September 5, 2021

Bible Story: God’s Word is Living

Bible Reading: Hebrews 4:12-16

Bible Point: Jesus is our redeemer and His living word (the Bible) leads us to repentance.

Questions to ask:

-How does this scripture point us to the gospel? 

-Why does God want us to see the sin in our hearts? 

-How can we have soft hearts to learn from God’s word?

Parents, how wonderful is our Savior!? Take this opportunity to explain to your children the beauty of sanctification. Set an example of repentance and openly pray about a sin issue so that your children have a model of how to seek forgiveness from our Heavenly Father. Take time to explain God’s wrath towards sin but how Jesus, our High Priest, stepped in on our behalf and redeemed our souls. Spill the gospel into your kiddos and pray the Living Word takes root.

August 29, 2021

Bible Story: Born Again!

Bible Reading: 1 Peter 1:1-12

Bible Point: Jesus has already won our greatest battle.

Questions to ask:

-Do you know that God is in control of your life?

-What do you think suffering means?

-Has God sent a hard thing into your life?

Parents, understanding how a loving God can send hard things into our lives can be a tricky concept for us all, especially children. When we see God’s goodness in the midst of hard times it automatically brings growth, peace, and expands our faith. Tell your children about a time that this very thing happened to you. Encourage them with the truth of God’s Word and tell them you will always be there to help point them to Jesus and walk beside them when the hard comes. But, better yet, God will always be there when they call on Him!

August 22, 2021

Bible Story: The Heart’s Desire

Bible Reading: James 4:1-10

Bible Point: A Christ follower should love God more than the things of this world.

Questions to ask:

-What did James say starts our quarrels and fights?

-Do you become angry when someone tries to take something from you?

-Do you love God more than the things of this world?

Parents, use this time to get a feel for what your child values, how they speak about their belongings, and if they admit to “loving” things more than they should. Admit that this is the case for all humans- it comes with our sin nature. Share ways we can monitor this in our life and keep a watchful eye on our heart and its deepest desire. Maybe have them practice sharing with their sibling or a neighbor and asking the Lord to help them have a giving heart. This in itself will shine the love of Jesus to whoever is watching!

August 15, 2021

Bible Story: God Breathed the Scriptures

Bible Reading: 2 Timothy 3:1-17

Bible Point: God’s Word is perfect and powerful.

Questions to ask:

-Did God use the Holy Spirit to complete the Bible?

-Do you know what “God breathed” means?

-What value does the Word of God have to the believer?

Parents, share about how God’s Word helped you at a time in your life when nothing else could. Tell them of the freedom there is to be found in His Word. Explain the certainty that comes with scripture that can't be found in anything the world offers! I could go on and on! May it be life giving to your family and your ministry as parents. What a gift He gave us in the Bible!

August 1, 2021

Bible Story: Keep Your Eyes on the Prize

Bible Reading: Acts 16:16-40; Philippians 3

Bible Point: The most important thing in life is to know and follow Jesus.

Questions to ask:

-How did the chains come off of Paul and Silas?

-What are some earthly treasures you can think of?

-What are some treasures that a Christian has to be thankful for?

Parents, in our ever changing world, now more than ever, we need to know where our treasure and worth lie. We need to know where true joy comes from. Share with your child about a time that your earthly treasures were endangered or lost. Explain the beauty of the fact that our Heavenly treasure can never be in danger or taken from us. What peace we have as a believer that this is the truth! Rejoice together!

July 25, 2021

Bible Story: The Humility of Christ

Bible Reading: Acts 16:6-15; Philippians 2:1-11

Bible Point: We need to remember all that Christ has done for us and that He humbled Himself, leaving Heaven to come to earth, so that we could have life.

Questions to ask:

-Do you know what humble means?

-Would you ever want to leave a water park to go to a really boring opera concert? Can you imagine how Christ left HEAVEN to come down to earth to be born in a stable?! He must really love us! 

-In what ways can you show humility?

Parents, humility is a difficult concept for children to understand. Share with your children stories of people you have known that have been humble. And contrast that with situations you have been in with prideful people. Help them see the importance of showing Christ love to others through a humble spirit. Allow the Lord to correct your own heart, humbly in front of your children, if there is anything you need to repent of or correct in your own heart. Make humility something to be prized and excited about!

July 18, 2021

Bible Story: The Armor of God

Bible Reading: Ephesians 6:10-20

Bible Point: God’s Word is truth and when we wrap it around our lives, it holds everything together.

Questions to ask:

-Have you ever wanted to fight someone?

-Do you feel equipped/ready to fight a battle with sin and the devil?

-Do you see how all the armor points back to the good news of Jesus?

Parents, rejoice in our weapon to defeat the enemy! Explain how God’s Word is our weapon day after day, never failing to protect us. Choose a verse as a family that you can learn together and begin instilling in your children the need to have their arsenal ready for war. AND remind them that we already know the end and who wins. It is those who belong to Christ! Glory!

July 11, 2021

Bible Story: Putting Off the Old Self

Bible Reading: Ephesians 4:1-6, 17-32 and 5:1-2

Bible Point: Once God changes our hearts, we can leave our old ways behind and begin a new way of living!

Questions to ask:

-Can you live a new life on your own? 

-What are 2 things that the “old self” might do?

-Who is someone that you see living in their “new self” life God wants us to do?

Parents, spend some time thanking God for examples through people who are living the new life in Christ. Discuss ways that each of your family members could make this a goal and seek God’s help in living a life changed by Christ!

July 4, 2021

Bible Story: The Gift of Men

Bible Reading: Acts 20:17-38; Ephesians 4:1-24

Bible Point: Beware of false teachers and thank God for church leaders who show us how to be more like Christ.

Questions to ask:

-Who has been one of your Bible teachers?

-Do you understand what a “false teacher” is? What did Paul call a false teacher?

-What did Paul’s letter do for believers?

Parents, use this time to help your child understand the dangers of false teaching and how to watch out for this in their own life/world. Tell them about a Bible teacher/pastor who has meant a lot to you and then spend time in prayer for your church staff. They carry quite a burden and love your family so much. We should be so thankful for godly men to lead our church, just as Paul prescribed!

May 30, 2021

Bible Story: Believe & Confess

Bible Reading: Romans 9-10

Bible Point: We are saved from our sins by trusting in Jesus and what he did for us.

Questions to ask:

-Can you be saved by obeying a bunch of rules?

-What does it mean to confess? 

-Are you thankful that Jesus did the hard work for you on the cross?

Parents, make sure you explain that even the demons believe and tremble. Believing is a decision and a lifestyle. Discuss with your family, how your “believing lifestyle” can display God’s love and turn people toward Him, not away from Him. What a privilege to show the love of Jesus!

May 23, 2021

Bible Story: Abraham: Father to All by Faith

Bible Reading: Romans 4:1-25

Bible Point: Abraham believed God’s promise and that is what made him right with God.

Questions to ask:

-Can you earn your way to Heaven?

-Do you believe God’s promises? 

-What does Faith mean?

Parents, tell your children about a time it was hard to believe something God had promised you. Explain how you chose to believe something that you can’t hear or see. Encourage your child to ask God to give them the gift of faith, pray for this as a family!

May 16, 2021

Bible Story: A Gift of Righteousness

Bible Reading: Romans 1-3

Bible Point: We cannot earn forgiveness but God gives us a free gift of righteousness.

Questions to ask:

-What is righteousness? 

-Can you please God on your own?

-Are you excited about the good news of the gospel? And why or why not?

Parents, how does the good news found in Romans affect your life today? Do you get excited to tell others about the good news like Paul did? Discuss ways to share the good news at work, at school, on the football field or whatever activities your family is a part of. What a joy to share the good news of the gospel!

May 9, 2021

Bible Story: God loves a cheerful giver.

Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 16: 1-4; 2 Corinthians 8-9

Bible Point: When we understand everything comes from God, including our money, it is easier to share with others.

Questions to ask:

-Do you like to share?

-When we give, what attitude should we have, according to the Bible?

-For those of us who love God, what should our treasure be?

Parents, do you have a “giving story”? Maybe a time that God had to show you what your attitude should be when you give. Has there been a moment when you considered not giving to God? How did this turn out? I think it is so important for our children to hear from us about how we have walked with God over the years. They are learning from us everyday and don’t you want them to learn eternal lessons!

May 2, 2021

Bible Story: A New Creation

Bible Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:11-6:2; 7:5-12

Bible Point: Amazing changes take place in people’s lives when they become Christians.

Questions to ask:

-Have you ever seen a caterpillar turn into a butterfly? How can something change from one creature to another?

-Can a person become a new creation?

-Do you believe that God can change things inside you?

Parents, share about what your life was like before Jesus and what it is like to be a Christ follower. How are you different? How have you seen others change because of Christ? Encourage your children by telling them that God can change anyone, anywhere, anytime.  He loves us and wants the best for us! 

November 29, 2020

Does God know all things?

Yes; nothing can be hidden from God.

Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; His understanding is beyond measure.

Psalm 147:5

Parents, He knows even our not nice thoughts and actions and loves us ANYWAY! Wow! He knows yesterday, today and tomorrow! He is awesome!

November 22, 2020

Christians should always have a thankful heart!

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.

Hebrews 12:28-29

Parents, make a list as a family of all the things you have to be thankful for and make sure to add a hard circumstance to the list and discuss how we should be thankful for even the hard things!

November 15, 2020

Can you see God?

No; I cannot see God, but He always sees me.

Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in His steadfast love.

Psalm 33:18

Parents, just because we cannot “see” how much we love a person doesn't mean that love is not real. He can do things we cannot understand.

November 8, 2020

Where is God?

God is everywhere.

The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.

Proverbs 15:3

Parents, help your children see this as a great comfort! There is no where we can go that He cannot see us and go with us!

November 1, 2020

What is God?

God is a Spirit and has not a body like men.

God is a spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.

John 4:24

Parents, this is not an easy thing to understand.  Perhaps the example of the wind could help . . . we don’t see it, it has no form, but we feel it and know that it is there.

October 25, 2020

Who are the three persons in whom God exists?

The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.

John 15:26

Parents, tell your children what each person (of the Trinity) has meant to you. For example, God is _____, Jesus did _____ for me and the Holy Spirit told me _____.