Conversation Starters: Helping Others
Posted by Karah
THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE: So many of us can be thankful for our homes, possessions, and comfortable lifestyles. Others among us just barely get by. We often struggle in situations that confront us with the underprivileged. It’s often easier to look the other way when we cross paths with someone who is homeless or poor, but God calls us to help people who may be different than us, showing them His love for them.
Concept: Helping Others
Preschool
Ruth 1:1-22; 2:1-23; 4:13-17
LIFE POINT: Ruth and Naomi were all alone. Naomi and Ruth decided to move back to her hometown, Bethlehem. They arrived at harvest. Ruth and Naomi needed food. Ruth decided go into the fields and pick up the grain the workers left behind. Ruth went to a field and began to gather grain. Boaz owned the field. Boaz saw Ruth and asked a worker “Who is that woman?” The man explained who Ruth was. Boaz told Ruth to stay in his
field close to his workers. He shared water and food with her. Naomi was surprised to see how much grain Ruth had gathered. Ruth explained that she had worked in Boaz’s field. Naomi said, “Boaz is my relative. Stay with his workers and you will be safe.” Ruth worked in Boaz’s fields until the harvest was over. Later, Ruth and Boaz were married. They had a baby boy named Obed. Ruth, Boaz, Obed, and Naomi were a happy family.
LIVE IT OUT: Give your child age-appropriate chores to help his family. Remind him that God wants families to help each other.
Kids
Ruth 1:1-22; 2:1-23; 4:23-27
LIFE POINT: Naomi decided to move back to Bethlehem after her two sons and husband died. Naomi told Ruth and Orpah, “You should go back to your families.” Naomi convinced Orpah to return to her family. Ruth stayed. The two women had no money for food, so Ruth asked Naomi for permission to go into the fields and pick up fallen grain. Boaz owned the field where Ruth chose to work. He saw her and asked who she was. When Boaz found out about Ruth, he told her to keep working only in his fields. His harvesters would care for her. After a time, Ruth and Boaz married. Later they had a baby boy! They called him Obed. When Obed was a man, he had a son. Obed named his son Jesse. When Jesse was a man, he named his son David. David eventually became the king of Israel.
LIVE IT OUT: Encourage your child to find a friend or neighbor with a specific need. Then help him decide how to do something for that person that shows God’s love.
Students
Deuteronomy 15:7-11
THE POINT: We are to imitate God in our desire to help the poor. Plan with your student how you and your family can help others who are less fortunate. Discuss the following quote:
“If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.”1 —Mother Teresa
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 your student plans to complete More Than Words:
• Encourage your student to help those in need.
• Help your student gather items to take to a local food pantry.
If your student plans to complete Thankful:
• Ask your student what he/she is thankful for.
• Share with your student how you’ve been blessed in your own life.
1. “Mother Teresa Quotes” Goodreads.com, [cited 5 May 2014]. Available from the Internet: http://www. brainyquote.com.
Posted in Just For Parents | Tagged Camp Crestridge for Girls, Camp Ridgecrest for Boys, Conversation Starters, Ridgecrest Summer Camps