Conversation Starters: Unstoppable Opportunities

Posted by Karah

CONNECTION POINT: God’s plan is for us to tell others about Jesus.

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE: Whenever you drive any distance at all, you pass intersection after intersection. Many times we just pass through those intersections without noticing what’s around. These intersections are like our lives. Every day we intersect with people, but we should take the time to notice them without simply passing by. God put us on this pathway to impact and influence lives along our journey. Intersections become opportunities.

Concept: Unstoppable Opportunities

Preschool

Genesis 37:1-4, 12-17

LIFE POINT: Joseph was 17 years old and had 10 older brothers. His father was Jacob. Joseph took care of the sheep with his brothers. His father loved Joseph very much, so Jacob made Joseph a coat with many colors. Joseph knew his father loved him. While his brothers were out taking care of the sheep, Joseph was home with his father. Jacob said to Joseph, “Your brothers are taking care of the sheep at a place called Shechem. I want you to go to them and see how they are doing and how the sheep are
doing. Then come back and tell me the news.” Joseph went to look for his brothers. A man saw him and asked who he was looking for. Joseph told him he was looking for his brothers. The man said his brothers and the sheep had moved to a place called Dothan. So Joseph went to Dothan and found his
brothers and the sheep there.

LIVE IT OUT: Play a clapping game with your child. Clap a rhythm, such as clap, clap, snap, clap. After clapping a few times, add a letter after the fourth clap to spell the word obey. After spelling the word talk about obeying parents and why obeying is important.

Kids

Genesis 37; 39

LIFE POINT: Joseph’s father, Jacob, loved Joseph more than his other 11 sons! Jacob gave Joseph a beautiful robe. Joseph’s brothers were jealous of him. Jacob sent Joseph out to check on his brothers. When the brothers saw Joseph coming, they wanted to hurt him. Instead, the brothers sold Joseph as a slave to the men going to Egypt. The brothers decided to put blood on Joseph’s beautiful robe so their father would think Joseph was killed by an animal. Joseph had been sold to an important man. God was with him. He made Joseph successful in everything he did. The master’s wife told a lie and Joseph was put in prison. But God was still with Joseph. The prison guard liked Joseph. He put Joseph in charge of all the other prisoners. God made Joseph successful in all he did.

LIVE IT OUT: Read Romans 8:28 with your child. Help her understand that God acts in all situations, and He already knows what will happen. Discuss how knowing that God already knows what will happen makes a difference in how we experience trials.

Students

Acts 3:1-10

THE POINT: We encounter people every day who need Christ. When have you been surprised by something you weren’t expecting? What’s your response when something unexpected interrupts your
day? How can we become better at noticing opportunities to serve and love others? When has someone else’s obedience to Christ affected you? Discuss the following quote:

“You are someone else’s miracle! God is setting up divine appointments and it is our job to keep them.”1—Mark Batterson

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 with your student this week and help him or her to place Jesus as the motivation for obedience in his or her life.
• COMMUNITY: Discuss opportunities with your student to serve the communities where you live and help fulfill existing needs. Set a date to begin this service and stick to it. Consider serving alongside
your student.
• CULTURE: Remind your student to pray with an open mind and spend time quietly sitting in God’s presence listening for opportunities to serve and not be lost in the noise of the crowd.

1. “Mark Batterson,” AZ Quotes, [cited 26 January 2016]. Available from the Internet: http://www.azquotes.com/ quote/1218364 .

Posted in Just For Parents | Tagged Camp Crestridge for Girls, Camp Ridgecrest for Boys, Conversation Starters