Memory Verse: A Savior has been born to you, He is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11
Key Point: Jesus deserves our worship.
Faithful People Thank God for JesusLink:
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/cards/brownpaper/
Follow the directions at the Enchanted Learning site to create a thank-you card for God. Write “Thank you, God, for sending Jesus” on the front of the card. Then think of ways you can each thank God and list those on the back of the card. Display your family card in a prominent spot so that you can remember to thank God daily for his greatest gift, Jesus.Link:
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/thankyougifts/thankyou.shtml
Have fun trying to pronounce “thank you” in all the different languages given at this website. Let each member of the family choose two languages and practice saying “thank you.” Close with a prayer time in which each family member thanks God in the two languages he or she has learned.
Friday, December 26, 2008
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Jesus is Born!
Memory Verse: A Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:11
Link: http://www.kididdles.com/mouseum/index.html
Enjoy learning about Canadian missionary St. Jean de Brebeuf, who composed The First Canadian Christmas Carol. Be sure to click on the graphic at the Lesson Tutor site to hear the musical presentation of the song. As you read about Brebeuf’s life, take into account how events in history contributed to his feeling toward the Christ-child and no doubt influenced his choice of words for this hymn. Find the home page of the Kididdles site and surf down the page. Check out Mojo’s Musical Mouseum. As a family, select a traditional melody that you all know. Collaborate in writing Christmas lyrics that fit the tune of the melody you select.
Sing the song and then discuss the following questions:
• What part does music play in the celebration of Christmas?
• What are other things that we can do to celebrate Christ’s birth?
Link: http://www.kididdles.com/mouseum/index.html
Enjoy learning about Canadian missionary St. Jean de Brebeuf, who composed The First Canadian Christmas Carol. Be sure to click on the graphic at the Lesson Tutor site to hear the musical presentation of the song. As you read about Brebeuf’s life, take into account how events in history contributed to his feeling toward the Christ-child and no doubt influenced his choice of words for this hymn. Find the home page of the Kididdles site and surf down the page. Check out Mojo’s Musical Mouseum. As a family, select a traditional melody that you all know. Collaborate in writing Christmas lyrics that fit the tune of the melody you select.
Sing the song and then discuss the following questions:
• What part does music play in the celebration of Christmas?
• What are other things that we can do to celebrate Christ’s birth?
Friday, December 12, 2008
Faithful People Thank God for Jesus
Parents: Ask your children why Jesus’ birth is something to really
celebrate. Encourage each person in your family to name a different
reason to celebrate Jesus’ birth. Then talk about ways your family
celebrates Jesus’ birth at Christmas, and evaluate whether or not
you’re doing a good job of celebrating Jesus’ birth in your Christmas
traditions. Come up with some new ideas you might want to carry out
to make your Christmas traditions even more about Jesus.
Pray: Lord, thank you for sending Jesus to be born. Remind us during this
busy Christmas season to remember why we celebrate Christmas and
to focus our hearts and thoughts on you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Family Discussion:
In this Christmas season, our family thanks God for. . .
If Jesus were born today, what gift would we bring to Him?
celebrate. Encourage each person in your family to name a different
reason to celebrate Jesus’ birth. Then talk about ways your family
celebrates Jesus’ birth at Christmas, and evaluate whether or not
you’re doing a good job of celebrating Jesus’ birth in your Christmas
traditions. Come up with some new ideas you might want to carry out
to make your Christmas traditions even more about Jesus.
Pray: Lord, thank you for sending Jesus to be born. Remind us during this
busy Christmas season to remember why we celebrate Christmas and
to focus our hearts and thoughts on you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Family Discussion:
In this Christmas season, our family thanks God for. . .
If Jesus were born today, what gift would we bring to Him?
God Dwells With Us
Memory Verse: "A Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:11
Key Point: Jesus is God
Key Point: Jesus is God
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Abraham's Visitors/ Sodom and Gomorrah
Bible Point: God makes miracles happen.
Key Verse: "For I know the plans I have for you, " declares the Lord." Jeremiah 29:11
Bible Exploration: Genesis 18:1-19:29
When God made it clear that his intent was to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham was horrified. He had likely done business with people there, and his nephew, Lot, lived there with his family. So Abraham pleaded with God to spare the few who were still faithful. Notice that God’s response was not to spare just the righteous; God said the whole city would
be saved if only 50 righteous people lived there. It’s helpful to remember here God’s definition of righteous. Abraham was declared righteous because of his faith, not because of a righteous lifestyle. As Abraham voiced his pleas ever more carefully, God promised to spare the city if only 10 righteous people could be found there. However, there weren’t even 10 faithful people there.
Lot’s position at the gate to the city indicated that he was a man of influence there, perhaps even a judge. His insistence that the visitors stay at his home was almost a requirement of
the culture. The moral degradation of this city is obvious in the text, so no further comment is needed here. Lot apparently was at least somewhat involved in what was happening in the
culture, as evidenced by his offering of his daughters to the men who were seeking sex with the visitors.
God did an amazing thing in sparing the lives of Lot and his family. Lot didn’t appear to deserve it, just as we don’t deserve the grace God gives to us. But we can be thankful that God is
wonderfully merciful and still does amazing things for us.
To think about and discuss:
• Why do we so easily accept God’s miracles in history, but have such a hard time accepting his actions in our lives today?
• What kind of actions would God have to take to convince you of his miraculous power?
• What miracle have you experienced that surprised you?
• Why do miracles happen?
• Why does God use miracles in some situations, but not others?
Family Worship Challenge:
• Help your family members write a song celebrating God’s miracles. Choose a tune familiar to your children, and have them help you replace the words with words that describe God’s miracles in the Bible and in their own lives. Then sing the song together each morning to start the day with praise for God’s great power.
Key Verse: "For I know the plans I have for you, " declares the Lord." Jeremiah 29:11
Bible Exploration: Genesis 18:1-19:29
When God made it clear that his intent was to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham was horrified. He had likely done business with people there, and his nephew, Lot, lived there with his family. So Abraham pleaded with God to spare the few who were still faithful. Notice that God’s response was not to spare just the righteous; God said the whole city would
be saved if only 50 righteous people lived there. It’s helpful to remember here God’s definition of righteous. Abraham was declared righteous because of his faith, not because of a righteous lifestyle. As Abraham voiced his pleas ever more carefully, God promised to spare the city if only 10 righteous people could be found there. However, there weren’t even 10 faithful people there.
Lot’s position at the gate to the city indicated that he was a man of influence there, perhaps even a judge. His insistence that the visitors stay at his home was almost a requirement of
the culture. The moral degradation of this city is obvious in the text, so no further comment is needed here. Lot apparently was at least somewhat involved in what was happening in the
culture, as evidenced by his offering of his daughters to the men who were seeking sex with the visitors.
God did an amazing thing in sparing the lives of Lot and his family. Lot didn’t appear to deserve it, just as we don’t deserve the grace God gives to us. But we can be thankful that God is
wonderfully merciful and still does amazing things for us.
To think about and discuss:
• Why do we so easily accept God’s miracles in history, but have such a hard time accepting his actions in our lives today?
• What kind of actions would God have to take to convince you of his miraculous power?
• What miracle have you experienced that surprised you?
• Why do miracles happen?
• Why does God use miracles in some situations, but not others?
Family Worship Challenge:
• Help your family members write a song celebrating God’s miracles. Choose a tune familiar to your children, and have them help you replace the words with words that describe God’s miracles in the Bible and in their own lives. Then sing the song together each morning to start the day with praise for God’s great power.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Abram Follows God's Direction
Bible Point: We can always trust God.
Key Verse: "We obey God rather than man." Acts 5:29
Bible Exploration: Genesis 12:1-8
“Sell everything you can’t carry with you, leave all your friends and extended family, get your wife and belongings in the car, and start driving. You’ll probably never come back here again, but don’t worry about that—I’ll show you where to go.” If God were speaking to Abram today, that might be what he’d say. What trust in God it took for Abram to leave his home, his country, and everything familiar and comfortable and set out for an unknown destination, having only God’s
command to go on!
Get a piece of paper. Draw a horizontal line in the center of the page with one dot at the left end labeled “Birth” and one on the right end labeled “Death.” Place another dot on the line to serve as a marker for the beginning of your faith. Take a look at your life. What promises has God made to you? What might he be calling you to do? When you’ve thought about that, place at least two additional dots on your line with dates and write a short explanation of what you believe God has indicated in the past and what he wants you to do today.
Ask God to help you try something new that you’d be afraid to try on your own—something where you’d have to trust God in order to do it.
Key Verse: "We obey God rather than man." Acts 5:29
Bible Exploration: Genesis 12:1-8
“Sell everything you can’t carry with you, leave all your friends and extended family, get your wife and belongings in the car, and start driving. You’ll probably never come back here again, but don’t worry about that—I’ll show you where to go.” If God were speaking to Abram today, that might be what he’d say. What trust in God it took for Abram to leave his home, his country, and everything familiar and comfortable and set out for an unknown destination, having only God’s
command to go on!
Get a piece of paper. Draw a horizontal line in the center of the page with one dot at the left end labeled “Birth” and one on the right end labeled “Death.” Place another dot on the line to serve as a marker for the beginning of your faith. Take a look at your life. What promises has God made to you? What might he be calling you to do? When you’ve thought about that, place at least two additional dots on your line with dates and write a short explanation of what you believe God has indicated in the past and what he wants you to do today.
Ask God to help you try something new that you’d be afraid to try on your own—something where you’d have to trust God in order to do it.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
People Build a Tower at Babel
Bible Point: We all need God
Key Verse: "We obey God rather than man." Acts 5:29
Bible Exploration: Genesis 11:1-9
Just a few generations and only 150 to 200 years after the miraculous saving of Noah’s family
in the ark, the descendants of those ark-dwellers turned away from God. The people’s intent in building a tower was not to reach heaven, as some have suggested. They wanted to build something showy that would bring them recognition. People from all around would see the tall tower that seemed to reach into the heavens. Others would marvel at what they had done, and they would be proud. These people weren’t interested in serving God; rather they wanted to elevate their own standing before others. In essence, they tried to make themselves look
more important than God.
In the past century the human race has made dramatic technological advancements. Many people believe that as we share information and build upon what we have learned, our progresswill eventually allow the human race to solve all of its problems. The belief that the human race is self-sufficient isn’t new.
To think about and discuss:
1. Do you feel the advances we have made are positive and helpful to
mankind? Why or why not?
2. Are there areas where science and technology can go too far?
3. How do you think God feels about the advances we’ve made in the
last century?
4. If you were asked “Why do we need God?” what would your answer
be?
Family Worship Challenge:
• Teach your family to speak pig Latin. (Begin each word with its first vowel, move the initial consonant to the end of the word, and follow with an “ay” sound. For example, “cat” becomes “atcay” and “dog” becomes “ogday.”) Have everyone come up with a few sentences in pig Latin while others try to decipher them. Then talk about the story in Genesis 11 and what it would be like to wake up one morning and speak a completely different language than
your friends and neighbors!
• Play the popular Jenga table game with your family. As each person removes a piece from the “tower,” ask them to state an area of their life where people might say they do not need God. For example, “I do not need God to give me air; the trees make it.” When the tower finally falls down, talk about how foolish it is to not give God his rightful place in our lives.
Key Verse: "We obey God rather than man." Acts 5:29
Bible Exploration: Genesis 11:1-9
Just a few generations and only 150 to 200 years after the miraculous saving of Noah’s family
in the ark, the descendants of those ark-dwellers turned away from God. The people’s intent in building a tower was not to reach heaven, as some have suggested. They wanted to build something showy that would bring them recognition. People from all around would see the tall tower that seemed to reach into the heavens. Others would marvel at what they had done, and they would be proud. These people weren’t interested in serving God; rather they wanted to elevate their own standing before others. In essence, they tried to make themselves look
more important than God.
In the past century the human race has made dramatic technological advancements. Many people believe that as we share information and build upon what we have learned, our progresswill eventually allow the human race to solve all of its problems. The belief that the human race is self-sufficient isn’t new.
To think about and discuss:
1. Do you feel the advances we have made are positive and helpful to
mankind? Why or why not?
2. Are there areas where science and technology can go too far?
3. How do you think God feels about the advances we’ve made in the
last century?
4. If you were asked “Why do we need God?” what would your answer
be?
Family Worship Challenge:
• Teach your family to speak pig Latin. (Begin each word with its first vowel, move the initial consonant to the end of the word, and follow with an “ay” sound. For example, “cat” becomes “atcay” and “dog” becomes “ogday.”) Have everyone come up with a few sentences in pig Latin while others try to decipher them. Then talk about the story in Genesis 11 and what it would be like to wake up one morning and speak a completely different language than
your friends and neighbors!
• Play the popular Jenga table game with your family. As each person removes a piece from the “tower,” ask them to state an area of their life where people might say they do not need God. For example, “I do not need God to give me air; the trees make it.” When the tower finally falls down, talk about how foolish it is to not give God his rightful place in our lives.
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