Jesus Shows His Power

Bible Point: Jesus forgives us.
Bible Exploration: Mark 2:1-12

Add Extra Impact to the "Weaving Faith Into Life" activity by giving kids a powerful visual representation of God’s forgiveness.

Have members of the family write down a letter of confession and forgiveness on pieces of paper. One at a time, either cut up the letters and throw them in the trash or put their letters through a paper shredder.

When they’re all done, SAY Jesus completely forgives us of our sins. He doesn’t hang on to them and hold them against us. They’re forgiven, over, done with, kaput. Isaiah 43:25 tells us that when God forgives our sins, he remembers them no more. Let’s praise God for his awesome forgiveness in our lives!

Jesus Calms a Storm

Bible Point: We should turn to Jesus when we're afraid.

Bible Exploration: Mark 4:35-41

For this "I’m Not So Afraid" activity, you’ll need to bring a stuffed animal to class. You may determine the stuffed animal’s name beforehand or you may decide to let the children name it. Hold the stuffed animal as if he is sitting in your lap, facing the children.

SAY [Animal’s name] is my special little friend. He is very shy about new places. Move the animal as if he is hiding his face from the children. Look at the stuffed animal. It’s OK, little buddy. There’s no reason to be afraid. Turn the stuffed animal back around to face the children again.

Can you think of ways we can make [animal’s name] feel better? Can we pat him on the back? Let children pat the stuffed animal. Guide them in making other suggestions such as singing to the stuffed animal, praying for him, shaking his hand, or hugging him. Let the children act these out.

I think [animal’s name] is feeling better now. You helped him to not be so afraid. Jesus helps us when we’re afraid, too.

Jesus Heals, Prays, and Preaches

Bible Point: Jesus cares for us.

Bible Exploration: Mark 1:29-39

When someone does something to take care of you in a very significant way, it isn't easily forgotten. Think of a time when you've had when someone deeply cared for you and showed it through an action.

Jesus' entire life on earth was about caring for others. And he continues to care and love for us today. Let's consider how much Jesus does for us and let a new appreciation grow for how Jesus cherishes us and takes care of us.

Family Worship Challenge:
Play this "Who Is the Helper?" game with the children to remind them that there are people who help us every day, but Jesus is our greatest helper because he cares for us.

Provide pictures or write the names of people on cards that help us such as: "mother," "father," "policeman," "pastor," "fireman," "doctor," "Sunday school teacher," "grandparent," "neighbor," "Jesus," etc. Place the cards or pictures in a paper bag. Let the children come up one at a time and draw out a person. Then have them give clues about the helper while the other children try to guess the identity. You may have to assist with clues. Emphasize that Jesus gives us these people to help us everyday because he cares for us.

ASK:
• How does Jesus show us that he cares for us?
• Who could you be a helper to?
• How can we help others and show them that we care just like Jesus?

Jesus Demonstrates His Authority

Bible Point:  Jesus Can do Anything

Bible Exploration: Mark 1:21-28

Everybody wants power in this world.  As a family, make a list of the 5 most powerful people you can think of.  Your list could include the president, teachers, TV personalities, maybe even mom and dad!   The world's perspective on power is upside-down in relation to God's perspective.  According to God, the weak and humble are the most powerful, and those who surrender to God are used by him, backed with is power and authority. 

Now cut apart your list and put them in a new order, reflecting the authority they might have when backed by God's power. 

Discuss:  

Why are these people not necessarily powerful in God's estimation?

How can weak and humble people be powerful? 

Memory Verse for February:  "Come to me, all of you who are tired and carrying heavy loads. I will give you rest."  Matthew 11:28

Use this link to connect to an American Sign Language Dictionary to help your kids learn the memory verse this month:  

Disciples Follow Jesus

Link: http://pbskids.org/zoom/activities/games/followtheleaderrelay.html
Link: http://www.primarygames.com/arcade/wonka/nrfollow/start.htm

Play the Follow-the-Leader game at the PBS Kids website. Then try your hand at the NERDS version of the game offered at the Primary Games website.

Discuss the following questions as a family:
• What character traits make a person a good leader?
• What character traits make someone a good follower?
• How do you think the disciples felt about following Jesus? Did they trust him? How do you know?
• Why should we follow Jesus today? Can we trust Jesus to be a good leader?

Jesus Surprises Nathanial

Link: http://www.ask.com/
Link: http://www.ajkids.com/

Go to the Ask Jeeves website and allow each family member to enter a question, word, or phrase. Click “ask” and then wait to see if the all-knowing Jeeves will have an answer. Allow children to use the Ask Jeeves for Kids URL. Consider that while Jeeves may have expansive knowledge, he doesn’t know anything about you. Only an all-knowing God can look inside hearts. Let each family member offer suggestions for what God might find when he examines hearts.

To think about and discuss:
How does the fact that God knows you so well make you feel?

How does God’s knowledge of hearts make him the perfect one to take care of you?

John Baptizes Jesus

Link: http://www.terragalleria.com/mountain/

Take a “virtual” hike via the photos at the terragalleria site. Pay particular attention to the equipment worn by the climbers for scaling those gorgeous, but extremely high, mountains.

Link: http://www.dropzone.com/photos/index.html

Imagine a family vacation learning to skydive! Picture yourself dressed in a suit like the ones you see in these photos. Better than that, picture yourself in the sky!

Discuss the following questions as a family:
• Why would it be important for the mountain climber to have faith in his equipment?
• In what would the skydiving instructor hope that his students placed their trust? Why?
• Why would God want us to trust and believe in Jesus? What does it mean to have faith in Jesus?Let each member say one sentence of a family prayer in which you thank God for giving us his Son.