Conversation Starters: God is Faithful
Posted by Karah
THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE: People break promises. Even when they have the best intentions, people aren’t always able to do what they said they’d do. If we experience that enough, the unfaithfulness of others can cause us to lose hope. The early disciples experienced a loss of hope when Jesus was crucified. God remained faithful to what He said He’d do, and He proved His faithfulness when He raised Jesus from the dead. We have a sure hope because God is faithful.
Concept: God is Faithful
Preschool
Matthew 28:1-10
LIFE POINT: On Sunday morning, Mary and Mary Magdalene walked to the tomb. Jesus died on a cross and was buried there. Suddenly, an earthquake shook the ground. An angel rolled back the stone that was in front of the tomb. The angel said, “Do not be afraid. I know you are looking for Jesus. He is not here. He is alive!” The angel told the women to look in the tomb and see that it was empty. Then the angel told the women to go and tell the disciples that Jesus is alive! The women left to find the disciples and tell them. Then they saw Jesus! The two women ran to Jesus and worshiped Him. Jesus said, “Go and tell My disciples to go to Galilee. They will see Me there.”
LIVE IT OUT: Print in the center of a sheet of paper: JESUS IS ALIVE! Give your child crayons or markers to trace around the letters and decorate the paper. Talk about the Bible story as your child is drawing.
Kids
Matthew 26:36-28:10
LIFE POINT: Soldiers arrested Jesus. They took Jesus to be crucified. They nailed Jesus on a cross. After a time, Jesus died on the cross. Joseph, a rich man from Arimathea, wrapped Jesus in white cloths and put the body in his own tomb. He rolled a big stone over the opening. After three days, as some women went to the tomb, there was an earthquake. An angel rolled back the stone. The angel said, “You are looking for Jesus who was crucified, but He is not here! He has risen from the dead, just like He told you.” The angel invited the women to see the tomb. He told them to tell the disciples the good news. As the women left, Jesus met them! They fell down and worshiped Jesus. “Do not be afraid,” Jesus said. “Tell My followers to meet Me in Galilee.”
LIVE IT OUT: As you celebrate Easter with your family, help your child understand that Jesus is alive, though He died on the cross and was buried. Help your child memorize Matthew 28:6. The women came to anoint Jesus’ body for death, but He was not there!
Students
Luke 24:1-12
THE POINT: The empty tomb points to the faithfulness of God.
• What surprise ending in any movie or book has left you wondering, “How did that happen?”
• What did the women expect to find at the tomb?
• Why do we sometimes doubt or forget what God has promised?
• Why is the resurrection so important for Christianity?
Discuss the following quote:
“If Jesus rose from the dead, then you have to accept all that he said; if he didn’t rise from the dead, then why worry about any of what he said? The issue on which everything hangs is not whether or not you like his teaching but whether or not he rose from the dead.”(1)—Tim Keller
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: Discuss with your student how he or she can create a deeper relationship with Christ.
• COMMUNITY: The news of Jesus’ life and resurrection is the most encouraging thing we can hear and share. Ask your student how this affects the way he or she is living, and how it can be an encouragement.
• CULTURE: Read the story of Christ’s resurrection with your student. Create a list of friends you can share the story of Christ with this week.
(1)“16 Glorious Quotes About the Resurrection,” Christian Quotes [online], [accessed 27 August 2017]. Available from the Internet: https://www.christianquotes.info/top-quotes/16-gloriousquotesresurrection/#axzz4r4oBjR4N.
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