Conversation Starters: God’s Big Plan

Use these discussion starters to help foster a spiritual conversation with your family.

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE: In the story of Joseph we find one of the strongest examples of family conflict within the Bible. The story holds nothing back. It is messy. We get to see the dirt of a godly family. Favoritism, hatred, and envy defined them. Yet, even in the midst of that kind of family dysfunction, God had a plan. The story of Joseph is a reminder that families who are experiencing conflict can find comfort that God works even through the darkest moments to create an ultimate good.

Concept: God’s Big Plan

PRESCHOOL

Genesis 37; 45; 50:15-21

LIFE POINT: God always has a plan.

Why were Joseph’s brothers mad at him?

What did they do to Joseph?

What did Joseph tell his brothers after their father died?

LIVE IT OUT: Help your preschooler remember a time when something bad happened to a family member. Talk about how you felt and when the feeling went away. Help them understand that God always has a plan for your family.

KIDS

Genesis 37; 50:15-21

LIFE POINT: God is in control of all things to make His big plan happen.

Why were Joseph’s brothers angry? What did they do?

What were Joseph’s brothers later afraid that Joseph might do?

Why did Joseph tell his brothers not to worry?

LIVE IT OUT: Help your child think of a person with whom they have trouble getting along. Encourage them to draw a picture or write a journal entry describing what they thinks God taught them or wanted them to learn at the time.

STUDENTS

Genesis 37:5-8,26-28; 50:15-21

THE POINT: God is at work even in the midst of conflict.

How do you react to a change in plans?

What kind of behavior tends to create conflict?

Have a conversation around this quote:

“We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.”¹ —Charles Swindoll

LIVE IT OUT: Read Hebrews 11 with your student.

Pray for your student to understand how Jesus uses conflict to help them grow and build their faith.

Ask your student if they need help finding something to remind them of God’s work in their life.

Point out ways you see that God has been at work in their life.

1. Charles R. Swindoll, Bedside Blessings: 365 Days of Inspirational Thoughts (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2011), 148.

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Conversation Starters: Step In

Use these discussion starters to help foster a spiritual conversation with your family.

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE: Making bad decisions leads to consequences. No one is immune. But how do you respond to someone while he or she is making bad decisions? At what point is it right to get involved? God uses peacemakers to draw people to Christ. While many followers of Christ are known more for what they are against than what they are for, peacemakers choose their battles well.

Concept: Step In

PRESCHOOL

1 Samuel 25

LIFE POINT: Sometimes we can help others get along.

What did David’s men ask Nabal to give them?

Why didn’t Nabal help David and his men?

What did Abigail do to help?

LIVE IT OUT: Equip your child to speak up for others. Give them an opportunity to practice speaking up. Talk about times when they might see a friend being unkind to another person. Role-play some ways they could speak up and remind a friend that Jesus loves us and wants us to love one another.

KIDS

1 Samuel 25

LIFE POINT: Step in to help friends get along, just as Jesus stepped in for you.

Why did David think Nabal should help him and his men?

Why didn’t Nabal help David?

What did Abigail do?

LIVE IT OUT: Help your child learn to be a peacemaker. Encourage them, when they see friends in conflict, to step in with calm words and actions to try to resolve the situation.

STUDENTS

1 Samuel 25:14-17,23-28,32-35

THE POINT: Step in to keep a bad situation from getting worse.

How do you respond when you hear “mind your own business”?

What prevents us from stopping a “train wreck” in someone’s life?

Have a conversation around this quote:

“When you confront a problem you begin to solve it.”¹ —Rudy Giuliani

LIVE IT OUT: Encourage your student to really challenge how he or she thinks about helping to resolve conflict.

Pray for your student to be a peacemaker who draws others to Christ.

Share a time when you helped make peace with others.

1. “Rudy Giuliani Quotes,” ThinkExist  http://thinkexist.com (accessed 25 February 2013).

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Conversation Starters: Speak Up

Use these discussion starters to help foster a spiritual conversation with your family.

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE: There are some conflicts we should walk away from. However, there are some issues on which we should not compromise by giving in, walking away, or ignoring. When conflict is caused because of an issue of biblical right and wrong, we need to stand our ground. The apostle Paul was passionate about issues of truth. He was willing to face conflict to defend matters of grace to a culture and people that was very attached to living by the law.

Concept: Speak Up

PRESCHOOL

Acts 10

LIFE POINT: Every person is important.

Who told Cornelius to send for Peter?

How did Peter know he should go to see Cornelius?

What happened after Cornelius and his family listened to Peter?

LIVE IT OUT: Encourage your preschooler to make a new friend this week. Ask him to think of someone who is very different from him. Help him think of ways to be kind and reach out to this person.

KIDS

Acts 10

LIFE POINT: Speaking up for truth shows God’s love for all people.

What visions did Peter and Cornelius have that led to their meeting?

Why did Peter need to be convinced to visit Cornelius?

What was the result of Peter’s visit to Cornelius?

LIVE IT OUT: Ask your child to name some ways he has seen other people be mistreated. Encourage him to speak up for someone he sees being mistreated this week.

STUDENTS

Galatians 2:1-14

THE POINT: Never compromise when the issue is a matter of biblical right and wrong.

When was the last time you stood your ground over something?

How does love factor into how you stand your ground?

Have a conversation around this quote:

“The time is always right to do what’s right.”¹ —Martin Luther King Jr.

LIVE IT OUT: Encourage your student to be honest about his or her faith and the challenges he or she faces.

Write her a note of encouragement about her faith.

Pray that your student will be able to stand his or her ground when it comes faith.

1. Martin Luther King, “A Testament of Hope,” ed. James M. Washington(San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1986), 354.

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Conversation Starters: Walk Away

Use these discussion starters to help foster a spiritual conversation with your family.

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE: What happens when you disagree with someone? It can break a relationship or maybe even lead to years of anger and bitterness. Disagreements can result in division even if neither person is wrong. Sometimes the best option is to put aside our own interests and let the other person “win.” As a result, both people receive the greater benefit of preserving, and even strengthening, the relationship.

Concept: Walk Away

PRESCHOOL

Genesis 13

LIFE POINT: Let others go first.

Why were Abram’s and Lot’s workers arguing? How did Abram and Lot solve the problem the workers were having?

LIVE IT OUT: Encourage your preschooler to let his friend have first choice when he is sharing snacks or taking turns with toys. Remind your preschooler that it is important to take turns. He will not always get his own way. Remind your preschooler that Abram let Lot choose first.

KIDS

Genesis 13

LIFE POINT: Walk away from things that displease God, and trust His promises.

Why were Abram’s and Lot’s shepherds in conflict? How did Abram and Lot resolve the conflict?

What did God tell Abram?

LIVE IT OUT: Provide your child with a strip of card-stock. Encourage him to write on one side of the strip times when he finds himself in conflict with others. On the other side of the strip, write Ephesians 4:32. Help him attach the strip around his wrist to remind him of Ephesians 4:32 when he finds himself in conflict with another person.

STUDENTS

Genesis 13:1-18

THE POINT: I don’t have to get my way to solve a conflict.

What is a conflict our family seems to have often? How can we help each other work through conflict better as a family?

Have a conversation around this quote about conflict:

“Conflict is inevitable, but combat is optional.”¹  —Max Lucado

LIVE IT OUT:

Talk about a conflict you’ve had recently and how you handled it.

Discuss any conflict you’ve had with your student recently.

Choose a passage of Scripture to memorize with your student this week.

1. Max Lucado, When God Whispers Your Name, (Nashville, TN, 1999), 44.

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Conversation Starters: Fighting Back

Use these discussion starters to help foster a spiritual conversation with your family.

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE: Most of us would have to admit that we feel the temptation to fight back and the pressure to get revenge. But God hates retaliation. James wrote to first century Christians who knew the pain of mistreatment and the pressure to get revenge. He teaches that the right response when you’ve been wronged is not to give in to the pressure to retaliate, but instead to let it go.

Concept: Fighting Back

PRESCHOOL

Matthew 26:17-30; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

LIFE POINT: God wants people to love one another.

How did Jesus show love to His disciples?

What is one way you can show kindness to another person?

LIVE IT OUT: Talk with your preschooler about situations that are difficult for him, such as a friend hitting him or breaking in front of him in a line. Provide paper and crayons or markers. Ask him to draw a picture of responding kindly in one of the situations.

KIDS

Matthew 26:17-30; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

LIFE POINT: Living for Christ will be difficult at times.

How did Jesus respond to Judas’ betrayal of Him?

How can you use Jesus’ example to be kind to others, no matter what?

LIVE IT OUT: Talk with your child about a situation in his life that has been difficult. He might not understand why he had to endure this hard situation. Lead him to pray, thanking God for His help through this trial.

STUDENTS

JAMES 5:1-11

THE POINT: God wants me to trust Him rather than seek revenge.

How do you deal with the desire to get someone back?

How can you focus on trusting Jesus rather than seeking revenge?

Have a conversation around this quote: “Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak. Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.”¹ —Winston Churchill

LIVE IT OUT:

Ask your student if there is anything keeping him or her from trusting God in situations in which he or she wants to get revenge. Pray daily for your student to trust God in all situations.

Read the same Scripture passages your student does this week.

1. Richard M. Langworth, Churchill by Himself, (London: Ebury Press, 2008), 572.

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Conversation Starters: Conflict

Use these discussion starters to help foster a spiritual conversation with your family.

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE: James wrote that we often find ourselves in the midst of conflict—fights, arguments, quarrels, or disputes. We feel the pressure of conflict every day. No matter what the issue is, the pressure it brings can lead us into conflict. James teaches us that by humbly submitting to Christ, we can resist the pressure of conflicts and quarrels in our lives.

Concept: Conflict

PRESCHOOL

Luke 19:1-10

LIFE POINT: We should love others just as we love ourselves.

What did Zacchaeus do because he wanted to see Jesus?

Why did all the people dislike Zacchaeus?

How did Jesus show kindness to Zacchaeus?

LIVE IT OUT: Help your preschooler think of someone at church who is hard for them to like. Talk about a way to show kindness to that person. Think of one kind thing to do.

KIDS

Luke 19:1-10

LIFE POINT: Love all people unconditionally.

Why were people surprised and angry when Jesus went to Zacchaeus’s house?

How can Jesus’ example help you to treat all people with kindness?

LIVE IT OUT: Ask your child to think of one person at school that it appears that no one likes. Challenge them to reach out in kindness to this person.

STUDENTS

JAMES 4:1-10

THE POINT: Overcome the pressure of conflict by humbly submitting to Christ.

Why is conflict so natural for us?

How can we stop conflict before it arises?

How can I pray for you this week?

Have a conversation around this quote:

“Life is 10 percent what happens to me and 90 percent how I react to it.”¹
—Charles Swindoll

LIVE IT OUT: Ask your student to share with you how he will draw near to God this week. Encourage your student to set aside time to seek God.

Ask your student if he or she needs help with a specific conflict he or she is currently facing. Pray for your student to fight the pressure of conflict this week.

1. Zig Ziglar, Over the Top (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1997).

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Conversation Starters: Use of Words

Use these discussion starters to help foster a spiritual conversation with your family. 

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