Family Toolkit

resources for Families

SEPTEMBER 27, 2020 | Ephesians 6:18-20

Coloring/Activity Sheets

Ephesians 6:18-20

Prayer Journal

Ephesians 6:18a

Prayer Hands

PRAY

Video

Activity/Craft: Ephesians 6:18a
Supplies: craft sticks, markers, empty can or jar, decorations from your craft bin
Instructions:
1. Write out Ephesians 6:18 on the side of your container or on a tag attached to your container.
2. Decorate your jar however you like.
3. Use your markers to write the following words on your craft sticks (one word per stick). You can decorate the other side of the stick if you wish.

ALIGN
THANK
HONOR
CONFESS
LAMENT
INTERCEDE
PETITION

4. Place the finished sticks inside your decorated container. Place your container in the middle of your kitchen table, coffee table, or night stand--wherever you can use them regularly as a family. Take turns pulling out a stick and praying according to the word listed.

ALIGN - Ask God to align the desires of your heart with His. Ask him to help you pray according to His will and not yours.
THANK - Thank God specifically for His blessings.
HONOR - Praise and adore god for His attributes.
CONFESS - Confess your sin to God.
LAMENT - Tell God your difficult feelings.
INTERCEDE - Present requests for others.
PETITION - Present requests for yourself.

Activity/Game: Ephesians 6:18b
Supplies: beanbags or balls or even a stuffed animal
Instructions:

Tell your children to clasp their hands behind their backs and close their eyes. Tell them to be ready to receive a beanbag or ball or whatever you choose but to keep their hands behind their backs until it comes to them. (Obviously, don’t throw it hard or at their faces!) Say something like, “Well, that didn’t go so well at all. I tell you what, let’s try it again and this time……”
Do the exercise again but this time show the kids how to be in ready position with arms outstretched and eyes open and on your hands and taking a step forward when it comes to them. You
Ask the kids how being alert made a difference in the game. Read Ephesians 6:18. Talk about what it means to be alert and pray.

Activity: Ephesians 6:19-20
Supplies: clear vase or glass of water, liquid food color, foaming shaving cream (not gel)
Instructions:

Show the tall glass of clear water and let it represent your incredible mission field. It’s full!!!! Name someone or a group that’s in your mission field (grandparents, ball team, teachers, coaches, neighbors, etc.).
Then, ask your kids what type of fears or barriers they may have in sharing the gospel with others. Spray the shaving cream over the top of the water and tell the kids that the shaving cream represents those fears and barriers we have in sharing the gospel.
Then, ask the kids what could help with those fears and barriers. Will power alone? No! Prayer is the answer. Read Ephesians 6:19-20 together.
Take a bottle of liquid food color and give a simple sentence prayer for boldness for each person in your family. “Heavenly Father, help Tommy be fearless in sharing the gospel with his grandpa.” Or “Heavenly Father, give Ella the words to speak to her teacher about Jesus.” As you do, squeeze one drop of food color on top of the foam for each prayer. It should go through the foam and begin to color the water, breaking the barrier. Talk about how prayer breaks barriers to help others know Christ.

QUESTIONS FOR PARENTS TO USE WITH THEIR CHILDREN:
1. What comes to your mind when you hear the word “warfare?” Have you ever associated “prayer” and “spiritual warfare?”

2. Read Ephesians 6:10-20 together, emphasizing verses 18-20.

3. What does Paul (the writer) encourage or command the Ephesian believers to do in verse 18?
Answer: Paul is closing out his letter to the Ephesians with a motivating call to action using (metaphorical) warfare language. With verses 10-17 as a backdrop, the call to action in our verses today is to “stand” and “take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit” BY “praying” for all believers and for Paul (proclaimers of the gospel) with all kinds of prayer.

4. WHEN and HOW does Paul encourage believers to pray in verse 18?
Answer: When?-“On all occasions.” How?-“With all kinds of prayers and requests.”

5. Which person of the Godhead do you see in this passage? How does He help us?
Answer: The Holy Spirit. He seems to help us when we pray.

6. What did Paul say for the Ephesian church to pray specifically for him in verse 19?
Answer: Words would be given to him as he shares about Christ (19). That he would declare the gospel clearly (v20).

7. How can we apply this as individuals? How can we apply this as a family? How can we apply this as a church?
Answer: We can pray for ourselves, our family members, and our church members and leaders with all kinds of prayers and requests. We can also pray for and participate in our upcoming Week of Prayer where we will concentrate our efforts by praying for our church.

SEPTEMBER 20, 2020 | Hebrews 10:19-25

Coloring/Activity Sheets

Hebrews 10:23

Hebrews 10:24-25

Hebrews 10:25

Growing and Producing Together

Sermon Activity/Notes

QUESTIONS FOR PARENTS TO USE WITH THEIR CHILDREN:
1. Begin by having each person describe something you feel the effects of but cannot touch.

2. Next, take a moment and read Hebrews 10:19-25 out loud together.

3. Who opened a way for us to enter heaven’s Most Holy Place in verse 20? According to verse 19, what part of Jesus gave us the right to talk with our Father?
Answer: Jesus, the Son of God (verse 20). The blood of Jesus (verse 19).

4. In verses 19-21, what do you observe about who Jesus is?
Answer: Jesus is our High Priest, meaning He has mediated for us and atoned for our sins (verse 21). Jesus is our salvation, granting us access to our Heavenly Father (verse 20).

5. Tell of a time when you made a promise to someone. What promises did Jesus give us in verses 22 and 23? Let us look at another promise later on in Hebrews 13:8.
Answer: We can go to God freely and boldly because of the work of Jesus Christ (verse 22). God is trustworthy to keep His promises (verse 23). In Hebrews 13:8 it says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Jesus will always stay true to who He is.

6. What does it mean to suffer/go through a hard time? When have you gone through something hard?
Answer: Suffering means to endure amid pain or hardship. It is to remain in a right position with our Father no matter what is going on around us. He is our anchor in times of suffering.

7. What does it mean to draw near to God as described in verse 23? Read James 4:7-10 out loud as a family. What are the ways mentioned in the passage we can draw close to God?
Answer: Drawing near to God means talking to God with sincerity in prayer with a right attitude in our hearts. Humble yourselves before God (verse 7). Resist the devil (verse 7). Acknowledge and confess your sins before the Lord (verses 8-9).

8. What does the word encouragement mean in verse 25? What are some forms of encouragement? Can you think of someone to encourage this week?
Answer: Encouragement means to give someone support in various forms for the purpose of building them up in the body of Christ. Encouragement can come in the form of teaching, comforting, strengthening, or worshiping together.

SEPTEMBER 13, 2020 | Ephesians 4:11-16

Coloring/Activity Sheets

Growing Up Together

Ephesians 4:13-14

Ephesians 4:15

Sermon Activity/Notes

QUESTIONS FOR PARENTS TO USE WITH THEIR CHILDREN:

1. Begin by having each person describe one of their favorite gifts that they received.

2. Next, take a moment and read Ephesians 4:11-16 out loud together.

3. What do you observe about God the Father and Jesus Christ in this passage?
Answer: God is the one who gave the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers in verse 11. Also, Christ is the head of the body, meaning he is the leader and director and guide of the church.

4. Who are the people God gave (as gifts) to the body of Christ in verse 11? Also, what are they to do according to verses 12-13?
Answer: Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers (verse 11). They are to equip the saints for the work of ministry and bring about unity in the body (verse 12).

5. There are two metaphors that Paul uses to contrasts Christians in verses 13 & 14? How are they described?
Answer: Mature manhood in v13 vs. children in v14. Mature Christians grow in their knowledge of Jesus who is the standard of maturity. Children are immature in the truths of Jesus and of Christian doctrine. They are tossed around like the waves and wind of cunning and deceitful schemes of bad teachers.

6. What are Christians to do in order to grow into Christlikeness according to verse 15?
Answer: Learn and speak to each other the truths about Jesus and the Christian faith.

7. How is love displayed when it comes to growing as a Christian in verse 15?
Answer: When we speak. We do not want to beat the truths of Jesus and Christianity over people’s heads in an unloving way. We want to be gentle, gracious, and perhaps timely when we share the truth.

8. Paul continues describing the church’s maturity by using a body metaphor in verse 16. Who all is involved in making the body grow?
Answer: Every Christian or each part.

9. How can you apply this passage to your life?
Answer: Commit to growing in your understanding of the truths of the Bible and Jesus. This will protect our body from the schemes of false teachers and the Devil. Also, encourage the Pastors and Elders who serve the Harvest family.

SEPTEMBER 6, 2020 | Genesis 34-36

Coloring/Activity Sheets

Cross

God Uses Imperfect People

Hello, My Name Is Israel

Sermon Activity Sheet

Questions for Parents to use with their children:

1. Take a moment and find the shiniest piece of jewelry you own. You may have to clean it a little! First place it on a clear or white color backdrop for everyone to see. Afterwards, place it on a black piece of paper or cloth.
The point of this exercise is to demonstrate how a black backdrop makes a piece of jewelry shine more brightly. In our chapters and discussion today, we will see this in principle in how the depravity of man and his sin sets the table for beauty of the Gospel of Jesus.

2. Next read chapters 34-35 out loud together. If you’re up for trying something new, listen to these chapters from a device or computer while you follow along.

3. In chapters 34-35, what names or characteristics of God do you see?
Answer: God is not mentioned at all in chapter 34. This chapter reveals a low point for Jacob and his family. In chapter 35 God reveals himself as “El-Shaddai” which means “God Almighty.”

4. In chapters 34-36, what sins do you see committed by the various characters? What do these sins tell us about humanity…even Jacob and his family?
Answer: Rape (34:2). Deceit (34:13). Murder (34:25-26). Anger filled family fighting (34:30-31). Revenge. Death (35:19, 29) Fornication and the dishonoring of parents (35:22).

These sins tell us that something is not right with the world. We see pain. Suffering. Family fights. The dishonoring of parents. These sins tell us that humanity is broken and is need of someone to rescue us from God’s wrath and ourselves. We need to be rescued from God’s wrath because of the wages or penalty of our sin is spiritual death and condemnation from God. We face the judgement of God for the wrong we have committed. We also need to be rescued from ourselves because as fallen humanity we live selfishly and with our lives centered around our needs, wants, and desires. We were never designed to live this way.

5. How do these chapters point us toward our need for Jesus?
Answer: With brokenness and horrific sin as the backdrop, these chapters reveal God’s people’s needing rescue from themselves and ultimately one day from His wrath to come. God’s rescue comes in form of a person. His name is Jesus.

If you read the headlines you quickly can see that humanity and the human experience is broken. Unfortunately, in the end, we all die. But only God promises to one day make all things new. In the meantime we look to Jesus for help and healing spiritually. Only he can restore us relationally with our heavenly Father. Only he can help mend broken families.

6. How can we apply this story to our lives?
Answer: We can confess our sins to God and seek His forgiveness through Jesus. We can also trust that no matter how bad things get, God is Sovereign and will fulfill his purposes in our lives.

AUGUST 30, 2020 | Genesis 33:1-20

Coloring/Activity Sheets

Jacob & Esau Reunite

I Can Be Obedient

Obedience

Sibling Forgiveness

Jacob Review

Create Your Own Comic

GAME: “Red Light, Green Light”
Play “Red Light, Green Light” together as a family. (If you’re not familiar with the game or don’t remember, visit Childhood 101 to learn how to play.) As you play, verbally point out when someone is able to move forward because he or she obeyed the Stop Light right away. Congratulate that person! “Great job obeying right away!” Of course, point out when the person did not obey at all if they didn’t move or just ran the whole way. Also, point out when a person does not obey the Stop Light fast enough (a.k.a. “obey right away”). He or she still has to suffer the consequences and go all the way back to the beginning—just like the person who ran to the end without any regard for the Stop Light. After you play, relate the experience to Jacob in Genesis 33. While he was headed home the way God commanded him to, he stopped short. He didn’t obey all the way right away. We’ll see later, that there were some bad consequences because of this incomplete obedience. Allow each person in your family to give an example of modern day incomplete obedience (which is really just disobedience). Discuss what the consequences were or could be from those scenarios. Pray that each person in your family will obey God the right way right away. (Point out that God told children to obey their parents. When children obey their parents right away the right way, they are obeying God right away the right way.)

EXPERIMENT/ART PROJECT = “Color Mix”
[supplies needed: 2 clear glasses that are half full of blue colored water & yellow colored water and a 3rd clear glass]

Using the half glasses of colored water, Introduce your kids to the imaginary Brother Blue and Sister Yellow. Talk about how these colors just can’t get along! Blue likes things to be blue and yellow demands things be yellow. Brother Blue even tried to make all our bananas blue and Sister Yellow tried to make ”yellowberries” instead of blueberries. Get as silly as you want!
Ask your kids what happens in your family when one person wants something a certain way and the other person wants it differently. Maybe, it’s a toy or a meal or a game. How does that work out? What do you do when you just can’t get along and everyone wants their own way?
The only and best way to get rid of selfishness and conflict is to let God change you. He is the one who can create love and compassion in you. Review the gospel with your children.
Pour your glass of blue water into the empty glass. Now, pour your glass of yellow water into the new glass of blue water. Ask your kids to make some observations. (Examples… The water is green now. The original glasses are empty. The new glass is super full.)
Ask your kids what we can learn from Brother Blue & Sister Yellow. When we empty ourselves of our own demands and pour ourselves into something other than ourselves (God), he can change us into loving and compassionate people who can be restored to one another and have unity. We have to submit to the Master Artist—God our Creator and Savior.
Talk about how Jacob and Esau surrendered to God and thus were restored to one another.
Pray for unity and forgiveness in your family.

*NOTE: If you don’t have food color to color the water, you could adapt by using paints or even colored pencils and crayons. You can still see the new color but won’t have the “empty” glasses.

Questions for Parents to use with their children:

1. Have a few people share a story (or example) of someone who did wrong, but instead of receiving justice or harm, received grace and mercy... (An example: Prodigal Son in Luke 15:20)

2. Read Genesis 33 out loud together. In verses 1-11, how many times do you see the word “grace” or “favor”? What do you think “grace” means?
Answer: 4 times (v5,8,10,11). Grace means unearned favor. It also can mean covenant or loyal love.

3. How do you see grace displayed in Esau’s response to Jacob in v4? Why is this unusual?
Answer: Esau runs out to meet Jacob. He then embraces, hugs, kisses, and cries with Jacob. This is unusual because Jacob deceived Esau of his birthright and blessing. It would have been natural for Esau to take revenge especially since he said he would do this earlier (27:41).

4. What was instrumental in Esau responding the way he did?
Answer: A couple of things. 1) God. God protected Jacob from his uncle Laban and now he would protect him from his brother Esau. After all, God was the one who told Jacob to go back home. 2) God’s promise. God promised to give Jacob and his descendants a land and to create from him offspring like the dust of earth. 3.) Jacob’s prayer in Genesis 32:9-12. Jacob asked God for protection and God answered. It even appears that Esau’s heart was turned toward Jacob.

5. How does this story point to Christ and the gospel?
Answer: We are like Jacob in the story. We deserve justice and eternal punishment for the wrong we have committed against God and others. But instead of giving us what we deserve, God forgives us of our sin and embraces us because of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Esau’s response to Jacob is a picture of God’s response to us when we turn toward him by confessing our sin and believe that Jesus’s died in our place so we can be forgiven and reconciled.

6. What are some ways you can apply this story to your life?
Answer: 1. Confess your sins and by faith believe that Jesus died for them so that you can be restored to God the Father. 2. Forgive and perhaps pursue anyone who has wronged you in the past. 3. Praise God for the way He shows us mercy and grace in our lives.

AUGUST 23, 2020 | Genesis 32:1-32

Coloring/Activity Sheets

Genesis 32:11-12

Genesis 32:27-28

Jacob's New Name Letter Code

Create your own comic

Activity: “WHAT CHANGED?”
[no special supplies needed]
Let your child take a nice long look at you for 30 seconds. Then, send your child out of the room. Without your child looking, change one thing about your appearance. Depending on your child’s age and abilities, pick something as obvious or as covert as you like. For examples, remove or untie a shoe, put on a hat, turn a necklace backward, take off your glasses, push up your sleeves, etc. When your child returns, see if he or she can figure out what has been changed. Let your other children take a turn of give them a chance to make some hidden changes. Play as many times as you like. Read or discuss Genesis 32. Ask your kids what was changed about Jacob. Talk about how Jacob’s name changed and his hip changed. Ask what seems to have changed in Jacob’s heart and his behavior. God changed Jacob’s name to Israel, which became the name of God’s covenant people. Share the gospel with your children. Talk about the changes that happen in a person when God changes the heart and gives that person a new identity as a child of God.

Activity: “GOD’S POWER”
[supplies needed: table, plates, ice cubes, hidden hair dryer]
Give everyone in your family a plate with an ice cube on it. Explain that you will have a little competition to see who can melt their ice cube the fastest. When you say go, they can blow on it or touch it or flip it over. But the ice cube must stay on the plate, and the plate must stay on the table. Ready, set, go! As soon as you say go, pull out your hidden hair dryer, plug it in, and melt your ice cube quickly. Your kids will probably react with “What?!?!” or “That’s not fair!” Laugh and tell them that their ice cubes can also be melted with the hair dryer, too. Relate the hair dryer to God’s power. Explain that when we try to obey God in our own strength, we struggle. But when we rely on God’s power to get the job done, it works! Review Genesis 32. Talk about how Jacob was fearful and hesitate to obey God and go back home. He was afraid of Esau! It was almost like he had forgotten God’s promise to be with Him wherever he went. But Jacob was able to make things right with Esau after he wrestled with God and surrendered to God’s power.

Activity: “STICKY NOTES”
[supplies needed: sticky notes, marker]
Write “weakness” on several sticky notes and hide the notes around your home. Send your children on a hunt to find as many as they can. Tell your children to stick the notes to their clothes when they find them and return back to you. (Or if you’re short on time, skip the hunt and give a sticky note to each person in your family. Tell them to write the word “weakness” on their sticky note and stick it somewhere on themselves.) Recount the story of how the sticky note was “invented.” You can find one account at “Now, the sticky note is 3M’s greatest selling product of their history. It was a failure until it was celebrated and used because of its weakness. Look at Genesis 32 and see how Jacob was broken by his encounter with God. Only after he surrendered to God was he able to be weak and flexible enough to follow through in God’s plan. Share a time that God needed to break your pride or self-reliance in order for you to enjoy God’s perfect plan of obedience. Talk about how humanity tends to be afraid of weakness and see it as useless. When in reality, it’s our weakness that allows God’s grace to shine through and accomplish His purposes instead of our own.

Craft: “NAME”
[supplies needed: paper or canvas, thick marker, small household or craft items, possibly glue]
Print or write out your child’s name on a piece of cardstock or construction paper or a canvas. Allow your child to use items around your home to “trace” or lay on top of the letters of the name. Try lots of textures! You could use crafts supplies like beads, buttons, pieces of broken crayons, pipe cleaners, etc. Or use food—dry beans, pieces of pasta, candies, or even cooked spaghetti. Maybe, try coins or Lincoln Logs or LEGO bricks. You can do it over and over. Or you could apply some glue and stick some of these items to it. Try glitter or sand or rice! Talk to your child about why you chose their special name for him or her. If you have an older children participating, you might do an internet search to find out the meaning of their names and write that under their decorated names. Talk to your child about God changing Jacob’s name to Israel in Genesis 32. Remind your children that God had a special plan for Jacob and his descendants that would allow us to know God. Remind your children that God has a special plan for them, too. He wants to have a relationship with them. Share the gospel with your children.

Questions for Parents to use with their children:

1. Take a moment and have everyone share what their name means. If they do not know feel free to look it up on your phone.

2. Have everyone answer this question: “If you could change your name, what would you change it to?”

3. Last question: “If you were to wrestle God who would win?"

4. Read Genesis 32:1-32 out loud together. Have someone share in brief the context of the story.
Answer: Jacob is preparing to meet Esau (the brother from whom he stole his birthright) for the first time in 20 Years (v1-21). Before he does he has an encounter with what appears to be angels of God (v1-2) and a manifestation of God himself (22-32). God is getting ready to show Jacob that He is with him and will confirm that he has commanded Jacob to go back home. God blesses Jacob and gives evidence of this by changing his name.

5. Jacob has a run in with some angels in v1-2. He goes on to say “this is God’s camp!” What do you think this suggests? Also, Jacob names the place “Mahanaim” which means “two camps.” What do you think this means?
Answer: Although we are not 100 percent sure, Jacob’s run in with the angels and his remark could suggest that God has sent the angels to protect and accompany him he travels back to Canaan where he will eventually meet his brother Esau.

Naming the camp Mahanaim. Jacob could be alluding to God’s camp that is now traveling with him and his own camp.

6. In verses 3-21, we see Jacob dividing the people who were traveling with him into two groups ultimately sending everything he owns ahead towards Esau. He also uses phrases like “your servant Jacob” and “my lord Esau.” Why does he do this?
Answer: Jacob finds out that his brother Jacob is coming towards him with 400 men. This often was a sign of war. Jacob was afraid of Esau because of the things he did to him when they were younger. Jacob, instead of trusting God, now devises a plan to split up into two groups so that the second one could get away. God is going to prove once again that he is with Jacob.

7. What do you find interesting about Jacob’s prayer in v9-12?
Answer: Jacob was desperate. In his prayer he reminded God that He was the one who told him to go back. Jacob was being obedient to God.

8. Jacob has a wrestling match with God. Who wins? What do you find interesting about their wrestling match?
Answer: God wins. Jacob hangs on and asks God to bless him. At any point God could have defeated Jacob. But instead he cripples him while simultaneously blessing him by changing his name and letting him live.

9. What is God ultimately doing in this story with Jacob?
Answer: Shaping Jacob’s character.

10. How can we apply this story to our lives?
Answer: God changed Jacob and promises to bless and use Jacob. God changes us and makes us more like Jesus in our character (Romans 8:29). This often results in God's using us to make his name known.

AUGUST 16, 2020 | Genesis 30:25-31:55

Coloring/Activity Sheets

Jacob's Flocks

God Blesses Jacob's Flocks

Set of 3 coloring sheets - Proverbs 14:30

Create your own comic

ACTIVITY: “Jealousy”
Supplies needed: buckets or bins or box, rocks or books or something else heavy, a starting line & finish line

Ask each of your children to walk fast or run from one point to another. Point out how easy and fun it was to run—to use your legs, to feel the wind on your face, to get the blood pumping, etc.
Give each child an empty bucket or bin or box. Ask your family, “What are some ways we experience jealousy?” (Examples – “My brother gets more screen time than me?” “My sister gets to stay up later than I.” “Our neighbor has a pool and we don’t.” etc.) With each suggestion, drop a stone or something else heavy in the buckets.
With their heavy buckets, instruct the kids to run from point A to point B again.
Ask the kids how they enjoyed their run this time. Elicit responses like, “That was hard.” Or “I’m tired.” Point out how carrying around jealousy changed joyous thoughts of running the race to bitter thoughts. And the heavy buckets made it almost impossible to finish the race well.
Relate this activity to Laban and his sons’ jealousy of Jacob’s prosperity. Instead of enjoying the blessings that Jacob had brought him, he and his sons grew bitter that Jacob was blessed by God more than they were. (Genesis 31:2 “And Jacob noticed that Laban’s attitude toward him was not what it had been.”)
Read Proverbs 14:30 – “A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.”
Talk about how jealousy affects each person individually—your mission and your emotions. Talk about how jealousy affects your family as a whole—your mission, your relationships with each other, and the level of peace in your home
Talk about how your family can guard against jealousy.
Pray together, confessing sin and asking for God’s help.

ACTIVITY: “Obstacles to Obedience”
Supplies Needed: a starting line & a finish line, anything you have around the house to use as obstacles

Tell them that you are giving them a mission and they must obey. Tell them they must move from the starting line to the finish line. Encourage them and cheer them on as they run the course. Congratulate them!
Using whatever you have around the house—chairs, pool noodles, buckets, soccer cones, etc.—create some obstacles between your starting and finishing points. The kids can help create it if they’d like to. Have fun with it! Explain the course if you need to.
Ask your kids to return to the starting line. Now, give the mission again – “You must move from the starting line to the finish line. Let them run the course. This time, don’t cheer. Depending on you’re the temperament of your family, you might even say things, “Turn back. Don’t finish. Just quit.”
Ask all the kids to repeat the mission—to move from the starting line to the finish line. Ask them if the obstacles in the course changed the mission? No. Did the negative crowd change the mission? No. Did the lack of cheering or the negative comments change the mission? No. Did the obstacles and negative comments make it harder? Maybe, but it still didn’t change the command.
Relate this to Jacob hearing God tell him to go home. And talk about how Laban was trying to hinder Jacob from doing so, even if he didn’t realize that was what he was doing. (Genesis 31:3 “Then the Lord said to Jacob, ‘Go back to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you.’” & Genesis 28:15 “I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”)
Ask your kids if they have you ever experienced a time when the people around them were trying to persuade them do something that was in direct opposition to what God was telling them to do? Perhaps, you can share your own story. Discussed how you all responded?
Give a few different scenarios and discuss what they would need to Biblically do to overcome the external obstacles to obedience? For examples:

You felt convicted that you should attend youth group on Sunday nights, but your friends keep trying to get you to blow it off and go to the movies with them.
You and your parents decided that you were going to commit to keeping Sundays free of work so that you can rest and have family time. To do so, you need to finish your chores and homework on Saturday. But your friends want you to go to the pool on Saturday.
You prayed and thus decided to save up your money to give to the orphans in Nigeria. But your siblings want you to put your money with theirs in order to buy a Nintendo Switch.

*Pray and ask God to help you be alert to obstacles to obedience. Pray and ask to help you overcome those obstacles. Pray specifically if you can!

EXPERIMENT: “Spicy Revenge”
Supplies needed: spicy pepper, cup(s) of iced water, cup(s) of whole milk
WARNING: Do NOT allow children to handle hot peppers. And make sure you as the adult can tolerate the spice!

Give one of your children a cup of ice cold water. Give another one of your children a cup of cold milk. Ask them to hold them and keep the ready for when they are needed.
Mom and/or Dad – Explain what kind of pepper that you have and talk about how spicy it is. Caution your children not to touch it, smell it, or taste it. Now take a big spicy bite!
Even if it’s not that spicy for you, play it up! Cough, gag, the works. J Ask your children what you should do to take care of the spiciness.
Ask for the cup of clean, iced cold water. Take a drink. Swish it around in your mouth. Explain that since water and oil don’t mix, the water really just moves the spicy oils around in his mouth and doesn’t really alleviate the spiciness.
Now, ask for a cup of cold milk. Take a drink. Give wonderful sounds of relief. Explain that the fats in whole milk trap and dissolve capsaicin, the chemical compound in the pepper that makes your mouth burn.
Ask your kids, which was the better choice of drink to help with the spiciness? The milk!
Relate all of this to the choices that Jacob had to make when Laban continued to wrong him. He could have sought revenge with Laban and stolen from him and tricked him back. How do you think Laban would have responded if Jacob had chosen that route? It would have spread the hate and trickery around! It certainly wouldn’t have snuffed it out. Just like the water couldn’t tame the spiciness of the pepper. Instead, Jacob chose integrity and to trust in God’s promise and plan. Kind of like the milk, right?
Share an example of a time when you chose not to seek revenge. Or share an example when you did choose revenge and you saw the consequences.
Read Proverbs 3:5-6, 15:1 24:29; Romans 12:17-21; 1 Peter 3:9; and 1 Thessalonians 5:15.
Talk about how you can help each other seek God’s promises instead of revenge.
Pray and thank God for His trustworthy promises. Pray and ask for help with situations where you feel wronged.

Questions for Parents to use with their children:
1. Everyone take a moment and answer this humbling question: Have you ever lied, stolen, or deceived someone? Ouch!!

2. Read Genesis 30:25-31:55 out loud together. Next, share where you see lying, theft, and deceit in the story?
Answer: Laban tried to deceive Jacob in 30:35 when he has his sons secretly remove all the animals that were supposed to be Jacobs and gives them to his sons. Rachel stole (30:15) and lied (31:19) to her Father about having the Idol (31:34-35).

3. How does lying, deceit, and stealing cause us and others problems?
Answer: When Laban tried to deceive Jacob in 30:35, it ultimately led to conflict and frustration in and between Jacob, Laban, and Laban’s sons.
Lying and stealing the idol brought fear and danger to Rachel. This led to family conflict between Laban and Jacob’s families.

4. Share how you see God moving and orchestrating events in this story.
Answer: God was the one who prospered Jacob and Laban through Jacob (30:27-30). God allowed his blessing to come through Jacob.
The Lord also protected and led Jacob by appearing to him in a dream (31:3-16, 42). God was ultimately fulfilling His promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

5. How does this story point us toward Jesus and the Father?
Answer: Jesus died for the sins we have all committed whether lying, stealing, or deceiving others. We can trust in him for the forgiveness of our sins and to restore us to fellowship with God the Father whenever we sin.
Just as God ultimately fulfilled his purposes in Jacob’s life, God sovereignly did the same in Jesus’s. God the Father watched carefully over Jesus’s life and he will watch over ours.

6. How can you apply this story to your lives?
Answer: If you have ever lied, stolen, or deceived someone, we can look to God through Jesus in order to be forgiven of your sins and reconciled to God.
We can put our faith and trust in God to direct and help fulfill his purposes in our lives, especially when others might mistreat us. As the Psalmist has said, “The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever…” (Psalm 138:8).

AUGUST 9, 2020 | Genesis 29:31-30:24

Coloring/Activity Sheets

Jacob's Twelve Sons Crossword Puzzle

Jacob's Twelve Sons Activity Packet

Family Tree Activity

Sons of Jacob Coloring Sheet

Chain Activity - Jacob's Twelve Sons

Video

ACTIVITY:
Again this week, read “The Girl No One Wanted” from The Jesus Storybook Bible, pages 70-74. Review what you learned about Rachel and Leah last week. Ask your children how they see God working out his plan in spite of people’s failings in the story and in their own lives. Ask your children how they see God loving the seemingly unlovely in the story and in their own lives. Pray and thank Him for His sovereignty and His grace.

ACTIVITY:
Have a family puzzle night! Pick out a puzzle and dump the pieces on the table. Point out that the pile of puzzle pieces doesn’t look like much. They really just look like confusion and chaos with no real picture. Put the puzzle together. Point out the struggles and the difficulty. At the end, observe the difference between the pile of puzzle pieces and the beautiful picture you’ve created. Talk about how Jacob’s family seemed like a big messy pile of mistakes and failures and dysfunction. But God had a plan for redemption. And it couldn’t be stopped by the mess. He would turn over each piece and place it right place where it needed to be. Pray and thank God for His sovereignty and power.

ACTIVITY:
Use sidewalk chalk to create a hopscotch with 12 spaces instead of 10. Write the 12 sons of Jacob in the spaces. As you play hopscotch together, recite the names as you jump on them. As you begin to memorize them, erase them as you go until you can recite them all by memory.

Questions for Parents to use with their children:
1. Take a moment and share your favorite experience or thing about your family? Next, share your least favorite memory or thing about your family? Ouch!!

2. Read Genesis 29:31-30:25 out loud together. Have each person share what they find messy or weird or saddening about Jacob’s family.
Answer: Jacob had two wives. Leah was unloved by Jacob (29:31). Rachel was jealous of her Leah (30:1). Jacob and Rachel fought (30:1-2). Jacob had children with multiple women (Leah, Bilhah, Zilpah). Rachel and Leah competed with each other regarding having children (30:3-13). Leah was angry at Rachel (30:15)

3. Next have each person share how they saw God working in Jacob’s family.
Answer: God saw that Leah was unloved and so he enabled her to have children (29:31). She was mistreated by Jacob and Rachel and so God favored her. Later on in the story, God also enabled Rachel to have children (30:22)

4. How does this story point us toward Jesus?
Answer: Jesus came from the tribe of Judah. This makes Leah Jesus’s great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, grandmother!! God enabled Leah to give birth to the savior of the world. Good things can come from messy families. Sometimes families are messy. But the only person who was never messy or sinful came from a family that was. This gives us hope. Jesus, although he was perfect, entered into a messy world and through a messy family line. Throughout the years, Jesus’s family were not as faithful to God as they should have been. However, Jesus still came. And Jesus enters into our messy families and messy situations to bring his love, light, and peace. Jesus came for messy families. Jesus ultimately came to bring us to God. Jesus came for the brokenhearted. Read Isaiah 61:1-2 and Luke 4:18. Jesus during his earthly ministry ministered to many who were brokenhearted. Even today he still helps and heals our broken hearts.

5. How can you apply this crazy messy story?
Answer: Look to Jesus to be forgiven of your sins and reconciled to God. Look to Jesus if you have a broken heart. Put your hope in God and Jesus if you find yourself in a messy family or situation where you are unloved, rejected, or broken. Our answers to our sin and messy situations is a person. Jesus.

AUGUST 2, 2020 | Genesis 29:1-30

Coloring/Activity Sheets

Jacob & Rachel

Jacob & Rachel Crossword Puzzle

Create your own comic

Kids Sermon Outline

Laban and Leah Deceive Jacob

Activity (The Jesus Storybook Bible & 2 pictures or signs needed):
Read “The Girl No One Wanted” from The Jesus Storybook Bible, pages 70-74. Put a sign that says “Leah” and a sign that says “Rachel” on opposite walls. Instruct your children to run to the correct name as you read through a list of statements and descriptions. Add observations and questions as you go.

I am the younger sister. (Rachel)
I am thought of as the beautiful sister. (Rachel)
I am the older sister who no one noticed. (Leah)
I am the sister Jacob wanted to marry. (Rachel)
I am the sister Jacob first married after working 7 years for my father, Laban. (Leah)
I am the sister Jacob married second. (Rachel)
I am the sister Jacob loved. (Rachel)
I am the sister God chose to set His love upon. (Leah)
I am the sister with a son named Judah. (Leah)
I am the sister through whose family God would rescue His people. (Leah)

Activity (chosen symbol needed):
Choose a symbol to remind your child of God’s promises and love this week. Here are a few ideas: a special bracelet, a temporary tattoo, a lock of hair dyed with temporary hair dye, a painted finger nail, a string tied around his an ankle or wrist, etc. Tell your children that every time they notice the symbol, say to themselves, “God is a perfect promise keeper.” God had promised Jacob in Genesis 29 that He would not leave him and that he would watch over him. And God reminded Jacob of His promises to Jacob’s family. Jacob desperately needed to remember what God’s promise was and to remember that God will always keep His promises. Explain that this week, we’re going to wear a symbol to help us remember that God will always be with us and will fulfill His promises to and through us. Review with your family some of God’s promises to His children in Scripture. At the end of each day, ask your children if there was anything they did to hinder or change God’s promises to them. Of course, there is not. God always does what pleases Him. Pray and confess those things that are needed. Then, thank God for His faithfulness and trustworthiness.

Activity (heavy box, bin, or bag needed):
Fill a box (that you can’t see through) with items to make it pretty heavy—not too heavy for your child to pick up but too heavy for him or her to hold it very long. Tell the kids that this heavy box represents God’s promises. Ask for one of your kids to hold it. Tell them not to let it touch the ground because these promises are very important. While they hold it, explain that God’s promises are big and weighty and important. Ask your if the bag is getting heavy but don’t offer to help hold it. Talk about few other biblical examples of God’s promises. Keep asking and drawing attention to the box being too heavy to hold for very long. Eventually transition by mom or dad taking the heavy box and holding it for your child. Explain that it’s not up to us to carry the weight of God’s promises. His promises don’t depend on how strong we are—how many times we do right or make good choices. His promises depend on how strong HE is—how dependable and trustworthy and how sovereign and powerful He is. God’s promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob stood because God is a promise keeper, not because these men always did the right thing. In spite of their wrong decisions or the wrong decisions around them, God was working out what He had intended—refining their individual lives and working out his master plan of redemption for humanity. God always keeps his promises. No man or woman can change that.

Questions for Parents to use with their children:
1. Who did Jacob meet, and what was his response upon seeing one person in particular? Why do you think he responded this way?
Answer: Jacob had traveled a great distance, beginning in Beersheeba (Gen 28:10), stopping in Luz that he renamed Bethel (Gen 28:19), and ending in Haran in Paddan-aram (Gen 28:2, 10).
(Parents: If you’d like, use this map to help your kids get an idea of how far Jacob traveled.)

Jacob initially met some shepherds tending their flocks, and he asked them if they knew Laban. As they were talking, Laban’s daughter Rachel came with her father’s sheep. Jacob got up and helped her water the flock, and he greeted her with a kiss and tears of joy after his long journey.

Since Jacob’s journey had been very long, it must have been a tremendous relief to find a daughter of Laban so quickly, especially considering what his father Isaac had told him when he blessed him and told him to go there (Genesis 28:2-4) and we learn in Genesis 29:18 that Jacob loved Rachel.

2. What arrangement was made between Jacob and Laban, and what trick did Laban play on Jacob?
Answer: Upon learning that Jacob was family, Laban promised to give Jacob whatever he asked as payment for serving him. Jacob asked for Rachel to be his wife for seven years of work. After the seven years, Laban agreed to give him Rachel, but then gave him his firstborn daughter, Leah, instead. In order to marry Rachel, Jacob agreed to work for Laban for an additional seven years. (That’s a total of fourteen years to marry the woman he loved!)

3. Does this trick remind you of anything else in Jacob’s life?
Answer: In Genesis 27:1-29 we learned how Jacob had tricked his father Isaac into thinking he was Esau so that he could receive the blessing Isaac had promised to Esau.

4. What does this tell us about sin in our lives, and what does this tell us about God’s faithfulness despite the sin in our lives?
Answer: Just as Jacob had tricked his father for his blessing, Laban also tricked Jacob with his blessing (of giving his daughter in marriage). It should not surprise us if our sins are visited upon us in like manner. But, through it all, God proved faithful to Jacob and fulfilled the promises He made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. We will see this in the chapters to come as the story unfolds, with more sin and deceit among Jacob and his sons, with the key figure being Rachel’s first son born to Jacob (not Jacob’s first son, though).
Note: Jacob’s first four sons are born to him by Leah at the end of chapter 29. In chapters 30 and 35, the remaining eight sons will be born to Jacob by Rachel’s servant Bilhah (2), Leah’s servant Zilpah (2), Leah (2), and Rachel (2). These twelve sons in all become the twelve tribes of Israel, which is important to remember throughout the rest of the Bible.

JULY 26, 2020 | Genesis 27:41-28:22

Coloring/Activity Sheets

Jacob's Dream

Jacob's Ladder Crossword

Word Unscramble - Genesis 28

Create your own comic

Kids Sermon Outline

Videos

Activity: “Science Experiment/Snack”Let’s make popcorn!
Let your kids observe the popcorn kernels. What do they look like? What is their shape? What do they feel like? What do they smell like? If your children are old enough not to choke, let them roll a kernel around in their mouths. What does it taste like? Now add heat (and oil if you’re using a pan on the stove) and watch the magic…I mean, the science…happen! Then, observe the kernels. What changed? What do they look, feel, smell, and taste like now? An irreversible chemical change has happened! What was the catalyst that caused the change? Heat! Popcorn in the presence of the right amount of heat changes the popcorn kernel forever. Review Jacob’s encounter with God during Jacob’s dream in Genesis 28. In the presence of God, Jacob changed. How did he change? He went from scheming and running to worshipping and surrendering. In the presence of God, we can be changed as well. Share the gospel with your child. Also, share times when encountering God made a big difference in your life—your character, your decision making, your relationships, your purposes. If your children are older, allow them a chance to share their experiences with God. Pray prayers of thanks and worship.

Activity: “Ladder Craft”
Build a small ladder out of craft supplies (cotton swabs, toothpicks, popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners, etc.) or toys (LEGO bricks, Lincoln Logs, Tinker Toys, etc.). Review Jacob’s dream in Genesis 28:10-22. Write each of God’s promises to Jacob on individual sticky notes or small pieces of paper. Attach each promise to a different rung of the ladder. Discuss each promise. How did God follow through on His promises to Jacob? Which promise given specifically to Jacob can we find in another part of Scripture and apply it to ourselves? How has God kept His promises to us? Pray and worship God for being a promise keeper.

Questions for Parents to use with their children:
1. Why was Esau so angry with his brother Jacob that he intended to kill him, and what did Jacob do when Esau’s plan was discovered?
Answer: Earlier in this chapter, we learned that Jacob tricked his father, Isaac, into giving him a blessing which Isaac intended to give Esau. While verse 41 tells us that that was the sole reason for Esau’s anger, remember that we also learned back in Genesis 25:29-34 that Jacob convinced Esau to sell his birthright to him for a single meal. Jacob then fled to live with his uncle, Laban, and take a wife for himself there, until Esau’s anger subsided.

2. What differences do you see between Jacob and Esau in Genesis 28:1-9?
Answer: There were two clear and significant differences between them. Jacob was blessed again by his father, while Esau received no blessing. And, Jacob did what his father told him to do (as part of his blessing), while Esau decided to do what he wanted to do.

3. What happened in Jacob’s dream, and why do you think it was important?
Answer: Jacob dreamed about a ladder upon which angels of God were going up and down, and God stood above it and spoke to him, promising that Jacob would have the land on which he was lying, and that he would have a great number of descendants (“like the dust of the earth”). More importantly, God promised to be with Jacob wherever he went, and that He would not leave Jacob until He did all that He promised.

4. What was Jacob’s response to God’s promises? What should be our response to God’s promises?
Answer: Jacob made an altar at the place promised by God, he gave it a new name, and he made a vow to God. In the vow, he declared, “The Lord will be my God,” and he dedicated his property and possessions to God. As we will learn in the following chapters, Jacob lives out his faith in God through many difficult situations and events, and we will God working through all of them to fulfill his promises. Similarly, we ought to declare that God is our God, trusting him with everything we have and everywhere we go, based on his promises. Consider Matthew 28:20, in which Jesus promises to be with us always, even to the end of the age.

For parents (especially dads): Notice that God called Himself in Jacob’s dream “the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac,” before repeating to Jacob the promises He previously made to both Abraham and Isaac (see Genesis 12:1-3 and Genesis 26:1-5). Jacob will later address God as “the God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac” (see Genesis 32:9). As God’s redemptive story unfolds, God will later call Himself in Exodus 3:6 (and throughout the Bible) as “the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” In Hebrews 12:1-2, we Christians are told to regard the “great cloud of witnesses” before us (including Abraham, Isaac and Jacob mentioned in Hebrews 11:17-21), and to set aside everything that inhibits our walk with the Lord, fixing our eyes on our Savior. Just as Jacob has the “witnesses” of his grandfather and father before him, ask yourself in what ways is your own faith in Jesus is witnessed by your children? In other words, although their salvation does not rest on your faith, is your faith in Jesus such that your kids would regard “the God of my parent(s)” and declare like Jacob, “The Lord will be my God”?

JULY 19, 2020 | Genesis 27:1-40

Coloring Sheets

Isaac blesses Jacob - Genesis 27

Create your own comic

Kids Sermon Outline/Activity Sheet

Jacob and Esau - Genesis 27

Videos

Activity: “Family Drama”
Read through Genesis 27:1-40. Act out the passage with your family. Make it as simple or as complex as your family enjoys. Use costumes and props if you’d like!

Science Experiment: “Walking On Eggshells”
Before you try this with your kids, visit the following site to learn how to walk on whole raw eggs without breaking them! https://www.stevespanglerscience.com/lab/experiments/walking-on-eggshells/ (There are numerous other sites to give hints and descriptions, as well as further explanations of the science behind why it works.) Use masking tape or painter’s tape to create a starting line and a finish line just a few feet apart. Explain that the plan is to walk from point A to point B. Try it out and see how easy it is. Now, put your carton of eggs between the two points. Talk about how fragile and breakable the eggs are. Ask your kids if moving between the lines is even possible now! Move through the process of your kids walking carefully from one side to the other while walking barefoot on top of the eggs. The fragility of the eggs couldn’t stop the plan of getting from one point to the other. God also has a purpose and a plan, and He wants to use people in it. Our frail natures can’t stop His plan. Even though Isaac is spiritually blind, Esau is immoral, Jacob and Rebekah are deceptive, their natures couldn’t stop God’s master plan for redemption (Genesis 27:1-40). Psalm 135:6 “The LORD does whatever pleases Him in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths.“

Questions for Parents to use with their children:
1. As a backdrop to this story, read Genesis 25:21-28. Take note of verse 23. What were God's purposes revealed to Rebekah?
Answer: God revealed to Rebekah that Esau and Jacob would become two separate peoples and that the older (Esau) would serve the younger (Jacob). God's compassion and mercy on Jacob is also mentioned in Romans 9:10-16.

2. What did Isaac and Esau do to try to thwart God's purposes and establish their own plans?
Answer: Even though God revealed his plans for Jacob to be blessed, Isaac sought to turn the tables on God's plans by giving Esau the family blessing (which usually would include a double share of the inheritance and sometimes a prophetic utterance). It would appear that Isaac intended to leave nothing for Jacob, however from verses 36-37. Also note that in Isaac's blessing he sought to have the younger serve the older (29), which is the opposite of God's revealed will. Note that Isaac and Esau attempted to do this without Rebekah and Jacob knowing about it.

3. What did Rebekah and Jacob do to try to “help God out” in fulfilling His will? Was it right?
Answer: They deceived Isaac, who was old and blind, by having Jacob pretend to be Esau so that Jacob would receive the firstborn blessing instead of Esau. Deception is a sin (1 Peter 2:1, 22), and Jacob himself would be the recipient of it from his uncle Laban later on.

4. What should Rebekah and Jacob have done instead? Why?
Answer: Remember that God had said Jacob would be blessed. Also note that Esau had sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of stew (Genesis 25:29-34). Despite the fact that Jacob should be the one to receive the blessing, Rebekah and Jacob trusted in their own devices to secure what God had said would happen. They did not trust God to accomplish his purposes, but sought to do it their way. This was not acting in faith. It would have been better for them to pray and seek God (as Rebekah had done before in Genesis 25:22) and to speak the truth in love to Isaac. In a similar fashion, Abraham sought to achieve God's blessing of a son via Hagar instead of waiting on God.

5. What does this passage demonstrate about Isaac's family and people in general? About God?
Answer: Isaac, Rebekah, Esau, and Jacob were dysfunctional in several ways in how they related to one another. They were split into factions and schemed against one another instead of working together as a team. They did not communicate well. Instead of speaking the truth in love to one another, they lied and deceived one another. They did not trust God but sought to have their own way instead of submitting to God's ways and seeking Him. The Bible reveals that we are all broken people who sin willfully (Romans 3:23). This passage also shows God's sovereignty in that His purposes were in fact established. It shows us His grace and mercy (apart from works) in choosing Jacob over Esau. The sinfulness of people cannot stop God's plans. Extra Credit: For an example of how God's sovereignty worked despite and because of man's sinful actions, see Acts 4:27-28. Praise God for His great love and mercy for ruined sinners like us and in sending His son Jesus, who paid for our sins on the cross, and gave us a new heart to love God.

6. What have you learned and how can you apply it individually and as a family? “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. ” -Romans 15:4

JULY 12, 2020 | Genesis 26:1-33

Coloring Sheets

Isaac at the well - Genesis 26:24-25

Isaac builds a well - Genesis 26

Create your own comic

Kids Sermon Outline/Activity Sheet

Science Experiment:
Supplies:

Ziplock Bag almost filled with water & sealed
Very sharp Pencils or Skewers

Instructions: Hold a closed ziplock bag (that’s almost full of water) over your child. Promise your child that he’ll stay dry through this entire illustration. Ask him if he has faith that he’ll stay dry? He may believe he’ll stay dry because he trusts you. Begin listing, “What if’s” that could cause him to get wet in this scenario. Have your other children suggest some “what if’s!” The “what if’s” could all be logical or they could be a combo of logical and silly. Every time you list a “what if,” poke a very sharp pencil or skewer straight through the bag. (NOTE: No water should spill out since the bags are made of a polymer. But make sure the bag isn’t too full of water and make sure you don’t use so many pencils that it becomes too heavy. When you poke the sharp pencil into the plastic, the pencil point slides in between the chain of molecules that make up the polymer. The molecule chains "hug" the pencil, making a seal around the pencil that won't let the water out.) What if I shake it really hard? What if I turn it upside down? What if I thought I closed the top but I really didn’t? What if this bag is the only one in the box that’s defective and it has a little hole in it? What if we have an earthquake and the bag shakes out of my hand and drops on your head? What if a bird swoops down and pecks a hole in the bag? Ask if he feels a little more nervous now that you’ve listed all the “what if’s.” What gives you more confidence against fearful situations – thinking on the promise, thinking on the promise maker, or thinking on the “what if’s”? Talk about how Isaac focused on his fears in Genesis 26 (just like his father Abraham did) instead of focusing on God’s promise. Didn’t Isaac believe that God would keep his promise and not only keep him alive, but allow his family to multiply and be blessed for generations? When he focused on the “what if,” he made a wrong choice and sinned. Then, talk about how Isaac at did focus on God’s promise instead of focusing on fears about having water. He knew God would provide and trusted God. When he chose to trust, God provided water and peace and allowed others to see that the LORD was with them.

Craft:
Supplies:

Pipe cleaner, yarn, or string
5 Beads per child

Instructions: Create a bracelet by stringing beads on a pipe cleaner, yarn, or string. Tie or twist the ends to close off the bracelet. Make sure it’s not too tight and will cut off circulation! Each bead represents one word of the phrase, “God is with me always.” Once you’ve tied the bracelet on your child’s wrist, practice that important phrase while moving a bead over with each word. Remind your children that God is always with them wherever they go. Their bracelet can remind them of that and help them memorize this truth. Explain that when they’re afraid, they should pray and remind themselves of God’s truth – “God is with me always.”

Questions for Parents to use with their children:
1.Verses 2-4 detail God's instructions and promises to prosper Isaac and his descendants (continuing the covenant with Abraham). We might expect verses 6-11 to show how Isaac responded faithfully and trusted God fully... is that what these verses describe?
Answer: I love this about the Bible! The people and accounts are so honest and real. God speaks directly to Isaac detailing promises of blessing and prosperity, and Isaac turns around and responds with a nervous lie about his wife - exemplifying his lack of trust in God's plan and ways. We see a real man, with a real desire to trust and follow God, messing up. Let's not stop there though...

2. How does God respond to Isaac's deception and taking matters into his own hands (V. 12-14)?
Answer: God responds by being faithful to what he said. His faithfulness is based on who he is and what he has said, not on a person's faithfulness or righteousness. Note: we don't know the exact time line between Isaac's lie about Rebekah and God's blessing him with a bountiful harvest, but the author clearly contrasts God's faithfulness to his word with Isaac's lack of faith.

3. There is a lot of talk about wells and digging them/filling them in throughout this passage. What do you think is the significance of the wells?
Answer: Wells were vital for families and communities, and not as easy to come by as our kitchen faucets today. God had promised this land to Abraham and Isaac. He faithfully provided water sources to sustain their way of life in the land he promised. The wells confirm God's commitment to his promises. Note: it is interesting that God allowed some contention over the wells. Isaac and his family did not "have it easy" all the time just because God had promised land, seed, and blessing. They still had to wait and trust sometimes... and keep moving forward. It took a few tries before they were able to settle in and find that, "The Lord has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land." God often leaves room for us to grow in our faith and trust in him!

4. What can we learn about God from this passage?
This is a great question to ask of every passage in the Bible. What parts of God's character are on display here?

5. What can we learn about ourselves/mankind from this passage?
Also a great question to ask. Make some general observations about the people in this passage, and similarities to/differences from yourself.

JULY 5, 2020 | Genesis 25:19-34

Coloring Sheets

Jacob & Esau - Genesis 25:19-34

Jacob & Esau - Genesis 25:29-34

Isaac blessing Jacob

Kids Sermon Outline/Activity Sheet

Genesis 25 Printable Activity Sheets

Video - God's Story: Jacob & Esau

Activity: "Lentil Stew"
Use the following recipe (or another favorite) to make Lentil Stew! https://www.theharvestkitchen.com/hearty-lentil-stew/
If you have allergies or there is no way your family would eat those ingredients, pick another family favorite. As it cooks, make a big deal about how good it smells and how hungry you are. You might even want to delay dinner just a bit until everyone is really hungry. (They may be cranky but I promise they won’t die!) Set the table and sit down without food in your bowls. Ask your kids to describe how hungry they are. Then, ask them what they would trade for some food right now. Money? A special toy? Some screen time? Dish out some stew for each person as they answer. As you eat, talk about how Esau made a choice to trade his birthright for a bowl of lentil stew to feed his temporary hunger in Genesis 25. Talk about how we make little and big choices all the time. Every single day, we tend to choose what we think meets our own immediate desires and needs. Allow each person in the family to give an example of choosing something eternal over something temporary. Pray and ask God to help you choose what is right and eternal.

Game: “Nothing Can Stop God’s Plan”
This might be a good activity for outside, but you can certainly do it indoors if you’d like. Grab a stock pot or sauce pot from the kitchen and place it on the ground. Give each child a few dry lentils (or a bean bag or even wads of paper). Pick a spot for the kids to stand on. Instruct them to throw the lentils into the pot. Don’t make it too hard! You want them to be able to get them in the pot! Cheer each other on and make it fun. You might even add some music! Redistribute the lentils and try a second round. This time, instruct mom or dad or an older sibling to come between the kids and the pot. As the kids throw their lentils, swat them away with a pot lid so that they can’t all make it in the pot. Depending on the dynamic of your family and the ages of your kids, you can make the game silly or competitive. Talk about how the kids felt to have their efforts blocked in the second round. Now look at the mistakes that Jacob, Esau, Rebecca, and Isaac made in Genesis 25. Remind the kids of God’s promise to Abraham that was then passed down to Isaac. Talk about how God’s plan cannot be thwarted by our mistakes and sins the way our efforts to throw lentils in a pot were easily stopped. Talk about God’s nature, particularly His grace and His sovereignty. It is only by God’s grace—not Jacob’s character or works or schemes—that allowed him the birthright. And today, it is only by God’s grace—not our works or perfection—that we can be part of God’s big story and plan. Review the plan of salvation with your family.

Questions for Parents to use with their children:
1. Begin your time by praying that God would open your eyes to who He is as you look at His Word.

2. Next, read Genesis 25:19-34 out loud together.

3. What did you hear or see about God from the passage?
Answer: God answers prayer. He heard Isaac’s prayer for Rebekah to have children. He also answered Rebekah’s prayer as to what was going on in her womb. God also sovereignly chose Jacob over Esau. From Jacob would come the nation of Israel and it would be the stronger nation that Esau‘s descendants would serve. Read Romans 9:9-16.

4. What do you observe about humanity?
Answer: Since the fall of humanity, there has been strife in families. Conflict between brothers has been a theme throughout the book of Genesis. We will see this with Jacob and Esau in the next 11 chapters.

5. Names were significant in Biblical times. They sometimes revealed God’s message and a person’s identity, especially their family history and ties. What do you think the name Jacob means based on our passage for the week? Do you know why that might be important?
Answer: According to the ESV study Bible, “Jacob“ resembles the Hebrew term for heel and has undertones of a “deceiver.” To grab someone by the heel in Hebrew culture was a figure of speech used to “deceive.” Later on in the story Jacob deceives Esau in order to steal his birthright. The firstborn in those times received the family’s inheritance.

6. As we will see in the coming weeks, God was in the process of changing Jacob. How has God been changing you or making you more like Jesus in your character? How might you apply today’s passage and the sermon you heard to your lives as a family?

JUNE 28, 2020 | Genesis 25:1-18

Coloring Sheets

Abraham - Hebrews 11:8-12

Abraham - Romans 2:4-5

Kids Sermon Outline/Activity Sheet

Activity for Talking About Abraham’s Genealogy
Create a simple family tree together. After you talk through your own family tree, read through Genesis 25:1-18 and create Abraham’s family tree in a similar format. (You’ll have to look back at past chapters to complete his family tree with his first wife Sarah.) Take a look at Matthew 1. Talk about how God was fulfilling His promise to Abraham in Genesis 17:1-9.

Activity for Living a Life of Faith
Think of someone that all your children know well. It could be a family member or family friend or a pastor. Ask each of your children to write down or tell you one word that they would use to describe that person. Talk about what you’ve learned about Abraham. What word describes Abraham? Does “faith” come to mind? Ask your kids what one thing they hope their coaches say about them at the end of the season. Ask kids what one thing they hope their teachers say about them at the end of the school year. Instruct your kids to write down or tell you one word they hope someone can say about them at the end of all their years. Talk about how God calls us to a life of faith. Talk about what that looks like. Pray and ask God to help you first believe in Jesus and then to live out a life of faith.

Activity for Understanding Faith

OPTION 1: Blindfold your child. Guide your child to a chair without touching him. Just give him verbal directions: “Step left. Carefully, pick up your right foot and make a large step. Step right. ….etc….” Continue until your child is backed up to the chair and is about to sit down. But try not to allow him to feel the chair! At the right time, ask your child to trust you and sit down like he would normally. You can add phrases like, “Trust me” or “I know you can’t see it but there really is a chair there for you.” Take the blindfold off. Explain that faith is not being able to see but believing the one who can see and proving that belief with obedience. Read Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
OPTION 2: Bring out a box that no one can see into. Ask your kids to make a guess about what’s inside. Maybe, ask them why they guessed their choices. After everyone has a chance, tell them what’s inside. Without showing them, ask the kids if they believe you. Find out why or why not. Ask them if they would believe you if they could smell it. Ask them if they would believe you if they could touch it. What about if they could see it, would they believe you? Finally bring it out of the bag and show them. Talk about how they had to trust you. They had to think about their experiences with you ---whether or not you had lied to them before or tried to trick them before. They had to think about your character – are you honest or not. They had to think about your purpose in asking and whether or not your purpose was good. Talk about how God’s character and trustworthiness help us to have faith when we can’t see. Talk about how faith has more to do with who God is than what we can do or what circumstances we can know. Read Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

Questions for Parents to use with their children:
1. Think about some older or elderly people God has put in your life. Can you name a few? How have they impacted you or others for God or for good?

2. How old was Abraham when he died? How does verse 8 describe the length of life?
Answer: Verse 7 says 175 years old. Genesis 25:8 says that He died at a “good old age, an old man and full of years.”

3. Abraham began following God at the age of 75. He lived a life of faith in God for 100 years. Take a moment and share your favorite story about Abraham and why?

4. Abraham was known for a lot of good things. However, he was probably most known for his faith in God. What is faith? Why is it important in the Christian life?
Answer: According to Hebrews 11:1, faith is “confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” It is not wishful thinking or crossing your fingers hoping that something happens. Instead it is confidence that what God promised will come to pass.

Faith is important in the Christian life because it is how God chose for us to interact with Him. Faith is a gift (Ephesians 2:8-9) and begins with believing that He exists and that He made it possible through Jesus for us to be forgiven and reconciled to Him. Hebrews 11:6 says, “and without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

God loves it when we trust in what He says and when we demonstrate that trust through obedience. We cannot see God with our human eyes but He has given us the Holy Spirit and the Bible to tell us who He is, what he has done, what He will do, and how we should live.

5. How can you as a family and as individuals apply this to your life?

JUNE 21, 2020 | Psalm 19

Coloring Sheets

Psalm 19:1

Psalm 19:7-8

Psalm 19:9-10

Psalm 19:14

Kids Sermon Outline/Activity Sheet

Activity for Psalm 19:1-6
Print a picture of a famous sculpture or a famous painting or an incredible building. Ask your child to share some observations about the artwork. Ask them what they think they can learn about the artist or the architect from the artwork. Talk about how the artwork declares the glory of the artist. We get a glimpse of what the artist is like through his or her work. Then, talk about how creation declares God’s glory. Take it a step further! We get an even bigger understanding of the artist when we read something the artist has written about himself or his work. Relate that to how our understanding of God depends when we read and obey His Word (Psalm 19:7-14). Now, take it even further and talk about how much more we can learn from the artist if we were to meet him in person. Discuss how Jesus came and showed us God (Colossians 1:15-23).

Activity for Psalm 19:7-11
Pull out your favorite family game. It can be a card game, board game, or even an outdoor game like cornhole or basketball. As you play, arbitrarily change the rules here and there. As your kids get confused or frustrated, point out that it can be difficult when the rules keep changing. Then, point out that God’s Word is not that way. Last Sunday, we learned that though the grass withers, God’s Word stands forever (1 Peter 1:25). This week, we see in Psalm 19 that God’s laws are trustworthy and firm. Ask the kids why it’s a really good thing that God’s word is stable and unchanging. Read Psalm 19:7-11 and pick out other characteristics of God’s Word. You may even want to print out Psalm 119 and circle all the other descriptions of His law/decrees/precepts/commands. Take some time to pray and praise God for His “trustworthy and firm” word.

Activity for Psalm 19:14
Collect some rocks that are big enough to write on with a sharpie. If you’d like to, paint the rocks a solid color with acrylic paint before you begin. Or you can leave them natural. Read through Psalm 19. Look at verse 14, and then write the word, “Rock” on one of the stones. Talk about how the Lord has shown that He your Rock. Write the word, “Redeemer,” on another. Talk about how the Lord has shown that He is your Redeemer. What other passages of Scripture talk about the Lord as a Rock or Redeemer? Put the rocks in a special place that will help you remember what the Lord is like. When you see them, say a quick prayer of worship. Want to take it further? Think of someone you could give your rocks to and share with them why the Lord is your Rock and Redeemer. You may also want to create rocks based on other attributes of the Lord that you have read in Scripture.

Questions for Parents to use with their children:
1. When you hear the words "create" and "Creator", what comes to mind?

2. Read verses 1-6 out loud. What stands out about God and His creation?
Answer: God is the creator. His creation makes Him known. Although the sun, moon, stars, and all that is in the sky shine bright, they do not speak. Yet their message of who God is goes throughout the whole world.

3. Read verses 7-12 out loud. What stands out about God?
Answer: His law. The words like "law, statutes, precepts, and commands" come from the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible) and are ways of referring to the Mosaic Covenant (God's promise to Moses and the people of Israel).

4. What do verses 12-14 tell us about God's law, sin, and prayer?
Answer: Just like there is nothing hidden from the sun's heat, God through his law, searches all the places in our heart and He knows our hidden faults. These verses model praying for God to forgive us from our known and unknown sins, along with his protection from future sins against Him.

5. As a family, how can we apply what we've learned about God from Psalm 19?

JUNE 14, 2020 | 1 Peter 1:22-2:3

Coloring Sheets

Love-1 Peter 1:22

1 Peter 1:25

Kids Sermon Outline/Activity Sheet

Prayer Prompt – Cut out a heart from your favorite color paper. Write "Love one another deeply, from the heart" (1 Peter 1:22) in the center of the heart. Then write the names of people you want to love well this week. You could also print pictures and tape those to your heart! Put your heart where you'll see it each day - on your bathroom mirror, at your kitchen table, or by your bed. Each day, pray that God will help you love each of these people well.

Activity for 1 Peter 1:22-25
Materials Needed:

Very Large bucket labeled “GOD’S LOVE”
Small bucket labeled “MY LOVE”
Dirty or Colored Water
Clean Water
2 large, soft sponge like you would use for washing your car (It would be great if they are 2 different colors!)
2 drinking glasses or cups

INSTRUCTIONS: Before you begin, fill both buckets with water. You may want to keep the large bucket hidden until you’re ready to use it. You also may want to set up this activity outside or in the bathtub.

Tell your child that the sponge represents “you” and that the small bucket represents all the love you have to give. Also, explain that the glass represents other people.
Using one of the sponges, allow your child to soak up ALL the dirty or colored water in the small bucket.
Squeeze the water out into one of the glasses. It should barely fill the glass.
Explain that our love alone is inadequate to love others well. We can do our best and spread some joy, but it will never be enough.
Pull out the big bucket of water.
Using a different sponge that still represents your changed life, allow your child to soak up clean water from the big bucket and squeeze it out into the other glass. Repeat again and again until the water is overflowing dramatically out of the glass.
Contrast the glasses.
Explain that we need to be changed and full of God’s love before we can deeply love others.

Activity for 1 Peter 1:22
Materials Needed:

3 Large Clear Glasses or Vases Labeled “YOU,” “SIN,” and “JESUS”
Iodine (You can also use undiluted liquid food color)
Bleach
Apron to protect your clothes (A trash bag works great! Just cut out holes for your head and arms.)

Instructions: Before you begin, fill the “YOU” vase with plain water about halfway full. Fill the “SIN” vase with iodine. Fill the “JESUS” vase with bleach.

Explain how humanity was created in God’s image and with the purpose of being in a pure, loving fellowship with God. – Genesis 1:27,31
(Pour part of the iodine from the “SIN” vase into the water and swish it around or stir it. The water should become discolored.) Explain how sin made it impossible to love the way God created us to. – Isaiah 64:6; 1 John 4; Romans 5:12
(Purposefully put the “SIN” vase back down between the “YOU” and the “JESUS” vase.) Talk about how sin now separates you from a holy God. – Isaiah 53:6; Isaiah 59:2; Romans 3:23; Romans 5
Explain that as part of God’s perfect plan, Jesus took on all the sin of every person who has ever lived or ever would live, even though He Himself never sinned. (Pour the rest of the iodine from the “SIN” vase into the bleach vase marked “JESUS.” The color should completely disappear into the bleach. Then, put the empty “SIN” vase away from the table). – Titus 3:3-7; Romans 5:6-8; Romans 6:23; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 John 2:2; 1 John 3:5; 1 Peter 3:18; Ephesians 2:8-9
Explain that if you obey God by confessing that "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved and be made clean. (Pour some of the bleach from the “JESUS” vase into the “YOU” vase until it’s clear again). – Romans 10:9-13; John 1:12-13; John 3:16-18
Explain that once you have been purified through salvation, you are able to and should love sincerely as God created you to love. Explain that the same power that cleanses us from sin is the same power that allows us to love sincerely rather than superficially. – 1 Peter 1:22-25; Philippians 2:1-11; 1 John 2:3-11; 1 John 3:11-24

Activity for 1 Peter 1:23
Sit down with your children and look through their baby books. Tell them story of the day they were born. Talk about how that day is different from a new birth or being born again. Read about Nicodemus in John 3.

Craft for 1 Peter 1:23-25
Materials Needed:

Flowers or leaves from your yard
Parchment Paper
Iron
Towels
Plain Paper
Markers
Glue

Instructions:

Pick flowers and leaves from your yard. Flatter blooms work better than bulky ones.
Pat the flowers dry with a paper towel or towel.
Sandwich the flowers between 2 pieces of parchment paper.
Sandwich that between 2 towels.
Set your iron to a medium-high heat and make sure the steam feature is off.
Press (don’t slide) your iron over the flower/paper/towel sandwich until the flowers are completely dried.
Arrange your flowers on your plain paper and attach with glue. (These are also beautiful attached to attached to the glass in a frame!)
Write Isaiah 40:8 on your decorative paper.

Questions for Parents to use with their children:
1. What is the gospel
Answer: The word gospel means “good news.” It is the good news of Jesus the Savior and his kingdom. Jesus lived, died, and rose again to save us from the penalty and power of sin. The gospel entails believing in the perfect life that Jesus lived for us, his people. It also entails His substitutionary death in our place and for our sin. Finally, it includes his victory over death, hell, and the grave. Because of Jesus’ resurrection, God the Father sees and declares those who believe in Him, righteous in his sight. Also read 1 Peter 1:18-19, 21

2. What does Paul command his readers to do at the end of verse 22.
Answer: To love one another deeply from the heart.

3. What is the command “love one another deeply” rooted in? Or, where does it derive its motivation?
Answer: (v23) The Gospel. Verse 23 says, “For you have been born again through the living and enduring word of God.”

4. God works in people and then through people? What comes to your mind when you hear this? What might this mean in light of verses 22-23? Answer: God purifies people through the gospel which ultimately leads them to loving others.

5. According to v24, how are people and their glory described? What happens to people and their glory? In contrast, what happens to the “word of the Lord?”
Answer: People are described as grass and flowers of the field. They wither away and die. God and his message endures forever.

6. How can you put this passage into practice this week as a family?

JUNE 7, 2020 | Acts 10

Coloring Sheets

Cornelius and Peter

Cornelius and Peter become friends

Kids Sermon Outline/Activity Sheet

Video

Prayer Prompt – Tape pictures of your friends, neighbors, and classmates onto your bathroom or bedroom mirror. When you see them, notice and celebrate the differences. Pray for your heart to be humbled. Pray for them to know and believe the gospel. Pray that you will love and share the gospel without favoritism.
Craft idea – Using magazines, advertisements, coloring books, or printouts from the internet, cut out pictures of different faces from different cultures, races, and ages. Write the following phrase “Jesus died for every face and every race” or “God does not show favoritism (Acts 10:34)” in the center of large piece of paper or a paper plate. Glue or tape the pictures around the words. Talk about how your family could love all people with the gospel.

Questions for Parents to use with their children:
1. Do you know who George Floyd is? Are you aware of what happened to him? Are you aware of what is happening this week in our country?
2. When it comes to bad things happening in the world, where do they find their origin?
Answer: Genesis 3. Sin and its effects entered into our world when our first parents Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
3. How and when does God promise to remedy all the bad things in the world?
Answer: The remedy begins and ends with Jesus. It began when he came and will find its completion when he returns. God had a plan from the beginning to unite all things in Christ, things in heaven and on earth...to the praise of his glory" (Ephesians 1:10-12). So, at just the right time God sent Jesus into the world to live, die, and rise from the dead (Galatians 4:4-5). When Jesus died for our sins, he saved us and all who would believe in him from the penalty and power of sin. When Jesus returns, he will do away with all the bad things in the world (Acts 3:21, Romans 8:18-22).
4. What does reconciliation mean in the Bible? How does it apply to racial reconciliation in our world?
Answer: Reconciliation means to restore to favor. It not only entails forgiveness but the restoration of a broken relationship between God and humanity. It assumes that our relationship with God was damaged by our sin and we needed God to make an exchange to make us right with him. Because we are reconciled to God, the church can be reconciled to one another when sin damages relationships. This points to the good news of Jesus and the healing he brings. When the world sees our love for each other, they see a glimpse of Jesus and that we are his followers Jesus. The world needs to see, hear, and believe the good news of Jesus from the church.
5. How did Peter overcome his prejudice? How does that help us?
Answer: By Seeing God, obeying God, and seeing God work. God appeared to Peter in a vision and he ultimately obeyed God. As Peter walked in obedience, he saw God work in the life of Cornelius and others. We are called to "walk in manner worthy of our calling." By believing and obeying God, it helps us in our fight with sin.
6. How should we as a family respond?