MONTHLY ARCHIVES: May 2014

Conversation Starters: Rest

Posted by Karah

DSC_7328THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE: One of the hardest things to do in the midst of the busyness of life is to intentionally take time to hit the brakes and rest. While God desires for us to work hard, He also desires for us to rest hard. What did God do on the seventh day of creation? He rested. Does God need rest? No. But God did set a precedent for how our lives are supposed to work. It’s biblical to work hard and rest with intentionality.

Concept: Rest

PRESCHOOL

Exodus 31

THE POINT: God spoke to Moses and gave him special rules for all the people to follow. God had told Moses His plans to make a special place to worship Him. Then God spoke to
Moses again. “Tell the people that they must have a day of rest. This day of rest will help other people to know that My people are special.” God told Moses that the day of rest
was to be a holy day. People should work six days and on the seventh day rest. God said, “The day of rest is to be kept by My people and all the families that come after them. It is a special sign between Me and them because I made the world in six days and rested on the seventh.” Then God gave Moses stone tablets with the Ten Commandments written on them.

LIVE IT OUT: Commit to a specific time this week for your family to rest. No work,
practices, or technology allowed. Instead, relax and enjoy the time together. Talk
about how God wants us to rest. Thank Him for this time.

KIDS

Exodus 31

THE POINT: God gave Moses special instructions: “Remember the Sabbath Day. It is a holy day. Anyone who disobeys this law will be punished. People are to work for six days. The seventh day is a time to stop and rest. Do no work on the Sabbath. I made the heavens and the earth in six days. Then I stopped.” Then God gave Moses two stone tablets on which God had written the Ten Commandments.

LIVE IT OUT: Rest is an important part of hard work. Help your child recognize that without sufficient rest it becomes difficult to work hard. Schedule a family rest time when everyone in the family will “unplug,” “turn off,” and rest.

STUDENTS

Exodus 31:12-17

THE POINT: Rest is a gift from God. Have a discussion with your student about how each of you likes to relax. Have a conversation around this quote:

“You have made us for Yourself and our heart is restless until it rests in You.”
—Augustine of Hippo

LIVE IT OUT: Help your student evaluate how busy his or her life is and areas where it would be good to slow down. Encourage your student to rest during the week. Help your student determine some good guidelines for rest. Plan something you can do as a family that would be a restful break for everyone.

1. Saint Augustine, Confessions: Books I-IV, ed. Gillian Clark (Cambridge University Press, 1995), 84. LIVE IT OUT: Your student has been

 


Posted in Just For Parents | Tagged , , , | Leave a reply

Conversation Starters: Give

Posted by Karah

06.14.13_Skills34THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE: God has given us work and income to take care of our needs, but He doesn’t intend for us to use them only for ourselves. God has a greater purpose for our time, talents, and resources. In Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians, we discover how God has given us these things to help support His work in the world today.

Concept: Give

PRESCHOOL

Luke 21:1-4

THE POINT: One day Jesus was teaching His disciples and the people in the temple. Many people came to the temple to worship God. People would bring money to the temple as an offering. Jesus watched the wealthy people drop their money into the collection containers. Their money made a loud noise as it dropped in the container. Jesus saw a poor widow drop in two small coins. The two coins hardly made a sound as they hit the bottom of the container. Jesus said, “I tell you the truth. This widow, as poor as she is, has given the most money of all. The wealthy people gave only the extra money they had. She has given all that she has.”

LIVE IT OUT: As your child completes simple chores, pay her a small amount in pennies. Help her  count out the pennies in groups of ten. Set aside one coin from each set and place in a container as an offering to take to church. Talk with your child about how God provides for us and we can give back to Him by giving an offering to help our church.

KIDS

Exodus 35

THE POINT: “This is what God commands,” Moses told the Israelites. “Give offerings to God. Bring the things we need to build the tabernacle.” The people gave gold, silver, and bronze metals. The people gave colorful yarn and fabric. The people gave animal skins, wood, and oil for the lamps. People who were good at making things gave their time and talents to do the work. The people brought their offerings and placed them before Moses. The people gave their offerings for God’s tabernacle.

LIVE IT OUT: Help your child understand that he is to give offerings from the things God has given him. Help him determine appropriate gifts (monetary or acts of service) he can joyfully give.

STUDENTS

2 Corinthians 8:1-9

THE POINT: Give to advance God’s kingdom.

• Have a discussion with your student about how to best give of your time, talents, and resources for God’s purpose.Have a conversation around this quote:

“It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.”
—Mother Teresa

LIVE IT OUT: Help your student think of ways to give of his or her time and talents for God’s purpose. Commit to giving of your time and talents along with your student. Help your students develop a plan to tithe. Be an example for your students by giving regularly.

1. “Mother Teresa Quotes,” Goodreads [cited 19 July 2013]. Available from the Internet: http://www.goodreads.com.


Posted in Just For Parents | Tagged , , , | Leave a reply

Conversation Starters: Humility in Conflict

Posted by Karah

IMG_9482Use these discussion starters to help foster a spiritual conversation with your family.

The Bible Meets Life: James wrote that we often find ourselves in the midst of conflict—fights, arguments, quarrels, or disputes. We feel the pressure of conflict every day. No matter what the issue is, the pressure it brings can lead us into conflict. James teaches us that by humbly submitting to Christ, we can resist the pressure of conflicts and quarrels in our lives.

Concept: Humility in Conflict 

PRESCHOOL

Luke 19:1-10

LIFE POINT: We should love others just as we love ourselves.

• What did Zacchaeus do because he wanted to see Jesus?

• Why did all the people dislike Zacchaeus?

• How did Jesus show kindness to Zacchaeus?

LIVE IT OUT: Help your preschooler think of someone at church who is hard for her to like. Talk about a way to show kindness to that person. Think of one kind thing to do.

KIDS

Luke 19:1-10

LIFE POINT: Love all people unconditionally.

• Why were people surprised and angry when Jesus went to Zacchaeus’s house?

• How can Jesus’ example help you to treat all people with kindness?

LIVE IT OUT: Ask your child to think of one person at school that it appears that no one likes. Challenge her to reach out in kindness to this person.

STUDENTS

James 4:1-10

THE POINT: Overcome the pressure of conflict by humbly submitting to Christ.

• Why is conflict so natural for us?

• How can we stop conflict before it arises?

• How can I pray for you this week?

Have a conversation around this quote:

Life is 10 percent what happens to me and 90 percent how I react to it.” – Charles Swindoll

LIVE IT OUT: Your student has been encouraged to do one or both Live It Out activities in the Personal Study Guide.

• Ask your student to share with you how he will draw
near to God this week.

• Encourage your student to set aside time to seek God.
If he chooses to complete What’s Your Motivation?:

• Ask your student if he needs help with a specific
conflict he is currently facing.

• Pray for your student to fight the pressure of conflict this week.

1. Zig Ziglar, Over the Top (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1997).


Posted in Just For Parents | Tagged , , , | Leave a reply