special names for the child. Those names would help people know what He would be like. The child would be wise. He would be strong. He would live forever. He would bring peace with God. Another time, Isaiah told this message: The Savior will be from King David’s family. He will be wise and strong. He will love God. Micah also had a message from God. He told that the special child would be born in Bethlehem.

LIVE IT OUT: Read together Isaiah 9:6. Focus on the names of Jesus. Help your child understand how each of those names apply to Jesus. Pray together, thanking God for always keeping His promises.

Students

Psalm 119:1-8, Isaiah 9

THE POINT: Following God’s Word brings true joy.
• When has good advice saved you from bad consequences?
• What does it mean to seek something with your whole heart?
• How does knowing we can be completely honest with God affect how we view His Word?
• How can we increase the influence of God’s Word in our lives?

Discuss the following quote:

“Obedience is the key to real faith.”¹—Chuck Colson

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: Encourage your student to engage with God’s Word by rewriting passages in his or her own words.
• COMMUNITY: Encourage your student to grow this week and spend time in biblical community.
• CULTURE: A child of God finds joy in following God’s commands and living a life for Him. Discuss with your student the need to follow God’s commands in our lives.

 

¹. “211 Quotes About Obedience,” Christian Quotes [online], [accessed 1 June 2016]. Available from the Internet: http://www.christianquotes.info/quotes-by-topic/quotes-aboutobedience/#
ixzz47nHuGUMn.


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Conversation Starters: Hannah- Trust-filled Prayer

Posted by Karah

CONNECTION POINT: Prayer helps people know Jesus.

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE: During the Thanksgiving season, our thoughts rightfully turn to the things for which we can thank God. But what about those areas of life where thanksgiving is hard? Hannah was a woman who did not resign herself to the hardship she faced. She was despondent, but she sought God’s help and trusted Him with the answer. Thanksgiving and praise can flow from our trust that, regardless of what we face, God is with us and is working on our behalf.

Bible Character: Hannah

Preschool

2 Kings 4:1-7

LIFE POINT: Elisha traveled and told people messages from God. One day a woman called to Elisha, “My husband has died. I owe money to others. I have no money.” Elisha asked her what she had. She only had a jar of oil. Elisha told the woman to borrow empty containers from her neighbors. She should go in her house, close the door, and start pouring oil into the empty containers. The woman and her sons got many containers. She began to pour the oil from her jar. Her sons kept bringing her containers, and she kept pouring oil into them. When all the containers were full, the jar the woman had been pouring from was finally empty. Elisha told the woman to sell the oil and pay what she owed. She would have enough money left to live on. God helped the woman have what she needed.

LIVE IT OUT: Draw a large O in the center of a sheet of paper. Give your child crayons, markers, or stickers to decorate the paper. Say: “Obey starts with o. You can obey God.”

Kids

2 Kings 4:1-7

LIFE POINT: A widow came to Elisha. “My husband is dead. I cannot pay my bills. So, people are coming to take my children. They will make my sons their slaves.” “What do you have in the house?” Elisha asked. “Only a little oil,” said the widow. Elisha said, “Go home. Get as many jars as you can. Ask your neighbors. Get lots of jars! Go into your house with your sons. Close the door. Pour oil into the containers.” The widow did as Elisha said. She closed the door. Her sons kept bringing jars to her. She kept pouring the oil from the little oil she started with! She filled many jars. When there were no more jars, the oil stopped. Elisha told the widow, “Sell the oil. Pay what you owe. You and your sons will have enough money to live on.”

LIVE IT OUT: Why should we obey God? Talk with your child about how he would answer this question. Help your child compose a prayer, asking God to help him be obedient.

Students

1 Samuel 1:9-28; 2:1-3

THE POINT: Christ-centered living chooses prayer, not hopelessness.
• When have you been persistent in asking for something you really wanted?
• What are some ways people deal with deep disappointment or unresolved pain?
• How have God’s responses to your prayers shaped your understanding of Him?
• What are some practical ways to cultivate a lifestyle of gratitude?

Discuss the following quote:

“When we make self the end of prayer, it is not worship but self-seeking.” ¹ —Thomas Manton

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 together with your student every night this week and determine ways you can each improve your prayer life.
• COMMUNITY: Share prayer requests and concerns with your student. Create a combined list and commit to praying for those names throughout the week.
• CULTURE: When life becomes tough, even non-believing friends may reach to God in pray. Discuss with your student how we can use these opportunities to share the truth about prayer and the gospel with our friends.

 

¹. Thomas Manton, The Complete Works of Thomas Manton, Vol. 4 (London: James Nisbet & Co, 1871) 339.


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