Conversation Starters: Seeing God Today

Posted by Phil

We at Ridgecrest Summer Camps hope that these questions about seeing God in our day to day lives can spark some good conversations with your kids!

For Children
Work with your child to put together a leaf collection. Collect 6-10 different leaves. Try to collect two leaves from each tree, one that has not turned its fall color yet and one that has. Identify each leaf and place it on a sheet of construction paper. Bind the collection together with string or put in a folder. Use the process to talk with your child about how the change takes place because God designed it that way.

For Students
Encourage your students to do an Internet search for “miracle stories.” Instruct them to look for stories that seem legit and those that seem to be fake. Discuss reasons why people believe or don’t believe present-day miracle stories. Talk about whether or not your students believe Jesus still does miracles.


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Conversation Starter: Unity vs. Division

Posted by Phil

Acts 10:9-15,22-23,28-29a,34-36

Peter’s vision teaching that God does not show favoritism, here between Jews and Gentiles

Family Connection

For Preschoolers

Find books that present different individuals from various cultures. Read aloud to him, pointing out how God created everyone, no matter where they were born. Help him understand that all people are God’s special creation.

For School-Age

Discuss the children in your elementary-age child’s class or grade. Ask her about her understanding of their heritage and culture. If needed, spend time with your child’s teacher learning about the variety of cultures represented in her class. Help your child by finding Web sites and books that teach about the cultures of individuals in her everyday world.

For Students

Discuss current events with your teenager. As issues of different cultures come forth, spend time researching and discussing the background and back stories of the people involved. Attempt to develop an understanding of those involved in order to grasp the event and their response from their perspectives.


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Conversation Starters: Talking About Jesus

Posted by Phil

Talking with your kids isn’t always the easiest thing. Especially the older they get. That’s one reason we at Ridgecrest Summer Camps love these Conversation Starters. This month, as you do your best to hang out and talk with your kids, talk to them about talking about Jesus. But before you do, think about why it might be hard for them, in their situation, to talk about Him.

For Preschoolers
Who do you know that tells people about Jesus? Who tells you about Jesus?
Who can you tell about Jesus?

For Children
Do your friends at school ever talk about God? What do they say about Him?
Do you ever talk to your friends about what you believe? Why or why not?

For Students
Talk to your teenager about their friends.  Ask, “Who would be on your list of people you would like to meet Jesus?”
Do you think people learn better if they are told something or if they are shown something? How do you apply this to “telling” people about Jesus?


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Conversation Starters: Compassion vs. Expendability

Posted by Phil

Psalm 139:1-6,13-18

Sanctity of Human Life Lesson; God values us, has a plan for us, is with us

Conversation Starters

How can you keep this conversation going at home? Try bouncing some of these questions around at the dinner table, as you’re driving your kids to school or an activity, or even while you’re shopping together:

For Preschoolers

• Have you ever done something that made one of your friends say they didn’t want to be your friend anymore? How did that make you feel?

• Do you know that God loves you no matter what? How does THAT make you feel?

For School-Age

• [If you have a pet] What are all the things we have to do to take care of our pet? Why do we do them?

• What are some ways God takes care of animals in nature? Do you know that people are much more important to God than animals are?

For Students

• Psalm 139:16 says, “All my days were written in Your book and planned before a single one of them began.” What does that tell you about your future? About how God cares for the unborn?


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Converation Starters: What Are You Good At?

Posted by Phil

Wouldn’t it be easier if you were good at everything? Have you ever thought about how boring life would be if everyone was good at everything? It’s March, basketball is in the air. What if every human was equally good at basketball. This is not the way that our creator designed it…thank goodness. We are designed to be unique and special – good at some things, and not so good at other things. Use this concept and some of the questions below to talk with your kids this month. We will be praying for you here at Camp!

For Preschoolers
Let’s name all the helpers in our church. Not just teachers, but helpers in the parking lot, people who keep the building clean, and people who print the bulletins. Let’s thank God for all the helpers in our church.

For Children
Did you know that every Christian has at least one spiritual gift? What do you think a spiritual gift is?
Do you know what yours are? (If your child has made a profession of faith)

For Students
Do you think it’s more important for Christians to help other Christians inside the church, or people outside the church? Or are both equally important?
What volunteer positions in our church do you think you would be good at?


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Family Connection: Your Stories

Posted by Phil

Your children may have many questions about the Bible that challenge your knowledge, but one thing they can’t stump you on is your testimony! No one can argue with the story of how Jesus changed your life. Unfortunately, many parents never tell their salvation story to their children. Give your kids a glimpse into the most important moment of your life.

This week, find a time to share your story with your children. Considering the age of your children, craft your story to talk about three things:

1. Your Life Before Christ
2. Conversion
3. Your Life After Christ

You will be amazed at how your story will impact them in a deep way. It will show them that your faith is alive and not just a religious checklist.

Share your story this week! And if you would like, tell us here at Camp how it went in the space below…


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3 Ways to Clear Up Misconceptions About God With Your Kids

Posted by Phil

Each summer at Ridgecrest Summer Camps we hear lots of campers who have misconceptions about God. We’d love to share with you parents some of the things we’ve learned…

Here are three examples of how you can use everyday objects to help correct some misconceptions your kids may have about God.

The OnStar God. When you get in trouble along the road, press the button, get help, and once the crisis is averted, move on your way. Ask your children, “What’s wrong with people thinking of God this way?”

The iPod God. Some people pick attributes of God like they download individual songs instead of the entire album. Ask your children, “Where can we get our beliefs about God? Is it how we feel? Is it something else?”

The Video Game Score God. With a lot of video games, the score you get on one level determines whether or not you can advance to the next level. Is that how God will decide whether or not you can go to heaven when you die?

Do you have any good analogies like this to share? Post them below and help the rest of us out…


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Conversation Starters: Home Dedication

Posted by Phil

Conduct a home dedication service with your family. A week or so before the set night, discuss with your family the reason for the home dedication. Talk about how all of your family’s resources are given to you by God and they are all to be used to honor Him. Point out that one of the biggest resources you have is your home. Outline the dedication time, how you will move from room to room as a family asking God to use this room to honor Himself. Point out that different family members will be in charge of what takes place in each room. You may want to just use rooms where guests will join you, such as family room, kitchen, dining room, and guest bedroom. Or you can choose to use every room. Assign different rooms to different members of the family, including your teens and older children. Find ways younger children and preschoolers can assist you. Encourage family members to think about appropriate Scripture passages to use, hymns or choruses that could be sung, and how prayer will be conducted. Close the evening circled up with your family in your family room or perhaps on the porch as the head of the household leads in prayer.


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Conversation Starters: Getting Our Way

Posted by Phil

We at Ridgecrest Summer Camps love to stand beside you the parent as you raise your kids. Aren’t all of our kids dealing with “getting their way?” I feel like this is something that they will deal with for the rest of their lives. Try these questions as you begin to talk with your kids about these things…

For Preschoolers
Next time someone upsets your preschooler by taking a toy or not allowing him to have his way, stop and listen to him. Don’t just brush his feelings off. Listen to him and then talk with him about how to handle the situations in a better way.

For Children
Write a story or draw what it would be like if every person in the family got their way. Let them draw each room the way it would look if they got everything they wanted. Then show them how it couldn’t work for everyone and teach them that they can’t always act on how they feel or what they want.

For Students
Talk with your teens about areas in which kids their age don’t show self-restraint. Tell them about what teenagers struggled with when you were growing up. Give them permission to talk honestly about areas of struggle, and pray together for strength.

How did it go? Feel free to share what happened….


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Family Connection, More Than Words

Posted by Phil

As you continue to connect with your kids by talking with them and asking them questions, try to connect with them in a different way…

Another way is to be involved in a project as a family. Here are some suggestions:

Volunteer at a food bank or homeless shelter. Contact the organization in advance as many require appointments.

In many communities, families of children who receive free or reduced lunches during the school year struggle during the summer. Find out if there is a way your family can minister to these families during the summer months.

Giving Jar – Put an empty jar in a prominent place in your house and let your kids help decide in advance what organization will be the recipient of the money. As you add loose change to the jar talk about needs of people and pray not only about how you, as a family, can meet those needs but for the people receiving help.

Did you try it? Share what happened with us right here in the comment section. You may end up helping another parent as well…


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