SHARE
- Your highs, lows & buffalos (buffalos being something weird or funny or strange that has happened lately?
- What food do you like to share?
- What are some jobs that involve serving others? Explain...
READ
Read: Acts 2:42-47; 4:32-37
In This Passage: The church is just beginning, and they live as a very close-knit family. They eat together, share all their possessions, and make sure everyone has what they need. They’re full of joy, praise, and encouragement!
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 Family That Serves” https://vimeo.com/showcase/8674491/video/576925631
God’s family is all about serving! There are people in our church who serve other people here, and we also go out into our community to serve people.
- What’s one thing you’ve done to serve someone else?
- What are some needs you’ve seen in our community?
- How can this video inspire you to help people in need?
You can serve people just like the family in this video! How do you think you could?
FAMILY TOGETHER TIME
- As a family, look for needs around you.
- You might walk around your neighbourhood to see which neighbours need their yard mowed, or weeds pulled.
- You might do a search online for local charities in need of volunteers.
- You might consider people you know from work, school, or church who need assistance.
- Choose one person to serve, and find a simple way to serve that person together…
PRAY
- Pray for and with each other.
- Pray about your highs, lows, and buffalos.
BLESS
- Bless each other saying, “May God Bless you this week”.
SS & Dig in at Home materials attached
Access to the weekly Dig in at Home and Sunday School resources is restricted for copyright purposes. If you would like to access them, please log in to your account using the Log in icon at the top right of the screen.
Please contact Jess Pinkerton via jess@emmanueluca.org.au or 0438168706 for assistance or to get access.
These Sunday School and Dig in at Home materials provide great discussion starters and talking points for you to be able to start and continue faith and life conversations at home, linked with and based on the bible reading and material we use in worship each week.
All of the material is designed so that it can be used by anyone at home or at church, to easily lead children of all ages, engage them in bible discovery, and further their faith and discipleship journey.
The material on the page is designed to be used as a snapshot for engaging in Faith practices at Home. It uses the FAITH5 practices of SHARE, READ, TALK, PRAY and BLESS as simple ways to connect and discuss faith and life. An additional PDF document is linked to each weekly page and provides more information and activities.
The first page of the document is what we use at Sunday School and helps us get to know each other through:
- Welcoming and setting boundaries for the session,
- Sharing highs, lows, and buffalos,
- Talking about the video that we saw in worship,
- Exploring the theme through a game or activity using our senses and bodies,
- Engaging in some Bible Discovery,
- And we always end in praying for and with each other and blessing each other before we leave.
The second and subsequent pages contain additional material and activities that can be used in Sunday School and at Home:
- The Leaders/Helpers/Parents Dig in section gives background and contextual information for leaders and parents to help them think about the material themselves before leading it.
- The Bible Discovery is the main lesson and is written to be lead in a large or small group at Sunday School or at Home.
- There is often a Pray activity that further extends on the core Bible lesson, and
- Family Together Time gives an idea that can be done at home together as a family to link the Sunday learning with activity and follow up during the week.
- The Deeper Bible extends on the core material and is particularly helpful for leading a discussion to further discuss the theme. It is designed specifically for older children (grade 5+) but can be used for any age.
- All printed materials that might be required are included and can be easily printed at home. Any additional materials for the activities are fairly standard things that most families will have access to at home, and are clearly listed in the relevant sections.
We often use parts of the material in our All-age worship services. I highly recommend you have a look and make time to Dig in at Home with your family whether you worship with us on Sunday or not.
If you have any questions about the material or engaging in Faith at Home with your family, I’d love to connect with you.
Jess
READ Luke 2:1-21
While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord. (Luke 2:6-11)
So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. (Luke 2:16-18)
REFLECT
Eep! Have you heard the Good News? Jesus is born! A new branch is finally sprouting from the stump of Jesse. Mary is pondering it all. As she nurses little Jesus, she’s thinking about what it means that he is here, ready to save the world. The angels are proclaiming it. They come as a huge choir, singing about how amazing God is.
The shepherds are a part of it, too. God chooses to tell them first. The shepherds aren’t fancy or important, but they’re the first ones who get to meet Jesus. And today, you get to be there with the shepherds. You get to hear the Good News. You get to meet Jesus. You get to go tell other people about it. God has chosen you! He wants you to have a part in his story.
TALK
- Why do you think God chose to tell the shepherds about Jesus before anyone else?
PRAY
Jesus, we’re so glad you’ve come! Thank you for being born into our world. Thank you for loving us enough to come to save us and live with us. How thrilled and grateful I am that you willingly entered into the darkness of the world to bring your light and life. The life you bring is just the beginning of a whole new creation in your Spirit. I can’t wait to see what’s yet to come. Amen.
BLESS & DO
Add the Jesus picture to your tree.
Do things for others today that you might not ordinarily do to Bless them and show Jesus’ love.
Materials adapted from: https://www.faithward.org/jesse-tree/, http://flamecreativekids.blogspot.com/2016/11/the-jesse-tree-printable-pictures.html