MONTHLY ARCHIVES: November 2019

Conversation Starters: Jesus Teaches

Posted by Karah

CONNECTION POINT: Families are part of God’s plan for people.

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE: The Bible gets a lot of respect in America—at least superficial respect. Eighty percent of adults consider the Bible a holy book, but few read it. Even among Christians, only 11 percent read the Bible daily, and 34 percent rarely read it. Many of us pay lip service to the Bible but miss out on the joy and abundant life that comes from applying its truth to our lives.

Concept: Jesus Teaches

Preschool

Luke 1:26-38; Matthew 1:18-24

LIFE POINT: Mary was a young woman who obeyed God. She was going to be married to Joseph. God sent an angel to talk to Mary. The angel said, “Do not be afraid. God has chosen you to be the mother of a special baby, God’s Son.” He told her that this was part of God’s plan. Mary did not understand. The angel said, “God can do things that people think are impossible.” Mary said, “I will do what God wants.” One night when Joseph was sleeping, God sent an angel to him in a dream. The angel said, “Do not be afraid to marry Mary. Her baby is God’s Son. You will name Him Jesus. He will love people and teach them about God.” Joseph remembered the dream when he woke up. He did as the angel said. Joseph married Mary. Joseph and Mary waited for the special baby, Jesus, to be born.

LIVE IT OUT: Remind your child that God chose Mary and Joseph to be Jesus’ family. Talk about your family and how members cares for others. Help your child make a book of family members by drawing on individual sheets of paper and stapling the pages together.

Kids

Luke 1:26-38; Matthew 1:18-24

LIFE POINT: Mary, who lived in the town of Nazareth, was visited by an angel. “Be happy,” the angel said. “God is with you.” Mary wondered what kind of greeting this was. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. You will have a son and you will call Him Jesus. He will be God’s Son.” Mary wondered how this could happen. The angel said, “God’s Spirit will come to you. The one born to you will be the Son of God.” Mary answered that she would obey God. Joseph wondered what to do. He knew he was not the father of Mary’s baby. As he slept, an angel came to him. “Joseph, don’t be afraid to marry Mary. Her baby is God’s own Son. You are to name Him Jesus. He will save His people from their sins.” Joseph took Mary for his wife. When the baby was born, Joseph and Mary named Him Jesus.

LIVE IT OUT: Help your child memorize the Bible verse, Matthew 1:21. This verse contains the angel’s words to Joseph. God committed Jesus to the family of Joseph. Help your child understand that God chose a family for Jesus because that is His plan for all children.

Students

Mark 4:1-9

THE POINT: Obeying Jesus’ teachings leads to productive living.
• What’s the best way for you to learn something new?
• What are the benefits and challenges of using stories to reveal truth?
• Where do you see each of these soils represented in our culture?
• What kinds of “fruit” should be evident in our lives when we obey Jesus’ teaching? Discuss the following quote:

“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.(1)—Robert Louis Stephenson

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: Take the time this week to ask your student how he or she is rooting out bad habits, while strengthening good habits to grow better in his or her relationship with Christ.
• COMMUNITY: Discuss ways you and your student can purposefully plant seeds of discipleship in your community this week.
• CULTURE: When spreading seeds of discipleship, we have to reach out to people around us and connect in ways that make sense to them. Discuss how you and your student can better relate to the culture around you and spread the gospel.

(1) Robert Louis Stephenson, “Robert Louis Stephenson Quotes,” Brainy Quote [online], [accessed 23 May 2017]. Available from the Internet: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/r/robertloui101230.html.


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Conversation Starters: Jesus Provides

Posted by Karah

CONNECTION POINT: The Bible tells about Jesus’s care for people.

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE: Many people relegate Jesus to solely the spiritual realm—as though the spiritual life is separate from all other areas of life. Jesus saves the whole person. He seeks to help us and sustain us in every area of every life—and we can trust Him to do so. As Jesus meets our every need, we can be a conduit of His care in the lives of others.

Concept: Jesus Provides

Preschool

LIFE POINT: Josiah was 8 years old when he became king. He loved God and wanted to obey Him. Josiah became a man and wanted to obey God. The temple (church) needed to be cleaned and repaired. King Josiah told one of his helpers, “Give money to carpenters, builders, and stone masons to repair the temple.” The workers found a Bible scroll. The worker gave the scroll to the king’s helper. The helper read words from the Bible scroll. When Josiah heard the words, he was upset. “The words of this Bible scroll tell what God wants us to do,” Josiah said. “We have not been doing these things.” King Josiah called the people to the temple. The people listened to the words from the Bible scroll. Josiah promised he would do the things God said. The people promised God they would do what God said, too.

LIFE POINT: As Thanksgiving approaches, use this time to talk to your child about ways Jesus has provided for him or her. Use resources like the Jesus Storybook Bible to help guide your conversations while using Bible verses.

Kids

LIFE POINT: Josiah became king when he was eight years old. When Josiah was older, he told his helper, “Tell the priest give the money the people have given for the temple. Give money to the builders. Buy wood and stone for the repairs.” When the helper met the priest, the priest said, “I found the book of the law here in the temple!” He gave the it to the helper. King Josiah listened to what was written in the book. He was sad and tore his clothes! Josiah realized that he and the people had not obeyed God. King Josiah tore down the altars where people prayed to other gods. The law said the people must celebrate the Passover. This feast had not been done for many years! King Josiah led the Passover feast. He turned to God more than any other king before him.

LIVE IT OUT: Provide several different translations of the Bible and use them to read the verse, Psalm 136:1. Help your child memorize his favorite translation of the verse. Ask your child to list one thing each day this week that he or she is thankful for.

Students

Mark 6:34-44

THE POINT: Jesus cares and meets the needs in our lives.
• What was something provided for you as a child that you didn’t appreciate at the time?
• Where do you see evidence of God’s compassion in the world today?
• How do we balance the importance of meeting physical needs and spiritual needs?
• Where do we have opportunities to participate in God’s provision for others? Discuss the following quote:

“Hope is the poor man’s bread.”(1)—George Herbert

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 thanking God for the good things and the blessings He has provided.
• COMMUNITY: Begin by talking about ways God has used someone recently in your life to meet a need. Then consider ways you and your family can meet the needs of others in your community leading up to Thanksgiving.
• CULTURE: Discuss ways you may be trusting in others or even yourself above trusting in God to provide for your needs.

(1) George Herbert, “Entire Quotes Database,” Christian Quotes [online], [accessed 23 May 2017]. Available from the Internet: https://www.christianquotes.info/search-for-a-quote/?listpage=2&instance=2#participants-list-2.


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Conversation Starters: Jesus Calls

Posted by Karah

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE: Social media gives us the opportunity to follow individuals and groups. By following them, we can see into their lives or know what they’re promoting—but we can do so only from a distance. Jesus invites us to follow Him in a far more intimate way. Following Jesus will require us to change directions, but the journey we take with Him leads us to abundant and eternal life.

Concept: Jesus Calls

Preschool

Isaiah 6-7; Micah 5:2-4

LIFE POINT: Long before Jesus was born, God had a plan. God planned to send His Son to be born. God told prophets to tell the people about His plan to send a special baby. Prophets were men who told others what God wanted them to know. Isaiah was a prophet. God chose Isaiah to tell people the wonderful news. Isaiah wrote that God promised to send a very special child to be born. The special baby would be God’s Son. Another prophet who lived a long time ago was named Micah. Micah also wrote about Jesus. He wrote that God’s Son would be born in Bethlehem. People heard or read the words that the prophets wrote. They knew that God was planning to send His Son. They waited for the day that God would keep His promise.

LIVE IT OUT: The Christmas season is coming up, so research ways you can celebrate waiting for Christmas with your family. Find an Advent devotional book to use each day or week of the Advent season, which begins December 1st. Kids Read Truth is a great resource.

Kids

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

LIFE POINT: When Isaiah was in the temple worshiping, he saw God on a throne. His robe filled the temple! Angels stood around God. They worshiped Him. Isaiah heard God ask, “Whom shall I send? Who will go for Me.” Isaiah answered, “Here I am. Send me!” Then God gave Isaiah a message for the people. Isaiah was to tell the message to everyone. Isaiah went to the king with God’s message. The king and the people were very afraid. An enemy army was coming. They did not believe they could win the battle. Isaiah said, “The enemy will not win. God is with you. God will give you a sign. A virgin will have a son. He will be Immanuel.” Another time, God gave a different message to the prophet Micah. Micah told the message to others. He said that the Savior would be born in Bethlehem.

LIVE IT OUT: The Christmas season is coming up, so research ways you can celebrate waiting for Christmas with your family. Find an Advent devotional book to use each day or week of the Advent season, which begins December 1st. Kids Read Truth is a great resource.

Students

Mark 1:14-20

THE POINT: Following Jesus is a life-changing adventure and you are invited.
• What great adventure is on your bucket list?
• Why is it essential to believe and also repent to enter the kingdom of God?
• What are some of the ways Jesus calls people today?
• What does Jesus’ phrase “Follow Me’’ suggest about the way we’re to relate to Him?
Discuss the following quote:

“Sin gets its power by persuading me to believe that I will be happier if I follow it. The power of all temptation is the prospect that it will make me happier.”(1) —John Piper

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 ways that he or she has been an example of following Jesus. Then determine how you can each grow in following Jesus this week
• COMMUNITY: Encourage your student to develop relationships with friends that will help them to become better followers of Jesus.
• CULTURE: Pray with your student this week for the strength and courage to be an example of devotion to Christ in a worldly culture.

(1)John Piper, “50 John Piper Quotes,” Christian Quotes, [accessed 15 May 2017]. Available from the Internet: https://www.christianquotes.info/quotes- by-author/john-piper-quotes/#axzz4hYC7eseG.


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