MONTHLY ARCHIVES: December 2013

Conversation Starters: Speak Up

Posted by Karah

Use these discussion starters to help foster a spiritual conversation with your family.

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE: There are some conflicts we should walk away from. However, there are some issues on which we should not compromise by giving in, walking away, or ignoring. When conflict is caused because of an issue of biblical right and wrong, we need to stand our ground. The apostle Paul was passionate about issues of truth. He was willing to face conflict to defend matters of grace to a culture and people that was very attached to living by the law.

Concept: Speak Up

PRESCHOOL

Acts 10

LIFE POINT: Every person is important.

Who told Cornelius to send for Peter?

How did Peter know he should go to see Cornelius?

What happened after Cornelius and his family listened to Peter?

LIVE IT OUT: Encourage your preschooler to make a new friend this week. Ask him to think of someone who is very different from him. Help him think of ways to be kind and reach out to this person.

KIDS

Acts 10

LIFE POINT: Speaking up for truth shows God’s love for all people.

What visions did Peter and Cornelius have that led to their meeting?

Why did Peter need to be convinced to visit Cornelius?

What was the result of Peter’s visit to Cornelius?

LIVE IT OUT: Ask your child to name some ways he has seen other people be mistreated. Encourage him to speak up for someone he sees being mistreated this week.

STUDENTS

Galatians 2:1-14

THE POINT: Never compromise when the issue is a matter of biblical right and wrong.

When was the last time you stood your ground over something?

How does love factor into how you stand your ground?

Have a conversation around this quote:

“The time is always right to do what’s right.”1 —Martin Luther King Jr.

LIVE IT OUT: Encourage your student to be honest about his or her faith and the challenges he or she faces.

Write her a note of encouragement about her faith.

Pray that your student will be able to stand his or her ground when it comes faith.

1. Martin Luther King, “A Testament of Hope,” ed. James M. Washington(San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1986), 354.


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Do Your Kids Know the Gospel?

Posted by Phil

One of the hidden treasures that the “Prince of Preachers,” Charles Spurgeon, left the church was a little book titled Come Ye Children. In it, Spurgeon contended earnestly that one of the most important tasks given to a parent, teacher, or minister is teaching kids the gospel. Spurgeon writes:

There must be doctrine, solid, sound, gospel doctrine to constitute real feeding. When you have a joint on the table, then ring the dinner-bell; but the bell feeds nobody if no provender is served up. Getting children to meet in the morning and the afternoon is a waste of their steps and yours if you do not set before them soul-saving, soul sustaining truth. Feed the lambs; you need not pipe to them, nor put garlands round their necks; but do feed them.

As a parent, teacher, or minister, teaching your kids the gospel is the most important task you have. So, what is your plan? Just like kids grow physically in proportion to the food they eat and emotional support they receive, they grow spiritually in a similar manner. Are you intentionally feeding your kids the gospel? It is estimated that pastors have 104 hours a year with kids in their ministry, while parents have 8,736 hours a year.

By the end of 2014, will your kids know the gospel?

Continue Reading more from Ed Stetzer…


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Elfed

Posted by Sharon

Christmas is a great time for traditions and doing things with your family and friends.  One again this year Ridgecrest Summer Camps has an idea to try!  It’s called “Elfing”.  It’s a great thing to do with your kids that will help them bless someone else.  Here’s a short video to explain the concept. Your printout is located below the video…

Below is the link to the note you leave with the Christmas treats.  Happy Elfing!

You will need to print this document out to start Elfing….Elfing Directions 2013


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Conversation Starters: Walk Away

Posted by Karah

Use these discussion starters to help foster a spiritual conversation with your family.

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE: What happens when you disagree with someone? It can break a relationship or maybe even lead to years of anger and bitterness. Disagreements can result in division even if neither person is wrong. Sometimes the best option is to put aside our own interests and let the other person “win.” As a result, both people receive the greater benefit of preserving, and even strengthening, the relationship.

Concept: Walk Away

PRESCHOOL

Genesis 13

LIFE POINT: Let others go first.

Why were Abram’s and Lot’s workers arguing? How did Abram and Lot solve the problem the workers were having?

LIVE IT OUT: Encourage your preschooler to let his friend have first choice when he is sharing snacks or taking turns with toys. Remind your preschooler that it is important to take turns. He will not always get his own way. Remind your preschooler that Abram let Lot choose first.

KIDS

Genesis 13

LIFE POINT: Walk away from things that displease God, and trust His promises.

Why were Abram’s and Lot’s shepherds in conflict? How did Abram and Lot resolve the conflict?

What did God tell Abram?

LIVE IT OUT: Provide your child with a strip of card-stock. Encourage him to write on one side of the strip times when he finds himself in conflict with others. On the other side of the strip, write Ephesians 4:32. Help him attach the strip around his wrist to remind him of Ephesians 4:32 when he finds himself in conflict with another person.

STUDENTS

Genesis 13:1-18

THE POINT: I don’t have to get my way to solve a conflict.

What is a conflict our family seems to have often? How can we help each other work through conflict better as a family?

Have a conversation around this quote about conflict:

“Conflict is inevitable, but combat is optional.”1  —Max Lucado

LIVE IT OUT:

Talk about a conflict you’ve had recently and how you handled it.

Discuss any conflict you’ve had with your student recently.

Choose a passage of Scripture to memorize with your student this week.

1. Max Lucado, When God Whispers Your Name, (Nashville, TN, 1999), 44.


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