Change Your Brain
Romans 12:2 tells us that if we want to be different, if we want to live God's way and not our way, we need to let God change the way we think. What better way to do that than to spend time with him.
LET GOD CHANGE YOUR BRAIN!!!
You aren’t good enough to be friends with God because you follow rules. You’re good enough because you believe in and trust the only One who is good: Jesus! God gave His people rules to show them the way life works best. He wanted them to learn that they could never be good enough without His help. God’s help is a gift called grace. Grace is a gift that can never be earned. We can’t earn God’s grace by working hard to please Him. He gives it freely. We aren’t strong enough to please Him by ourselves. God’s grace gives us the power to live free from sin. It’s because we put our trust in Jesus. Not because we’re good at following rules. You can talk to God and thank Him for making you good enough with His gift of grace.
Week beginning 26/3/17
DAY 1
Read Isaiah 53:6
The minute Eve and Adam disobeyed God, they were guilty of sin. God said there is a serious consequence for sin. The price required to pay for our sin, is death. Adam and Eve’s bodies didn’t die right away, but their friendship with God was broken. God loved them so much, He wanted them to have a second chance. He had a plan for someone to take the punishment and fix their broken friendship. Each of us has sinned, too. We have all chosen our way over God’s way. If you’re reading this, God is giving you a second chance. You can talk to Him and say thank You.
DAY 2
Read Romans 3:23
You aren’t good enough to be friends with God because you follow rules. You’re good enough because you believe in and trust the only One who is good: Jesus! God gave His people rules to show them the way life works best. He wanted them to learn that they could never be good enough without His help. God’s help is a gift called grace. Grace is a gift that can never be earned. We can’t earn God’s grace by working hard to please Him. He gives it freely. We aren’t strong enough to please Him by ourselves. God’s grace gives us the power to live free from sin. It’s because we put our trust in Jesus. Not because we’re good at following rules. You can talk to God and thank Him for making you good enough with His gift of grace.
DAY 3
Read Luke 19:10
Jesus died for the sins of the whole world. It’s hard to imagine why anyone would want to take a punishment for something they didn’t do. But what if that punishment was death? Only Jesus could do that for us because He’s the only one who never sinned even once. When we behave badly and disobey God, we might wonder how God could ever love us. But God didn’t send Jesus to die in our place because we deserved it. No. It’s because of His great big love for us. He knew that Jesus would come to earth as a baby all the way back before Adam and Eve ever sinned. He knew you before you were born, too! He knew everything you were ever going to do and He still chose to send His Son Jesus to die for you. He even came to save people who may seem too bad for Jesus to help. You can talk to God and ask Him for His forgiveness and ask Him to help you forgive yourself too.
DAY 4
Read Galatians 5:16
Did you know that Jesus paid for all your sins over 2,000 years ago? If you have chosen Jesus as your Forever Friend\ you’re completely forgiven! God doesn't think about the bad things you've done, because Jesus took the whole punishment for your sin on the cross! Live for God today and stop living in your yesterday. Are you a bad person just because you’ve done bad things? No! Once you’ve received Jesus as your Saviour, the only thing that matters is what God thinks about you! God doesn’t even see your sin or mistakes any more. Do you know what He thinks about you? Dig into the Bible to find out what God thinks about you! What He says is more important than what everyone else says about you! You can talk to God and tell Him thank You for forgetting all the bad things you’ve done in the past. You can ask Him to help you live for Him with all that you are.
Week beginning 19/3/17
This week all five devotions are one story. They are split into five days with five separate applications. Enjoy as we read together about Janis and Sam who learn about how Jesus is a friend who cares for us.
DAY 1
Read 1 Peter 5:7
Janis couldn’t find her homework. She looked everywhere, but the math paper was gone. While she was looking for her paper, Sam watched her very closely. He knew what she was looking for. He saw the paper sticking out from under her wheelchair, but he didn’t say anything. Sam always felt funny about talking to Janis because she was in a wheelchair. She was different from everyone else, and he did not want the other kids to make fun of him. Janis bowed her head. Sam thought she was crying! He knew that all the other kids might be watching, so he decided to just walk away. When he looked back he realized Janis was not crying, but rather she was folding her hands and praying. He couldn’t believe it! She was praying and asking the Lord to help her find her math paper.
The Bible teaches that we should bring all of our needs to God; even things that we may think are little. Janis remembered something we all need to remember: even the smallest details of our lives are important to God. We can come to Jesus and ask His help in time of need. Jesus cares for our needs, and He hears our every prayer.
Janis knew that God cared and would help her. Sam was about to learn a very important lesson from Janis’ example.
• What did Janis do when she realized she could not find her math paper?
• Was Sam more concerned about what God thought about her actions or what His friends thought of His actions? What about Janis?
• Have you ever stopped to think that Jesus cares about your every need? Can you think of some small things that bother you that you have not prayed about? Talk to Jesus about them now.
DAY 2
Read Philippians 4:6-7
Sam was still at his desk watching Janis and wondering what he should do. He still felt funny about talking to Janis. He knew in his heart that he should do something to help her, especially when he saw her praying for help. He had to search in his heart and ask himself the question: “Was it important for him to help Janice, even though some of the other kids might think he was not cool, or should he just do nothing?” The funny feeling inside would not go way. He knew that if he didn’t help Janis, he would feel bad all day; but still, the other kids would see his actions. He didn’t want anyone to laugh at him for helping her.
The struggle continued in his heart. Janis was upset, but she knew that Jesus loved her and cared about her every need. He was bigger than any problem that she might be having. She knew that God would help her find the lost paper and that He would not let her down. She remembered how Jesus had helped her with all of her physical problems. He was there with her during all of the doctor’s appointments and operations. He never left her, not even for a moment. He always answered her prayers—even when the answer was no. God was a faithful friend. She just gave the problem over to the Lord and began to smile. Jesus would help her now. Jesus always sought out people who were in need or those who others rejected.
DAY 3
Read John 5:1-16
Sam wanted to do what was right, but unfortunately, he was afraid of what the other kids would think. Sam finally figured out a way to help out Janis without anyone suspecting anything. He thought that maybe if he just sneaked up behind Janis he could scoot the paper out enough to where she could see it. That way he wouldn’t have to talk to her and maybe none of the other kids would see him. He did not want the other kids to laugh because he helped the girl in the wheel chair. But, he knew he would feel bad if he did not help her.
He inched around behind the wheelchair and tried to scoot the paper out from under the wheel where it was stuck. While Sam was doing this, Janis heard something, looked down and saw Sam trying to get at something under her wheel. She then saw the corner of the paper and realized that maybe that was her math lesson. She looked down at Sam and said, “Hi, would it help if I moved the wheel a little bit?” Sam was rather stunned. His plan had not worked. Now, she was talking to him. Janis was different from all the other kids in more ways than just her wheelchair—the smile on her face even though she was frustrated, her gentleness to others. Sam remembered her bowing her head to pray. All of this was quite new for Sam. He did not know very much about Jesus. But, now he was helping Janis. What will Sam do next?
In a crowd of people, Jesus always seemed drawn to the person with the greatest need. In John 5:1-16 we read that a certain man had laid by the pool of Bethesda for 38 years, hoping to be healed. Jesus asked, “Do you want to be made well?” The sick man replied, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool….” Jesus declared, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” Though no other man was there to help him, Jesus was there!
• Jesus is a friend to the friendless. How does it make you feel to know that?
DAY 4
Read Romans 8:28
“Hi Janis. My name is Sam. I saw you looking for this,” he said as he pulled the paper out from under the wheelchair, handing it to Janis. Janis looked up at Sam and smiled. “Thank you,” she said. “Thanks for helping me out and being the hands of Jesus.”
Sam wondered what she meant when she said that he was the “hands of Jesus.” Sam felt very happy when he saw Janis smile. At this point, he really didn’t care any more about what the other kids thought. He just wanted to find out more about who Jesus was. He realized that Janis truly was different, but different in a good way. Sam questioned, “What do you mean that Jesus is in my hands”?
“Well, actually I mean that you were Jesus’ hands, not that He was in your hands. What I meant was that when I lost my paper I prayed and asked Jesus to help me. He sent you to find my paper and help me. He used you to answer my prayer.”
“Really? Jesus used me?” Sam asked.
“Yes”, said Janis.
“I don’t know anything about Jesus,” Sam stated honestly.
Janis became even more joyful, “I’d be glad to tell you about Him.”
Janis just had a little need in her life, finding her homework paper. She prayed and asked God to help, and He used someone else to help her. But, she had no idea that God was going to use her to introduce Sam to Jesus. It is amazing how God can use simple things in our lives to get some big things done. Through a lost math paper, Janis will have an opportunity to share the love of Jesus. As we follow God and bring our daily needs to Him, we will find that even our difficulties and inconveniences will fit into His good plan. We can trust Him!
• Why did Janis say Sam was the “hands of Jesus”? • Ask your parents to tell you about a time when they realized a difficulty or inconvenience fit into God’s good plan.
DAY 5
Read Matthew 11:28
A couple of other boys in the class began to notice Sam talking to “the girl in the wheelchair” and started to make fun of him. Sam felt very bad for Janis, and he just ignored them. Suddenly, it didn’t matter anymore what the other kids in the class thought about him. He knew there was something different about Janis and something very different about Jesus. He felt good inside because he helped her, and he couldn’t wait to hear more about Jesus. Janis smiled at Sam, “Thank you, Sam, I appreciate you helping me with my paper. It is hard being in a wheelchair. A lot of people seem to be afraid of me because of it. But, I’m just like any other kid. I like to have fun and play and do all the things that any other kid likes to do. But Jesus will always be my friend even if I don’t have a lot of other friends.
As the days went by, Janis was had opportunity to share about Jesus’s love. She explained that Sam could have a special friendship with Jesus just like the one she experienced.
• What made Sam interested in learning more about Jesus?
• Do you know someone you might be able to share the love of Jesus with?
In your prayer time this week, as you pray, remember to thank Jesus for caring for all of your needs, even the small ones. Pray for others who you know who may have a special need for help and friendship like Janis. Pray for those who do not know Jesus.
Week beginning 12/3/17
JESUS - MY BEST FRIEND
DAY 1
Read John 15:14-15
Jesus wants to be your friend! Let’s have a look at what that means:
1. Friends spend time together.
Good friends find ways to connect with one another. Friends enjoy spending time with one another because they love each other. If we want to show our friendship with Jesus, we will want to spend time with him.
2. Friends talk with each other.
Friends just love to chat with one another. The subjects they discuss can be anything because what they talk about doesn’t really matter. It’s how much they enjoy each other’s company. One wonderful way to show our friendship to Jesus is to pray and talk with him about anything and everything.
3. Friends enjoy listening to each other.
When you need someone “just to listen,” it surely is great to have a friend who is willing to be there. One of the best things we can do for a friend is just to listen. Jesus will always listen to us and he wants us to listen to him as well.
4. Friends share life together, whether good or bad.
Jesus has promised to be with us always and he wants us to be a friend who will always share life with him, no matter what is happening in this world.
DAY 2
Do you want to talk to someone but there just doesn’t seem to be anyone around to listen?
Get a piece of paper or a few sticky notes and write down the things you’ve been wanting to talk about.
Guess what? You can talk to Jesus about these things right now! He loves you very much and wants to hear from you.
Read Matthew 7:7-11; 1 Peter 5:7
DAY 3
Read Hebrews 13:5-6
Even when other people are not around and we feel lonely, Jesus is there. We can talk to him whenever and wherever we want – 24/7! He will never leave us or forget us.
Week beginning 26/2/17
What Special powers did Jesus have?
This week we will be looking at the miracles that showed that Jesus had complete power over death.
DAY 1
Read John 11:1-43
Questions:
What do you think Mary and Martha thought when Jesus didn’t come right away?
Why do you think Jesus cried when he saw Lazarus’ tomb?
How do you think Mary and Martha felt about opening Lazarus’ tomb?
How do you think Lazarus felt when he opened his eyes and discovered he was all wrapped up in a dark cave?
What do you think the people watching thought when they saw Lazarus coming out of the tomb?
The people who gathered around Lazarus’ tomb were sure that Lazarus was dead. But Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life,” and he was able to bring Lazarus back to life. That’s because Jesus has power over death!
Lazarus wasn’t the only person Jesus raised from the dead. Jesus also raised others from the dead. Let’s find out more.
DAY 2
Read Mark 5:21-24, 35-43
Questions:
What would you have thought if you’d seen Jesus raise a boy or girl from the dead?
If you were a friend of the girl or boy Jesus raised, what’s the first thing you’d say to your friend?
How do you think the parents felt when Jesus raised their child from the dead?
What do you think the parents told other people about Jesus afterward?
DAY 3
Read Luke 7:11-16
When Jesus visited the village of Nain, he came across a funeral procession and he felt sorry for the mother of the boy who had died. (Luke 7:13) He walked over to the coffin bearers and stopped them. Then, with the same spoken power He used to create the universe, Jesus commanded the dead boy to get up, which he instantly did! Shock waves of astonishment rippled through the crowd as the boy began speaking. He was dead, but now is truly alive! As the stunned crowd tried to make sense of what their eyes had just witnessed, Jesus helped the boy from his funeral pallet and gave him to his mother. No doubt they embraced with tears of joy and praise to God.
Once again we see that Jesus has power over death, and this shows that He is certainly the Son of God.
Questions:
Can you think of a reason why someone being raised from the dead is a greater miracle than someone being healed?
What do you think would have been your reaction if you had seen Jesus perform this miracle?
What do we learn about Jesus from this story?
DAY 4
Read John 20:1-18
Questions:
1. Who entered the tomb first?
2. What did Simon Peter see folded up in its own place?
3. Who asked Mary why she was crying?
4. What did Mary Magdalene tell the disciples?
5. What do you think Simon Peter thought when the body of Jesus was not in the tomb?
6. Why do you think the two angels asked Mary why she was crying?
7. Why do you think Mary thought Jesus was the gardener?
8. How do you think Mary felt when Jesus spoke to her?
Why did Jesus have to die? All of his friends were asking that same question. “How could someone so good and so kind be treated so badly?” And, “How could someone who did such great miracles be defeated so easily?” There just were not any answers to those questions until the third day after Jesus died. That’s when Jesus came back to life, showing that God’s power is greater than all our fears and worries. God’s great love and God’s great power . . . what could possibly be better than that?
It’s OK to be sad when someone dies, especially if that person was a family member or close friend. Jesus was sad when Lazarus died. But as Christians, we don’t have to keep crying and being sad forever. Because Jesus died and came back to life again, we know that if we believe in Jesus, we’ll live again, too. If we believe in Jesus we can look forward to heaven. Jesus has power over death, and he’s promised to prepare a place for us to live with him in heaven forever.
Week beginning 19/2/17
What Special powers did Jesus have?
This week we will be looking at the miracles that showed that Jesus had complete power over sickness.
DAY 1
Read Luke 4:38-40
Right after Jesus chose his disciples he visited the home of Simon, one of his new disciples. When he got there he discovered that Simon’s mother-in-law was very sick and stuck in bed. All Jesus had to do was touch her hand and she was instantly healed.
This was a huge shock to her and everyone else watching. How had this man done this? That is impossible! But it wasn’t impossible, because Jesus really did heal her.
Everyone was so excited and in shock that they ran to tell everyone they knew, especially those that were sick. Everyone needed to see this man and his super power of healing.
Person after person came to the door, and Jesus touched each one, healing them of anything they had.
Question:
Imagine you were Simon. You have just seen Jesus heal your mother-in-law simply by touching her hand. What would you be thinking about Jesus?
DAY 2
Read John 4:46-53
Imagine if your Mum or Dad went to the doctor and said, ‘My child is sick. Please make him better.’ The doctor would tell your Mum or Dad to bring you to see him. But Jesus healed this man’s son even without seeing him. The man believed Jesus healed his son even though he wasn’t there.
Question:
How do you think Jesus could heal the boy without even seeing him? How did he know what was wrong with him?
DAY 3
Read Mark 2:1-12
Questions:
Why did the four men bring their friend to Jesus?
Imagine their surprise when Jesus said, ’your sins are forgiven.’ Why do you think Jesus said that instead of healing him straight away?
Jesus healed heaps of people when he was here on earth, but Jesus also knew that healing the sick wasn’t the main plan. He had something much more important to do, and it involved an even greater super power that would help even more people. Do you know what that super power was?
The greatest, most amazing, spectacular, important, exciting, and powerful super power of all time - Jesus could save us from the punishment we deserve for every time we disobey God. That is one incredible super power!
Jesus was, is, and always will be the ONLY one who could ever have the power to forgive us, and we need him to forgive us so we can live with him forever in heaven. Jesus is the ultimate superhero with the ultimate super power. Jesus is the Son of God.
Week beginning 12/2/17
What Special powers did Jesus have?
Jesus performed many miracles during his time on earth. This week we will be looking at the miracles that showed that Jesus had complete power over nature.
DAY 1
Read Psalm 89:9
Questions:
Who is this verse talking about?
Why, do you think, is God able to control the sea?
DAY 2
Questions:
What did Jesus do?
What were disciples’ reactions? (see verse 41)
Read verse 39 again. What does that tell you about Jesus?
The disciples were amazed at Jesus’ great power - power to save them, power to calm the sea – but they did not understand who he really was.
DAY 3
Read Matthew 14:22-27, 33
Questions:
What did Jesus do?
What were disciples’ reactions? (see verse 33)
What better way to prove to us that Jesus is God than for Jesus to demonstrate his power over nature the way that he did? Who else other than God could have changed the weather in an instant?
Who else other than God could have walked on top of the water without sinking?
God stepped into our world - the same God that created the world was now walking on the planet that he created. The voice that spoke in the heavens was now here on earth, his power was displayed in creation and now his power is being displayed here on earth as he commands nature to behave in a way that isn't natural. Jesus had power over nature because he is God.
Today, let’s praise Him, not just for what He can do, but for who He is!
Week beginning 18/12/16
Read Psalm 145 (The Praise of David)
God's goodness is everywhere, and we can be thankful for having such a wonderful God. As we read from Psalm 145, listen to all the different ways God shows His goodness.
Think about:
1. Who can understand God's greatness according to verse 3?
2. According to verse 7, what should we do because of God's abundant goodness?
3. Look at verse 10, what will everything God made do?
4. Where is God for all those who call on Him in truth (verse 18)?
5. What does God do for those who fear Him (verse 19)?
6. What does God do for those who love Him (verse 20)?
7. In what other ways have you seen God's goodness take place this year?
Week beginning 11.12.16
Read Matthew 2:13-23
Escape to Egypt
When the wise men had left, an angel of the Lord warned Joseph in a dream to leave Bethlehem and flee to Egypt.
So Joseph and Mary left the town of Bethlehem during the night and headed for Egypt with Jesus.
When Herod realized that he had been tricked by the wise men—who didn’t come back to tell him where the baby was—he was furious and ordered his soldiers to kill all the boys under two years of age in and around Bethlehem.
Meanwhile, Joseph and Mary stayed in Egypt where they lived in safety until Herod died. Then they returned to Judah, to the town of Nazareth where Jesus grew up.
Why was King Herod so afraid of a baby?
The wise men went to King Herod to find out about a newborn king, thinking that he was the most likely to know about the birth of a Jewish king. Meanwhile, Herod must have wondered if he had missed something. How had these wise men from the east found out about this baby while he knew nothing about Him? Why hadn’t anyone told him?
Herod had not been chosen by the Jews to be their king. The Romans who had conquered their country put him in charge. When he heard that a Jewish king had been born, he became jealous and he was afraid. Herod’s selfish attitude took away his peace. He became so afraid that someone would take his throne that he had many innocent babies killed.
How different Herod’s attitude was to that of the wise men: they left with hearts full of peace and joy; Herod’s heart was full of anger and fear. But Jesus had not come to take Herod’s throne; Jesus wanted his heart.
Week beginning 4.12.16
Day 1
Long ago, there was an important announcement in Nazareth. The Roman emperor commanded everyone to go back to the place where they were born and register their names so the Romans could make them pay taxes.
Joseph had to go all the way to Bethlehem, even though Mary’s baby was soon due to be born. Can you see how God was working out his plan for Jesus to be born in Bethlehem?
After their long journey, Joseph and Mary climbed the hill into Bethlehem. But many others were there already. The only place to sleep was in the part of a house where the animals would usually be kept overnight. That’s where Mary had her baby. The special baby. Born in Bethlehem, just as God had planned.
Day 2
There were no video cameras or movie studios in Bethlehem that night. God didn’t put news of Jesus’ birth on his website. He sent a messenger from heaven.
It was cold and dark on the hillside near Bethlehem. The sheep huddled together. Their shepherds tried to keep warm by the fire and longed for the daylight. Suddenly the brightest light they had ever seen blazed over them all.
How did they feel?
Who was the messenger?
God knew how frightened the shepherds were. He always knows how we feel. There was no need to be afraid. The angel brought them good news! What was the message?
As soon as the angel finished speaking, the shepherds heard beautiful singing. A huge choir of angels was praising God. They were celebrating Jesus’ birthday!
Day 3
It was all true! The angel’s message. The baby. What a night! The shepherds wanted everyone to hear the good news that the baby had been born. They sang all the way back to their sheep.
Now, do you remember that Joseph had a dream? An angel told him to marry Mary and that her baby would be a very special child. When the baby was a week old, it was time to give him his name.
Joseph remembered what the angel had said. The baby’s name meant “God saves.” One day the little baby would save God’s people from all they had done wrong. We know the baby as “Jesus”!
Day 4
Read Matthew 2:10-11
Today we discover that the wise men brought gifts to Jesus. It is understandable that gold in any society is a very costly and grand present. But what about the incense and myrrh? Why did they bring these to Jesus? Myrrh was an expensive perfume and used by the rich as a cosmetic. The Frankincense was a powder that could be burned as incense as it emitted a fragrant sweet smell but only the rich used such products. In other words, the Magi were giving Jesus the best they could afford.
What is a gift you would love to receive?
The Magi spared no expense in their gifts, what are you willing to give to Jesus?
How will you give it to Jesus?
How could you give Jesus your time, one of today's most precious gifts?
Week beginning 13.11.16
Day 1
God made lots of promises about Jesus. One of God’s long-ago messengers, at least 600 years before Jesus was born, was a man named Isaiah. It was his job to write down God’s promises, or “prophecies.” How do you think he knew what to write?
In chapter 7, Isaiah wrote about a baby who would be born. A very special baby. A boy known as “Immanuel.” It means “God is with us.”
Isaiah didn’t say what the boy would look like, but he did write about his character.
How many names and titles for Jesus can you find in the verses you’ve read today?
Which of these names is most important to you? Why?
Pray: Talk to “God with us,” Wonderful Adviser, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace.
Day 2
It all happened more than 2,000 years ago – when 600 years had passed since Isaiah wrote down God’s promises about the special baby.
God sent his angel, Gabriel, to visit Mary. Mary wondered why he had come and what he was going to say.
First he said, “Don’t be afraid!” Then he told her that she was going to have a baby.
Gabriel said that the baby would be the Son of God. What else did he say about the baby?
What did Mary say when she heard that she was going to be the mother of God’s Son?
Did she say:
- “No, I can’t do that”?
- “Let it happen as you have said”?
- “I’m too busy. Come back next year”?
God’s promises were about to come true.
Pray: Say thank you to God for the exciting message that the angel Gabriel gave to Mary
Day 3
Mary was engaged to be married to a man called Joseph. It had been arranged before the angel Gabriel told her about her baby. Joseph was very confused because he knew he wasn’t the father of the baby.
Joseph was a man who always tried to do what was right. But sometimes it is not easy to know what is the right thing to do. God helped Joseph to make up his mind by sending an angel with a message!
How did the angel speak to Joseph?
What did the angel tell Joseph to do?
Joseph obeyed the angel and he and Mary were soon married.
God’s promised baby would soon arrive!
Pray: “Father God, when things are difficult, help me to know what is the right thing to do. Thank you, God, that you showed Joseph the right things to do.”
Week beginning 30.10.16
Day 16
You'll need a rubber snake, a stuffed sock, or something that looks like a snake. One person quickly hides the snake. When they return give the others five minutes to find and STOMP on the snake. First one to find and stomp on the snake is the winner! Take turns. Be creative hiding the snake.
Truth or Lie? Satan has no power over me.
Truth! In the same way you found and stomped on the snake, Jesus crushed the head of Satan so that he has no power over you again! The only way he can have power over you is if you cooperate with him. But you don't have to! God gave you the power to resist the devil and all authority over him!
Discuss It -
Talk over the times you have seen the enemy defeated with God's power. Start a journal to record your family's victories.
Day 17
Everyone choose one of your favourite things. It can be a toy, stuffed animal, family picture, Bible, etc. Now take turns sharing with each other why you value your item.
Truth or Lie? God loves me, and that is all that matters.
Truth! If one of your family members didn't value your item, does that make your item less special? No! The only opinion that should matter to you is God's. He knows you best. He knows your thoughts, your feelings, even what makes you happy or mad. He knows EVERYTHING about you because He created you. And guess what? He still loves you! You are His most valuable creation!
Discuss It -
Just like you shared the reasons you love your special item, think about reasons God loves you. Write them down and stick them where you can see them each morning to remind yourself of God's great love for you.
Day 18
Act out three different situations. First: two friends who act nice to each other. Second: two friends who act mean to each other. Final: one friend is hurtful, but the other is nice even when the other friend is mean.
Truth or Lie? I should be nice to people who are mean to me.
Truth! It's easy to be nice to nice people. It's easy to be mean to people who are mean to you. It is hard to be nice when someone takes something from you, rejects you, or is mean to you. God calls us to even love our enemies! You should be equally kind to everyone regardless of how they treat you because Jesus calls you to. Is it possible to love mean people? Yes. We can because God will love through us.
Discuss It -
Who have you had a hard time loving? Why?
Name three ways you can love people who hurt you
Day 19
Play Two Truths and a Lie. Each person tells the group three facts about himself or herself. Two should be true and for the other, make up a lie. Try to guess each person's lie. How easy was it to believe that their lie was actually true?
Truth or Lie? God doesn't love me.
Lie! God never lies about His love for us, but when you are feeling down or lonely, it's easy to be tricked into believing the lie that God doesn't love you. You may not feel loved, but feelings can lie. God loves you! Nothing you do or don't do will ever change how much God loves you.
Discuss It -
Have you felt like God didn't love you? How does it make you feel to know that He loves you always...no matter what?
Day 20
Truth or Lie? When people are angry with me, they must not love me.
Lie! It does not mean they do not love you. It just means they have not chosen to live out of God's good fruit. When someone is angry with you it's easy to be angry in return. We have a choice just like you did in the activity. You can choose poisonous words or encouraging words! The Bible tells us that God's good fruit lives inside His children. That fruit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. We always have the choice to respond with God's fruit.
Discuss It -
Think about the last time you were angry with someone or someone was angry with you. How can you respond with God's fruit next time?
Day 21
I bet you have made a card for someone, but made a mistake that could have ruined the card. How did you correct it? Did you draw a picture over the top of it to cover up your mistake?
Truth or Lie? I am a failure.
Lie! You might feel like a failure, but that is not how God sees you!
You have made mistakes. Maybe you've made big mistakes like lying, fighting, hitting, pinching, stealing, etc. and now, you feel bad. You may feel like a failure. But, that is not true. God sees you as so much more than a mistake. God erases all the things you do wrong. He doesn't just cover up your mistakes. He starts over. He gives you a new start. He doesn't even remember those bad things. God accepts you just as you are.
Discuss It -
Have you made a mistake that you are sorry for, asked forgiveness, and still are feeling bad about it? God has chosen to forget it. Now you can do the same.
Week beginning 23.10.16
Day 11
Fill two cups with water. Add pepper to one cup. Compare the two cups. Notice that the cup without pepper still looks clean and pure. But, the cup with pepper looks dirty and unclean.
Truth or Lie? I am worth nothing.
Lie! God values you so much that He gave His Son, Jesus to die for you! Your faith in Jesus alone makes you worthy. God sees you as the clean and pure cup. He doesn't look at our dirt and problems. No, He is not mad at you. He wants you to come to Him in prayer and know Him more. He loves you so much!
Discuss It -
What makes you feel worth nothing?
How does God see you today?
Day 12
Play this Win It in a Minute game. Two or more players attach a banana on a string around their waist in front of you. It should hang 12 inches from the ground. To win, use the banana only to move an orange across the room into a hula-hoop. Each player has 60 seconds to complete this mission. Give the winner and the loser a prize to explain that no matter the outcome, in Jesus, everyone wins!
Truth or Lie? No one accepts me for who I am, not even God.
Lie! Others may not always accept you but you are chosen and loved by the God of the whole universe. You are fully accepted in Christ. Because of that, we should fully accept others.
Discuss It -
People closest to Jesus rejected Him, yet Jesus was completely accepted and loved by God. What do you think about that? Tell about a time when you didn't feel accepted. Even when you feel rejected, you are always fully accepted by God.
Day 13
Parents, using a real or fake check, make a check out to everyone. Write one million dollars for the amount and then sign the check from God. Hand the check out and tell them this is just a fraction of what God thinks they are worth. (Don't forget to destroy your check if you wrote a real one!)
Truth or Lie? I am precious to God.
Truth! The Bible says you are more precious than anything He has ever created. God values you! God cares even for the smallest sparrow. God's word tells us that we are so much more valuable to Him than that. You see, God created you and has taken great pride in His work. Any time you see the beauty of nature let it remind you of how valuable you are to God. That is why He sent His son Jesus so we could be with Him forever.
Discuss It -
Name three to five special qualities about yourself that make you precious in God's eyes.
Day 14
What things do you love? They could be things like video games, pets, music, family and friends, etc. Find small objects to represent those things. You can use marbles, blocks, rocks, and sticks. Fill an empty jar with the items. Name each thing as you fill up the jar. Does the jar look full? Now, pour water into the jar. Even though the jar looked full, it wasn't. The water filled the empty places your things couldn't fill.
Truth or Lie? God satisfies my heart.
Truth! God meets all our needs! It's normal for people and things to make us happy. It's okay to want things, but if you believe they will satisfy your heart then you are being fooled.
When you filled the jar as full as you could possibly get it with all those things it looked full, yet it wasn't. The water revealed the empty space. The same thing happens in our hearts when we try to find happiness in anything other than God. Like the water, only God satisfies your heart fully.
Discuss It-
What has satisfied your heart besides God? Now, fill another jar full with water. This is how God fills you and satisfies your heart!
Day 15
Give all participants, except one, a small cash gift. Write and give an encouraging note to the person who didn't get cash. Include sincere, specific, and heartfelt details in your note. Now each receiver should discuss how they responded to their gifts and why.
Truth or Lie? I am rich when I have cool clothes.
Lie! Sure. It is nice to have new clothes, but love and encouragement is better. Our richness doesn't come from money; it comes from God's love. He knows all things, owns all things, and loves you enough to share them with you. He has blessed you with every spiritual blessing! Clothes and money can't buy that! Nothing is as cool as loving God! Love God with all your heart, soul, and mind. Choose Him first before cool stuff!Discuss It -
Is it better to dress cool or know God? Why? What are some ways to love God with everything?
Week beginning 16/10/16
Day 6
Truth or Lie? I am included.
Grab a potato, a toy, or even a ball of socks. Stand in a circle with your family to play HOT POTATO. Play a song while you toss the object to each other. When the music ends the person holding the potato sits down. The game is over when the last person standing is crowned the winner.
Truth or Lie? I am included.
Truth! God includes me in his family. Even if others exclude me, I am never left out by God. Playing HOT POTATO can be really fun until the music stops and you are the one holding the potato. God wants us to know He never leaves us out or forgets about us. The Bible tells us that He already has a mansion waiting for us in heaven! The next time you feel left out think about your name written on the front door of your mansion in heaven.
Discuss It -
Have you ever seen someone left out of a group? How did you feel? Share some different ways you could care for someone who might feel left out.
Day 7
Truth or Lie? God's love does not change based on what I do.
Start a puzzle. Although all the pieces are scattered and do not make a whole picture yet, it doesn't change the outcome of the picture. Whether the puzzle is complete or in pieces, it is still the same. This is just like God; He is the same whether you see a small piece of Him or just a corner of Him. He doesn't change! Your view of Him just grows.
Truth or Lie? God's love does not change based on what I do.
Truth! Before you loved God, He loved you. His Son died for you! You didn't earn God's love; you freely received it. So if we don't earn God's love, we cannot lose it! Isn't that good news? In Luke 15, the father loved his son! The son left his dad to go live on his own. The son made bad choices that led him to hunger and poverty. He returned home in fear of his father's rejection. But, to his surprise, his father didn't reject him. No! He ran to him and gave his son the best party!
The father's love for his son didn't change because his son rebelled. His love continued. Your heavenly Father loves you even more than that!
Discuss It -
Have you felt like God stopped loving you? How do you feel about that now?
Day 8
Truth or Lie? I'm chosen and special!
Play "Would You Rather." In this game, give a person a choice between two things such as, "Would you rather eat vanilla or chocolate ice cream?" Or, "Would you rather visit the Melbourne Zoo alone or stay at home with family?" Make up your own "would you rather" questions.
Truth or Lie? I'm chosen and special!
Truth! Have you ever played a game where you had two captains who picked teams and you had to wait to be chosen? Doesn't it feel great to be chosen first? You know you are wanted. What about how it feels to be chosen last--it doesn't feel so great. Did you know that God chose you?
Discuss It -
What do you think you are chosen for?
Day 9
Truth or Lie? I am God's child.
Imagine that you are a prince or princess. What would your royal family own? Would you have different things than you do now?
Truth or Lie? I am God's child.
Truth! Did you know that when you accept Jesus as your Saviour, you receive forgiveness and also become a child of God? It's true! You are child of the LORD God Almighty! All who trust in Jesus have become God's children. God always takes care of His children.
Discuss It -
Now that you know you are God's child, what is different? How does this change your view of your life? Think hard
Day 10
Truth or Lie? I have to be a good person to get to Heaven.
While blindfolded, have a partner give you directions to guide you through obstacles to a predetermined place in your home. Focus your attention on the guiding voice.
Truth or Lie? I have to be a good person to get to Heaven.
Lie! There may have been many ways to get to the place your guide was taking you, but if you went your own way without listening to your guide, you're lost. Some people think they can get to Heaven by being nice or doing kind things for people. That is not true. There is only one way to Heaven and that is through Jesus! The Bible says that Jesus is THE way, the truth, and the life. No one can get to the Father without Jesus! There is one way to get to Heaven so listen to God's Holy Spirit, your guide.
Discuss It -
When did you make Jesus your Forever Friend? If you haven't, would you like to make Jesus your Forever Friend? If so, then pray this: Father God, I am sorry for disobeying you. I believe that Jesus took the punishment for my sin on the cross. I believe you love me. I believe Jesus died to forgive my sins. I receive that forgiveness. Jesus, I make you my Leader and choose to live God’s way. I believe that you are alive and that you now live in me. Thank you for loving me and giving me new life. I trust that I am yours and now belong to your family! In Jesus' name, amen.
If you prayed this prayer, make sure you tell your Mum and Dad.
Week beginning 9.10.16
Day 1
Truth or Lie? There are no cool kids in God's family.
Make a faux stained-glass project. Start with a folded piece of wax paper. Design torn pieces of colourful tissues on one half. Fold the empty side over the top of your design. Place a towel over it and iron until the wax paper melts together. Cut out a construction paper frame to overlay on your stained glass. Tape your beautiful stained glass to a window. Enjoy!
Truth or Lie? There are no cool kids in God's family.
Truth! In true stained-glass creations, every piece is perfectly placed to complement the pieces around it. Once complete, it is beautiful. If any piece was missing, it would be incomplete.
God created you and placed you exactly where He wanted you. It's easy to think cool kids are more important than you because they are popular. That is not what God thinks. He knows you, and you are cool to Him. He created each one of us with different gifts and talents. Each of us is necessary. When we love and serve Him together, He shines through us just as the sunlight shines through a stained-glass window.
Discuss It -
With your family, share the special qualities you see in each other. Now, what are some good things you see in yourself?
Day 2
Truth or Lie? I am a masterpiece.
Look up The Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh. It's one of his most well-known paintings. Many consider it to be a masterpiece. You are God's masterpiece! Now look in the mirror or at a photo of yourself. Speak to yourself that you are a masterpiece. It will be awkward at first, but you will get good at it.
Truth or Lie? I am a masterpiece.
Truth! That's right, you are a masterpiece. Your hair color, beautiful eyes, and kind heart; you are a perfect work of art. You are God's handiwork! God has created you for a purpose. Isn't that exciting? You have unique gifts and talents that are going to be used to share the love of Jesus. You were made to love others because God loves you!
Discuss It -
What does it mean to be God's masterpiece? Can you think of two things about you that make you a masterpiece that you can't see with your eyes?
Day 3
Truth or Lie? God knows my name.
Play the name game. One person at a time chooses a word to describe them. The word must start with the first letter of their name. For example, Sam might say "Silly Sam." The person after must repeat that name and their own name combo. Keep going until everyone in your family goes. The last person
Truth or Lie? God knows my name.
Truth! Did you know that God knew you before your parents did? Chances are, when your parents were selecting a name for you they took their time. Maybe they wanted something that had a special meaning, or they just liked the sound of it. Make no doubt, your name was important. But wow, before God made the world He knew you! He created you to be unique, and your name belongs to you just like you belong to God. You are loved because God loves you!
Discuss It -
Ask your parents why they chose your name for you. How does it feel to know that God knew you before He created the world?
Day 4
Truth or Lie? I'm not important.
Break craft sticks, toothpicks, or dried spaghetti noodles into different lengths. Give one to every family member. You can draw them from a bag, or from your fist - just be sure to hold them so that the tops are all appearing to be the same length. The holder of the shortest stick wins a prize. Now discuss how it felt to be last or first.
Truth or Lie? I'm not important.
Lie! In the same way the winner probably felt important, you are important to God every day! To be important means to be of great value. God values you more than anyone in this world does. Before you were even born He sent His son to die on the cross so you could be saved! God has a plan for your life; you are important!
Discuss It -
What makes you feel important? Discuss the difference between feeling important based on what people think versus what God thinks about you.
Day 5
Truth or Lie? I am God's friend.
What are some ways you "hang out" with friends? What are some ways you can "hang out" with Jesus? This week, write down one way you will spend time with Jesus.
Truth or Lie? I am God's friend.
Truth! You are called a friend of God! There is no greater friend than Jesus. When people tell you they don't want to be your friend, respond like this: "No problem. I am a good friend to have." There is no reason to feel hurt by friends when you know that Jesus is always your friend.
Discuss It -
Has a friend rejected you? How does it feel knowing that you always have a friend in Jesus?
Week commencing August 21
DAY 13
1 Peter 4:19
When I When I P.R.A.Y., I YIELD to God's will.
To YIELD means to let God have His way in your life. When you pray, make sure you are yielding to God. If something is hard, don't ask God to fix it YOUR way. Tell Him why it is hard and ask Him to take care of it HIS way. We don't even know everything! How can we know what is best? It is important to yield because God DOES know everything and He DOES know what is best!
Tell Someone: Why is it safe to trust God with your whole life?
DAY 14
Luke 22:39-43
Jesus shows me how to YIELD when I P.R.A.Y.
Jesus knew God's will for Him was to die on the cross and take the punishment for everyone's sins. Jesus also knew that dying on the cross would hurt so much. It would be lonely. It would make Him die. He did not want to suffer on the cross. He was honest about how He felt and told His Father, God. But He did not complain and tell God to change His plan. Jesus yielded to God's will when He said, "Not my will, but yours be done." When Jesus yielded to God, an angel came down from heaven and made Him strong enough to obey God's will. He obeyed God and yielded to God even though it was very hard. If you yield to God, He will make you strong too, so that you can do what He asks you to do.
Tell Someone: What is a hard thing you need to do for God?
DAY 15
1 Peter 4:19
Knowing God's words reminds me to YIELD when I P.R.A.Y.
The Bible tells you to hide God's words in your heart. When you do that, your heart will know God's will. The Holy Spirit uses the Bible verses you know to teach you how to yield to God when you pray. The Bible says it is okay to yield to God, because He made you and He will never fail. Play the game Stop and Say with a friend to help you hide God's truth from 1 Peter 4:19 in your heart.
Stop and Say
1. Write out all of 1 Peter 4:19 on a piece of paper.
2. Draw a yield sign on a different piece of paper.
3. Read 1 Peter 4:19 over and over again as loud as you can.
4. Stop reading when your friend holds up the yield sign.
5. Switch papers with your friend and play again until both of you can say 1 Peter 4:19 without reading it.
Tell Someone: Can you say the whole Verse without any help yet?
DAY 16
Philippians 4:6-7
I will P.R.A.Y. about everything!
If you try to do everything by yourself, it will be too hard for you. It will make you worry, or stress out, or get angry, or even just feel bad. When you feel that way, you are anxious. But God will help you.
Praise Him with thanks. It will make you feel better!
Repent from your sins. You won't feel bad about yourself anymore!
Ask God for what you need. You don't need to worry!
Yield to His will. You can trust Him.
As you pray, God will give you His amazing peace. You won't be anxious anymore. He will take care of your heart and your mind. He will take care of you!
Tell someone how much you read and what you learned about talking to God!
Week commencing August 14
DAY 9
Read 1 John 5:14
When I P.R.A.Y., I ASK God what He wants for me.
It's a good thing to ASK God for the things you need and want. It is even more important that you ask God about what He wants for you. It makes your heart grow closer to God when you ask Him what you need to do. God listens to prayers that are unselfish and respectful. These are the kinds of prayers that honour Him. When you are in need, ask Him what to do! He might not answer your prayer the way you thought He would, but He will ALWAYS answer.
Tell Someone: How can you tell if your prayer is unselfish and respectful?
DAY 10
Read Luke 18:1-7
It is okay to ASK for what you need when you P.R.A.Y.
The widow needed help. She asked, and asked, and asked. The judge, even though he was evil, helped her with what she needed. He helped her because he knew she would never stop asking! God doesn't make you beg for His help, but He still wants you to ask Him when you need something. When you ask Him and He gives you what you need, then you know it came from God. When you know God is the one who helped you, you can tell your friends and they will learn God is good and God answers prayers!
Tell Someone: What need will you ask God to take care of when you pray?
DAY 11
1 John 5:14
Knowing God's words reminds me to ASK when I P.R.A.Y.
Be confident when you talk to God. He is your friend and provider. The Bible says He will supply all your needs according to His glorious riches. When you need help, ask Him. When you need something, ask Him. When you don't know what to do, ask Him. When you know someone else that needs help, ask Him. You are special to God and He will always listen. Play the Letter Guess game with a friend to put God's words from 1 John 5:14 into your heart and remember that God hears you.
Letter Guess
1. Write all of 1 John 5:14 on the back of a large piece of paper.
2. Turn the paper over.
2. Turn the paper over.
3. Now write only the first letter of each word from 1 John 5:14 on the front of the paper.
4. Ask your friend to look at the front of the paper and guess what word each letter stands for.
5. Give them a high five for each correct word.
6. Give the page to your friend. Now you have to guess which word each letter stands for!
Tell Someone: Can you say the whole verse without any help yet?
DAY 12
Matthew 7:7
I will ASK when I P.R.A.Y. and God will answer me!
God promises He is there for you when you ask Him something. The Bible says you will get an answer. You will receive what you need. You will find what you are looking for. God will make a way for good things to happen when everything looks bad. Just ask Him. He's listening!
Tell Someone: Think of a time God answered your prayer, or someone else's prayer. What did He do to answer the prayer?
Week commencing July 31
REPENT
When I P.R.A.Y., I need to REPENT.
The second part of prayer is remembering to REPENT.
DAY 5
Read Acts 3:19
According to this verse, what does repentance mean?
ST _ _ DIS_ _ _ _ _ _ _ G_ _
When you are following Jesus, sin makes you uncomfortable and it bothers you when you have sin in your life. When we repent, we turn away from the things that God shows us (through the Holy Spirit or the Bible) are wrong .
DAY 6
THE STEPS TO REPENTANCE.
1. Feel sorry
2. Ask forgiveness
3. Right the wrong
4. Don’t repeat the wrong.
Read the following story:
Ricardo was at the supermarket to buy some milk for his mother. He was waiting in line at the check-out when he saw some Kit Kats for sale near the counter. He wanted one but did not have enough money. While the check-out person was busy with the people in front of him, Ricardo snuck one into his pocket. Ricardo paid for the milk and ate the Kit Kat on his way home. Later Ricardo began thinking about something he had read in the Bible.
Read Exodus 20:15
How do you think Ricardo felt?
What has Ricardo done wrong?
What can Ricardo do to get rid of his guilty feeling?
Of whom does Ricardo need to ask forgiveness?
When we repent of our wrong choices, we must ask God and the person we have wronged to forgive us. We need to admit that we have made a wrong choice and then ask to be forgiven for what we have done.
The third thing Ricardo has to do is to try to right the wrong. How might he do that?
Finally, Ricardo needs to decide not to make that wrong choice again. He will know he has truly repented if he feels sorry for doing wrong and is willing to admit it, asks to be forgiven, tries to right the wrong, and decides never to make that wrong choice again.
DAY 7
John 8:4-11
Jesus could tell the woman caught in sin was sorry for what she had done. Her bad choices were not secret anymore. Jesus forgave her, but reminded her to stop doing the same sin. Jesus will forgive you the same way He forgave the woman. He also expects you to stop doing the same sin. When you pray, repent. Tell Jesus about the sin you have done.
Tell Someone: What sin have you been caught doing that you need to repent from?
DAY 8
1 John 1:9
Knowing God's words reminds me to REPENT when I P.R.A.Y.
The Bible tells you to hide God's words in your heart. When you do that, your heart will know what is true and good. The Holy Spirit uses the Bible verses you know to teach you how to repent and to make you strong enough to stop sinning! Play the Magazine Word Search game to help you hide God's words from 1 John 1:9 in your heart!
Magazine Word Search
1. Ask a grownup for some old magazines.
2. Look through the magazines for the words to 1 John 1:9.
3. When you find a word, cut it out.
4. Glue the words you cut out in order to make the whole verse.
5. Cut out pictures about the verse and glue them on your paper to decorate.
Tell Someone: Can you say the whole verse without any help yet?
Week commencing July 24
When I P.R.A.Y., I start with PRAISE.
Praise songs are a way in which we can express our thankfulness to God for all that He does for us. We praise God with music, but other things in nature praise God as well. The waves of the sea crashing upon the shore are praise songs to God. The stars praise God at night by twinkling, sparkling and shining. Let’s read about how and why we praise God in Psalm 98.
DAY 1
Read Psalm 98:1-2.
What kind of miraculous things that God has done for you?
Look at the last part of verse 1 and verse 2. The most wonderful thing that God has done for us is to make a way for us to be Forever Friends with him, even though we are sinners. He has won the victory over sin! If God never did another miraculous work, He would still deserve our never ending praise because He sent Jesus so that we could be forgiven.
DAY 2
Read Psalm 98:4-6.
We are commanded to praise the Lord. What instruments can you use to praise the Lord?
DAY 3
Read Psalm 98:7-9.
Verses 7 and 8 describe things in nature that praise God. Our God is a God of the whole world. He created the whole world and He expects all of His creation to praise Him. If the mountains and rivers can praise God, how much more should we praise Him?
Verse 9 reminds us that God is a good and fair judge. He deserves praise for His righteousness.
DAY 4
The Psalms are like poems or songs. Try writing your own praise song/poem to God.
Week commencing 17.4.15
Xtreme Worship : Day 1
Everyone Worships
Everyone worships something, because God made us to worship. Some people worship sports teams, others worship what people think about them, and some worship TV, or smart phones, or all kinds of other stuff. They worship them by glorifying them. They spend most of their time being excited about these things, getting crazy about them, and giving all their attention to them. You can be different, though. Be a true worshipper. Praise God, celebrate God, honour God, and give all your attention to Him!
Challenge Question: What do true worshippers glorify?
Xtreme Worship : Day 2
Live To Glorify God
God made you to worship Him. When you worship Him, you glorify, honour, and praise Him. The way you live brings glory to something or someone. In the Bible story about the Samaritan woman, it turns out she wasn’t worshiping God the way He asked His people to. Her life didn’t show glory for God. But Jesus helped her. He taught her the truth about God, so her actions, her choices, and her words could glorify God and show worship for Him. Her worship helped other people to learn how to follow Jesus!
Challenge Question: Think about your choices, your actions, and your words. Do they glorify God and show worship for Him?
Xtreme Worship : Day 3
Get To Know God
Before you can glorify God, you have to find out who He is. When you choose to follow Jesus, you find out who God is because He sends His Holy Spirit to live in your heart. God’s Holy Spirit teaches you how to glorify God, and stop glorifying everything else. Make Jesus your leader. Listen to God’s Holy Spirit, and you’ll be able to worship God in spirit and in truth! Play this game to learn a verse that reminds you to be a true worshiper.
Treasure Hunt
- Get a piece of paper, some scissors, and something to write with.
2. Write the whole verse for John 4:23 on the paper. Leave big spaces in between each word.
3. Cut the words apart with scissors and hide them around the room.
4. Ask family or friends to look for all the words and put them back together in order.
Verse Challenge: Say John 4:23 out loud without any help.
Xtreme Worship : Day 4
Worshipping Rocks
People aren’t the only ones who bring God glory. All of creation shows God’s beauty, power, and strength. In Luke chapter 19 in the Bible, some people were praising Jesus. Other leaders got jealous and told them to stop praising Him. Jesus said in verse 40, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!” God will be worshiped. Let’s be His worshipers!
Challenge Question: Have you asked Jesus to be your leader? If you have, what truth do you know about Jesus that makes you want to worship God?
Xtreme Worship : Day 5
Spend It All on God
The price you pay for something shows if you’re worshiping it. You don’t only “pay” with money. You can “pay” your attention to something. What do you pay attention to? What do you spend your time, your talents, your treasures, and your talk on? The things you pay attention to show
what you think is worthy, important, and the best.
Challenge Question: Who’s the only One really worthy of all our time and attention? Why?
Week commencing 24.4.16
Worship : Day 6
A Peek at God’s Power
The ten lepers were covered with cuts and bruises and sores. No one knew how to make them better. They had to leave their families so they wouldn’t make them get sick, too. When Jesus healed them, He did something no one else could do. He gave the ten lepers a peek of how powerful God is and what He wants to do for everyone. But only one leper came back and worshipped Jesus. He responded to Jesus’ power by thanking Him and shouting about what Jesus did.
Challenge Question: Why do you think the nine other lepers didn’t come back and worship Jesus?
Worship : Day 7
Respond with True Worship
When you make Jesus the leader of your life, God shows you how powerful, great, and loving He is, and your heart will respond. Respond means you’ll answer Him with worship. But everyone has a different way to worship God. As long as what you’re doing glorifies God and shows how worthy He is, you’re worshiping Him in spirit and in truth. Other people will see your worship, and learn to follow Jesus, too!
Play the What’s Missing game to memorize the Bible Memory verse that will make you want to respond to God with worship!
What’s Missing?
- Ask your family or friends to play with you.
2. Read all of Psalm 96:4 to them.
3. Read Psalm 96:4 again, but leave a word out.
4. The first person to guess which word is missing is the winner.
5. Keep playing the game until everyone gets a turn to read.
Verse Challenge: Say Psalm 96:4 out loud without any help.
Worship : Day 8
God Did a Lot for You
God’s the only One who’s worthy. God created the whole world! God loves you more than you’ll ever know. He’s given you the world to live in, the life you have, and He even gave His Son Jesus so you could live forever in Heaven with Him. God is worthy, and you can worship Him to show Him how much you value Him and how important He is in your life.
Challenge Question: What’s the most amazing thing God has ever done for you? How can you worship Him for it?
Week commencing 8.5.16
Worship : Day 9
Time, Talents, Treasures, and Talk
Ask yourself this question: How can you tell if you’re worship
Time—What do you spend most of your time on?
Talents—What are you good at? Do you brag about it, or thank God for it?
Treasures—What’s important to you? What would you never want to lose?
Talk—What do you talk about the most?
After you think about all those things, remind yourself that God is the only One worthy of your time, talents, treasure, and talk.
Challenge Question: When you thought about your time, talents, treasures, and talk, what did you find out? What can you do to make sure God is the only One you worship?
Worship : Day 10
Anything Can Be an Idol
The Israelites worshiped an idol called a golden calf when they thought Moses wasn’t coming back. You might think you don’t worship an idol if you don’t have any statues that you sing to, bow down to, or pray to. But anything and anyone can be an idol if you put it ahead of God and worship it. God deserves to be first. God deserves all of your worship.
Challenge Question: What can you think of that might be an idol to you? How can you make God more important than the idol?
Worship : Day 11
The Most Important One
Your choices, actions, and words show what you really worship. Be honest with yourself. Be honest with your family. If something else, someone else, or even how you feel about yourself is more important to you than God, it’s an idol. Ask people you trust to help you make God the most important one in your life. Draw a Praise Picture to learn about a Bible verse that will help you remember God is the only one to worship!
Praise Picture
- Get a piece of paper and something to draw with.
2. Write the whole verse of Matthew 4:10 on the paper.
3. Think about the verse.
4. Draw what the verse makes you think about.
5. Share your picture with friends and family.
Verse Challenge: Say Matthew 4:10 out loud without any help.
Worship : Day 12
Put God First
Sometimes the things you need turn into idols because you’re afraid you won’t get them. You start to worry about them and forget to worship God and trust Him. You don’t have to be worried, though. Put God first so your life is all about God. When your life is all about God, nothing else is more important to you than God. You’ll be able to say no to worshiping idols and worrying about getting the things you need. Choose today to put God first. Make sure He gets all of your worship. When He’s first, God will make sure you have exactly what you need.
Challenge Question: What are you worried about? How can you trust God to take care of it so it won’t be an idol?
Worship : Day 13
It’s easy to worship God when things go your way. It’s harder to worship God when you’re afraid, sad, scared, or worried. But worshipping God makes your friendship with God stronger. It reminds you of the truth about God and how much He loves you. When you remember the truth about God, you can trust Him, respect Him, and glorify Him. Your worship will remind you that God is good, and you can be glad about Him—even if bad things are happening.
Worship : Day 14
Challenge Question: David wrote Psalm 34:1-10. Why do you think David said his lips would always praise God?
Worship : Day 15
Toy Time
Worship : Day 16
Week commencing 15.5.16
Worship : Day 13
Worship God When You Feel Bad
It’s easy to worship God when things go your way. It’s harder to worship God when you’re afraid, sad, scared, or worried. But worshipping God makes your friendship with God stronger. It reminds you of the truth about God and how much He loves you. When you remember the truth about God, you can trust Him, respect Him, and glorify Him. Your worship will remind you that God is good, and you can be glad about Him—even if bad things are happening.
Challenge Question: Why do you need to worship God when you’re feeling bad or when bad things are happening?
Worship : Day 14
Take It All to God
In the Bible, David showed that any part of your life is a good time to worship God. Worship is all about taking everything to God—happy times, successful times, sad times, frustrating times, confusing times, scary times, rough times, any time. Even in those hard times, you can come to God gladly because you know He’ll hear you and care for you.
Challenge Question: David wrote Psalm 34:1-10. Why do you think David said his lips would always praise God?
Worship : Day 15
Be Glad about God
When you choose to follow Jesus as your leader, you can celebrate your real friendship with God. God is the Creator of the universe! God sent His Son Jesus to be your Saviour and rescue you from sin! God’s the one who loves you more than you could even think! Worship God to respond to His greatness. Let God know how happy you are that He wants to be your best friend. He’ll get closer to you, and you’ll learn a lot about Him. Play Toy Time to remember you can be glad about God!
Toy Time
- Get two toys.
2. Pretend the toys can talk to each other and they’re on a Bible game show.
3. Make the toys act like they’re trying to remember Psalm 100:2.
4. Pick the first toy that remembers the verse to be the winner of the Bible game show.
Verse Challenge: Say Psalm 100:2 out loud without any help.
Worship : Day 16
Worship God
So why worship God? Is it so people can think you’re awesome? Is it to get some sort of prize or something for worshiping God the most? Is it so He’ll love you more? No way! Worship God to respond to who He is. Remember He’s the Creator of the universe. He loves you more than you can ever know. He has good plans for you. He sent His only Son Jesus to be our Saviour. Now that deserves some worship!
Challenge Question: Why do you worship God?
Week commencing 12.11.15
Day 1: Read Esther 1:10-12, 19, 2:7
Esther and Mordecai
Many, many years ago, in the Kingdom of Persia, there was an orphan girl named Esther. Because Esther had no parents, she lived with her uncle Mordecai instead.
Mordecai took good care of Esther and treated her like she was his own daughter. They loved each other very much.
It looked like they would live a perfectly normal life, but one day, something happened…
Xerxes, the King of Persia, threw a feast for all his nobles. The feast lasted for seven days and seven nights! Can you imagine how full everyone felt? King Xerxes ate so much that he could barely move!
Xerxes, the King of Persia, threw a feast for all his nobles. The feast lasted for seven days and seven nights! Can you imagine how full everyone felt? King Xerxes ate so much that he could barely move!
On the last night of the feast, King Xerxes called for Queen Vashti to come join him. But she was busy and said, "I don't want to come." King Xerxes was furious. He commanded his guards to throw Queen Vashti out of the palace and never let her return again!
What kind of a man do you think Mordecai was? How about King Xerxes? Do you think God was happy with what King Xerxes did?
Day 2: Read Esther 2:1-4
King Xerxes Searches for a New Queen
When King Xerxes calmed down, he felt sad. He missed Queen Vashti but it was too late to call her back!
One of his servants had an idea: "Why don't you search your kingdom for the most beautiful women? You can choose one of them to be your queen!"
"That's a great idea!" said King Xerxes. He ordered his servants to bring all the most beautiful girls to his palace right away.
Esther was growing up into a beautiful young woman, so when the King's servants saw her, they brought her to the palace too.
Esther was taken from her only family! How do you think Esther felt? How would you feel if you were taken away from your home? What do you think God's plan for Esther was?
Day 3: Read Esther 2:8-12, 17, 18
Esther is Chosen!
Mordecai was very worried for Esther. You see, Esther and Mordecai were Jews, and there were some nobles in Persia who didn't like Jews. So before Esther left, Mordecai warned her, "Don't tell anybody that you're a Jew!"
Esther was very careful and didn't tell anyone that she was a Jew. The King's servants liked Esther, so they took special care of her. They gave her the best food to eat and the nicest room to stay in.
God was watching over Esther! How does God watch over you when you need help?
Esther had to wait for one whole year to see King Xerxes. Every day her servants combed her hair and sprinkled perfume on her. Finally, the King's servants said, “Tomorrow it’s your turn to meet the King!”
When King Xerxes saw how beautiful Esther was, he put a crown on her head and said, “You will be my Queen!”
How do you think Esther felt while she was waiting to see the King? Could you wait for one whole year? Why do you think God helped Esther become Queen of Persia? What plans does God have for you?
Day 4: Read Esther 3:3-6
Haman
Esther was queen! To celebrate, King Xerxes threw a party and gave gifts to all his nobles. One of these nobles was named Haman. He was the most important noble in Persia, and King Xerxes ordered everyone to kneel when Haman walked by.
However, Mordecai refused to bow to Haman. Mordecai would only bow to God. When Haman saw that Mordecai wouldn't bow to him, he was furious! He wanted to kill Mordecai.
But then Haman found out that Mordecai was a Jew. Suddenly, Haman decided that it wasn't enough to kill just Mordecai. Haman wanted to kill all of Mordecai's friends and family too! Haman wanted to kill every Jew in Persia!
Haman went to King Xerxes and said, “King, some people in your kingdom disobey you! Let me destroy them!”
King Xerxes didn’t realize that his own Queen, Esther, would be killed as well. He told Haman, "Go ahead, kill these people."
Something terrible was about to happen to God's people. What do you think God could do to save Esther, Mordecai, and all the Jewish people?
Day 5: Read Esther 4:1-3, 10-17
God's Plan for Esther
When Mordecai heard about Haman's plot he felt sick. He knew that only Esther could change the King's mind. But Esther was in the palace. How could he go to tell her? Mordecai dressed in rags, rubbed ashes on his face, and cried outside the palace.
Luckily, Esther’s servant saw Mordecai and told Esther about him. Esther was worried for her uncle. “Go ask Mordecai what’s wrong,” she said to her servant.
Esther waited nervously. Finally her servant returned. He had awful news: “Haman will kill every Jew in the kingdom. Mordecai says you must beg the King for mercy!”
Esther was terrified. If she disturbed King Xerxes without an invitation she could be punished by death! She didn’t dare to beg King Xerxes unless he called for her first. But King Xerxes hadn't called her for more than a month!
Mordecai sent another message to encourage Esther: “Maybe God made you Queen so that you can help your people. Be brave!”
Esther was still frightened. She needed God’s help. So she asked all the Jews: “Please fast and pray for three days.”
How would you feel if you were Esther? Why did Esther ask the Jews to pray for her? Do you think God was pleased by their prayers?
Day 6: Read Esther 5:1-5
Esther Goes to See King Xerxes
Three days passed. Esther’s heart was thudding, but she trusted that God would help her. She put on her favourite dress and went to see King Xerxes.
Do you think King Xerxes was angry when Esther disturbed him?
When King Xerxes saw Esther, he smiled! “Esther, I’m happy to see you! What do you want? Ask me for anything, even half of Persia, and I will give it to you!”
Esther said, “King Xerxes, I want to throw a banquet for you and Haman. Please bring Haman and join me.” King Xerxes agreed.
Esther sighed with relief. But she was still worried. She still had to ask King Xerxes to save the Jews. She wondered what King Xerxes would say when she told him that Haman was planning to kill all the Jews.
What do you think the King will do? Was Esther brave? How did praying and fasting for three days help Esther?
Day 7: Read Esther 7:1-6
God Saves His People!
Esther prepared delicious food for King Xerxes and Haman.
That night at the banquet King Xerxes said, “Tell me Esther, what do you want?”
Esther replied, “King Xerxes, save me! My people and I are all going to be killed!”
King Xerxes was shocked. “Who would dare to hurt you!? You are my Queen!”
Esther pointed at Haman and said, “Haman plans to kill all the Jews. I am a Jew too.” The King turned to stare at Haman.
When Haman saw how angry the King was, he fell to his knees and begged for mercy. But King Xerxes would not listen. He ordered his soldiers to kill Haman.
Esther, Mordecai, and all the Jewish people were safe again! Because Esther was brave and trusted in God, she was able to help save the Jews. Everyone praised God.
How did God help Esther and Mordecai? What do you think you should do when you're facing a big problem like Esther and Mordecai faced?
Week commencing 25.10.15
DAY 1
Read Philippians 2:15
How can we ‘blameless and pure’?
Without God, your character is sinful. You’re born that way. But when you ask God to forgive you and choose to follow Jesus, HE makes you ‘blameless and pure’. Also, the Holy Spirit will help you become more like Jesus. Look at the choices you make, the thoughts you think, and the way your heart feels. When you notice those things don’t show God’s way, pray for God’s power to say, “No!” to sin and “Yes!” to letting God’s Holy Spirit change you.
What kind of person are you on the inside? Follow Jesus and let God’s Holy Spirit change you. Let your character shine like stars, so others can see what Jesus is like!
DAY 2
Read Galatians 5:22-23
When you choose to follow Jesus and start spending time building your friendship with God, your character changes. But how can you tell if you’re really acting more like Jesus? Look for the fruit of God’s Holy Spirit! If you’re getting better at showing love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, your character is growing to be like Jesus!
DAY 3
Read Proverbs 12:22
When you lie, not only is it detestable to God, but it is detestable to other people. Think of a time someone lied to you or about you. It hurts, and makes you feel sad, mad, and bad! When you’re tempted to lie about someone, or you hear others lying about someone, show honest, godly character by standing up for the truth!
DAY 4
Read James 4:17
When there’s a job to do, what do you do about it? Do you just look at it and wait for someone else to do it? No way! The Bible says that’s sin in James 4:17! Step out and shine and take INITIATIVE! Do the job, and do it until it’s done!
Nehemiah was a man in the Bible that had a BIG job to do. God told him to build walls around an entire CITY! That’s a huge wall! Nehemiah knew it would be really hard work, but he also knew that it really needed to be done so that the city of Jerusalem would be safe. Nehemiah stepped up, took initiative, worked hard, and trusted God’s power to get the job done.
DAY 5
Read 1 Thessalonians 5:18
We’re learning about becoming like Jesus, or, godly character—and godly character is thankful, no matter what. One way to show thankfulness to God is to sing and say good things to Him. It’s hard to feel greedy, jealous, or whiny when you’re singing or speaking words of thanks! Any time you’re tempted to complain or grumble, sing a song and speak to God to remind your heart of all you have to be thankful for.
Week commencing 18.10.15
Josiah was a king in the Old Testament. He was the king of Judah. But . . .
Josiah was only eight years old when he became king!
Let’s see, when I was 8 I was in second grade learning about maths, cursive, and how to behave in class. But not Josiah. Josiah had to lead a whole nation!
Let’s see, when I was 8 I was in second grade learning about maths, cursive, and how to behave in class. But not Josiah. Josiah had to lead a whole nation!
Back then, when the king died, his son became the next king. It didn’t matter how old you were. Whether he wanted to be king or not, Josiah was the man and he had to step up. And you know what makes it even worse? Josiah’s dad wasn’t a good guy. He did bad things to his own people and he mocked God. He totally disobeyed God’s rules and worshipped idols.
Idols are things that are not God.
Josiah had a choice to make. He could be like his dad or be a good king, one that honours God.
What kind of king would you be? Would you be more like your dad, even if he was a bad guy, or would you try to be different? I bet that was a really tough decision for Josiah to make. Parents are supposed to be our role models. Josiah needed some major help if he was going to turn things around.
Josiah had a choice to make. He could be like his dad or be a good king, one that honours God.
What kind of king would you be? Would you be more like your dad, even if he was a bad guy, or would you try to be different? I bet that was a really tough decision for Josiah to make. Parents are supposed to be our role models. Josiah needed some major help if he was going to turn things around.
One day, Josiah told some people to go to the temple (like our church) to clean it up. It hadn’t been used in a while. They found a really old book called a scroll with God’s law written on it. It would be like finding the Bible today! God’s words are written in the Bible!
Josiah had never seen God’s words before. His father never taught him about God. So when he read it, he realized his people were going in the wrong direction. So, what did Josiah do?
Isn’t that cool! By now he was 16 years old. That’s still pretty young to make an important decision like that. But do you know how he had the strength to do that?
Josiah read God’s Word and obeyed it.
He knew God’s way was best.
He knew God’s way was best.
The Bible has God’s words written in it.
God’s word helped Josiah to know how to lead the people. He not only read it, he obeyed it. And that was pleasing to God. The Bible shows us how to honour God. What about you? Do you know much about God’s Word, the Bible? You may not be king of a nation but you can still use the Bible in your life, too.
God’s word helped Josiah to know how to lead the people. He not only read it, he obeyed it. And that was pleasing to God. The Bible shows us how to honour God. What about you? Do you know much about God’s Word, the Bible? You may not be king of a nation but you can still use the Bible in your life, too.
What can you do with God’s word?
You can read it, obey it, and share the Word of God which is the Bible.
1. Read it. You will never know what honours God if you don’t read it.
2. Obey it. We honour God when we do as He says.
3. Share it. Tell your friends about Jesus and all the other cool stories of how God loves us and protects us.
Josiah may have just been a kid, but he’s a star because he followed God by obeying His word.
1. How can you use the Bible in your life?
3. Write down what you are going to do as a result of what you have learnt about God’s Word, the Bible.
Week commencing 11.10.15
Meeting Our Needs
Read: Philippians 4:19 - “And my God shall supply all your need according to
His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
Also read: 1 Kings 17:1-16
The month of December started off to be a very difficult month for Mrs. Jones and her two children. Mrs. Jones was a single parent who worked full time for the local newspaper.
Mrs. Jones was told that the newspaper was cutting back on their budget, and they could not afford to keep all of the people who worked there. Since Mrs. Jones was one of the last people hired at the newspaper, she would be one of the first people to lose her job.
According to Mr. Hopkins, Mrs. Jones boss, her last day would be in exactly one week.
What would Mrs. Jones do? She had no way to pay for her rent, electricity and gas bills, or food, and Christmas coming up.
This was certainly a very hard thing for the Jones family. Who would they turn to for protection? The good news is that Mrs. Jones was a Christian. The very first thing she did when she found out about losing her job was to turn all of her cares and problems over to the Lord. She knew, through reading the Bible, that God would take care of her needs (Luke 12:28-30). Mrs. Jones had complete trust in the Lord.
Sometimes, we must go through difficult times so that our trust in God can grow bigger. Sure enough! After praying, the Lord provided a new job within a week for Mrs. Jones. This job even paid more than the last one. Mrs. Jones and her children thanked the Lord together and had a very happy Christmas season.
After reading 1 Kings 17:1-16, we can see how God provided for the needs of Elijah and the poor widow. God is true to His Word! God is the provider who meets the needs of His children.
Tell God about your needs and trust Him to provide for you. He may do it in a way you do not expect, take longer than you think He should, or He may meet a need you do not even know you have. But you can be confident He will provide (Philippians 4:19).
• What is the difference between a want and a need?
• What are some of your needs?
• How can you be confident that God will provide your needs?
• How can you help others who are in need of something?
Week commencing 16/8/15
In Junior edge we are learning about the next step in becoming ‘Stars’: Trust in the Lord.
Trusting God. It’s not always easy, is it? It seems a lot easier to trust God when everything is going well . . . but it seems much harder when things aren’t going right. Instead we worry and become scared.
God knows what we are like and so he has given us many verses in the Bible that remind us to trust him and not worry.
Check out these verses. You may even like to write them down so that the next time you are worried, anxious or afraid you can read them and remind yourself that God is there, caring for you.
Isaiah 40:31
Isaiah 41:10
Philippians 4:6-7
1 Peter 5:7
Try this:
You’ll need:
Cornflour
Water
Bowl
Spoon
Measuring spoons
1. Mix 1 heaped tablespoon of cornflour with 2 teaspoons water.
2. Pick up the goo and quickly move it around with your fingers.
3. Then place the goo ball in the centre of your hand.
Imagine that this goo is something that you are worried about. The more we keep trying to ‘handle’ our fears on our own, the more anxious we become. Now stop!
See how quickly your ‘worries’ melt when you stop trying to ‘handle’ your problems on your own?
COOL, HUH?
Think of one thing you’re worried about today. Now pray – and quit worrying!
Week commencing 9/8/15
Find a Bible story book and read the stories of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, Daniel and Joseph. Then read Exodus 23:2 “Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong.”
Have you ever been pressured by your friends or classmates to do something you know is not what God would want? Have you ever done what others are doing even though you knew in your heart it was wrong? Have you ever not done something you knew you should do because of you were afraid of what others would think?
Then think about Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, Daniel and Joseph.
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego faced pressure to bow down to a golden statue; Daniel faced pressure to stop praying and Joseph faced pressure to give up because life was so hard for him.
What did they do? Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused to bow down to anyone or anything but God; Daniel refused to stop praying and Joseph refused to be dishonoured. They all chose to be different and didn’t follow the crowd in doing wrong.
What about you? The next time you are pressured to do something wrong or feeling pressure not to do something right, tell God about the pressure you are experiencing. Ask him for his wisdom and strength. God took care of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, Daniel and Joseph, and he wants to help you too!
Others may try and get us to do
What we feel may not be right,
Don't give in to the pressure to please,
But do what pleases Christ.
What we feel may not be right,
Don't give in to the pressure to please,
But do what pleases Christ.
Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. - Romans 12: 2 (MSG)
Easter Devotions from Children’s Ministry Magazine
Week commencing 29.3.2015
Read Mark 11:1-11.
Make palm-leaf cookies by following these steps:
1. Cut cookie dough into 4 X 1cm strips.
2. Place aluminium foil on a cookie sheet and grease lightly.
3. Roll the cookie dough strips and shape them into an outline of a palm leaf on the foil. Close all edges in the outline.
4. Crush hard green lollies in a bag with a hammer, and sprinkle to fill in the cookie centre.
5. Bake at 180 degrees for about eight minutes.
With your family, contrast the sweetness of the cookies with the harshness of breaking the candies with a hammer. Tell your children that this was a sweet day for Jesus, but he knew that soon he would be broken–or would die — for our sins.
MONDAY 30th March
Read Mark 11:15-18.
This area of the temple was the place non-Jews could come to pray, but it had become a dirty, noisy, unworshipful place.
Together with your family, decorate a worship space in your home for Easter Week. Include a Bible, candles, and an area to display the items you’ll use this week. A small, bare tree branch laced with white Christmas lights makes a nice backdrop.
You can review these items at the beginning of each devotion. Light the candles or turn on the lights only during devotions to keep it special and meaningful.
TUESDAY 31st March
Read Mark 14:3-9.
This woman gave Jesus a gift that was very precious. We can give gifts that come from our heart, too.
Have each family member share something he or she can do to honour Jesus. As each person shares, spray perfume into the air or on the person.
Decorate a beautiful piece of paper and form a cylinder around the perfume bottle for display at your family worship space.
WEDNESDAY 1st April
Read Matthew 26:14-16.
You’ll need 30 5 cent or 10 cent coins. Judas betrayed Jesus for about 120 days wages. Count the coins and place them at your family worship space.
Was Jesus’ life on earth worth more than 30 pieces of silver? Why or why not? What is the true value of Jesus’ life to your family?
THURSDAY 2nd April
Read John 13:1-5.
Jesus washed his disciples’ feet to show his love. With your family, get a bowl, a bar of soap, and paper towels. Take turns washing each other’s hands and drying them as you express love to each other.
Display the soap at your family worship space.
GOOD FRIDAY 3rd April
Read Mark 15:21-39.
You’ll need two large nails, light gauge wire, and a shoelace. Follow these steps:
1. Lay the nails across each other like a cross, then start wrapping the wire around the point where the nails intersect to bind the nails into a cross.
2. Crisscross the wire in the centre.
3. Think about an event of the Crucifixion with each wrap.
4. Wrap more wire around the top and make a loop to hold the shoelace.
Wear this as a cross to remember that Jesus died for you on Good Friday.
SATURDAY 4th April
Read Mark 15:42-47.
With your family, take turns wrapping each other in toilet paper just as Jesus may have looked when prepared for burial. Talk about how the disciples might have felt when all their hopes seemed destroyed when Jesus died.
What do you want to say to Jesus to thank him for dying for you?
The burial wasn’t the end of the story, but it was a very sad day for Jesus’ friends.
EASTER SUNDAY 5th April
Read Luke 24:1-9.
You’ll need cupcakes and a trick re-lighting candle.
Light the candle and think about how Jesus came to be the light of the world. On Saturday, it looked like the light had been blown out.
Blow out the candle and wait in silence while the flame is gone. When the flame comes back, celebrate!
Nothing can ever snuff out Jesus, the light of the world.
TERM 1 2015
Week beginning 1/3/15
Read Psalm 139:1–6
We all want to have friends who pay attention to us and care about us. We like to be noticed, to feel loved and important. Sometimes we get jealous when we see other people getting more attention. For example, if you have a brother or sister, you might feel jealous when your parents seem to spend more time with him or her.
Everyone wants to be included in a group. It feels bad when you are left out and no-one wants to hang out with you.
We all feel lonely or left out sometimes. But when you think about how much God loves you and cares for you, it can help you to feel better. Even if no one seems to care about you, or pay attention to you, you can know that God sees you and knows you.
God knows when you sit down, when you get up, and he knows what you are thinking. (see verses 2&3) God knows when you go somewhere and when you come home, and he knows how you feel and act. He knows what you will say when your mother tells you that you have to do your music practice. He knows what you will do when your mother tells you it is time to get up. God even knows every word that you are going to speak, and the words you are thinking and didn't say.
Does that all seem hard to believe - that God could know you so well? David, who wrote this Psalm, thought so too. He said, "I can’t understand all of this! Such wonderful knowledge is far above me." (verse 6)
It is amazing that God could know us so well and still love us. He knows everything about us, the good and the bad, and he still loves us. That is wonderful, isn't it?
Read Psalm 139:7–12
Next David thinks about where he could go to get away from God. He's not trying to get away but he's trying to think if there's any place that God wouldn't be able to find him.
Do you think there is a place you could go where God wouldn't be able to find you?
The way David describes it, I think of superhero's. Imagine you could fly as high as the moon or even higher; God would be there. Imagine if you could drill a deep, deep whole right to the middle of the earth, God would be there too!
What if you hid in your darkest cupboard. Would God find you? Yes! We might think it’s dark and no one can see us but God is light, he doesn't see the darkness at all!
There is no place on earth or beyond that you could hide where God wouldn't find you. He is always keeping track of you! Hide and seek won't work with God, he knows where you're going to hide before you get there!
Read Psalm 139:13–16
The next part David discusses is about before we were born! Do you think God knew you BEFORE you were born? The answer is yes!
God put you together when you were as tiny as a marble and even smaller! He had big plans for how you would look, what you would be like; He was part of it all.
He knew all about you when you were still inside your mother's tummy. Every tiny freckle, the colour of your hair, even that one funny birthmark that you have that no one else has, is all the work of God.
Even now God knows how you’re growing and changing, what you like and don't like. He has big plans for your life and he's hoping you'll keep looking to Him so you can be the very best you can be.
And another thing, God doesn't make junk! He made you beautiful and precious and in his perfect way. So don't let anyone think that you're not good enough or pretty enough. You were planned and made by the God of the universe who made you special and different from everyone else!
Read Psalm 139:17–18
God is amazing! David started to think about all of God's thoughts. How many thoughts He must have! If you took all the sand from all the world and counted each small grain of it; God would still have more thoughts than all of that!
Read Psalm 139:23–24
So whenever you're feeling bad about yourself or alone remember Psalm 139 and how you can never get away from God, He is always with us, cheering for us along the way.
TERM 4 2014
Week beginning 12th October
Sheep or Goat
Read Matthew 25:31-46
In these verses Jesus says He is like a Shepherd who must separate His sheep from the goats. The sheep will be accepted and rewarded. Sadly, the goats will be separated from the shepherd and punished.
This parable is really a story about us. It is the truth that some people will be with Jesus forever (sheep) while others will not (goats).
So how can we be sure that we will be one of the ‘sheep’? By asking Jesus to be our Forever Friend and choosing to live God’s way.
When we ask God to forgive us and choose to follow him, the Holy Spirit gives us a complete heart change – it’s a bit like changing from a goat to a sheep! We go from being a selfish ‘goat’ who thinks only of himself, to a ‘sheep’ who follows and trusts his shepherd (Jesus).
Looking around our ‘paddock’ (our homes, schools, sports grounds and churches), the sheep look a lot like the goats. We can’t tell them apart just looking, but the Shepherd knows His sheep.
Tomorrow we will see that our actions give proof of our heart condition.
What is the condition of your heart? Are you a like sheep that trusts the Shepherd, or like a goat that has not yet asked Jesus to be your Forever Friend? Jesus, the good Shepherd, wants you to know Him and follow Him (John 10:27).
Outpouring
Read John 13:35
Go to your kitchen and get an empty cup. Take the cup and turn it sideways. What pours out of it? Nothing pours out of an empty cup! Now fill the cup with water. Tilt it over your sink. What pours out? Water of course!
Whatever is in us will pour out of us. The people whom Jesus called “sheep” were filled with the love of Jesus. That’s how they were able to pour loving kindness onto others. They loved even the least important people. They gave unselfishly to those who could not give them anything in return.
The true mark of a follower of Jesus is that he treats other people with love.
This is why Jesus said that those who helped the poor, the sick, the hungry, and the prisoners were truly His followers. Doing these things did not make them right with God. They did these things because they were right with God and filled with His love.
Put your cup in the kitchen sink and fill it to the top with water. Now bump the glass. Because the cup is so full, the slightest movement causes water to spill out. When you spend time reading the Bible, praying, and listening to his voice, you will be so full of God’s love that it would be impossible not to spill His love out onto others!Selfless love
Read Matthew 25:40, 45
When Jesus spoke of the “goats,” He was talking about those who did not follow Him. They did not have His love to share with others. Jesus said that they had treated Him badly. They didn’t feed Him when He was hungry; they didn’t take care of Him when He was sick. The people were shocked by this news. They could not remember a time when they saw the Jesus in need. Surely they would have helped him if He needed it. Jesus said:
The “goats” would have helped a King, but they had never helped a common, regular person. They would have helped a King because the King would have rewarded them in return. Their help would have been motivated by selfish reasons. In their minds, they had nothing to gain by helping a common person. What could a poor, needy person possibly give them in return?
Selfish help is not what Jesus is looking for. Jesus gave each of us the ultimate help: He died to take away our sin. What could we give Him in return? Absolutely nothing. He helped us because of His unselfish love. When we are filled with the unselfish love of Jesus, that unselfish love will pour out onto others. We will help when there is nothing for us to gain in return.
Something to do
Think of one kind act that you can do TODAY without get anything in return - not even a word of praise. Maybe you can make your sister’s bed in secret, or unload the dishwasher without being asked. See how quietly you can do a kind, unselfish deed. Remember, you are doing it for Jesus.
Head and body
Read 1 Corinthians 12:27
Why do you think Jesus said the “sheep” were kind to Him and the “goats” were unkind to Him, even though those people had never actually seen Jesus?
People who believe in Jesus are called the “body of Christ.”
Jesus is the “Head” of the body (Ephesians 5:23). Nothing can happen in the body that the head does not know about. The head can always feel what happens in the body.
Ask your mom or dad to pinch your hand. Can you feel it? Of course you can! When one part of the body is hurt, your head knows it. Now ask for a nice shoulder rub. Your head knows that feels great. In the same way, Jesus hurts when we are hurt, and He is happy when we are loved and taken care of.
Isn’t it amazing that Jesus loves His people so much? There is no other king who is this connected with his people. No other king loves his people this much.
The Bible says that we are in Jesus, and He is in us (John 15:4). If you are a Forever Friend of Jesus, whatever is done to you is also done to Jesus. He feels everything that you feel. You can always turn to Him, knowing that He is your caring King.
Favourless
Read Romans 2:11
What if everyone wore the same mask so that you couldn’t tell one person from another? You couldn’t tell your sister from your mum, or your teacher from your best friend. How would you treat people then? Would you speak respectfully to everyone - just in case it was your principal you were talking to?
The Bible says that God does not have favourites. He treats everyone the same.
He does not favour kings over carpenters. He does not treat movie stars differently than the poor person in China. God wants to be friends with every person, rich or poor, famous or unknown. God gives everyone the same opportunity to know Him.
Since treating people equally is part of God’s character, we, too, should treat everyone the same. We should not treat our best friend better than we treat our little brother. In fact, we should treat our little brother as well as we treat our best friend. We should treat every person like we want to be treated (Matthew 7:12). With God’s help, we should treat each person as well as we would treat Jesus!Something to do
Make a name tag for each person in your family, but trade names with each other. Wear the name tags for a few hours to remind yourself that you should treat every person equally well.
TERM 3 2014
Week beginning 17/8/14
A MIRROR
ABRAHAM OBEYS
A DISOBEDIENT KING
God went with the Israelites into battle and promised to fight for them and give them victory. He did this to show other nations that He is the Lord. His plan was to have Israel clear all of the foreign nations out of the land that He had promised them as a gift. King Ahab chose to let the king of the Arameans stay alive, rather than putting him to death as God had commanded. God sent Elijah to show Ahab how unhappy He was with what Ahab had done. Ahab became sullen and angry because he didn’t like his discipline.
EXTREME OBEDIENCE
Week beginning 27/7/14
Week beginning 17/8/14
A MIRROR
ABRAHAM OBEYS
Read Genesis 12:1-5
Did Abram know exactly where he was supposed to go?
Did Abram wait to think about what God asked him to do?
Read the first three words in verse 4. How did Abram obey?
Does God always give us all the details when he asks us to do something?
When God, or your parents, ask you to do something, should you obey immediately or wait to think about it?
Did Abram talk back to God or say he didn’t like what God asked him to do?
What is God telling you to think or do differently today?
A DISOBEDIENT KING
Read Deuteronomy 20:16-18 and 1 Kings 20:26-43
What were the instructions God gave to King Ahab?
What did King Ahab do?
Did he deserve to be punished?
God went with the Israelites into battle and promised to fight for them and give them victory. He did this to show other nations that He is the Lord. His plan was to have Israel clear all of the foreign nations out of the land that He had promised them as a gift. King Ahab chose to let the king of the Arameans stay alive, rather than putting him to death as God had commanded. God sent Elijah to show Ahab how unhappy He was with what Ahab had done. Ahab became sullen and angry because he didn’t like his discipline.
EXTREME OBEDIENCE
Read 2 Kings 18:1-12
How old was Hezekiah when he became king?
Does being young excuse us from being obedient?
How did God bless Hezekiah’s obedience?
What happened to King Hoshea and the Israelites when they were disobedient?
What had they done?
What do you need to do when you read God’s instructions for you in the Bible?
Week beginning 27/7/14
OUR INSTRUCTION MANUAL
Read 2 Timothy 3:16
Try writing the verse in your own words.
Without God’s Word, the Bible, it’s impossible to know how to live a life that pleases him.
Just for fun try this:
1. Hold one end of a piece of rope in each hand, and tie a knot without letting go of the ends.
Seems impossible? There’s a solution!
2. Lay the rope out straight on a table.
3. Cross your arms over your chest, then lean over and pick up the ends of the rope with your arms still crossed.
4. Unfold your arms.
THERE’S THE KNOT YOU WERE TRYING TO TIE!
Just like you needed instructions to tie that knot, you need instructions to live God’s way. Those instructions are found in the Bible. But we will only know what those instructions are if we read and study the Bible regularly.
Here are some of God’s instructions. Each day look one of them up, read it and then write it out in your own words:
Proverbs 25:17
Colossians 3:20
Colossians 3:23
Ephesians 4:31,32
1 Peter 3:9
Galatians 6:9, 10
Philippians 4:6-7
Proverbs 3:5-6
Hebrews 13:5
Philippians 2: 3-4
Week beginning 20/7/14
THE LIGHT THAT SHOWS THE WAY
Find Psalm 119 in your Bible, then find and read the following verses: 105, 130
Each day we have choices to make; but how do we know what choice is the right one? How do we know the things God wants us to do?
Some people use their feelings to help them to decide what they should do. That's no good. Our feelings change from day to day and they cannot be trusted. Besides that, just because we feel good about something doesn't mean that it is the right thing to do.
Some people choose what they will do by what's popular. That is no good either. Just because everyone else is doing it doesn't mean that it is the right thing to do, does it?
There is only one thing that we can trust to always point us in the right direction, and that is the Bible. The Bible is like a light that shows us God’s way to live.
JOSIAH DISCOVERS THE LIGHT
Read 2 Kings 22:1-13, 23:1-3
Each day we have choices to make; but how do we know what choice is the right one? How do we know the things God wants us to do?
Questions:
1. How old was Josiah when he became king?
2. Where was the Book of Law found?
3. What were the people doing in the temple?
4. What did Josiah do after hearing the words from the Book of Law?
5. Why was Josiah worried God would be angry?
6. What did Josiah do next?
2. Where was the Book of Law found?
3. What were the people doing in the temple?
4. What did Josiah do after hearing the words from the Book of Law?
5. Why was Josiah worried God would be angry?
6. What did Josiah do next?
God's Word is our guide in life. But it does no good if we don't know what His Word says. That's why it is important to read and study the Bible. The people in Josiah's time had an excuse - they didn't know where the Word of God was, so they couldn't read it. But we can easily get a Bible. We have no excuse for not knowing what God's Word says. Remember, God's Word is like a lamp, a light to show us God’s way.
THE BIBLE - THE LIGHT THAT SHOWS THE WAY
Instructions: read carefully all of the following situations. Then, look up the verses and match them to the correct situation.
Ephesians 6:1-3 Ephesians 2:8,9 Psalm 55:22 Matthew 5:1
John 8:12 Luke 18:14b
1. Your friend wants to go to church, but he is worried about what others might think of him.
What verse could you use?
2. Things are not going very well for Sue right now. Maybe when things are better, she will feel worthy to go to church.
What verse could you share?
3. My parents told me not to go to Tom’s place today but I don't care. I'll go anyway, they will never know.
What verse covers this situation?
4. You are very afraid of the dark.
What verse can help you?
5. You are jealous of Susan, because she is so cool. She is very popular and has a lot of friends.
What verse shows you what you should do?
6. Zac thinks he will get to heaven because he doesn’t steal or murder or even lie much. In fact, he thinks he is pretty good.
What verse could share with Zac?
Week beginning 13/7/14
Another name for the Bible is Scripture. The Bible is also known as the Word of God. Do you believe the Bible? Why? Has anyone ever told you that they don't believe the Bible? Many people unfortunately think the Bible is just another long boring book. But of course the Bible is not just another book, it was given to man from God to show Jesus Christ as our Savior.From Genesis, the very first book, to Revelation, the last book, the purpose of the Bible is Jesus. In John 5:39 Jesus himself says, "The Scriptures tell you about me." But what can we say to people who just don't believe the Bible is the word of God? Let's look up some verses that may help us understand the importance and truth of the Bible.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
1. Where does the Bible come from?
2. What is the Bible good for? 1. Where does the Bible come from?
2 Peter 1:20-21
1. Did people make up the things that are in the Bible?
2. Who helped them write the Bible?
1. Did people make up the things that are in the Bible?
2. Who helped them write the Bible?
Psalm 119:160
1. What can you say to someone who says the Bible isn't true?
2. Does what is in the Bible ever need to be changed?
1. What can you say to someone who says the Bible isn't true?
2. Does what is in the Bible ever need to be changed?
1 Corinthians 2:14
How can we really understand the Bible?
How can we really understand the Bible?
The Bible is like a sword? That may sound a bit weird! A sword is sharp and used for battle, so how can the Bible be like a sword? Well, the Bible is sharp also. And the Bible is used for spiritual battle. The Word of God contains the truth, and the truth can be sharper than any two edged sword. When people hear the truth, they must make a decision, follow the truth, or fight against it. And fighting against the truth can be quite difficult. In the end, it is a losing battle.
Read Hebrews 4:12
1. How is the Bible described in this verse?
2. What does it mean that the Bible is living and active?
3. What does the Bible do?
1. How is the Bible described in this verse?
2. What does it mean that the Bible is living and active?
3. What does the Bible do?
TERM 2 2014
Week beginning 11/5/14
Better to work Together
Learn from the ants
Read: Proverbs 6:6Have you ever stopped to watch a colony of ants next to their anthill? What did you see?
You probably saw the ants all scurrying around in all different directions going in and out of the anthill, bringing in bits of animal parts, seeds, and other things and bringing out little rocks and plant materials. They all seem to be doing something, don't they?
Did you ever see any of the ants just sitting around watching the other ants work? Did you ever see an ant just sitting there waiting for someone to tell him what to do? No. Every colony of ants has a queen ant, but she doesn't tell them what to do. She doesn't organize them or give them pep talks. She's too busy laying eggs. She lays eggs all day long.
All the ants in the colony have a job to do. There are lots of things to do in an ant colony. Some of the ants help take care of the larva or baby ants. The anthill has to be kept clean and in good repair. New quarters have to be built as the colony grows. The anthill has to be protected. Some of the ants have to go out and find food and then carry it back to the nest. All the ants have a job to do and they do it. They don't worry about whose doing what or how hard they're working. They do the job they were created to do.
They don't need someone to tell them it is time to get to work, or remind them what has to be done. They just do whatever they can to keep the colony going. What would happen if the ants didn't do this? What if a little ant saw some rubbish lying on the floor of the colony and she said to herself, "I didn't put it there, so I'm not picking it up. I didn't make the mess, so I don't have to clean it up." The colony would soon become clogged with rubbish. God made the ants. He gave each one a job and they do it. They work together as a team, each doing their part.
It is the same with the church. God has given each of us something that we are good at so that we can work together, each doing our own part, so that the church can be a better place.
Honey that is stored in an airtight container will never go bad! Did you know that they found honey in sealed containers in King Tut’s tomb and it was still edible even though it was over 2,000 years old?
Bees have to fly about 55,000 miles in order to make 500g of honey.
But most important is that it takes about 560 bees to make 500g of honey. How do you think it would work if one bee decided to fly off on his own and make honey all by himself? Do you think that would be a good idea? Of course not! He would only ever be able to produce a few drops on his own.
A lesson from a loom band
Read: 1 Corinthians 12:21-26
Loom bands have become very popular. Have you ever made one? The cool thing about loom bands is that they are made from heaps of little rubber bands.
What happens if you cut a loom band in half? The whole thing comes apart! Every one of those little elastic bands is important for if just one of them breaks then the whole band comes apart. Not one of those bands are more or less important than another.
Who do you think are the most important people in our church?
What does 1 Corinthians 12:21-26 say about who are the most important?
Every single person plays an important part in the church. No-one can say they are more or less important than someone else. We are all important because God has given each of us a special part to play. Each of us need to do our bit. We need to work together – then we can accomplish much more than we can alone.
Week beginning 27/4/14
Better to help and encourage Together
Meet Barnabas
Read: ACTS 4:32-37
The first Christians cared for each other; they helped and encouraged one another. No-one was forced to sell their possessions or land but they did it out of love for Jesus and one another, and they used it to help those in need. As a result, none of the believers went hungry or cold. They gave their money to the apostles (Jesus’ disciples) and the apostles gave it to the needy people.
One member of the early Church was nick-named Barnabas by the disciples.
Why did they call him ‘Barnabas’?
What did Barnabas do?
Barnabas and Saul (Paul)
Read: ACTS 9:19b-27
Saul used to be a big bully. He looked for Christians and had them thrown into jail. But then Saul became a Christian, too, and started telling others about Jesus. However, the Christians in the Jerusalem church were suspicious of him. They thought it was a trick to catch more Christians and have them imprisoned.
What did Barnabas do?
Did he live up to his name?
Barnabas and new Christians
Read: ACTS 11:19-24
The first Christians were treated badly. Many people wanted to get rid of them. Stephen was the first Christian to be killed because he believed in Jesus. This caused a lot of Christians to leave Jerusalem and go to places where they were less likely to be badly treated. Wherever they went, they told about Jesus and more and more people became Christians.
How did Barnabas live up to his name?
Barnabas and me
Read: 1 Thessalonians 5:11
Do you think Barnabas did what this verse says?
How might you encourage someone and build them up? – at home, at church, at school, at play
Be an encourager!
God wants us to encourage each other in both the things we say and the things we do. Here are some things you can do this week:
1. Call someone who wasn’t at Junior edge this week.
2. Invite someone from Junior Edge to your place (with your parents’ permission, of course), particularly someone who is new or doesn’t know many kids at Edge.
3. Write an encouraging letter to Nathanael, Jess, your group leader or someone else at Edge Church. Tell them how you appreciate what they do.
4. Send a card to an elderly person from church, letting them know you are thinking of them.
TERM 1 2014
Week beginning 9/2/14
Jonah learns to obey the hard way.
Read Jonah 1-2
1. What did God ask Jonah to do?
2. What did Jonah do instead? Was he living God’s way or his own way?
3. What happened to Jonah when he tried to run away from God?
4. What are some times when you have ‘run away’ from God? (When you haven’t done what God wants you to do)
Moses obeys, but only halfway.
Read Numbers 20:2-13
1. Have you ever been asked to put away your toys, but you only put a few away?
2. Can you think of other times when you didn’t do exactly as you were told?
3. Do you think that obeying only part-way is wrong?
4. What did God ask Moses to do?
5. What did Moses do instead?
6. How did God feel about what Moses did?
7. What did God do?
8. How do you think God feels when we only partly do what he says?
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego obey when it is hard
Read Daniel 3
1. Is it always easy to obey?
2. Do you think it was easy for Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to obey God?
3. How did God reward their obedience?
4. Can you think of times when it was hard to do what God wanted you to do?
Sometimes it is hard to live God’s way, but God has promised to help us .Remember, God’s way is ALWAYS the best way!
GAME: Follow the Leader
Play the traditional game of Follow the Leader. Begin by acting as the leader yourself, then allow each child to take turns as leader.
Have a short discussion with your child, explaining that followers of Jesus try to live like Jesus by following his example.
ACTIVITY: ‘Flopped’ cookies
Make a batch of favourite cookies, muffins or cupcakes, following a recipe.
Next, make a second, smaller batch without following the recipe (eg use plain flour instead of self-raising flour or leave out a vital ingredient). Tell your child that you don’t need a recipe, you’re just ‘making it up as you go’.
After comparing the two batches, talk to your children about the importance of following instructions. Use this to lead into a discussion on the importance of following God’s instructions.
Creative Prayer:
Paint your child’s feet with washable paint, and have them make footprints across the paper.
Explain to your child what ‘following in someone’s footprints’ mean.
Remind your child that Jesus calls us to ‘follow in his footsteps’; to live like he did; to live God’s way and not our own way.
Pray together, asking God to help you follow Jesus and live His way.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Bible tells us that Jesus knew He was about to die on the cross so He went to a garden to pray. Jesus was very sad and troubled. Luke describes Jesus as being in anguish (Luke 22:44). Jesus knew that death on a cross was really bad and he didn’t want to go through with it. But Jesus prayed and He asked that God’s will be done, not His own. He said ‘no’ to wanting his own way.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Accepting those who are different
There are some things that we all need to do. Some of those things might be:
Eat Sleep Go to school Bathe or shower
Do homework Music practice Our jobs around home
Then there are some things that we do because we enjoy them. Some of those things might be:
Read books Watch TV Go to ballet Play computer games
Play with friends Ride your bike
Some things are fun and easy to do while other things might be more difficult. We might be tempted to do the fun and easy things first and leave the other things to do later—if we have time.
We must remember that all of these things may be good, but some are more important than others.
Jesus wants you and me to follow him too. If he were here speaking to us today, he might say to us, "It's OK for you to have lots of things to do, but you need to make sure that you keep first things first, and the first thing on your list must be to follow me."
There are many good things that we do each day, but the most important thing is to follow Jesus. Let's remember to keep first things first.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we understand that it isn't always easy to follow Jesus, but nothing in life is more important. Help us to make following Jesus the number one thing in our life. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
Art: Take a paper circle and make a pie chart/graph that shows how you spend your time. For example, if most of your time is at school, colour that in as the largest piece. Use other colours and pieces to show how much time is spent on sleeping, eating, sports, homework, family, TV, computer games, friends, etc.
There was a servant who owed a king a very large amount of money. He deserved to lose everything that he had to pay the debt, but the king had mercy on him and cancelled the debt.
No pay-back – Forgive!
Make this beautiful ‘stained glass’ cross, then hang it in a prominent place to remind you to practice forgiveness. You will need transparent packing tape and tissue paper in a variety of colours.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Week beginning 16/2/14
SAYING NO TO SIN
Parents: After reading the passage, take a few moments to review the story. If the passage is too complex for your child, paraphrase the story yourself, use a child’s Bible story book or use the summaries here.
God’s way, not mine
Read Matthew 26:36-46The Bible tells us that Jesus knew He was about to die on the cross so He went to a garden to pray. Jesus was very sad and troubled. Luke describes Jesus as being in anguish (Luke 22:44). Jesus knew that death on a cross was really bad and he didn’t want to go through with it. But Jesus prayed and He asked that God’s will be done, not His own. He said ‘no’ to wanting his own way.
As Jesus left the disciples to go and pray on His own a second time, He told them to watch and pray so that they could resist temptation. When we are in difficult situations or being tempted, we can pray and ask for God’s help too.
Questions
1. What does the Bible tell us that Jesus did?
2. Where did Jesus go to pray?
3. What did Jesus say when He prayed?
4. When Jesus left the disciples alone, why did He tell them to pray?
5. What did Jesus say when He taught the disciples to pray?
6. Can you think of a time when you wanted God’s will to be done instead of your own?
7. What can you do when you are tempted to do wrong?
Cain chooses to do the wrong thing
Read Genesis 4:1-16.
Parents: For younger children, you may wish to use the word “hurt” instead of the word “kill.”
Cain and Abel were brothers. One day, Cain and Abel both brought offerings to God. God was pleased with Abel and his offering, but he was not pleased with Cain and the offering he brought. This made Cain angry. God asked Cain why he was angry and upset.
God told Cain that if he did what was right, he too would be accepted by God. God also gave Cain a warning. God told Cain that sin would destroy him, but he mustn’t let it. He needed to resist temptation. But Cain did not listen. He took his brother out to a field and killed (hurt) him. God punished Cain by telling him that he would be a lonely wanderer for the rest of his life, living in a land where the ground would no longer grow crops for him.
Anger can cause us to do or say wrong things, too. It is one way that we can be tempted to sin. The good news is that God promises that He will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can handle and that He will also provide a way out. (Remember this week’s Bible verse?)
Questions
1. Have you ever been angry with your brother or sister?
2. Have you ever wished that you did not have a brother or a sister?
3. What jealousy is?
4. Have you ever felt jealous of someone else?
5. Why was Cain jealous and angry?
6. What did God tell Cain?
7. Did Cain listen to God’s warning?
8. Do you ever get mad?
9. What should you do when you are angry?
David chooses to do right
Read 1 Samuel 24:1-22.
King Saul was not happy with David because he was worried that God was going to make David king in his place. David was out in the desert, trying to stay away from Saul.
David and his men were hiding in a cave when Saul came into the cave to take a rest stop. He didn’t know that David was in there, hidden in the darkness.
David’s men suggested that God had sent Saul into the cave so that David could kill him. David sneaked up close to Saul, but instead of killing him, David cut off a corner of the robe Saul was wearing.
After David did this, the Bible tells us that David felt very badly about, because Saul was the man God had chosen to be the king of Israel.
After Saul left the cave, David came out of the cave and showed Saul the piece of robe that he had cut off.
David explained that some of his men had urged David to kill Saul. Saul responded by saying to David,
“You are more righteous than I. You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly. . . . May the Lord reward you well for the way you treated me today.”
Even though Saul was trying to kill David, David did not return evil for evil. Saul recognized that David was a better person than he and Saul also knew that God would reward David for his right choices.
Often we are faced with the temptation to be unkind to someone who has been unkind to us. In the Bible, God gives is instructions on what to do in these situations. Rather than paying back wrongs, we are to be kind and to live at peace with others.
When we are hurt or angry, it is easy to think we will feel better if we can get revenge. The Bible tells us that it is God’s job to judge and punish. We are to wait for God to deal with the person who has done wrong to us instead of planning to get revenge ourselves.
Questions
1. What kind of wrong things do others do to you that would tempt you with the desire to “get even”?
2. David could have killed Saul and left his body in the cave, claiming that “he didn’t do it.” Even if no one else saw the murder, who would have been watching?
3. What kinds of things are you tempted to do when it appears as though no one will find out?
4. What did David do instead of killing Saul?
5. Why was David sorry that he had cut a piece off Saul’s robe?
6. Since Saul was trying to kill David, why didn’t David kill Saul when he had the chance?
7. What did Saul say when he found out that David had had a chance to kill him, but didn’t?
8. Have you ever been tempted to get back at someone?
9. Where can you go for help when you are tempted to be unkind to someone who has hurt you?
Remember the 4 ways we can resist temptation:
PRAY and ask for help
RUN AWAY from the situation before you are tempted
SAY NO QUICKLY – don’t hesitate to say no to sin
USE THE BIBLE to fight temptation* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Week beginning 23/2/14
LOOK FOR WHAT JESUS SEES
Read Acts 10.
Parents: You may choose to paraphrase and shorten this story or use the below.
Cornelius was not a Jew but he loved and served God faithfully. People who were not Jews were called Gentiles. It was against the rules of the Jews for them to visit with Gentiles (Acts 10:28). Jews believed that they were the only people who could be a part of God’s family because God told them that they were His chosen ones.
God sent an angel to Cornelius and the angel told him to go and find a man named Peter who lived in a town called Joppa. At the same time, God told Peter that he should go with the men who had come to fetch him and take him to visit Cornelius.
When Peter went and visited Cornelius, Peter realized that God accepted everyone who loved Him and did what was right. It didn’t matter where they came from. God gave the gift of His Holy Spirit to Cornelius and his family that day. Peter baptized them, which showed others that they were followers of Jesus and part of God’s family.
Peter accepted Cornelius because God asked him to. God also asks us to accept others as He accepts us (Romans 15:7).
Questions
1. How was Cornelius different from Peter?
2. Why did Peter go and visit Cornelius?
3. What did Peter tell Cornelius?
4. Who can be accepted into God’s family?
5. How should we treat people who are different from us?
Blind Bart
Read Mark 10:46-52, 1 John 2:5-6 and 1 John 3:18.
Parents: To enable deeper understanding, you may choose to blindfold your children during the story or during your discussion time.
Bartimaeus had a disability. A disability is when a person has something wrong with their body that prevents them from doing things that other people can do. Bartimaeus’ disability was blindness.
Jesus was walking through a town called Jericho when He heard Bartimaeus call His name. He begged Jesus to help him. Others who heard the blind man shouting told him to be quiet. Instead of helping Bartimaeus find Jesus, they discouraged him, even though he was blind and helpless.
Bartimaeus wanted Jesus to cure his blindness. He believed that Jesus could heal him. Jesus said that because Bartimaeus had faith in Him, he would be able to see. The story tells us that immediately Bartimaeus could see.
Jesus showed love to Bartimaeus by healing him. We can show love to those who have disabilities by accepting them and being kind to them (1 John 2:5-6, 1 John 3:18).
Questions
1. What was Bartimaeus’ disability?
2. How hard would it be to find someone if you were blind?
3. What did the people do when Bartimaeus needed help?
4. What could they have done to help Bartimaeus?
5. How did Jesus show love to Bartimaeus?
6. Do you know anyone who has a disability?
7. How can you love and accept someone with a disability?
8. How should you not treat someone with a disability?
Jesus shares God’s love with the Samaritan woman at the well
Read John 4:3-42.
Parents: If the word “Saviour” is new to your children, explain that the word “Saviour” is like the word “save.” If someone helps others, they are called a helper. Because Jesus saves us from our sins, He is called our Saviour.
Jesus stopped at a well in a town called Sychar in a region called Samaria. In those days, Jews did not speak to people who came from Samaria. Jews and Samaritans hated each other and had fought with each other for many, many years.
At the well, Jesus met a Samaritan woman and asked her to give Him a drink of water. The woman was surprised that Jesus, a Jew, spoke to her. Jesus explained to the woman that He could give her much more than water; He could give her eternal life.
Because Jesus told her things about her life that no ordinary stranger could have known, the woman believed Jesus when He told her that He was the Saviour of the world (John 4:29). She went and told the people from her town about Jesus. Many other Samaritans, when they heard the woman’s story about Jesus, also believed that Jesus was the Saviour of the world. God accepted the Samaritan woman into His family. He asks us to accept others as He does.
Questions
1. Why did the woman wonder why Jesus asked her for a drink of water?
2. What did Jesus say to the woman that made her believe that He was the Saviour of the world?
3. Can you think of anyone who comes from a different country?
4. What kind of things do people from (name a country) do differently than we do here in Australia?
5. How can we show love and acceptance to someone who comes from a different country?
6. Why should we accept others?
Just for fun
Make some muffin batter. (Cupcakes or cookies can be used in place of muffins if you wish.) Prior to baking the muffins, scoop out enough batter to make just a few muffins and place it in a separate bowl.
Add ¼ to ½ cup of salt to that small amount of batter and mix it well. Keep track of the salty ones when you bake them.
After the muffins are baked, decorate the salty ones with icing and sprinkles. Leave the regular muffins plain. Allow your children to choose a muffin to eat. It is most likely that they will want the nicely decorated ones.
After they have tasted a salty muffin and decide that they don’t want to eat it, give them a regular muffin. For children who choose the plain muffin, you can tell them they chose wisely and have them sample the salty one anyway.
Review the questions for discussion below as you enjoy eating the regular muffins. The key points to emphasize are that appearances don’t tell us everything we need to know about others. We need to take the time to get to know others by asking them questions about themselves and spending time with them. This is how we can learn to appreciate people for who they really are, rather than judging them by how they look.
Questions
• How are some kids different from others?
• How do you choose which children you will play with?
• Which kids often get left out?
• Have you ever met someone who is like the plain muffin?
• Have you ever met someone who is like the muffin with sprinkles?
• What kind of people does God love – those who are like the salty muffins, or those like the plain muffins?
• Who does God want us to love?
Week beginning 9/3/14
FLIP WHAT”S FIRST
The Most Important Thing
Read Matthew 13:44,45
Parents: You may choose to paraphrase and shorten this story or use the below.
Jesus said that following and obeying Jesus is so important that it is like a man who found some buried treasure in a field. The field didn’t belong to him, so he couldn’t just take the treasure. What he did was to bury the treasure again, then he went and sold everything he had so that he could buy the field and the treasure would then be his.
Jesus then went on to tell about another man who found a beautiful pearl that was worth heaps! This man, also, sold everything he had so that he could buy that pearl!
That’s how important those treasures were to those men. They were more important than anything else they had! That’s how important following Jesus should be to us! Jesus is so great, so valuable, that there is nothing we have that is worth keeping if it means we can't be Forever Friends with Jesus.
Questions:
1. Why do you think the men in these two stories sold EVERYTHING they had to buy what they had found?
2. What was most important to these men?
3. What was Jesus saying should be the most important thing for us today?
4. What might you have to give up so that Jesus is the most important thing for you?
The Best Thing
Read Luke 10:38-42.
Parents: You may choose to paraphrase and shorten this story or use the below.
As Jesus and his disciples were travelling, they came to a town where Martha lived with her sister Mary. The sisters welcomed Jesus into their home and Martha immediately began to work very hard to get a meal ready for Jesus. While Martha busied herself in preparing the meal, Mary just sat at the feet of Jesus and listened to his teaching.
Martha was upset that her sister was not helping her, so she went to Jesus and said, "Mary has left me to do all the work on my own. Tell her to help me.”
Jesus answered, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about too many things. There is only one thing that is the most important. Mary has chosen that one best thing and I will not stop her.”
Questions:
1. What was Martha busy doing when Jesus came to visit?
2. Did Jesus say it was wrong for Martha to be busy doing those things?
3. What did Mary choose to do?
4. What did Jesus say?
5. Do you find that you get so busy doing other things that you don’t have time to spend with Jesus (like praying and reading your Bible)?
6. What would Jesus say to you?
Many of us make the same mistake that Martha made. We get so busy working, going to school, playing, or watching television that we often forget the best thing. We forget to spend time with Jesus! We must be very careful that we don't get so busy doing good things that we leave out the best! After all, Jesus IS the best thing!
Prayer: Dear Jesus, help us to remember that you are the most important thing in our lives. Don't let us get so busy with other things that we forget to spend time with you. Amen.
First things first
Read Matthew 6:33
Note: This is this week’s Bible verse to learn and remember!
Questions:
1. What do you need to do every day?
2. How can you do this?
3. What happens if something else comes along?
Eat Sleep Go to school Bathe or shower
Do homework Music practice Our jobs around home
Then there are some things that we do because we enjoy them. Some of those things might be:
Read books Watch TV Go to ballet Play computer games
Play with friends Ride your bike
Some things are fun and easy to do while other things might be more difficult. We might be tempted to do the fun and easy things first and leave the other things to do later—if we have time.
We must remember that all of these things may be good, but some are more important than others.
There are many good things that we do each day, but the most important thing is to follow Jesus. Let's remember to keep first things first.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we understand that it isn't always easy to follow Jesus, but nothing in life is more important. Help us to make following Jesus the number one thing in our life. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
Just for fun
Activity: You will need: a clear jar with a lid, rice, small stones or marbles, one larger stone or marble.
The large stone/marble will represent Jesus, the small stones/marbles represent things we need to do and the rice will represent the things we choose to do for fun.
Place the stones in the container – the larger one first. Then fill the container to the top with the rice. Place the lid on the jar.
Now remove the lid and empty the contents of the container into an extra bowl. This time put the rice in first and then the smaller stones and finally the larger stone and place the lid back on.
What happened?
When we put Jesus “first” in our life and then add things we need to do and finally things we want to do everything seems to fit a whole lot better than if we try to do it the other way around.
That’s how it is with life. You may think, “If I go to church every week, I won’t have time to play sports.” Or, “If I read my Bible, I won’t have any time to do my homework.” Maybe you think you won’t have enough time for school and friends and activities if you give first place to Jesus. So lots of people do it backwards. They try to do everything and then “fit Jesus in”. They try to go to school, do their homework, play sports, play games, talk on the phone with friends and then try to give Jesus what is left over.
The key is to put Jesus FIRST. Now let’s say that instead of trying to do everything else first, you put Jesus first. You set aside special time for Him every day and nothing else can take His place. You make up your mind that even if you don’t get to watch TV, you’re going to spend time with Jesus. Even if you don’t get to play sports, you’re going to come to church. But what you’ll find is that when you put Jesus first, you’ll have time for what really matters. It all fits in when you put Jesus first. Give Him the number one place in your life and He’ll make sure that everything else will fit in.
Art: Take a paper circle and make a pie chart/graph that shows how you spend your time. For example, if most of your time is at school, colour that in as the largest piece. Use other colours and pieces to show how much time is spent on sleeping, eating, sports, homework, family, TV, computer games, friends, etc.
How does the amount of time you spend focused on Jesus compares to the time you spend doing everything else?
Think about how to spend more time with God. Write your ideas on the other side of the circle.
Week beginning 16/3/14
FORGIVE FOR FREE
Parents: After reading the passage, take a few moments to review the story. If the passage is too complex for your child, paraphrase the story yourself, use a child’s Bible story book or use the summaries here.
Unforgiveness is unacceptable
Read Matthew 18:21-35
There was a servant who owed a king a very large amount of money. He deserved to lose everything that he had to pay the debt, but the king had mercy on him and cancelled the debt.
But this same servant, who had his debt forgiven, went out and found another servant who owed him a small amount of money. He grabbed him and began to choke him, saying, “Pay back what you owe me.” He then had the man put in prison until he could repay him.
When the king heard what had happened, he was furious. He had the first servant put into jail.
Through this story Jesus was telling us that we need to forgive each other, just as God forgives us. When we don’t forgive we are like the first servant. Because God has forgiven all the bad things we do, we need to forgive others too.
Questions
1. What did the king do for the first servant?
2. Was the servant thankful?
3. What did the servant do to the other servant?
4. What did the king then do to the first servant?
5. Would you want God to punish you for not forgiving your brother, sister or friend?
Many Times
Read Luke 17:3-4, Matthew 6:12-15 70 x 7
and 1 John 4:19-21.
The Bible says we are to forgive others many times, just as God does for us. The number we are given is 70x7. That is a pretty big number! The Bible also tells us we show others that we love God when we love them. God’s love in us can help us love and forgive others.
Questions
1. Can you name something that a brother/sister/friend does that constantly bothers you?
2. How many times are we supposed to forgive someone?
3. Is it hard to forgive someone over and over again?
4. What can you do if you need help?
No pay-back – Forgive!
Read Proverbs 12:16, 15:1, 19:11
Remember Cain and Abel? Cain was so angry because God accepted his brother’s sacrifice and not his that he killed his brother. We might also be tempted to allow anger or hate to harm someone else, especially if that person has done something to us that has hurt or insulted us. But this does not please God.
In order to remove the anger and hate from our hearts, we need to ask and allow God to put His love in our hearts. God wants us to love and forgive others as He loves and forgives us.
Questions
1. What kind of things do others say or do that insult you?
2. What does Proverbs 12:16 tell you to do when someone insults you?
3. Is it easy to ignore an insult?
4. How can you ignore an insult when it is hard?
5. What wise advice did King Solomon give in Proverbs 15:1 for when we get angry with someone?
6. How can you change your hate and anger into love and forgiveness?
Just for fun
Make this beautiful ‘stained glass’ cross, then hang it in a prominent place to remind you to practice forgiveness. You will need transparent packing tape and tissue paper in a variety of colours.
Directions:
Cut two strips of packing tape. Lay one strip on a firm surface, sticky side up. Lay the second strip across the first strip to form a cross shape.
Tear up small pieces of tissue paper and stick each piece to the cross.
When the sticky surface is covered in tissue paper, use two more strips of packing tape to seal the tissue paper between the two layers of the tape.
Cut off any tissue paper that extends beyond the tape, then hang the finished cross on a window.
Next time you are angry with a friend or family member, go and stand before the cross, remember how Jesus forgives you and ask God to help you forgive that person.
Uzziah was king of Judah. He made all the rules and everyone had to obey him.
1. Jesus tells us in this verse that something must happen to us before we can see the Kingdom of God. What is it?
In this verse, Jesus is saying that we must be born all over again, this time into God’s family. ‘Being born into God’s family’ is another way of saying ‘Becoming Forever Friends with Jesus’ or ‘Becoming a Christian’. When you are ‘born again’ into God’s family, then God and Jesus are part of your family. Other Christians then become your _____ and _______
Read Romans10:9,10 Before we can have eternal life, we must be saved from eternal death. These verses tell us that we need to do two things to be saved. What are they?
Week beginning 23/3/14
STOP AND STAND
Parents: After reading the passage, take a few moments to review the story. If the passage is too complex for your child, paraphrase the story yourself, use a child’s Bible story book or use the summaries here.
Courage to Stand
Read 2 Chronicles 26:1-6, 16-21
Uzziah was king of Judah. He made all the rules and everyone had to obey him.
At first Uzziah followed God and did what was right, but after he became powerful, Uzziah became proud. He decided that he didn’t have to obey God’s rules and chose to go into God’s temple to burn incense, a job that only the priests were allowed to do.
Azariah the priest, with 80 other priests, went to tell King Uzziah that what he was doing was wrong. It took courage for them to do this because the king had the power to order anyone who angered him to be put to death.
King Uzziah did get very angry. As he was raging at the priest, leprosy (a horrible skin disease) broke out on his skin. God had sent the leprosy.
King Uzziah had to live alone for the rest of his life because he had leprosy; he could no longer be around other people or go into any part of the temple to worship God.
Questions
1. What did King Uzziah do that was wrong?
2. Who was courageous enough to tell the king he had done the wrong thing?
3. How did God help them when they stood up for what was right?
4. When might you have to stand up for what is right?
5. What is the best way to tell someone what they are doing is wrong?
Galatians 6:1 explains that when we speak to someone about something they have done that is wrong, we are to do it in a gentle way. We need to speak quietly and politely.
Sometimes others make fun of you when you choose to follow Jesus and stand up for what is right. But God will give us the courage. Also, standing up for what is right can be easier if we support each other as the priests did.
Week beginning 30/3/14
A new family
Read John 3:1-3.
1. Jesus tells us in this verse that something must happen to us before we can see the Kingdom of God. What is it?
2. How old are you now?
This means you were born into your mum & dad’s family _______ years ago.
In this verse, Jesus is saying that we must be born all over again, this time into God’s family. ‘Being born into God’s family’ is another way of saying ‘Becoming Forever Friends with Jesus’ or ‘Becoming a Christian’. When you are ‘born again’ into God’s family, then God and Jesus are part of your family. Other Christians then become your _____ and _______
A new story to tell
Read Romans10:9,10 Before we can have eternal life, we must be saved from eternal death. These verses tell us that we need to do two things to be saved. What are they?
To confess that Jesus is Lord means to tell other people that you have become God’s Forever Friend and have chosen to live His way.
If you have become God’s Forever Friend have you told anyone?
Have you told any of your friends that you have become a Christian?
Week beginning 6/4/14
DON’T QUIT. IT’S WORTH IT!
Like an athlete
Read Hebrews 12:1-3.
Parents: If the Bible passage is too complex for your child, paraphrase the story yourself or use the summary below.
Great athletes spend a lot of time training and practicing their sport, because they want to be successful. The Bible compares following Jesus to running a race.
Just as running a race wearing a heavy backpack would slow a runner down, so sin gets in the way of us living God’s way.
Great athletes don’t give up – they sometimes have to put up with pain and injuries but they still keep going. Sometimes our lives can be hard and even painful, but Jesus gives us encouragement and strength to keep going.
Questions:
1. Have you ever run/biked/ swum in a long race? If so, what was it like? How did you feel at the end?
2. Were there spectators?
3. What made you keep going, even though you were tired?
4. What would it be like to run a race wearing a heavy backpack or having your legs tangled in a rope?
5. What would ‘hinder’ us from living God’s way?
6. What does the Bible suggest that we focus on to help us with following Jesus and living God’s way?
7. Why might God allow difficult things to happen in our lives?
Like Noah
Read Genesis 6:5-22
Parents: If the Bible passage is too complex for your child, paraphrase the story yourself or use the summary below.
God gave Noah a pretty big job. He asked him to build a huge boat even though he didn’t live near a lake or an ocean. Even though people made fun of him and thought he was crazy, Noah didn’t quit – he finished the job God gave him to do.
Questions:
1. What ifs the biggest project that you have built from Lego, wooden blocks, or something else?
2. How long did it take?
3. How long do you think it would have taken Noah to build an ark that was over 130 metres long?
4. What would have happened if Noah had given up and left the ark half built?
5. What are some hard things that God wants you to do?
6. God was pleased that Noah didn’t give up. Do you think God is pleased with you when you don’t quit and do what He wants you to do?
No comments:
Post a Comment