Chapter 1. The Beginning of Life as We Know it
Parent Tips: Use the Table Talk questions to start a discussion around the dinner table at some point this week. The Living Faith activity is designed to help your child know that God perfectly created them. The Extra Mile idea will help your family spread God’s love in the community.
Get the Point
Preschool: God made everything. He made me in His likeness.
Elementary: God made everything there is. He made me to know him.
Middle School: God made a perfect creation. We messed it up. Jesus offers us grace to fix that.
High School: God made a perfect and ordered creation. Man’s sin brought suffering to earth.
Table Talk
Preschool/Elementary
- If you could live a day as any animal, what animal would you be? What are some of the good and bad things about living as that animal?
- What are some ways people and animals are different?
- Are people or animals more important to God? Explain that people are worth way more than animals, because we’re the only part of Creation made in God’s image. We were made to have a relationship with God. Even Jesus said in Matthew 10:31 that we’re “worth more than many sparrows.”
Middle/High School
- What are some things you really like about yourself? (Could be eyes, hair, clothes, sense of humor)
- Hollywood actors and models always talk about how they’d like to change their appearance, yet they’re considered the pretty people. Is there anything you’d change about yourself?
- Do you think God would change anything about you?
- Why do you think the culture is so consumed with looks and fame?
Living Faith
Spend a few moments one evening going on a family treasure hunt around your house. You can write your own clues or use the ones given. End your hunt at a mirror (either handheld or in a bathroom) so your family can discover God’s greatest creation—you!
CLUE CARDS are attached for you to print, cut and hide
Extra Mile
For added emphasis on this week’s themes, try one of these activities.
1. Grab a family photo album that has some shots of you enjoying the outdoors. Talk about:
- What do you remember most about this experience?
- What are some of your favorite things about God’s creation?
- How can you see God’s handiwork in the outdoors?
- Where are some places you’d like to visit?
If the conversation leads, plan a fun family outing or your next family vacation.
2. Remind your children that all people are important to God by taking some food to a local food bank or going through your closets and making a donation to a homeless shelter. Remind your kids that helping the less fortunate shows them God’s love.
5 Simple Ways You Can Make This Lesson Stick - STEPHEN THE COMMITTED
IN THE CAR: Ask your child what they learned about this week on the drive home: Stephen loved Jesus and loved people; his love never wavered, even when the people got angry and killed him. Kids will learn that members of the Jesus League can persevere and do the right thing even when people don’t treat us the same way. Acts 6:8-15, 7:54-60, Stephen
HANGING OUT: Make this week’s lesson real: Share with your kids a time you struggled to love someone who was mean to you. How did you handle the situation? How could you have handled it differently, if it didn’t go so well?
AT DINNER: Here are some great discussion starters:-Who was Stephen?-Why did the religious leaders put Stephen on trial?-How did Stephen stay committed to Jesus?
AT BEDTIME: Quiz your child on this week’s memory verse: When anyone lives in Christ, the new creation has come. The old is gone! The new is here! - 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIRV)
PARENT TIME: What you need to know:
Pray for your kids to have a heart that is committed to loving others. Pray that God will help you to love others as well. If there are any co-workers you are struggling with, pray especially for them this week so God can make you a witness to them.
5 Simple Ways You Can Make This Lesson Stick - PHILIP the Speaker
IN THE CAR: Ask your child what they learned about this week on the drive home: This Philip was not one of the 12 disciples, but he was still a follower of Jesus. Philip shared how much Jesus loves us with anyone and anywhere that God sent him. Kids will learn that they can share Jesus with other people. Acts 8:26-39, Philip and the Ethiopian
HANGING OUT: Make this week’s lesson real: Have you ever had to give a speech in school, at work, or elsewhere? How did it go? How nervous were you? Ask your kids if they are nervous about speaking in public or sharing Jesus with others?
AT DINNER: Here are some great discussion starters:-How did Philip meet the Ethiopian?-What happened when Philip taught the Ethiopian about Jesus?-How can we share the good news of Jesus with our friends?
AT BEDTIME: Quiz your child on this week’s memory verse: When anyone lives in Christ, the new creation has come. The old is gone! The new is here! - 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIRV)
PARENT TIME: What you need to know: It’s not easy to speak up for Jesus, but if we don’t speak for him, who will?
Pray that God will give your children - and you! - the courage to speak up about Jesus.
One of the most important things we can do as a parent is to make sure that our children hear words of affirmation every day.
Our words are SO powerful.
They can tear our children down or build them up.
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue.”
I want to be sure that my words speak life to my kids.
I know sometimes when life is just chugging along in the day-to-day, it can be hard to find little ways to affirm our kids through words. We have to be intentional with it.
But every mom could use a little inspiration in this area, right?
I've come up with a list of 30 words of affirmation that you can use TODAY in your home.
Speak them.
Write them.
Hang them on a mirror.
Remind your kids of who they are in Christ and HOW VERY MUCH THEY ARE LOVED BY YOU ♥️
5 Simple Ways You Can Make This Lesson Stick - MARY THE BELIEVER
IN THE CAR: Ask your child what they learned about this week on the drive home:
When the other members of the Jesus League believed that all was lost, Mary held onto hope; she was rewarded by being the first to learn that Jesus had risen from the dead. Kids will learn that we can believe God, no matter what. John 20:1-18, The Empty Tomb
HANGING OUT: Make this week’s lesson real: What are some things you and your kids believe in? Santa? Bigfoot? America? How is having a belief in Jesus different than believing in these other things?
AT DINNER: Here are some great discussion starters:-Who was the first person to see the empty tomb?-Why do you think Jesus revealed himself to Mary before he saw the disciples?-How can we build up our belief in Jesus?
AT BEDTIME: Quiz your child on this week’s memory verse: When anyone lives in Christ, the new creation has come. The old is gone! The new is here! - 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIRV)
PARENT TIME: What you need to know: A strong faith can help us through even the toughest times in life.
Pray that God will help you and your kids develop a strong faith in Jesus.
5 Simple Ways You Can Make This Lesson Stick - John
IN THE CAR: Ask your child what they learned about this week on the drive home: John referred to himself as the disciple Jesus loved; and as he hung on the cross, Jesus gave John his own command to love. Kids will learn that we can love others because God loves us. John 19:17-27, The Crucifixion
HANGING OUT: Make this week’s lesson real: What special things do your kids still have in their room from when they were little? How do those things remind your kids they are loved? Ask them how God showed his love for us, and how we can show love in return.
AT DINNER: Here are some great discussion starters: -Why did John call himself the disciple Jesus loved?-What did Jesus ask John to do for him before he died?-How can we show the love of Jesus to other people?
AT BEDTIME: Quiz your child on this week’s memory verse: When anyone lives in Christ, the new creation has come. The old is gone! The new is here! - 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIRV)
PARENT TIME: What you need to know:
Pray for your kids to have the courage to love someone who needs love this week, be it a new kid in class or a kid who doesn’t have many friends.
SHARE
- Your highs, lows & buffalos (buffalos being something weird or funny or strange that has happened lately?
- What do you like best about being part of God's family?
READ
Read: Acts
In This Passage: While learning about being part of God’s family, particularly in the book of Acts, we learned about many people who were part of God’s family.
Who can you remember and what did you learn about them?
TALK
- What stands out for you in this bible passage?
- What does this passage tell us about God?
- What does this passage tell us about people?
- What is challenging in this passage?
- What do you think God is saying to you? What can you do about it?
TALK ABOUT VIDEO - “The Book of Acts in 3 Minutes” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2t2tXVzIsg
What was your favourite part of the book of Acts?
PRAY
- Pray for and with each other.
- Pray about your highs, lows, and buffalos.
- Your church could grow to be more and more like the church in Acts.
BLESS
- Bless each other saying, “May God Bless you this week”.
SS materials attached