Conversation Starters: Unstoppable Courage

Posted by Karah

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE: We love stories about courage because deep within us, we know that we were meant to be courageous people. We know that the world is broken and we play a part in fixing it. Knowing Christ gives purpose to our desire to be courageous. It takes the good we desire and focuses our efforts on the greatest thing we could possibly do: Proclaim the way, truth, and light of Christ to a dying world in need. We can experience unstoppable courage.

Concept: Unstoppable Courage

Preschool

Exodus 1:8-2:10

LIFE POINT: Miriam’s family had a new baby boy. Miriam helped her mother take care of the baby. The king did not want baby boys to live. So Miriam and her family kept the baby a secret. Miriam’s mother got a basket. She covered the basket with sticky tar. Miriam’s mother laid the baby in the basket. She placed the basket in tall grass near the edge of the river. Miriam stayed nearby to watch.  The king’s daughter walked beside the river, she saw the baby in the basket. The baby was crying, and she felt sorry for him. Miriam went to the king’s daughter and asked, “Do you want me to get someone to take care of the baby for you?” She said yes. Miriam ran and got her mother. Miriam’s mother was glad to care for her own baby. When the baby was older, the king’s daughter named the boy Moses.

LIVE IT OUT: Print the Bible verse God loves me. Psalm 86:3 on a sheet of paper. Read the verse to your child and prompt her to repeat it. Let her decorate the verse with dot painters or markers. Pray with your child, thanking God for His love.

Kids

Genesis 42-46

LIFE POINT: Joseph had become an important man in Egypt. Because of his work, the people of Egypt had plenty of grain. Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt to buy grain. They did not recognize Joseph! Joseph gave orders for their grain sacks to be filled, but he told his servants to put the money the brothers paid back into their sacks, too. Soon they returned to Egypt. Joseph was glad to see his brothers, but the brothers still did not recognize him. Joseph gave the men more grain. But Joseph decided to test them. Joseph knew his brothers had changed. He told them who he was. The brothers thought Joseph would punish them for what they had done. Joseph said, “God brought me to Egypt so I could provide food for my family. Go home. Get my father and your families. Come back quickly to live here!”

LIVE IT OUT: Help your child use a concordance to find verses about forgiveness. Write these down on
paper and discuss each verse. Help your child remember that we should forgive others because God first
forgave us.

Students

Acts 4:1-3, 8-12, 19-20

THE POINT: God will give us courage to speak boldly for Christ. What are the risks we face when we proclaim the gospel? What is the difference between being intolerant of others and lovingly sharing the truth of the gospel with unbelievers? How can you demonstrate a greater level of courage and love
toward others in your life? Discuss the following quote:

“When we find a man [or woman] meditating on the words of God, my friends, that man is full of boldness and is successful.”1—Dwight L. Moody

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: Encourage your student to be a God-pleaser, not a people-pleaser. Spend time in prayer together seeking God first.
• COMMUNITY: Encourage your student throughout the week to courageously share the gospel. Pray together for the courage to share without fear.
• CULTURE: We communicate in many ways. Look at the ways your student communicates and help him or her to develop a plan to communicate the gospel.

1. D. L. Moody, The Gospel Awakening (Chicago: F.H. Revell, 1883), 589.


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Conversation Starter: Victorious

Posted by Phil

Romans 7:20–8:9
Holy Spirit helps us live victoriously over sin

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 Preschool
What is your favorite game to play with your friends? How do they help you win the game?

For Children
What are some things you like doing with other people? What makes that so special? How do you see God helping you make good choices about right and wrong? How can you lead your friends toward making wise choices?

For Students
Who is someone you think never struggles with internal battles with sin? Why? How does knowing Paul struggled with that conflict make you feel? How does knowing the Spirit can help you experience victory over sin make you feel?


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Conversation Starter: Objection – Frustrating the Father

Posted by Phil

Malachi 2:17–3:12

Considering How We Treat God

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
How big is God? How can we show a big, big God that we love Him?

You may want to tell about Jesus feeding a big crowd with the lunch that the little boy gave Him. Emphasize that God likes to use gifts from little children to help people. Helping other people and giving money to our church are two ways we can show God we love Him.

For School-Age
Do you ever see kids mistreating their teachers or parents?

How do you feel about that?

Do you think we ever treat God badly like that?

What are ways we can treat God with respect and show Him we love Him?

For Students
If you can catch them in the car without their earbuds in, play Waiting for the World to Change by John Mayer. Draw attention to a phrase such as “It’s hard to beat the system when we’re standing at a distance. So we keep waiting, waiting on the world to change.” Discuss questions such as: Should we wait on the world to change or go do something about it? If you could change one thing in this world, what would you? What can we as a family do to change our corner of the world and make life better for someone else?


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