€¦ · joseph in egypt (genesis 39–40): september 11–17 hear the story when joseph arrived in...

www.abingdonpress.com

AB

ING

DO

N P

RE

SS

FA

MILY

DE

VO

TIO

NA

L: A

YE

AR

OF

DA

ILY D

EV

OT

ION

AL

SS

UZ

AN

N W

AD

E

9781501817366_CVR_PRINT.indd 1 4/19/16 2:25 PM

Family Devotional

A Year of Daily Devotionals

Suzann Wade

Abingdon Press Nashville

9781501817366_INT_pages 1-17.indd 1 4/19/16 2:25 PM

Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2016 Abingdon Press.

Deep Blue Family Devotional A Year of Daily Devotionals

Copyright © 2016 Abingdon Press. All rights reserved.

PAGES ON WHICH THE FOLLOWING NOTICE APPEARS may be reproduced for use in the local church or church school, provided the following copyright notice is included:


Requests for permission should be addressed to: Abingdon Press, 2222 Rosa L. Parks Blvd.,

PO Box 280988, Nashville, TN 37228-0988. You may fax your request to 615-749-6128, or e-mail [email protected].

ISBN 9781501817366 PACP10041481-01

Scripture quotations, unless noted otherwise, are from the Common English Bible. Copyright © 2011 by the Common English Bible.

All rights reserved. Used by permission. www.CommonEnglishBible.com

Editor: Brittany Sky Designer: Arvis Guilbault

Cover design by Matt Allison. Cover Illustration by Tim Moen (Character Design), Jesse Griffin (3D Artist), Julio Medina (3D Artist), Eric M. Mikula (Facial Rigging), and

Christopher Slavik (Layout Artist).

Websites are constantly changing. Although the websites recommended in this resource were checked at the time this resource was developed, we recommend that you double-check all sites to

verify that they are still live and that they are still suitable for children before doing the activity.

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25—10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Printed in the United States of America

9781501817366_INT_pages 1-17.indd 2 4/19/16 2:25 PM


JOSEPH AND HIS BROTHERS . . 5 (GENESIS 37) SEPTEMBER 4–10

JOSEPH IN EGYPT . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 (GENESIS 39–40) SEPTEMBER 11–17

JOSEPH SAVES THE DAY . . . . . . . 7 (GENESIS 41) SEPTEMBER 18–24

JOSEPH AND HIS BROTHERS REUNITED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 (GENESIS 42–46) SEPTEMBER 25–OCTOBER 1

T HE BABY IN THE BASKET . . . . 9 (EXODUS 1:8-14; 2:1-10) OCTOBER 2–8

T HE BURNING BUSH . . . . . . . . . 10 (EXODUS 2:11–3:22) OCTOBER 9–15

MOSES AND PHARAOH . . . . . . . . 11 (EXODUS 5:1–13:9) OCTOBER 16–22

C ROSSING THE SEA . . . . . . . . . . 12 (EXODUS 13:17–14:31) OCTOBER 23–29

SONGS OF JOY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 (EXODUS 15:1-21) OCTOBER 30–NOVEMBER 5

I N THE WILDERNESS . . . . . . . . 14 (EXODUS 15:22–17:7) NOVEMBER 6–12

T EN COMMANDMENTS . . . . . . . 15 (EXODUS 19:1–20:21) NOVEMBER 13–19

A HOUSE FOR GOD . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 (EXODUS 25:1–31:15; 35:4–40:38) NOVEMBER 20–26

T HE PEACEABLE KINGDOM . . 17 (ISAIAH 11:6-9) NOVEMBER 27–DECEMBER 3

M ARY’S STORY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 (LUKE 1:26-38, 46-47) DECEMBER 4–10

JOS EPH’S STORY . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 (MATTHEW 1:18-24) DECEMBER 11–17

JES U S ’ STORY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 (LUKE 2:1-7) DECEMBER 18–24

S HEPHERDS ’ STORY . . . . . . . . . 21 (LUKE 2:8-20) DECEMBER 25–31

S EARCH F OR THE K I NG . . . . . . 22 (MATTHEW 2:1-12) JANUARY 1–7

TALK W I TH THE TEACHERS . . 23 (LUKE 2:39-52) JANUARY 8–14

COM E TO THE RI VER . . . . . . . . . 24 (MATTHEW 3:13-17) JANUARY 15–21

CHANGE THE W ATER . . . . . . . . . 25 (JOHN 2:1-12) JANUARY 22–28

BORN ANEW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 (JOHN 3:1-21) JANUARY 29–FEBRUARY 4

THE S OW ER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 (LUKE 8:4-15) FEBRUARY 5–11

THE GOOD SAM ARI TAN . . . . . . . 28 (LUKE 10:25-37) FEBRUARY 12–18

THE STORI ES OF THE LOST . . . 29 (LUKE 15:3-10) FEBRUARY 19–25

THE F ORGI VI NG F ATHER . . . . . 3 0 (LUKE 15:11-32) FEBRUARY 26–MARCH 4

JES U S S HOW S LOVE—TO TEN LEPERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1 (LUKE 17:11-19) MARCH 5–11

Table of Contents

9781501817366_INT_pages 1-17.indd 3 4/19/16 2:25 PM


JESUS SHOWS LOVE—TO Z ACCHAEUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 (LUKE 19:1-10) MARCH 12–18

JESUS SHOWS LOVE—AT THE L AST SUPPER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 (MATTHEW 26:17-30) MARCH 19–25

JESUS SHOWS LOVE—IN THE G ARDEN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 (MATTHEW 26:31-58) MARCH 26–APRIL 1

C OCK-A-DOODLE-DOO! . . . . . . . . 35 (MATTHEW 26:69-75) APRIL 2–8

H OSANNA! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 (MATTHEW 21:1-11) APRIL 9–15

A LLELUIA! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 (MATTHEW 28:1-10) APRIL 16–22

C OME TO BREAKFAST! . . . . . . . 38 (JOHN 21:1-14) APRIL 23–29

F EED MY SHEEP! . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 (JOHN 21:15-19) APRIL 30–MAY 6

P ETER AND JOHN . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 0 (ACTS 3:1–4:22) MAY 7–13

P ETER AND TABITHA . . . . . . . . 4 1 (ACTS 9:36-43) MAY 14–20

P ETER AND CORNELIUS . . . . . . 4 2 (ACTS 10:1-28) MAY 21–27

P ETER IN PRISON . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 3 (ACTS 12:1-17) MAY 28–JUNE 3

C OURAGEOUS DISCIPLES . . . . 4 4 (ACTS 2:1-41) JUNE 4–10

COU RAGEOU S QU EEN . . . . . . . . . 45 (BOOK OF ESTHER) JUNE 11–17

COU RAGEOU S F RI ENDS . . . . . . 46 (DANIEL 3:1-30) JUNE 18–24

COU RAGEOU S DANI EL . . . . . . . . 47 (DANIEL 6:1-28) JUNE 25–JULY 1

ELI JAH AND THE RAVENS . . . . 48 (1 KINGS 16:29-30; 17:1-7) JULY 2–8

ELIJAH AND THE PROPHETS . . . 49 (1 KINGS 18:20-39) JULY 9–15

JONAH AND THE F I S H . . . . . . . . 5 0 (BOOK OF JONAH) JULY 16–22

ELI S HA AND THE W I DOW ’S JARS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 1 (2 KINGS 4:1-7) JULY 23–29

ELI S HA AND THE S ERVAN T GI RL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 2 (2 KINGS 5:1-19) JULY 30–AUGUST 5

GOD CHOOS ES JOS HUA . . . . . . . 5 3 (JOSHUA 1:1-9) AUGUST 6–12

S PI ES I N CANAAN . . . . . . . . . . . 5 4 (JOSHUA 2:1-24) AUGUST 13–19

CROS S I NG THE JORDAN . . . . . . 5 5 (JOSHUA 3–4) AUGUST 20–26

JERI CHO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 6 (JOSHUA 6) AUGUST 27–SEPTEMBER 2

Table of Contents

9781501817366_INT_pages 1-17.indd 4 4/19/16 2:25 PM

JOSE PH AND HIS BROTHERS ( GENESIS 37) : SEPTEMB ER 4 –10

HEAR THE STORY: READ THE FOLLOWING STORY TOGETHER AS A FAMILY.

Joseph was the favorite son of his father, Jacob. This made his brothers jealous. One day Joseph had a dream about bundles of wheat. His family’s bundles of wheat bowed down before Joseph’s bundle. His brothers thought Joseph was saying he would rule over them. This made them mad. Later, the brothers were in the fields working hard. Joseph did not have to work since he was his father’s favorite. The brothers decided to kill Joseph. His brother, Reuben, convinced the others they should just throw him in a well and make their father think he had been attacked. Reuben planned to come back and save Joseph. While Reuben was gone, the other brothers sold Joseph as a slave to some traders going to Egypt. They took the fancy coat Joseph wore that was bloody and torn to their father to show him Joseph was dead. Jacob mourned for Joseph. Joseph was sold to an Egyptian named Potiphar and his troubled time in Egypt began, but God was with Joseph even then.

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for always being with us no matter what. Amen.

CREATE TOGETHER: APPLE SIGNS OF PROTECTION

Supplies: apples; lemon-lime soda; fruit dip, honey, or peanut butter/soy nut butter (optional)

• Give everyone three to four apple slices that have been peeled.

ASK: What happens if you leave apple slices just sitting out? (The slices will turn brown when they are exposed to the air.) There is a way we can protect the slices from turning brown. If you sprinkle lemon-lime soda on the slices, it protects them.

• Let everyone sprinkle some soda on their apple slices. If you want, you can dip the apples in fruit dip, honey, or peanut butter/soy nut butter.

SAY: God is always present with us. Even when we face things that can hurt us, God is with us.

PRAY: God our Protector, thank you for being with us even when we face tough things. Amen.

WONDER TOGETHER

ASK: How do you think Joseph felt when his brothers attacked him and sold him as a slave? Have you ever felt hurt and betrayed? Joseph was abandoned by his family, but God never abandons us or leaves us. What are some things you can do this week to remember God is with you every day? (Let everyone answer.)

PRAY: Loving God, thank you for never leaving us or hurting us. We love you. Amen.

SERVING SATURDAY: FAMILY FRIENDSHIP BRACELETS

Supplies: needlepoint thread in three colors, scissors

• Make a simple braid with these instructions or look online for DIY ideas for friendship bracelets. Cut the embroidery thread into 24-inch lengths. Place all three colors together. Fold the threads in half. Tie a knot about an inch from the folded edge of the strings to create a loop. Braid the threads together, braiding the two threads of each color across each time to create thicker braids. When you have a bracelet the desired length, tie a knot in the end with the loose threads. Invite each family member to make a bracelet to exchange with other family members as a sign of the love that unites the family.

PRAY: God of love, help us love each other. Thank you for always being with us wherever we go. Amen.

Deep Blue Family Devotional 5 deepbluekids.com


9781501817366_INT_pages 1-17.indd 5 4/19/16 2:25 PM

deepbluekids.com 6 Deep Blue Family Devotional


JOSE PH IN EGYPT (GENESIS 39–40) : SEPTEMB ER 1 1 –1 7

HEAR THE STORYWhen Joseph arrived in Egypt, he was sold to Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh’s guards. God was with Joseph, and Joseph was such a good worker that Potiphar became very successful. Potiphar’s wife became jealous of Joseph and got mad when he would not do what she wanted. So she told a lie that got Joseph thrown in prison. Even in prison, God was with Joseph. Two of Pharaoh’s servants, a baker and a cupbearer, were thrown in jail with Joseph. The two servants both had dreams they could not understand. Joseph explained their dreams—Pharaoh would forgive the cupbearer, but not the baker. Joseph told the cupbearer to remember him when he was freed. Everything happened the way Joseph said. Through it all, God was with Joseph.

PRAY: God of grace, help us to remember that even when we have bad luck, you are with us. Amen.

MOVE TOGETHER: WHOLE BODY PRAYER

• Stand with feet together and back straight. Press your palms together in front of the center of your chest.

SAY: God, when things are good and we feel strong, you are with us.

• Circle your hands out to your sides and up over your head, then allow your arms to fall toward the floor as you bend down at the waist. Relax your back and shoulders to allow your weight to fall toward the floor.

SAY: God, when others hurt us, you are with us.

• Kneel on the ground and curl your back over to fall forward and put your head on the ground in front of you.

SAY: God, thank you for being with us when we feel invisible and forgotten.

• Roll over and stretch your body flat on the ground to relax all of your muscles.

PRAY: God our Creator, thank you for being with us no matter what is happening to us. Amen.

LAB: OBSERVING EVERYDAY SYMBOLS

• Read Genesis 40. As you read, have your family notice the symbols you hear in the story.

ASK: What did God tell Joseph the symbols meant in the dreams?

SAY: A symbol is a picture that represents something else. We have symbols all around us every day. What are some symbols you see? (emojis, cell-phone icons, street signs, and so on) Symbols have meaning because someone told us what they mean. God told Joseph what symbols in other people’s dreams meant.

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for all the symbols we have to help and guide us. Help us to look to you for understanding. Amen.

FAMILY FUN• Watch this week’s Deep Blue Bible Adventures video in your Deep Blue App.

ASK: What did Asia, Edgar, Caleb, and Kat learn today?

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for our time together as a family to grow closer to you and to each other as we learn about the stories of the Bible. Amen.

9781501817366_INT_pages 1-17.indd 6 4/19/16 2:25 PM



JOSE PH SAVES THE DAY (GENESIS 41 ): SEPTEMB ER 1 8–2 4

HEAR THE STORYPharaoh had a dream about seven healthy cows getting eaten by seven starving cows, and a second dream about seven healthy ears of corn and seven dried-out ears of corn. The dreams upset him. So he asked his advisors to explain it to him, and no one could. The cupbearer remembered Joseph and how he had interpreted dreams in prison. Pharaoh sent for Joseph. Joseph told him God could help Pharaoh understand his dreams. Joseph listened to the dreams and told him both dreams meant Egypt would have seven years of abundant crops followed by seven years of famine. Joseph said God was using the dreams to warn Pharaoh so he could find a wise leader to help Egypt save some of its crops for the next seven years to be able to use for food when the famine came. Pharaoh chose Joseph to oversee the crops for him. So for the next seven years, Joseph collected grain from the great crops of Egypt and stored them in the cities. He stored so much grain, people said it looked like the sands of the ocean. When the famine came, the people were prepared and had plenty of grain, thanks to Joseph. God was with Joseph and helped him save the people of Egypt.

PRAY: God of wisdom, help us to listen to you and follow your teachings like Joseph did. Amen.

CREATE TOGETHER: GRAIN- AND GRASS-PAINTED PLACE MATS

Supplies: stalks of grain, dried hay, or grass (available in the fall at grocery stores); watercolor paint; paper

SAY: Sometimes we pray to God with words. Other times we can use movements, songs, or even drawings and doodles to pray. Today, let’s make prayer place mats to use when we eat this week.

• Gather at a table that you have covered with newspapers or plastic tablecloth. Use the stalks as paintbrushes and create prayer paintings thanking God for being with us. Talk about the story of Joseph and the gathering of the grain as you do. Let the paintings dry. At dinner, use the paintings as place mats.

PRAY: God who feeds us, thank you for loving us and being with us at every meal. Amen.

LAB: COOKING WITH GRAINS (OATMEAL DROP COOKIES)

Supplies: measuring cups, mixing bowls, mixer, spoon, spatula, cookie sheet, nonstick spray, ovenIngredients: 1 cup packed brown sugar, 2 tablespoons softened butter, ½ cup applesauce, 1 large egg, 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract, 1½ cups regular oats, 1½ cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 teaspoon baking soda, ¼ teaspoon salt, ½ cup raisins or chocolate chips, ½ cup walnuts or pecans

• Preheat oven to 350.

• Combine butter and sugar with mixer. Add applesauce, the egg, and vanilla. Mix until smooth. Combine the oats, flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt in a separate bowl. Add to the applesauce mixture a little at a time and mix well. Stir in the remaining ingredients.

• Spray cookie sheet with cooking spray. Drop spoonsful of the dough on the cookie sheet about two inches apart. Bake at 350 for 10–15 minutes. Remove from cookie sheet and cool before eating.

• Talk about how people in Bible times used grain to cook, and we still use grains like oats and wheat to cook today. Name foods you eat as a family that are made from grains.

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for creating grains that have fed your people for thousands of years. Amen.

9781501817366_INT_pages 1-17.indd 7 4/19/16 2:25 PM



JOSE PH AND HIS BROTHERS R EUNITED (GENESIS 42–4 6): SE PTEMBER 25 – OCTOBER 1

HEAR THE STORYGod was with Joseph and helped him come to a place of leadership in Egypt as the person responsible for helping the people during the famine. The famine that killed the crops in Egypt also killed the crops in Judea, where Joseph’s father and brothers still lived. Joseph’s father decided to send his sons to Egypt to get food since that country still had grain. When his brothers came looking for help, Joseph recognized them, but they did not recognize him. Their youngest brother, Benjamin, did not come with them because Jacob was afraid of losing him like he had lost Joseph. When the brothers asked for help, Joseph told them he would not help them unless their youngest brother came with them. When they returned, Joseph tricked them and made it look like Benjamin had stolen something and would be imprisoned. Finally, Joseph revealed himself to his family and told his brothers that what they had done to harm him God had used to bring him something good. Jacob and all his sons then moved to Egypt to be with Joseph, and their families lived there for generations.

PRAY: God of forgiveness, help us to forgive others the way you forgive us. Thank you for blessing us with good things in our lives even when bad things happen. Amen.

MOVE TOGETHER: RELAY MEALS

SAY: Joseph’s brothers had to travel back and forth a number of times to Egypt before they got the food they needed and were able to settle down.

• At breakfast, have members of the family run back and forth between where the food is and where you are eating. Each time, they can only get one item they need for the meal.

For example: Get the bowls and take them to the table. Go back and get the cereal and take it to the table. Pour the cereal in the bowl. Take the cereal back. Get the milk and take it to the table. Get a glass and bring it to the table. Pour the milk and then take it back, and so on, for every item needed for the meal.

PRAY: God who provides, thank you for the blessing of the food we have and for all the people who helped to provide it for us. Amen.

WONDER TOGETHER

ASK: How do you think Joseph felt when he saw his brothers coming to him for help? How would you feel if someone who had hurt you came to you asking for help? What would you do? What do you think the brothers thought when they finally realized it was their brother, Joseph? What would you feel like if you saw someone you had hurt and never expected to see again? (Let everyone answer.)

PRAY: Loving God, forgive us when we hurt others. Help us to forgive those who hurt us. Amen.

SERVE TOGETHER• This week’s story is all about a family coming back together and working together. Find a project around the

house that needs to be done—yard work, painting, cleaning out the garage, even laundry or housecleaning. Make a commitment to help one another as a family to do the project.

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for the way you draw families together even in situations that are hard and require work from everyone. Amen.

9781501817366_INT_pages 1-17.indd 8 4/19/16 2:25 PM



THE BABY IN THE BASKET (EXODUS 1:8-14; 2:1-10): OCTOBER 2–8

HEAR THE STORYMany, many years after Joseph, a new Pharaoh came to power who knew nothing of Joseph’s story. The new Pharaoh was afraid the Hebrew people, so by his orders, they all became slaves. Pharaoh decided only the baby girls should be allowed to live, and a woman from the tribe of Levi gave birth to a baby boy. She hid the baby boy in a reed basket and placed him in the river. The boy’s sister, Miriam, hid in the reeds and watched over the basket as it floated in the river. Pharaoh’s daughter was at the river to bathe when she saw the basket. She opened it and realized it was one of the Hebrew babies. She named him Moses because she had pulled him out of the river. Miriam came to Pharaoh’s daughter and asked if she should find a slave woman to nurse the baby. When Pharaoh’s daughter agreed, Miriam took the baby to their mother for her to nurse him. This is how Moses, a Hebrew, came to be raised in the house of Pharaoh.

PRAY: God who saves, thank you for the stories of these women, who risked their own safety to save the baby Moses. Amen.

WONDER TOGETHER

ASK: What do you think Miriam felt as she was sneaking along the shores of the river watching her baby brother in the basket? How do you feel when you are given a BIG responsibility? What is something someone in our family has done that really helped you? How would you feel if you were Pharaoh’s daughter and you found a baby in a basket? (Let everyone answer.)

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for our family, which helps us and watches out for us. Amen.

LAB: WHAT FLOATS?

Supplies: water, bowl, play dough

SAY: Moses’ mother had to figure out something that would hold a squirmy baby and float down the river instead of sinking. So she made a basket out of lightweight reeds that were tightly woven together and sealed so no water would leak into it. Let’s play a game of sink or float to see what sinks and what doesn’t.

• Take a ball of play dough and have everyone guess if it will sink or float. The ball of play dough will sink.

• Flatten a second ball of play dough into a pancake shape. Pinch up the edges of the pancake to create sides. Let everyone guess if it will sink or float.

• Gently place the shaped play dough on the water’s surface. It should float.

• If you want, you can even place items on top of the play dough while it is floating, such as a crayon.

PRAY: God of powerful acts, thank you for the love of Moses’ mother, which helped save him, and for using us to do powerful things too. Amen.



PRAY: God, thank you for time together as a family to learn more about you and our world. Amen.

9781501817366_INT_pages 1-17.indd 9 4/19/16 2:25 PM



TH E BURNING BUS H (E XO DUS 2:1 1 –3:22) : O CTO B ER 9–1 5

HEAR THE STORYOne day when Moses was older, he saw a slave-master beating a slave. Moses got so mad, he attacked the slave-master and killed him. Moses then ran away to Midian. Years later, the Israelites cried to God for help. God heard them and decided to rescue them. Moses was herding sheep one day when he saw a bush that was on fire, but the branches and leaves of the bush were not being burned. Moses approached the bush and from the bush, God called, “Moses! Moses!” Moses answered, “I am here.” God told Moses to remove his sandals because he was standing on holy ground. Moses hid his face. God told him God was going to send him back to Egypt to go to Pharaoh and demand that Pharaoh let God’s people go. Moses asked, “Why me?” God told Moses God would be with him and God would give him all the power he needed. Moses asked God who he should say was sending him. Moses wanted a name for God to be able to tell people and call upon when he needed it. God answered, “I AM WHO I AM. Tell them I AM sent you.” Moses was supposed to tell the Israelites that God was sending him to rescue them.

PRAY: God, help us to know that when we are called to help, you are there to give us what we need. Amen.

MOVE TOGETHER: TAKE-OFF-YOUR-SHOES RELAY

• Gather the family together in a large open space. Designate one end of the space as holy ground. Take turns running back and forth between the two ends of your space. Each time the runner gets to the holy ground, he or she must take off both shoes. Then the runner carries his or her shoes back to the opposite end. There the runner puts the shoes back on.

PRAY: God of fire and power, help us to remember the powerful acts you have done and continue to do in our lives. Amen.

CREATE TOGETHER: CREATE A BURNING BUSH FIRE

Supplies: electric fan; red, orange, and yellow streamers; florist’s wire; tape; sticks and leaves

• Place the fan so that it is pointing up as it blows. Use tape or wire to secure some sticks and leaves to the face of the fan. Use tape to secure streamers 12 to 18 inches long to the face of the fan. Turn on the fan to make your burning bush come to life.

• Gather with the family around your burning bush and take turns remembering and retelling the story of God calling Moses.

PRAY: God who calls us, help us to remember that you will give us the power and strength to do the things we need to do for you. Amen.

WONDER TOGETHER

ASK: What do you think Moses thought when he first saw the burning bush? How would you feel if you suddenly saw a powerful act like that? Have you ever felt like God was calling you to do something? What would you have done in Moses’ position? Would you have walked closer to the bush when you saw it burning or do you think you might have run away? Why do you think God called Moses? What do you feel like God is calling you to do in your life? When you hear God say that God’s name is I AM WHO I AM, what does that make you think about God? (Let everyone answer.)

PRAY: God who is the great I AM, open our hearts and minds to listen for the ways you are calling us. Amen.

9781501817366_INT_pages 1-17.indd 10 4/19/16 2:25 PM



MOSE S AND P HARAOH ( EXO DUS 5:1 –1 3:9) : O CTO B ER 1 6–2 2

HEAR THE STORY Moses went to Pharaoh and told him, “God said, ‘Let my people go!’ ” Pharaoh refused. Moses showed he had the power of God by turning his staff into a snake. Pharaoh said, “NO!” Moses said God would send plagues on Egypt until Pharaoh agreed to let God’s people go. First God turned all the water in Egypt into blood. Still, Pharaoh said, “NO!” God sent millions of frogs. Pharaoh said, “NO!” Then God sent billions of lice and gnats. Still, Pharaoh said, “NO!” Then God sent swarms of flies. Pharaoh said, “NO!” God sent diseases that killed the livestock. Pharaoh said, “NO!” God sent painful boils that covered the skin. Pharaoh said, “NO!” God sent heavy hail. Pharaoh said, “NO!” God sent clouds of locusts. Still, Pharaoh said, “NO!” God flooded the land in darkness that lasted all night and all day. Still, Pharaoh said, “NO!” Finally, Moses warned Pharaoh one last time that if Pharaoh did not let God’s people go, then God was going to send the angel of death to kill every firstborn boy in Egypt. Pharaoh still said, “NO!” So Moses told the Israelites to prepare for the plague by killing a lamb and marking their doorposts with the blood of the lamb so the angel of death would pass over them. When the angel of death came, the firstborn boy in every house in Egypt died, except in the houses of the Israelites. Finally, Pharaoh told Moses to take his people and GO! The Israelites packed to leave Egypt. The Egyptian people gave them gold and jewels so they would leave quickly. God’s people left so fast, they did not even have time for the bread to rise. Once the people were in the wilderness, Moses told them God wanted them to celebrate the miracle of the Passover and remember God’s powerful acts in Egypt with a festival each year.

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for the powerful acts you did to set your people free. Amen.

LAB: GO ON A PLAGUE HUNT

• Go for a nature walk and look for things that remind you of the plagues.

• Then, as a family, go online and research the creatures listed in the plagues. For example, how many species of frogs are there? Let everyone pick a favorite species of frog.

• The Bible says there was a plague of lice, or gnats, depending on the version you read. Research gnats and lice online. Decide as a family which would be worse.

• Try to find a picture of locusts. Find pictures of what happens to crops when locusts come.

• Look up the largest hailstone ever recorded. Measure that on a ruler to show how big it is. Find something of the same weight to see how heavy it was.

Be sure to surf the Web in parent control mode or stick to sites such as kids.nationalgeographic.com.

PRAY: God, we thank you for all the creepy crawly things you have made. As we remember your powerful acts, remind us that you used great power in order to set your people free. Amen.



PRAY: Dear God, thank you for the amazing stories of your great power in the life of Moses. Help us to learn from them as our friends did. Amen.

9781501817366_INT_pages 1-17.indd 11 4/19/16 2:25 PM



CROSS ING THE S EA (EX O DUS 1 3:1 7–1 4:31 ) : O CTO B ER 23– 2 9

HEAR THE STORYMoses led the people into the wilderness. God showed them the way to go through the desert where it was safer. God led them as a pillar of cloud in the day and a pillar of lightning at night. Three days after they left Egypt, Pharaoh changed his mind and decided to chase after them with his army to bring them back to Egypt. When they came to the Reed Sea, Pharaoh was not far behind them. The people got scared and angry with Moses. They could not see a way out. Moses knew, though, that God would make a way for them to be free. God told Moses to go to the edge of the sea and to lift his staff high above the water. When Moses did this, the sea began to split open. The people had a path to walk to the other side of the sea! The people of God were safe and truly free from the slavery of the Egyptians.

PRAY: God of Moses, thank you for the powerful act you used to make a path for your people to get to freedom. Amen.

CREATE TOGETHER: WATERCOLOR CELEBRATIONS

Supplies: watercolors, paper, cups of water, paintbrushes, yarn, tape

• Gather together to paint with watercolors. Invite each person to paint a picture celebrating God rescuing God’s people. Let each person share about his or her picture. Let the paintings dry.

• Make a string 5–7 feet long with yarn. Tape each picture to the yarn to create a celebration banner. Hang the banner in a prominent area of your home, such as the kitchen or hallway.

PRAY: God, help us to remember the joy of your powerful acts each day. Amen.

WONDER TOGETHER

ASK: How did the people feel when they thought they were trapped between the Reed Sea and Pharaoh’s army? Have you ever had a time when you felt like you were trapped? How do you think the Israelites felt when they got to the other side? Would you have been scared? What can you do when you are scared to remember God is with you? (Let everyone answer.)

PRAY: God of power and might, thank you for being with us and showing us the way to walk and to live for you. Amen.

SERVE TOGETHER: HELPING ONE ANOTHER

SAY: With so many Israelites traveling together, they really had to look out for their families and the other families around them. God wants us to look out for our family and other families around us too.

• As a family, brainstorm ways you could help your neighbors. Is there a neighbor who lives alone you could give food to by cooking an extra serving of a meal? Could you invite a neighbor to dinner with you? Maybe you could bag leaves, clear sidewalks, or put away garbage cans for a neighbor.

• Take a walk as a family and look for little random acts of kindness you can do for those around you even as you walk.

PRAY: Dear God, help us to remember that when we do small things out of love for others, you can use those to do something powerful in our lives and the lives of those we help. Amen.

9781501817366_INT_pages 1-17.indd 12 4/19/16 2:25 PM



SON G S OF JOY (EXOD US 1 5:1 -21 ): O CTO B ER 30–NOV EMB E R 5

HEAR THE STORY When Moses and the people had crossed the Reed Sea, Moses’ sister, Miriam, grabbed a tambourine and started leading the women in worshipping the Lord. They sang the song, “I will sing to the Lord! God has done great things!” Then Moses took up the song and sang it as well. Moses went on singing. He sang about the power and wonder of the amazing things God had just done. Moses reminded the people of the power and force with which God had brought a great wind to split the sea into two towers of water that the people walked between. Moses praised God for being the greatest and mightiest. He gave thanks to God for rescuing them and proclaimed with faith that God would lead them on their march to the Promised Land.

PRAY: Thank you, Lord, for the great things you did at the Reed Sea. We rejoice that you are the God of victory! Amen.

MOVE TOGETHER: SING AND DANCE WITH PRAISE

SAY: The Bible says Miriam and Moses led the people in singing praises and dancing as they worshipped the Lord. Today, we are going to have our own praise party.

• Using an online music service, find some contemporary Christian music. Find songs your family likes to use.

• Gather instruments. Play the instruments and sing and dance to praise God together as a family. Sing songs you all know without music too.

• Take turns letting family members create and sing two- to three-line songs of praise for everyone else to repeat and sing.

PRAY: God of joy and victory, we sing and dance and offer our praise to you. Amen.

LAB: SORTING

SAY: There are things around us all the time, even when we are outside, that we can use to make sounds to worship and praise God.

• Go to a grassy place with trees. Invite everyone to pick a blade of grass. Holding it between your two thumbs pressed together, you can cup your hands and blow against your thumbs to make a sound.

• Find sticks for percussion. Find a stump or something hollow, and now you have a drum.

If you live in a city, use the city instead. Sticks on posts make percussion. Hands on steps make a drum.

PRAY: God of powerful acts, thank you for the amazing things you put around us in this world that naturally help us sing out in praise to you. Amen.

SERVE TOGETHER• Ask your church leaders if your family can help prepare for the worship service. Consider cleaning up the

parking lot, the front of the church, and the worship area. Offer to help decorate the altar, help fold bulletins, or perhaps take dinner to the family of the worship leaders.

PRAY: God of power, we thank you for the family we have at church, who help us to remember your powerful acts and to worship you. Amen.

9781501817366_INT_pages 1-17.indd 13 4/19/16 2:25 PM



IN T HE WILD ERNES S (EXO DUS 1 5:22–1 7:7) : NOV EMB ER 6–1 2

HEAR THE STORYMoses and the people had crossed safely through the Reed Sea and were able for the first time as a nation of God’s people to come together and worship God. God then directed Moses to lead the people into the wilderness to begin their journey to the Promised Land. The people traveled for three days without finding any water. The first place they found water it was bitter, and they grumbled and complained to Moses. God told the people to remain faithful and God would care for them. Soon they came to a place with twelve fresh springs of water and camped there. As the people traveled more, they grumbled and complained that they were hungry. They wanted to go back to Egypt, where there was food. God cared for them. God caused manna, a marshmallow/ bread-like substance, to fall from the sky each day. God told the people to only take what they could eat for the day because it would spoil. God also sent quail for them to eat as meat. They continued in their travels and soon they needed water again, so they grumbled and complained to Moses. God cared for them and told Moses to hit his staff against a rock. When Moses did, fresh water came rushing out of the rock. Every time the people grumbled and complained, God was faithful to them and cared for them.

PRAY: Dear God, we know there are times when we grumble and complain. Thank you for being faithful to us and caring for us in spite of our attitudes. We love you, God. Amen.

LAB: MELTING MANNA

Supplies: large marshmallows, plate, canned crescent roll dough, cookie sheet, cooking spray, microwave

SAY: Some people say manna was like marshmallows. One thing we know for sure is that manna melted away in the desert with the heat of the day. Do you think we can make marshmallows melt away and disappear?

• Put a marshmallow on a plate and put it in the microwave. Observe what happens and record it.

ASK: Did the marshmallow melt away and disappear completely? What if we surrounded the marshmallow with something that would act like the sand in the desert?

• Have each person wrap a triangle of crescent roll dough around a marshmallow. Place the rolls on a sprayed cookie sheet. Bake according to package directions until golden brown. Let the rolls cool for several minutes. Break open the rolls. Observe and record it.

SAY: The heat of the oven was like the heat of the desert. When we look inside our rolls, the marshmallow has disappeared.

PRAY: God, thank you for giving us what we need each day. Thank you for caring for us like you did for the people in the wilderness. Amen.



PRAY: God who cares for us, give us the eyes to see how you have cared for us today. Amen.

9781501817366_INT_pages 1-17.indd 14 4/19/16 2:25 PM



TE N C O MMAND MENTS (EXO DUS 1 9:1 –20:21 ): NOV EMB ER 1 3–19

HEAR THE STORYGod had Moses lead the people to the base of Mt. Sinai to camp there. God told Moses to come up the mountain to meet God there. At the top of the mountain, God gave laws to Moses for the people to follow. God carved ten laws known as the Ten Commandments into stone for Moses to share with the people. God said for the people to (1) have no god before God, (2) not worship other gods, (3) not misuse the name of God, (4) remember to observe the sabbath, (5) honor their parents, (6) not murder, (7) love their wife or husband, (8) not steal, (9) not lie, and (10) not want things that belong to others. The Ten Commandments were laws God gave to the people to help them know how to live. God knew that one of the best ways to care for them was to give them rules to all follow so they would be able to see God as their God and live together in peace.

PRAY: God who cares for us with rules to follow, thank you for loving us enough to give us guides that will help us to honor and love you and all your people. Amen.

WONDER TOGETHER

ASK: What do you think Moses was thinking when he went to meet God on the mountain? Why do you think God gave people rules to follow? How would it be if we lived with no rules? What is your favorite commandment? Why? Which commandment is the hardest to follow for you? Do you think the people were happy to get rules? Are you happy when you are given rules? Is there a time when you have broken the rules? What happened? What does God do when people break the rules? (Let everyone answer.)

PRAY: Wonderful God, thank you for the Ten Commandments. Help us love you and love others. Amen.

LAB: HOW MANY THINGS CAN WE FIND TEN OF?

ASK: How many things do you think we can each find ten of in the next ten minutes?

• Let everyone take a guess and write it on a piece of paper.

• Have each person go to his or her room and see how many things they can find that they have at least ten of. For example: books, stuffed animals, toy cars, shirts.

• Come back together as a family after ten minutes and count up each person’s findings. Check to see which person came the closest on his or her guess. Let each person share the list of things he or she found.

• As a family, talk about things you might have too many of and which ones you could give away. Gather these items together to give to a local charity.

PRAY: God who cares for us, help us to share out of the abundance that we have to give to others. Amen.



PRAY: God of the law, help us to see how your rules provide care for us. Amen.

9781501817366_INT_pages 1-17.indd 15 4/19/16 2:25 PM



A H O U S E FOR GOD (EXODUS 25:1 –31 :1 5; 35:4–40:38) : N OV EMBER 20– 26

HEAR THE STORY

God told Moses to have all the people bring offerings of gold, silver, bronze, acacia wood, gems, olive oil, spices, dyed yarn, goat hair, dyed ram skins, and leather. The people brought all they had to honor God. God gave instructions to build a special box, the ark of the covenant, to keep the sacred tablets that had the Ten Commandments written on them. This box would be carried ahead of them wherever they went to show that God was going before the people. God said it was also time for the people to build a place to worship. Since the people still had far to travel over many years, God had them build a sacred tent called a Tabernacle. God gave them exact directions on which materials to use where. After everything had been gathered and the people worked together to build everything the way God instructed, they had a special tent where they could worship God and make offerings to God. When the ark was placed in the tent, the cloud of God’s presence, which had been leading the people, came and settled on the tent. The Tabernacle helped the people to know God was with them and God cared for them wherever they went in the wilderness.

PRAY: God, help us find ways as a family we can see you in the day and at night so we can know and remember you are with us and you care. Amen.

MOVE TOGETHER: PREPARING THE HOUSE

• Help to prepare the house where your family will be celebrating Thanksgiving. Cleaning the front door is a good way to welcome people. Sweeping the house helps to get things ready. Cleaning the kitchen makes sure that everything is in order for the preparation of the big meal. Work together to straighten and pick up the house to make it ready as a place to celebrate God and your family. If it is not possible to go to the house, call the host and ask if there are things that can be done from a distance.

PRAY: God who prepares us, help us and all your people this week as we gather together to give thanks and honor you. Amen.

WONDER TOGETHER

ASK: What do you think the people were thinking as they all came together to build a giant tent for God? Have you ever worked together with a team to build something? What did you like about it? What was hard? After working so hard and so long to build the Tabernacle, how do you think the people of God felt when they saw God’s presence settle there? Have you ever felt the presence of God? (Let everyone answer.)

PRAY: Wonderful God, thank you for always being with us. Amen.

SERVING SATURDAY: HANGING OF THE GREENS

SAY: The Hanging of the Greens is a tradition in many churches and in homes when you prepare and get ready before the first Sunday of Advent, which this year comes tomorrow. Advent is the four weeks before Christmas when we prepare ourselves for the birth of Jesus.

• See if your church has a Hanging of the Greens service you can help with today. If they don’t, make something your family can use during Advent. You can find Advent wreaths and calendars online together.

PRAY: God who cares, help us to prepare our homes and churches to welcome you. Amen.

9781501817366_INT_pages 1-17.indd 16 4/19/16 2:25 PM



TH E P E ACEABLE KINGDO M ( ISA IA H 1 1 :6-9) : N OV EMBER 27– D ECEMB ER 3

HEAR THE STORYIsaiah was a prophet. He lived long after Moses, but long before Jesus. Isaiah spoke the truth about God. During Isaiah’s time, the people had forgotten God was with them wherever they went. They had forgotten the powerful acts of God. They had even forgotten that God cared for them. Isaiah cried out to the people and spoke to them to help them remember God still cared for them and was with them. Isaiah told the people God would send someone from King David’s family to save them. This person, said Isaiah, will bring peace to all creation. Animals that would normally hurt each other will live in peace: wolves and lambs, leopards and goats, lions and calves, bears and cows, even cobras and children. God’s place among God’s people as the God who cares for all will be restored.

PRAY: God of the lion, the lamb, the wolf, the goat, and all creation, thank you for caring for us so much that you would send Jesus as a baby to teach us the truth about you and save us. Amen.

CREATE TOGETHER: ANIMAL PRINTS

Supplies: large piece of paper, foam sheets, scissors, paints, paper plates, paper towels

• Place a large sheet of paper in the middle of the table. Put paints on paper plates around the paper. Invite each person to cut the shape of a different animal’s spots, hooves, claws, or paws from a piece of foam.

• Let each person gently place his or her foam shape in a paint and then stamp shapes on the paper. To change colors, wipe the stamp with a paper towel before using a new color. Cover the paper with prints.

SAY: Isaiah says that when peace from God comes, all the animals will live together.

PRAY: God who cares for all people, help us to live together with one another in peace. Amen.

LAB: LIVING IN HARMONY

SAY: Symbiosis is when two organisms live together in a mutually beneficial relationship. Today, let’s see what examples of symbiosis we can find.

• As a family, go online together to research symbiotic relationships in nature. As always, be sure to use parental controls or reliable, safe sites such as kids.nationalgeographic.com. Make a list of the symbiotic relationships you find among plants, and those you find among animals.

ASK: Which symbiotic pairing did you think was the coolest? Which did you think was the grossest? How is our family like a symbiotic relationship?

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for giving us a family. Help us to live in ways that are more peaceful. Amen.



PRAY: God who wants us to have peace, help the world see how much you care for all of us. Amen.

9781501817366_INT_pages 1-17.indd 17 4/19/16 2:25 PM



MARY ’S STORY (LUKE 1 :26-38, 46-47) : DECEMB ER 4–1 0

HEAR THE STORYMary was a girl who loved God very much. One day the angel Gabriel came to visit Mary. He told her that she was blessed and that God was with her. Mary did not know what to think at first, but then Gabriel explained she was going to be a mother. Mary was confused about how she would have the baby since she was not married yet. The angel explained that the baby was to be the Son of God and that the Holy Spirit would come to her. Mary told the angel she was the Lord’s servant and was willing for things to happen as Gabriel had said. So Mary became pregnant. Mary responded with a magnificent song of praise. She said all of her heart praised God.

PRAY: God who blessed Mary, thank you for the many ways you have blessed us through the birth of your Son, Jesus. Amen.

WONDER TOGETHER

ASK: How do you think Mary felt when she saw the angel? What would you think if an angel appeared to you? How do you feel when you hear the words of the angel, “Nothing is impossible for God”? Have you ever felt like God helped you to do something impossible? (Let everyone answer.)

PRAY: God who does the impossible, thank you for blessing Mary and all of us with your Son, Jesus. Amen.

LAB: WHAT CAN A BABY DO?

SAY: All of us were born as babies. Jesus, the Son of God, was born a baby too. Even as a baby, Jesus changed the world forever. The truth is that every baby changes the world forever because each of us is a unique child of God and the world is different simply because we are here. There are lots of things that we know babies can’t do when they’re born. They can’t speak words or hold their heads up or walk or even crawl. Have you ever wondered, though, what they can do? Let’s see what we can discover.

• Go to http://onlinenursepractitionerschools.com/40-truly-amazing-facts-about-babies/ for some fun facts about babies. As a family, share stories about what each person in the family was like as a baby.

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for sending your Son, Jesus, to be born as a baby like we were. Amen.

SERVE TOGETHER

SAY: Mary’s willingness to serve God is an example of how great things can happen when we are willing to serve God. At Christmastime, there are lots of ways we can serve God. Mary listened to what the angel said God wanted her to do. We may not have angels visit us, but we can still listen to what God wants us to do.

• Let everyone suggest an idea for how your family can serve God today.

• As a family, look at the ideas and pray about what God may want you to do. This exercise in listening helps everyone in your family see being open to serving God, being willing to listen to God, and praying about what to do.

PRAY: God who calls people to serve, may our hearts be open like Mary’s to doing what you are calling us to do even when it seems impossible. Amen.

9781501817366_INT_pages 18-30.indd 18 4/19/16 2:26 PM



JOSE PH’S STORY (MATTHEW 1 :1 8-24): DECEMB ER 1 1 –1 7

HEAR THE STORYWhen Mary became pregnant, she was engaged to be married to Joseph. Joseph heard Mary was going to have a baby and was hurt. He became very concerned for her safety. If a woman was pregnant and not married, she could be punished. So Joseph planned to end his relationship with Mary secretly. That night, though, an angel came to visit Joseph. The angel told Joseph the child was the Son of God. The angel said the child would be Emmanuel, which means “God with us.” The angel said God wanted Joseph to raise Jesus as his son.

PRAY: God who loves us, thank you for giving us a family to love us just as you gave your Son, Jesus, a family to love him as he grew. Amen.

CREATE TOGETHER: FINDING THE KEYS

Supplies: wooden plaque, fine sandpaper, craft paint, paintbrushes, craft-paint varnish, hammer, two-inch nails, smaller nails, wire or string

• Joseph was a carpenter, so this is a great week to do a family project with wood. A very simple one is to make a key holder for your house. Sand a wooden plaque smooth.

• Paint the front of the plaque with two coats of craft paint. Let dry. Cover with a craft-paint varnish.

• Decide how many key holder spots you want and mark dots for the holders an equal distance from one another. Hammer the nails about halfway into the plaque on the spots you have marked, so a part of each nail sticks out as a place to hang keys.

• On the back, hammer two small nails an equal distance from the sides and level with each other. Secure a length of wire or string between the two nails to create a hanger.

PRAY: God of Joseph and Mary, thank you for the wisdom and skills that Joseph was able to teach to Jesus as he grew. Thank you for those who teach us as we grow. Amen.



PRAY: God who brings good news, thank you for Jesus, who came to be Emmanuel, God with us. Amen.

SERVE TOGETHER

SAY: Lots of children for many reasons are raised by foster parents or adoptive parents. Another kind of adoption is to choose someone you want to give special help to. For Christmas this year, let’s adopt a family who might have a hard time affording gifts without some extra help.

• Check with your church and local community charities about how your family can adopt a family for Christmas by purchasing gifts or food for Christmas dinner. Let every family member contribute money to the cause, then go shopping together. Pray for the family who will receive the donations before you take them to the charity or church to be shared. (If your family is a foster family or an adoptive family, emphasize that this is a time to help other families like yours.)

PRAY: God of all families, we celebrate that your Son, Jesus, came from a unique family. Help us to support and show love to all families. Amen.

9781501817366_INT_pages 18-30.indd 19 4/19/16 2:26 PM



JE S US ’ STORY (LUKE 2:1 -7): DECEMB ER 1 8–24

HEAR THE STORYWhen it was almost time for Mary to give birth to Jesus, the Roman Emperor, Augustus, who controlled the lands from all of Europe through all the Middle East, decided it was time to hold a census. A census is where the government counts and gathers information on everybody who lives in their territory. For the census, every person had to return to the city from which their family came. As descendants of King David, Joseph and Mary had to go to the town of Bethlehem, where David had been born. The journey from Nazareth, where Joseph and Mary lived, to Bethlehem took several days. When they got to Bethlehem, the town was full and every room was taken. Mary and Joseph stayed where the animals slept. During the night, Jesus was born! Mary took Jesus and wrapped him in cloth and placed him in a manger. (Read the passage from Luke 2:1-7. It is a passage all of us should hear every year.)

PRAY: Amazing God, thank you for the greatest gift ever given, the birth of your Son, Jesus. He came as a child for all of us to bring us your love. We are happy to celebrate his birth every year! Amen.

CREATE TOGETHER: BIRTHDAY TREATS FOR JESUS

Supplies: cupcake pan, cupcake papers, cake mix, can of icing, icing in tubes, ingredients for cake mix, mixing bowl, spoon, measuring cups

• Use a cake mix to make birthday cupcakes for Jesus. Follow the directions on the box. Ice the cupcakes and use the tube icing to decorate them with balloons or letters that spell out Jesus or Happy Birthday using multiple cupcakes. Throw a birthday party for Jesus and invite your friends to share in the cupcakes.

PRAY: Dear Jesus, we celebrate your birthday and you at Christmas every year. Help us this week to remember just how special your birth was. Amen.

WONDER TOGETHER

ASK: How do you think it feels to be a newborn baby? How might Mary and Joseph have felt on their long journey to Bethlehem? How do you think Mary and Joseph felt when they realized there was no room for them? Do you think Mary and Joseph told Jesus the story about his birth every year? How do you feel when you hear stories about your birth? What do you think Jesus was like as a baby? What do you think you were like as a baby? (Let everyone answer. Share family stories you know about everyone as a baby.)

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for taking care of your Son, baby Jesus, when he was born. Please watch over all the babies in the world today. Amen.

SERVE TOGETHER • As a way of serving God, go together as a family and with other relatives and friends to celebrate and

worship this Christmas Eve.

• If your church needs help with Communion or lighting candles, volunteer as a family to help. Make time at the beginning of the service to stand outside the worship space and welcome people as they come to the service.

PRAY: Merry Christmas, God! Jesus is born! And we rejoice and worship you tonight. May the joy we feel tonight continue all year long! Amen.

9781501817366_INT_pages 18-30.indd 20 4/19/16 2:26 PM



SH EP HERD S ’ STORY (LUKE 2:8-20): DECEMB ER 25–31

HEAR THE STORYOn the night Jesus was born, shepherds watched their flocks in a field just outside Bethlehem. Suddenly, an angel appeared in the night sky above them. The angel told them to not be afraid. The angel said he brought good news of great joy for all the world. The angel said a baby was born in Bethlehem who was the Savior, Christ the Lord. Suddenly, the sky was filled with many angels singing, “Glory to God in heaven, and on earth peace to all whom God favors!” When the angels left, the shepherds looked at each other and said, “Let’s rush to Bethlehem and see this glorious thing God has made known to us!” So they went and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. They repeated what the angels had said about the child. All who heard their story were amazed. Mary treasured what they said to her. The shepherds returned to their flocks rejoicing and glorifying God for all they had seen and heard!

PRAY: Merry Christmas, God! And happy birthday, Jesus! We celebrate with you today with the excitement and joy of the shepherds. Amen.

MOVE TOGETHER: TELL-ALL-ABOUT-IT RELAY

• Invite everyone in the family to share with everyone their favorite thing about Christmas. Encourage people to get up and move around as they share. Have everyone share their favorite thing about this Christmas too.

• Children do an excellent job of celebrating Christmas with great joy like the shepherds did. Invite adults to celebrate what they have heard and seen with great joy and excitement as well. Remember that Christmas is the perfect time to go over the top in showing our joy and excitement over the birth of Jesus!

PRAY: Dear God, we rejoice over all we have seen and heard with great joy like the shepherds. We are so happy to celebrate the good news about Jesus again this year. Amen.

WONDER TOGETHER

ASK: How do you think the shepherds felt when the angel appeared? What would you have done if you had been the shepherds? Have you ever gotten good news in a surprising way? What was it and how did you feel? In the story of the shepherds, who would you have wanted to be? Why? (Let everyone answer.)

PRAY: God of joy and excitement, help us remember, in these days of Christmas, that the joy of your Son’s birth is something to be excited about wherever we go. Amen.

SERVE TOGETHER: CARING FOR GOD’S CREATURES

SAY: The shepherds were entrusted with raising the sheep people needed, but shepherds were not celebrated in society. Perhaps their ability to care for lambs is one reason why God chose to share the good news with them. There are people today who work with animals in caring ways that people often overlook. Maybe we can help them today.

• Contact your local animal shelter about ways your family can volunteer. Many have age limits on how young volunteers can be, but there are also projects families can do to take to the shelter.

PRAY: God of the shepherds, help us to see ways we can show the love of your Son, Jesus, to others in all that we do. Amen.

9781501817366_INT_pages 18-30.indd 21 4/19/16 2:26 PM



SE A RCH FOR THE KING (MA TTHEW 2:1 -1 2) : JA NUA RY 1 –7

HEAR THE STORYThousands of miles from Bethlehem, men who studied the stars saw a sign in the sky—a star of wonder that signaled a king had been born. The wise men, also called the magi, decided to go and find this great king. They traveled many months following the star. When they came to Jerusalem, they went to the palace of King Herod. They thought a king would be born in a palace. They asked Herod if they could see the young king. Herod was scared by what they said because he did not want to lose his power. Herod asked his advisors where the Messiah was to be born. They said Bethlehem. So Herod sent the magi to Bethlehem and asked them to return and tell him what they found. The magi went to Bethlehem and were surprised to see the star over a small house. Inside, they found Mary and the young Jesus. They knelt down and worshipped the boy and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The next morning, they left and returned home another way because they had been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod.

PRAY: Dear God, we thank you for sending your Son, Jesus, our King. Help us to be like the magi and seek after Jesus to worship him and offer our gifts to him. Amen.

WONDER TOGETHER

ASK: The magi searched for signs in the skies for years; how do you think they felt when they first saw the great star? What do you think the magi did on their long journey? What kinds of stories do you think they told along the way? What do you think they talked about on the journey back home? How do you think Mary felt when men from far away came and brought gifts of great wealth for her young son? What do you think the toddler Jesus thought when all these men arrived? (Let everyone answer.)

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for the story of the magi that shows us the truth about your Son, Jesus. Amen.

LAB: STAR WATCH

• Take a cue from the magi, and search as a family for what you can find in the night sky. If you have a telescope to use, it will help, but many planets and stars can be seen without one. If possible, get away from city lights. Before going out to watch the sky check with an online resource such as stardate.org.

SAY: Some astronomers think the star the magi saw may have been three or more planets that appeared so close together in the sky, they looked like one bright light. Others say it could have been a supernova of a distant star from long ago that became visible at that time. No matter what the star was, the night sky is full of amazing things that we can see from across our galaxy.

PRAY: God of wonder, thank you for the stars in our universe. The skies announced the birth of your Son, and they continue to inspire and captivate people all around the world. Amen.



PRAY: God of grace, thank you for showing with the magi that your Son, Jesus, was born for all the world. Amen.

9781501817366_INT_pages 18-30.indd 22 4/19/16 2:26 PM



TALK WITH THE TEACHERS ( LUKE 2:39-52) : JA NUA RY 8 –1 4

HEAR THE STORYWhen Jesus was twelve years old, he went to Jerusalem for Passover with his parents. He was finally old enough to go to the court of the men in the Temple, where the religious teachers sat and talked with each other. The family left to return to Nazareth. That night when the caravan stopped and people gathered to eat, Mary and Joseph realized Jesus was not with them or with any of his friends. They rushed back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days, they found him in the Temple. He was sitting with the religious teachers discussing the Scriptures and deep questions. All who listened to him were amazed at how much he knew. Mary cried out, “Son! Why have you done this to us? We searched for you everywhere!” Jesus looked at her, confused. “Woman, why did you have to search? Didn’t you know I would be here in my Father’s house?” Mary remembered this story in her heart. Jesus returned home with his parents. He grew in wisdom as he grew in age. He was a good son and was loved by all who knew him.

PRAY: Dear God, help us remember that your Son, Jesus, was not just born a baby, but was once a kid who had parents and lived in a family like we do. Amen.

MOVE TOGETHER: FIND JESUS

Supplies: small picture or statue of Jesus

• Choose two or three rooms in your house to be the search areas.

• Each person will get a chance to hide the picture of Jesus for everyone else to find. The picture can’t be hidden in drawers, cabinets, or places you have to open to find it.

• Give each person one to two minutes to go hide it and then have everyone else search. Play until every person has had a chance to hide the picture.

PRAY: Dear Jesus, help us to search for ways we can find you and follow you in our lives each day. Amen.



PRAY: God who teaches, help us to learn more about the love that you have for us through stories from the life of Jesus, your Son. Amen.

SERVE TOGETHER: TAKING CARE OF TEACHERS

Supplies: paper, markers or colored pencils

SAY: When Jesus was in Jerusalem, he went to the Temple and spent time talking about God with the religious teachers there. We get to go to church and spend time talking to our teachers. Let’s do something for our teachers to show them how thankful we are to spend time learning about God with them.

• Invite everyone to write a thank-you note for the teachers they have on Sunday. A great way we can serve others is to take the time to thank and appreciate those who serve us.

PRAY: Dear God, we thank you for those who make the time to teach us. May we make time to teach others about you too. Amen.

9781501817366_INT_pages 18-30.indd 23 4/19/16 2:26 PM



CO M E TO THE RIVER (MA TTHEW 3:1 3-1 7): JA NUA RY 1 5– 2 1

HEAR THE STORY Jesus went to the Jordan River to be baptized by John the Baptizer. John preached a message of repentance saying that people needed to prepare for the coming of the Messiah. When John saw Jesus, he didn’t want to baptize him. John understood that Jesus was the Messiah. John said, “I am the one who should be baptized by you!” Jesus told John that Jesus had to be baptized. So John agreed and baptized Jesus. When Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens opened above him. The Spirit of God descended like a dove and rested on Jesus. A voice from above proclaimed, “This is my Son whom I love! With him I am very pleased!”

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for the many ways that you have shown us that Jesus is your Son. Amen.

CREATE TOGETHER: WATERMARK PRINTS

Supplies: paper, spray water bottle, foam plates, craft sticks or pencils, markers; optional: construction paper and glue

• Gather as a family. For each person, lightly spray a piece of paper until it is damp.

SAY: When we are baptized, God claims us as children of God, and we invite the Holy Spirit to come live within our hearts. In this way, we begin the lifelong process of becoming more and more like Jesus.

• Give each person a foam plate. With their plates bottom side up, have everyone use craft sticks to carve shapes that remind them of Jesus. The carvings need to be deep, but not go all the way through the plates.

• Have everyone color their plates with markers. Take the damp pieces of paper and set them on top of the plates. Press the paper firmly against the colored and carved part of the plates. Lift the papers and set them aside to dry. Cut out the watermark prints and mount on construction paper if you choose.

PRAY: Jesus, help us be brighter and brighter reflections of your love each day. Amen.

LAB: SAVING WATERS

SAY: By the waters of our baptism and the power of the Holy Spirit, we are anointed as God’s children and sent on a path toward becoming more like God’s Son, Jesus. Water is a powerful resource in our world. Human beings need water to live, to grow crops for food, and to keep clean. Many places do not have reliable sources of clean water. When we waste water, we are forgetting how important water is to so many.

• As a family, think of ways to use less water. Little things like turning off the water when you brush your teeth or when you shave can save gallons of water each day. Taking shorter showers and not running sprinklers during the winter also make a big difference. Challenge your family to think of ten ways to save water.

PRAY: God of the waters, help us see everyone on the planet as your Son, Jesus, does. Help us be responsible and share the resources you have given. Amen.



PRAY: God of grace, thank you for your Son, Jesus. Thank you for having him live like one of us so we may see how much you love us and how we should love you and others. Amen.

9781501817366_INT_pages 18-30.indd 24 4/19/16 2:26 PM



CHAN G E THE WATER (JO HN 2:1 -1 2) : JA NUA RY 22–28

HEAR THE STORYJesus, his disciples, and his family were attending a wedding in Cana. During the celebration, the supply of wine ran out. Jesus’ mother, Mary, heard about the problem and told Jesus there was no more wine. Jesus asked, “How does that concern you and me? My time has not yet come.” Mary went to the servants and told them to do whatever Jesus said. Jesus instructed them to get the six large water pots that people used to wash their hands and to fill the jars to the brim with water. Each held twenty to thirty gallons of water. Jesus then said, “Dip out some of the water and take it to the head of the feast.” They did as he said. When the head of the feast tasted the water, which was now wine, he called over the bridegroom with great excitement. “This wine is amazing,” he said. “Most people bring in the cheap wine at this point because no one will notice, but you have saved the very best wine for the last.” This was the first miracle that Jesus performed.

PRAY: God of joy, thank you for Jesus and the miracles he did. Amen.

MOVE TOGETHER: DANCE PARTY

• Clear a nice open space. Let everyone choose songs for the party and play each person’s favorite dance song.

• Spend time as a family dancing and having fun together. Let everyone take a turn at being the leader in instructing the rest of the family on the steps for their favorite dance. Spend time having fun and being silly.

SAY: Jesus was willing to do a miracle to keep a celebration going, so we should be willing to be goofy and have fun celebrating together.

PRAY: God of the party, help us to remember the gifts we have to celebrate. Amen.

WONDER TOGETHER

ASK: How do you think the servants felt when it looked like there was no more wine? What do you think they thought when Jesus told them to give the head of the feast water from the water jar used for cleaning? How do you think they felt when the water had become wine? What miracles have you seen in your life? (Let everyone answer.)

PRAY: Dear Jesus, thank you for your miracles. Help us to see the miracles still happening today. Amen.

LAB: TURN WATER INTO COLOR

Supplies: glass pie plate, water, gobstoppers hard candies

• See water transform into many colors before your eyes. Fill a glass pie plate one-third full with water. Place eight to ten gobstoppers evenly spaced in a circle in the water. Watch as the gobstoppers dissolve in the water, transforming it into a swirl of many colors.

ASK: The servants were surprised when they saw that Jesus had transformed the water into wine. How do you think they felt? Jesus had the power to miraculously change the molecules of water and make them become molecules of wine.

PRAY: Miraculous Jesus, help us to remember that you have the power to change things. Thank you for loving us and helping change our hearts to be more loving like yours. Amen.

9781501817366_INT_pages 18-30.indd 25 4/19/16 2:26 PM



BOR N ANEW (JOHN 3:1-21 ) : JA NUA RY 29–FEB RUA RY 4

HEAR THE STORY Nicodemus, a Pharisee, wanted to learn more from Jesus. Not wanting to be seen with Jesus, Nicodemus went to visit him in the night. Nicodemus said he knew God was with Jesus by his miracles. Jesus said, “I assure you, unless you are born again, you can never see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus was shocked. “What do you mean? How can an old man be born again?” Jesus said that to enter the Kingdom you have to be born of water and Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives us new life and makes us new creations. Jesus said that God had sent his Son into the world to save it, not condemn it.

PRAY: God of grace, thank you for your Son, Jesus. Help us remember how Jesus gave his life for all people so people might understand the unstoppable, unconditional love of God. Amen.

CREATE TOGETHER Supplies: modeling clay

• Let everyone make their own clay creations and then share what they made.

SAY: This clay was made in a factory to be sold in this package. However, staying in the package is not what the clay was created to do. It was created to be transformed into something new. In the same way, each of us was born as a physical person, but we were created to be more than that. When we accept the forgiveness of Jesus and let the Holy Spirit work on our hearts, the Holy Spirit changes us into who God created us to be.

PRAY: God who molds us, we thank you for your Son, Jesus, who came to save us and to bring us the Holy Spirit, who makes us become more like you. Amen.

LAB: COLORING CARNATIONS Supplies: white carnations, cups, water, food coloring, scissors

• Fill several cups with water. Add a different food coloring to each cup. The darker the water, the better the experiment will go.

• Make a fresh diagonal cut at the bottom of each carnation stem. Place carnations in each cup.

• Throughout the day, watch to see what happens as the carnations drink the colored water. Look for any changes. Over time, the carnations will begin to change to the color of their water.

Note: It may take up to two days for the transformation to be complete.

SAY: The Spirit changes us from the inside out. The more our heart is touched by the Holy Spirit, the kinder and more loving we become. The Holy Spirit causes it to be easier for us to show love to God and to others.

PRAY: Dear Holy Spirit, thank you for the ways you are changing each of us. Amen.



PRAY: God who changes us, thank you for the gifts of your Son, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit in our lives. Amen.

9781501817366_INT_pages 18-30.indd 26 4/19/16 2:26 PM



TH E SOWER (LUKE 8 :4-1 5) : FEB RUA RY 5–1 1

HEAR THE STORYJesus told stories called parables to help people understand God. Jesus told a parable in which a farmer was planting seeds. When he scattered the seed, some fell on the path, where it was trampled and birds ate it. Other seed fell in the rocks, where it grew, but then died with no water and blew away. Some seed fell in the thorns and was choked as it grew. Some seed fell on good soil, where it took root and produced a crop a hundred times bigger than what had been planted. Jesus told everyone listening to pay attention. He explained that the seed was the truth about God. Some people hear it, but let it be snatched away like the seed on the path. Other people, like the rocky soil, hear with joy, but don’t let the message grow deep. Others hear and it grows within them, but the hard stuff of life crowds out the truth. People in the final group hear the truth, believe it, and let it grow deep in their hearts.

PRAY: Dear Jesus, thank you for parables that teach us about God’s truth. Help us to be the good soil and help the message about God grow deep in our hearts. Amen.

MOVE TOGETHER: SCATTER AND GATHER

Supplies: jar, marbles or beads, blanket

• Fill a jar with marbles or beads. Put a blanket on the floor. Take turns walking around the blanket and scattering the marbles or beads onto the blanket. After each time someone scatters, have everyone pick the marbles up and put them into the jar again. Play until everyone has had a turn.

ASK: What can we do to be more like the good soil and to let the Word of God grow in us in ways that spread the truth about God’s love to more people?

PRAY: God, give us the eyes and ears to see and hear the truth about you. And help us to have hearts that welcome your message and let it grow more love within us. Amen.

WONDER TOGETHER

ASK: What do you think the people in the crowd thought when they heard Jesus telling the story? Do you think the disciples understood the story before Jesus explained it to them? How can we use stories to help other people understand the truth about God? If you were to make up a story to tell someone about God, what would it be? (Let everyone answer.)

PRAY: God our storyteller, thank you for the parables that help us understand more about you. Amen.

SERVE TOGETHER: GIFTS OF SEEDS TO SHARE

Supplies: seed paper, scissors, markers

• Make these gifts for people in a nursing home or people who might need a boost. Cut seed paper into simple shapes—squares, circles, or hearts.

• On each piece of seed paper, use a marker to write “God loves you!”

• Deliver the cards and explain how to use seed paper. Be sure to share the story Jesus told.

PRAY: God of the garden, thank you for the stories Jesus shared with us. Help us to share your story and our stories with others. Amen.

9781501817366_INT_pages 18-30.indd 27 4/19/16 2:26 PM



TH E GOOD SAMARITAN (LUKE 1 0:25-37) : FEB RUA RY 1 2– 1 8

HEAR THE STORYA lawyer asked Jesus what to do to receive eternal life. Jesus asked what the Law of Moses said. The lawyer answered, “You must love God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind; and love your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus said, “That’s it! Do this!” The lawyer asked, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus told this parable: One day a man was on his way to Jericho when he was robbed and left on the side of the road to die. A priest came by, and when he saw the man, he moved quickly to the other side of the road. After the priest, a Levite who worked in the Temple came by, and he moved to the other side of the road. Then a looked-down-upon Samaritan came. He saw the man and rushed to help him. He bandaged the man’s wounds and put the wounded man on his donkey. He took the man to an inn, where he paid the innkeeper to take care of the man. The Samaritan promised to return in two days and pay for anything extra the man needed. Jesus asked, “Which man acted like a neighbor?” “The one who showed mercy,” the man said. Jesus said, “Go and behave like him.”

PRAY: Dear God, help us to see all people, even those we may not like, as neighbors we should love. Amen.

MOVE TOGETHER: GOOD SAMARITAN RELAY

Supplies: doll

• Place the doll to one side of a large open space to be the wounded man.

• Designate someone to be the caller. As each person takes off walking, have the caller shout either, “Priest!” or “Levite!” or “Samaritan!” when the walker gets near the doll.

• The walker then has to respond the way the character from the story responded.

• Play several times, with people getting faster and faster in their walking each time.

• For more challenge, have three people go at once and call out directions for each of them by name at the same time, or call multiple characters to the individual walkers as they go.

PRAY: God who goes with us, help us to be on the lookout for our neighbors in need. Amen.

CREATE TOGETHER: GET-WELL CARDS

Supplies: card stock, fine-tip markers

• Ask your church for a list of names of people who are sick or in the hospital. Add names of people you know. As a family, gather and pray for the people on the list.

• Let everyone make get-well cards or valentines to share with those from the lists. Add notes like, “We are praying for you,” “We are praying for your doctors,” “God is with you,” “We love you,” or “God loves you.” Address and decorate envelopes for the cards.

PRAY: God who heals, help us show care and mercy to others. May our prayers bring joy and strength. Amen.

LAB: LEARN FIRST-AID BASICS

• There are great resources available that help children and families learn the basics of first-aid. These are important skills for children to learn as early as age five. The British Red Cross has an excellent online resource, “Life. Live It. First Aid Education for Children.” Videos and explanations geared toward children teach the basic skills. You can find it at www.redcross.org.uk under “What We Do—Teaching Resources.”

PRAY: God who prepares us, thank you for people who help us. Help us learn new skills we can use when we need to help others. Amen.

9781501817366_INT_pages 18-30.indd 28 4/19/16 2:26 PM



TH E STORIES OF THE LO ST (LUKE 1 5:3-1 0): FEB RUA RY 19–25

HEAR THE STORYJesus told stories to explain why it is important to include everyone. He said, “Imagine a shepherd has a hundred sheep and loses one. He leaves the ninety-nine to go find the one, and when he finds the sheep, he carries it home around his neck. Then the shepherd is so happy, he calls all his friends over to tell them of his great fortune of finding the sheep, and they all rejoice with him. The rejoicing in heaven is even more than this when a single person who has been lost to God returns.” He continued, “Now, imagine that a woman has ten valuable coins and loses one of them. Surely she will sweep the entire house day and night until she finds it. Then in her great joy, she will invite all her friends over to celebrate. In the same way there is great rejoicing among all the angels of heaven whenever a single sinner repents.” Jesus wanted people to understand that God’s love is for everyone, but Jesus was focusing especially on those who had lost sight of God in their lives.

PRAY: Dear Jesus, thank you for never letting us go. Help us to rejoice whenever anyone who has lost sight of you comes to believe that your love for them is real. Amen.

WONDER TOGETHER

ASK: Why do you think people want to keep other people out of things sometimes? Have you ever felt like you weren’t welcome somewhere? How did it make you feel? What do you think Jesus wanted people to understand with the story of the lost sheep? What about the story of the lost coin? Which of the two stories did you like better? Why? What do these stories teach us about how much God loves each and every person? (Let everyone answer.)

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for loving us. Thank you for your Son, Jesus, who used stories to teach us just how unstoppable and unconditional your love for us is. Amen.



PRAY: Dear God, thank you for loving every person so much that you go out of your way to find each of us. Help us to celebrate every person who comes to know you. Amen.

SERVE TOGETHER: CARING FOR LOST ANIMALS

• Contact a local animal rescue organization about your family volunteering with them. Many of these groups have adoption events on the weekends where they need help setting up cages or tearing them down. They also need volunteers to water the animals or give them treats. They need people to walk and play with the animals while the animals are there. Many programs are also looking for loving homes where people are willing to foster the animals until they can be adopted. Talk as a family about what you might want to do to help care for a lost animal in the process of finding a home.

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for the amazing animals you have created. Help us to care for them, especially those that are lost. Amen.

9781501817366_INT_pages 18-30.indd 29 4/19/16 2:26 PM



TH E F O RGIVING FATHE R ( LUKE 1 5:1 1 -32) : FEBR UARY 26 – MARCH 4

HEAR THE STORY

After sharing the stories of the lost sheep and the lost coin, Jesus said, “There was a man with two sons. The younger son told his dad he did not want to have to wait until his dad died to get his share of the dad’s money. So the dad divided his money between his two sons. The younger son left, taking his money and everything else he had. He traveled far away and spent all his money having fun. Then a famine came and he almost starved. A farmer hired him to take care of some pigs. The son became so hungry, he ate from the pig slop. He realized his dad’s servants always had plenty to eat; he decided to go back and beg his dad for work. All the way home, he practiced his apology, but before he got there, his dad saw him and came running out to hug him. The dad called for the servants to prepare a feast because his son who had been lost to him was back home. When the older son came back from working and saw the feast, he was mad. The dad said to him, ‘You and I are very close because I am with you every day, but today is a day to rejoice. Your brother who was lost is now found!’ ”

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for loving all of us. Give us hearts to welcome those who return to you. Amen.

CREATE TOGETHER: MUD PIES

Supplies: old towels, optional: drop cloth and small plastic tubs

• If the weather allows, change into some old clothes, gather some old towels, and go outside to make mud pies. Simply wet some dirt and clump up the mud pies and mud shapes. Put them on a sheet of cardboard to dry out. If it is too cold, put a drop cloth down under a table and bring in a tub of dirt from outside to use to make the mud pies. Getting messy with family is a great way to have fun and create memories.

PRAY: Dear God, help us during times when life gets messy. Remind us that no matter how yucky we may feel, you love us no matter what. Amen.

WONDER TOGETHER

ASK: How do you think the dad felt when his son asked for his money? How do you think he felt when the son left? How do you think the brother felt when his younger brother left? How did the son feel after he lost all his money? What do you think he was worried his family would say if he went back home? Are you surprised at what his dad did when he got home? Has there ever been a time when you thought someone should get punished and they didn’t, and that made you mad? What did you do? (Let everyone answer.)

PRAY: Dear God, forgive us when we are selfish. Help us to show forgiveness to others like you do. Amen.

SERVE TOGETHER: FEEDING THE HUNGRY

• As a family, go volunteer for an hour or two at your local food bank, pantry, or shelter. Be sure to check the age limits for volunteers before you go. Many places will allow younger children to work as part of a family.

• Go through your cupboards and find duplicates of foods you have. Go grocery shopping and buy an extra can or box of foods of anything you buy that can be donated. Take your donations to the food bank or pantry.

PRAY: God who provides for us, thank you for the food we have. Help us to share what we have with others. Amen.

9781501817366_INT_pages 18-30.indd 30 4/19/16 2:26 PM



JE S US S HOWS LOVE— TO TE N LEP ERS (LUKE 1 7:1 1 -1 9): MA R CH 5–1 1

HEAR THE STORYJesus saw ten lepers on the Samaritan border on his way to Jerusalem. When they cried to him for mercy, he looked at them and told them to go to the priest. As they went, their leprosy spots disappeared and they were healed. One of them, who was a Samaritan, saw what was happening and ran back to Jesus shouting, “Praise God, I am healed!” He fell to his face thanking Jesus. Jesus asked him, “Weren’t there ten of you that I healed? Where are the others? Are you the only one to give glory to God?” He looked at the man and said, “Stand up and go. Your faith has made you well.”

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for doing good things for us even when you know we may never thank you. Help us to love others the same way. Amen.

MOVE TOGETHER: TEN TIMES RELAY

• Line up on one side of a large space. Run back and forth across the space.

• When someone shouts, “Now!” everyone stops, turns around, and shouts, “Praise God!” before running again. The next time someone shouts, “Now!” everyone stops, drops to the ground, and says, “Thank you, Jesus,” before getting up and running again. Alternate between these two responses.

• Continue until everyone has completed ten times back and forth. Let everyone catch their breath and then, if you want, play again.

PRAY: Dear Jesus, thank you for loving us so much, you want us to be healthy. Help us to love others enough to help them be healthy too. Amen.

CREATE TOGETHER: DOODLE PRAYERS OF LOVE AND THANKS

Supplies: paper, colored pencils, meditative or instrumental music

• Give everyone paper and colored pencils. Let everyone find space where they are comfortable coloring.

• Invite everyone to draw or doodle prayers of love and thanks. To doodle a prayer, write a word or draw a simple picture to show what you want to pray for, and then doodle around it.

• Tell everyone they are welcome to doodle-pray as long as they want. Play some music and let everyone doodle and pray.

• Later, after everyone is finished, let those who wish to hang their prayers up where everyone can see. Talk as a family about the things you prayed.

PRAY: Dear Jesus, thank you for loving us. Hear the prayers we prayed. Help us to love others the way you do. Amen.



PRAY: Dear Jesus, thank you for the ways you help us and heal us. Help us remember to always make time to thank you. Amen.

9781501817366_INT_pages 31-43.indd 31 4/19/16 2:27 PM


JE S US S HOWS LOVE— TO ZACCHAEUS (LUKE 1 9:1 -1 0) : MA RCH 1 2–1 8

HEAR THE STORY

There was a man named Zacchaeus who was a rich tax collector. Zacchaeus was too short to see Jesus over the crowds; he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to be able to see. As Jesus passed, he looked up and saw Zacchaeus. Jesus yelled, “Zacchaeus! Come down quickly. I am going to eat at your house today!” Zacchaeus was thrilled and hurried out of the tree. The people in the crowd were not happy. Zacchaeus had stolen money from many of them by charging them too much for taxes. Zacchaeus, however, was overwhelmed by Jesus’ loving offer and responded to him by saying, “I will give half of all my money to the poor. And for people I cheated, I will give them back four times what I took from them!” Jesus said, “Zacchaeus, salvation has come to your home today. I have come to seek and save those who are lost.”

PRAY: Dear Jesus, thank you for noticing the good in Zacchaeus. Help us to love others. Amen.

MOVE TOGETHER: GO CLIMBING

• Find a sturdy tree and take turns climbing the tree. Go to a parking garage and climb the stairs to the top to see what you can see. Find the playground with the biggest play platform and climb your way to the top of it.

• Wherever you climb, stop and take time to see what you can see. Have everyone look for things that remind them of God. Share what you saw with each other on the way back home.

PRAY: Jesus, give us hearts that love you so much, we are willing to climb to any heights to see you. Amen.

WONDER TOGETHER

ASK: How do you think Zacchaeus felt as he ran ahead of the crowds to climb the tree? What do you think the other people thought as they watched him running ahead? How do you think Jesus felt when he first saw Zacchaeus? How do you feel when you see someone you love? (Let everyone answer.)

PRAY: Dear Jesus, thank you for loving us no matter what. May your love help us to love others more. Amen.

LAB: NOT THE TYPICAL “LIQUID”

Supplies: 16-ounce box of cornstarch, large bowl, measuring cup, water

• Place the cornstarch in the bowl. Have everyone wear short sleeves and take off any rings for this. Let everyone feel the cornstarch and see how their reactions differ.

• Very slowly, add a cup of water in a thin stream. While one person pours, have others mix the cornstarch and water together with their hands. Keep mixing until it begins to drip like a liquid. The mixture is right when you can roll it in a ball in your hands, but it melts in your hands when you stop rolling.

• Now test your “liquid.” If you punch the mixture or hit it, the surface feels hard like rubber. When you dip your hand in it gently, though, it is more the consistency of soup. Play with the mixture.

SAY: The reason the mixture acts this way is that it is a suspension, not an actual liquid. The cornstarch is not dissolved. Its particles are suspended inside the water particles, causing the particles to be rigid under pressure but fluid when not under pressure. When people put pressure on us or treat us harshly, we get tense. When people show us kindness and love, our hearts soften and melt like Zacchaeus’s heart did.

PRAY: Dear Jesus, thank you for not treating us harshly. Help us to not be harsh with others. Amen.


9781501817366_INT_pages 31-43.indd 32 4/19/16 2:27 PM


JE S US S HOWS LOVE— AT THE LAST S UPPER (MA TTHEW 26:1 7-30): MA RCH 1 9– 2 5

HEAR THE STORYWhen it was time for Passover, Jesus sent his disciples into Jerusalem to find a man who would show them a room they could use to prepare the Passover meal. They went there and prepared the meal. That evening, Jesus sat with them and said, “One of you will betray me.” Jesus knew Judas was going to tell the Jewish leaders where to find him. Everyone got upset and asked, “Is it me?” Jesus knew he would die on the cross the next day, so he wanted to give his friends a way to remember his love. He also wanted them to remember his death so they could see God’s unstoppable, unending, unconditional love for them. So during the meal, Jesus took one of the breads and broke it into pieces. He gave it to his disciples and said, “Take this and eat it. This is my body.” Then he took a cup of wine and said, “Each of you, drink this wine. This is my blood that seals the new covenant. This is poured out for you and for the sins of many. Know this. I will not drink wine again until the day I do it with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

PRAY: Dear Jesus, thank you for giving us a way to remember you and your love for us. Amen.

LAB: TASTE THE PASSOVER MEAL

Supplies: plates, apples, walnuts, honey, sugar, cinnamon, hard-boiled egg, potato or parsley dipped in salt water, picture of a bone, horseradish, lettuce

SAY: A Seder plate has the traditional foods of Passover that remind people of the story of God saving the people from slavery in Egypt and establishing a covenant with them through the Laws given to Moses.

• Put together a Seder plate for your family to use to remember the story of Passover. Look online for resources on how to assemble a Seder plate and for the meaning of the foods.

• For haroseth, combine 2 cups diced apple, ½ cup chopped walnuts, 3 tbsp. honey, 1 tbsp. sugar, and 2 tsp. cinnamon.

• As a family, sample the items on the plate as you remember and retell the Passover story. Look for ways that the story of God saving God’s people from their slavery in Egypt is similar to God, through Jesus, saving the world from our slavery to sin and death.

PRAY: Dear Jesus, just as God gave the Hebrew people foods to remember the story of saving your people from Egypt, you gave foods to us with the bread and the wine. Amen.



PRAY: Dear Jesus, thank you for giving us ways to remember your love for us. Amen.

SERVE TOGETHER: CLEANING COMMUNION TRAYS AND RAILS

SAY: Communion is the way we remember the story of the Last Supper and the story of how Jesus saved us.

• Volunteer as a family to go to the church and help clean Communion trays or polish the Communion rails.

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for the gift of your Son, Jesus, who came to save us. We love you, God. Amen.


9781501817366_INT_pages 31-43.indd 33 4/19/16 2:27 PM



JE S US S HOWS LOVE— IN T HE GARD EN (MATTHEW 26:31 -58) : MA RCH 26–A PRI L 1

HEAR THE STORYAfter the Last Supper, Jesus told his friends they would deny him soon. All of them objected. Peter objected the most. Jesus told Peter he would deny Jesus three times before the rooster crowed. Jesus took his disciples to pray at Gethsemane. Jesus had his friends sit and wait while he went into the garden to pray. He took Peter, John, and James with him. Jesus knew he would soon face suffering and death. He told his three friends the sorrow was crushing him. He asked them to stay and keep watch while he prayed. Jesus fell on the ground face-down and prayed, “Abba, Father, if it is possible, please take this cup from me! But let your will be done, not mine.” Jesus went to his three friends and found them asleep. Jesus said, “How can you sleep? Can’t you stay awake for an hour? Be alert and keep watch!” Jesus went back to pray and asked God again to find another way. He returned and found the disciples asleep again. This happened a third time with Jesus praying the same prayer. Men then came to arrest Jesus. Judas was with them. He kissed Jesus so they would know who he was and arrest him. The men then took Jesus to the house of the high priest to be put on trial.

PRAY: Dear Jesus, thank you for following God’s plan even though it was hard for you. Amen.

MOVE TOGETHER: IN SEARCH OF A GARDEN

• As a family, walk to the park or someplace where there are quiet places you can go and pray.

SAY: Jesus and his friends walked to Gethsemane on his last night. Jesus needed some time to be with God to prepare him for the hard things to come. Sometimes we need to take time and get away from the things that are in our lives and just be in a place where we can focus on God.

• Let everyone find a place nearby where they can pray on their own.

PRAY: Dear Jesus, when things were very hard for you, you turned to God in prayer. Help us to remember we can turn to God in prayer no matter what is happening in our lives too. Amen.

WONDER TOGETHER

ASK: How would you feel if Jesus said you would deny knowing him? Have you ever turned your back on Jesus? How do you think the disciples felt when Jesus took them to the garden? How do you think Jesus felt when he was praying that night? (Let everyone answer.)

PRAY: Dear Jesus, thank you for showing us how unstoppable, unconditional, and unending God’s love for us truly is. Amen.

LAB: DISCOVERING GETHSEMANE

SAY: Gethsemane is a garden filled with very old trees and rocks. It is near the Mount of Olives just outside of Jerusalem. The trees and rocks that are there today were also there when Jesus went to pray.

• As a family, use a search engine to look up pictures and video of Gethsemane today. Use parental controls while searching.

PRAY: Dear Jesus, as we look at the trees and rocks in the garden today, we see the things you saw and we think of you there. Be with us here as we pray. Amen.

9781501817366_INT_pages 31-43.indd 34 4/19/16 2:27 PM



CO CK-A-D OOD LE- D OO! (MA TTHEW 26:69-75) : A PR IL 2–8

HEAR THE STORY The night Jesus was arrested, Peter was worried about what was going to happen. So he followed Jesus and the guards, being careful to stay out of sight. When they got to the house of the high priest, Peter went into the courtyard to wait, hoping to hear about what was going to happen to Jesus. A servant saw him in the courtyard and recognized him. She said, “You were one of the men with Jesus!” Peter denied it and said he did not know what she was talking about. Later, another woman saw him and said to those around, “This man was with Jesus.” Peter denied it, saying, “I do not even know the man!” Later, a group of bystanders saw him. They came over to Peter and said, “You must be with him! Listen to you. You talk like a Galilean.” Peter shook his head and said, “I swear by God, I do not know the man.” Immediately, the rooster crowed. Peter suddenly remembered how Jesus had predicted Peter would deny three times before the rooster crowed. Peter was ashamed of what he had done and left.

PRAY: Jesus, forgive us when we act like we don’t know you and do things we wish we hadn’t. Amen.

CREATE TOGETHER: SELF-PORTRAITS

Supplies: paper, fine-tip markers, colored pencils, pencils, crayons

SAY: On the night Jesus was arrested, Peter was confronted by people wanting to know if he was with Jesus. Each time, Peter denied it. Peter denied the very essence of who he had become, a follower of Jesus. Today we are going to make self-portraits showing who we are as followers of Jesus.

• Put out paper and the various coloring options for everyone. Let everyone make a self-portrait emphasizing what she or he looks like as a follower of Jesus. Let everyone share a self-portrait.

PRAY: Dear Jesus, help us to follow you. Teach us to honor and celebrate you in all that we do. Amen.



PRAY: Dear Jesus, like Peter we make mistakes that hurt people we love and make us feel awful. Help us in those times to turn back to you and celebrate the truth about you. Amen.

SERVE TOGETHER: CHALK IT UP

Supplies: sidewalk chalk

SAY: Peter denied knowing Jesus, someone he loved. Most likely there were times he wished he could go back and show his love for Jesus. Today, let’s go show our love for someone in a big way.

• Choose someone your family loves (a relative, neighbor, friend, teacher, minister, or so on). Take some sidewalk chalk and head out to show your love. Write messages of love and thanks to the person on their sidewalk or driveway. Draw pictures to make them happy. Let the world know how much you love them.

PRAY: Dear Jesus, thank you for loving us. We love you so much. Teach us new ways we can celebrate you and show our love to you. Amen.

9781501817366_INT_pages 31-43.indd 35 4/19/16 2:27 PM



H O SA N NA! (MATTHEW 21 :1 -1 1 ) : A PR IL 9–1 5

HEAR THE STORYJesus and his disciples were on their way to Jerusalem for Passover. He sent his disciples ahead to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives. He told them to untie a donkey and her colt, and to bring them to Jesus. He said if anyone tried to stop them, they should just say, “The Lord needs them.” The disciples saw the donkey and colt as Jesus had said they would. They brought the animals to Jesus. The disciples threw their coats over the donkey so Jesus could sit on it. When the crowds saw him coming down from the Mount of Olives to Jerusalem, they threw their coats on the ground in front of Jesus and cut branches from the trees to cover the road ahead of him. Thousands of people shouted, “Hosanna! Save us! Praise God for the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” The noise of the crowds was so loud, people around the city began asking “Who is this?” The crowds replied, “It’s Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

PRAY: Dear Jesus, we join the millions around the world who still shout hosanna! We celebrate you! Amen.

CREATE TOGETHER: PALM PALMS

Supplies: 11-by-17 paper, green acrylic paint, foam paintbrush, small paint roller, hand-cleaning supplies

• In the middle of your paper, paint a green line that gets wider at the bottom like the spine of a leaf. Let the line dry a few minutes. Start the bottom of your leaf 2–5 inches up from the base of the stem.

• Starting with the family member with the largest hands, paint the person’s right palm and fingers with the green paint. With the base of the palm against the stem, have the person press his or her hand down with fingers spread on the left side of the stem. Repeat with the left hand on the right side of the stem.

• With the family member with the next biggest hands, repeat the process of pressing the right hand on the left side of the stem and the left hand on the right side just above the handprints below. Continue with successively smaller sets of hands until the person with the smallest hands completes the top of the leaf. With the top person, overlap the pinkie prints to round out the top of the leaf.

PRAY: Dear Jesus, we praise you with this palm of our palms we made for you today. Hosanna! Amen.

LAB: MORE POWER WITH JESUS

Supplies: Ping-Pong balls, tennis balls

• Give everyone a Ping-Pong ball. Have everyone hold that arm straight out and drop the Ping-Pong balls on a table at the count of three.

ASK: Did the Ping-Pong ball bounce as high as your hand? On its own, the Ping-Pong ball doesn’t have the energy to bounce back that high.

• Give everyone tennis balls. Have them use two hands to hold their Ping-Pong balls directly on top of their tennis balls. Have everyone drop the two balls straight down, one on top of the other, at the count of three.

ASK: How high did the Ping-Pong balls go this time? The energy of the tennis balls bouncing gave the Ping-Pong balls a super boost of energy that sent them higher than when they started. In the same way, when we try things on our own, we can only do so much. But when we have the added boost of Jesus with us, we can do things bigger than we ever imagined.

PRAY: Dear Jesus, thank you for coming to be our King. With you in our lives, we can do amazing things. We celebrate the boost you give to us. Amen.

9781501817366_INT_pages 31-43.indd 36 4/19/16 2:27 PM



ALLE L UIA! (MATTHEW 28:1 -1 0): A PR IL 1 6–22

HEAR THE STORYWhen Jesus died on the cross on Friday, it was too close to sundown to prepare his body for burial, before the start of the sabbath. So at dawn on Sunday as the sabbath ended, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to the tomb. There was a great earthquake as an angel came down from heaven, rolled the stone away from the tomb, and sat on it. The guards saw him and shook with fear, then fainted. When the angel spoke to the women, he said, “Don’t be afraid! I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here! He is alive! It is just as he said it would be. Come, see where his body was lying. Now, go! Quickly! Tell the disciples he has been raised from the dead. Jesus is alive and is going ahead of you to Galilee, and you will see him there.” The women ran quickly away. They were filled with fear and joy. They couldn’t wait to find the disciples and give them the message. As they went, the risen Jesus met them. “Greetings!” he said. They saw him and fell at his feet. Jesus said, “Don’t be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee and I will see them there.”

PRAY: Dear Jesus, Alleluia! You are alive! We rejoice in the good news of the women and we celebrate today with you! Praise be to God! Jesus is alive! Amen!

MOVE TOGETHER: RUN, GO, AND TELL

SAY: In the days, weeks, and months after Easter, the good news that Jesus is alive continued to spread. It continues to spread today across the world and to each generation. Just like the women, we are called to go and spread the good news: Jesus is alive!

• Spread out in a large open space. One by one, call the name of each family member. The rest of the family then runs to that person to say, “Jesus is alive!” Make sure everyone gets at least one turn.

• If you want, you can designate a different way to tell in each round of the game (loudly, quietly, excitedly, laid-back, and so forth).

PRAY: Dear Jesus, we are like the women. Help us to tell people the good news: Jesus is alive! Amen.

WONDER TOGETHER

ASK: How do you think the women felt on the way to the tomb? What would you do if you suddenly saw an angel appear? What would you do if the risen Jesus appeared in front of you and said, “Greetings”? What would you say to Jesus? (Let everyone answer.)

PRAY: Greetings, Jesus! We are so happy you’re alive! Thank you for the stories of Easter. Amen.

SERVE TOGETHER: PLANT EASTER LILIES

• Many churches order Easter lilies for Easter services, and many times there are lilies left at the church. Offer to plant the leftover lilies at the church or, if the church prefers, offer to take them to the homes of older members in the congregation and plant them there.

• If you see Easter lilies on clearance, consider buying them and offering to plant them for elderly neighbors.

PRAY: Dear Jesus, we celebrate that you are alive! Just like these lilies, the good news that you are alive will return year after year to bring joy to the world. We love you, Jesus. Amen.

9781501817366_INT_pages 31-43.indd 37 4/19/16 2:27 PM



CO M E TO BREAKFAST! (JO HN 21 :1 -1 4): A PR IL 23–29

HEAR THE STORY After the Resurrection, the disciples were in Galilee. Peter said, “I am going fishing.” All the others said, “We’ll come too!” They fished all night, but they didn’t catch a thing. As the sun rose, they saw Jesus on the beach, but could not see him well enough to know it was him. He called out, “Friends! Have you caught any fish?” “No!” they groaned. Jesus told them to throw the net on the right-hand side of the boat. “You’ll get plenty of fish there,” he said. They did and soon the nets were so full, they couldn’t pull them into the boat. John looked up and said, “Look! It is Jesus!” When Peter heard this, he jumped in the water and swam ashore. Everyone else stayed in the boat and helped pull the net to the shore. When they got there, Jesus had built a fire and was frying fish. He had bread too. “Come, have breakfast with me!” he called. “And bring some of the fish you just caught.” Jesus served them bread and fish. This was the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples.

PRAY: Risen Jesus, thank you for calling out to us and calling us to come be with you. Amen.

CREATE TOGETHER: SAND CONSTRUCTION

Supplies: sand, water, cups

• Go to a sandy beach or to a sandbox in a local park.

• Add water to the sand and work together as a family to make sandcastles, buildings, or art. Play and have fun with the sand. Talk about the story of Jesus and the disciples at the beach as you do.

PRAY: Risen Jesus, help us to see you wherever we go and to recognize your presence like Peter and John did. We love you and celebrate you as we play. Amen.



PRAY: Dear Jesus, thank you for calling us again and again to come and follow you. Help us to celebrate the joy of your Resurrection in our lives each day. Amen.

SERVE TOGETHER: CLEANUP AND FISHING

Supplies: heavy gloves, old tongs, trash bags, fishing poles, bait

• The risen Jesus came to the disciples when they were out fishing after his Resurrection. Fishing is a great way to spend time with your family and a great outing for many families.

• Go to the nearest local fishing stop with supplies to do a cleanup of the area before you start fishing. Heavy gloves and old tongs are good to use when you’re picking things up.

• Advise children never to pick up bottles or cans with liquid in them. Have children focus on paper items.

• Make sure children tell an adult about anything sharp or dangerous that they see. After thirty minutes or so of cleanup, let it be time to go fish.

PRAY: Dear Jesus, thank you for showing the disciples and us that you are alive! We rejoice and celebrate you! Amen.

9781501817366_INT_pages 31-43.indd 38 4/19/16 2:27 PM



FEE D MY S HEEP ! (JOHN 21 :1 5-1 9) : A PRIL 30–MA Y 6

HEAR THE STORYWhile Jesus was with the disciples at the beach, he called Peter to one side after breakfast. “Peter,” he asked, “do you love me?” Peter replied, “Yes, Lord! You know I love you.” “Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him. A second time, Jesus said, “Peter, do you love me?” Peter said, “Yes, Lord! You know I love you.” “Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said. Once more Jesus asked, “Peter, do you love me, your best friend?” Peter was sad that Jesus asked the question the third time. He said, “Lord you know everything! You know I love you!” Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep and follow me.”

PRAY: Dear Jesus, help us to learn about your forgiveness for us and your call for us to follow you from this week’s story about Peter. Like Peter, we love you and we celebrate you. Amen.

CREATE TOGETHER: FORGIVENESS ART

Supplies: paper, watercolors, paintbrushes

SAY: Jesus asked Peter three times if Peter loved Jesus. Jesus did this so Peter would know Jesus forgave him for each time Peter had denied Jesus. Jesus forgave Peter and he wanted to help Peter forgive himself too.

ASK: What does forgiveness look like to you? How do you feel when you have been forgiven?

SAY: Today we are going to paint pictures showing what forgiveness looks like to us. There is no wrong way to paint your picture.

• Give everyone paper and let them start painting. When everyone is finished, let everyone share what they painted.

PRAY: Dear Jesus, sometimes we struggle with forgiveness. Help us to be more forgiving like you. Amen.



PRAY: Dear Jesus, thank you for loving and forgiving us. Help us to forgive others and ourselves, and to love others the way you love us. Amen.

SERVE TOGETHER: GO AND HELP FEED

Supplies: optional: brownie mix and baking supplies

• Check with the local food kitchen or shelter to see when they serve meals. Ask if your family can go and help serve a meal. Check to see if there are age limits for volunteers. If you can’t go serve, see if it would be okay for your family to bake brownies to bring. Brownies are easy to make in large quantities and share, and are cheaper than some items.

SAY: When we help care for others who are in need, we are taking care of people Jesus loves.

PRAY: Dear Jesus, thank you for the people in our lives who teach us, feed us, and help take care of us. Help us whenever we can to do things that take care of others for you. Amen.

9781501817366_INT_pages 31-43.indd 39 4/19/16 2:27 PM



PETE R AND JOHN (ACTS 3:1 –4:22): MA Y 7–1 3

HEAR THE STORYPeter and John went to the Temple one afternoon and saw a man who could not walk. Each day the man was carried to beg by the Temple. He saw Peter and John and asked them for money. Peter said, “I don’t have any money, but I’ll give you what I do have. In the name of Jesus, get up and walk!” Peter took the man’s hand and helped him stand. The man’s feet and anklebones were healed. He started walking, then leaping, and began shouting and dancing for joy, praising God. He went into the Temple and people realized who he was. Everyone was amazed. Peter saw the crowd and began to speak, “Why are you surprised? God has healed this man by the name of Jesus.” The Temple leaders came and arrested Peter and John because they did not like what they were saying. The next morning, Peter and John were brought before the Council. “By what power have you done this?” they asked. Peter said, “Do you question us because we did a good deed?” The members of the Council were amazed by Peter’s boldness. They could not deny a miracle had happened. The man was healed.

PRAY: Dear Jesus, Peter and John teach us that the power of your name can heal. Amen.

MOVE TOGETHER: WALK, LEAP, DANCE, SHOUT, AND PRAISE

• Play this game to follow the lead of the man who was healed. Have everyone start the game seated in a large open space. To start the game, someone yells, “Walk,” and everyone gets up and walks. At any point, anyone can yell one of the things done by the man (walk, leap, dance, shout, praise). Play until everyone has had a chance to call out or until energy levels run out.

PRAY: Dear Jesus, like the man who was healed, we celebrate your name and give thanks for the salvation you bring. Help us to have faith in the power of your name to change lives. Amen.

WONDER TOGETHER

ASK: How would you have felt if you were the man who could only lie beside the Temple and beg all day? What do you think he thought when Peter first told him to get up and walk? How would you have felt if you were him? How does Jesus help heal our hearts? What are some miracles we can see in our lives today? How do you feel knowing Jesus loves you no matter what? (Let everyone answer.)

PRAY: Dear Jesus, thank you for the way you heal our hurts with your love. Amen.

LAB: HOW IS OUR ACCESS?

SAY: The man who couldn’t walk lay on a mat outside the Temple each day. Friends and family brought him there to beg. There was no place he could be in the Temple and worship because of his physical challenge.

ASK: Do you think there are places in our church where people with physical challenges aren’t able to go?

• Visit your church. Walk around looking for places where there is handicap access and where there is not. Watch for obstacles with water fountains, entrances, the width of aisles and hallways, and pews. Is the children’s area accessible? How about the youth area? What about the choir loft? Talk to other church members about ways you and they might be able to make all of the church more accessible for everyone.

PRAY: Dear Jesus, give us the eyes to see the barriers that may be keeping people out of our community of faith. Help us to discover ways to make our church family more accessible for all. Amen.

9781501817366_INT_pages 31-43.indd 40 4/19/16 2:27 PM



PETE R AND TABITHA ( A CTS 9:36-43) : MA Y 1 4–20

HEAR THE STORYPeter traveled from town to town to visit followers of Jesus. When a believer named Tabitha, who was also called Dorcas, became ill and died in Joppa, Peter was in Lydda, a nearby town. While her family was preparing her for burial, they sent for him to come. When Peter got to the house, people showed him the clothes Tabitha had made for them and talked about the kind things she had done. Peter went in to where Tabitha was lying dead. He went to her and said, “Tabitha! Get up!” She opened her eyes and saw Peter. She sat straight up. Peter then helped her to her feet. Everyone was amazed that Peter had raised her from the dead. News of her return to life raced through the entire town. Peter stayed in Joppa for a long time.

PRAY: Dear God, Peter healed Tabitha because was filled with your power. Help us also use your powerful love to care for others. Amen.

CREATE TOGETHER: DOODLE PRAYERS OF HEALING

Supplies: paper, colored pencils

• Give each person a paper and colored pencils.

• Talk about people in your family, among your friends, or in your church who are sick. Invite everyone to choose a person who is sick and to create a doodle prayer for them.

• To begin, have everyone write the name or draw a picture of that person on the paper. Doodle around the name or picture with doodles of hearts, crosses, circles, bandages, swirls, and so forth. Let everyone doodle and pray as long as they want. Come back together later to share about the prayers you all created.

PRAY: Dear Jesus, we may not have the power that Peter did to instantly bring someone back from the dead, but our prayers have great power. They can help heal people and give them strength. Amen.

WONDER TOGETHER

ASK: What do you think Peter was thinking as he walked from Lydda to Joppa to help Tabitha, who had died? What do you think Tabitha’s friends were hoping Peter would be able to do? How do you think Tabitha felt when she opened her eyes? Of all the characters in the story, who do you like best? (Let everyone answer.)

PRAY: Dear Jesus, thank you for the example of Peter. Thank you for showing us that your power can work through us to change lives. May we be willing to serve you. Amen.

SERVE TOGETHER: MAKE CHEMO CARE KITS

Supplies: cloth bags with handles, fuzzy socks, gum, travel-size hand sanitizer, soft hats or caps, travel-size lotion, soft travel pillow, small storage bags

SAY: People who have cancer sometimes have to take medicine that kills many cells in their bodies. These medicines are like poisons. People taking chemotherapy can often feel tired, sick, and not like themselves. We’re going to make care kits we can share with people who have to take chemotherapy.

• As a family, put together two or three chemo kits. Place lotion and hand sanitizer in a storage bag and add one to each kit. Also add a package of gum, one or two pairs of fuzzy socks, a soft hat or cap, and a soft travel pillow.

PRAY: God, help bring comfort to those in chemotherapy. May these kits bring them renewal. Amen.

9781501817366_INT_pages 31-43.indd 41 4/19/16 2:27 PM



PETE R AND CORNELIU S ( A CTS 1 0:1 -28) : MA Y 21 –27

HEAR THE STORYCornelius was a captain in the Roman army, a very important post. Cornelius and all his family believed in God. One day an angel of God came to Cornelius and told Cornelius to send for Peter. The next day, Cornelius’s messengers went to Joppa to find Peter. Peter was on the roof napping. He had a vision in which a blanket unfolded before him filled with all kinds of animals and birds that Jewish law said not to eat. A voice told him, “Get up and eat.” Peter said, “Never, Lord! I have never in all my life eaten anything forbidden by our law.” The voice said, “If God says something is acceptable, then it is!” The same vision happened three times. Peter did not know what to think. Just then, the men sent by Cornelius arrived and invited Peter to come see Cornelius. They told him how an angel had visited Cornelius and told him to bring Peter to his house. Peter went with the men. When Peter entered the home, Cornelius fell to the floor to worship, but Peter pulled him up and said, “I’m just a person like you.” They went inside and Peter told him it was against Jewish law for Peter to even enter the house of a Gentile, but God had shown him that he should never think of anyone as impure.

PRAY: Dear God, help us to be open to seeing everyone we meet as a child of God. Amen.

MOVE TOGETHER: STUFFED-ANIMAL BLANKET BOUNCE

Supplies: blanket, stuffed animals

• Have family members hold a blanket by the corners and stretch the blanket tight. Place several stuffed animals on top of the blanket. Have everyone relax the tension a little and move their arms up and down to bounce the animals on the blanket. See how many animals you can bounce at a time.

PRAY: God, thank you for helping Peter to see that all people are loved by you and need to hear the good news about Jesus. Help us share that good news too. Amen.



PRAY: God, help us to not see differences as obstacles that separate us. Instead, help us to see your love that unites us all as brothers and sisters. Amen.

SERVE TOGETHER• If there is a mosque, temple, synagogue, or church of a different denomination near you, contact them about

your family coming and helping to pick up litter or clean around their place of worship. Offer to plant flowers in a flower bed or do any other service they might need.

• As you work together as a family to help another community of faith, talk about how God’s desire is for us to show kindness and love to all people so that they may know that Jesus, our Savior, teaches us to act with love and peace, not judgment and conflict.

PRAY: Dear Jesus, just as Peter, Paul, and other apostles took the message of your good news and love to the Gentiles by showing love and care to them, help us to share about you by showing love and care to those who are different from us. Amen.

9781501817366_INT_pages 31-43.indd 42 4/19/16 2:27 PM



PETE R IN PRIS ON (ACTS 1 2:1 -1 7): MA Y 28–JUNE 3

HEAR THE STORYKing Herod Agrippa arrested Peter and planned to kill him. While Peter was in prison, the followers of Jesus did not stop praying for him. The night before Peter was to be tried, he was asleep, chained between two soldiers with others who stood guard at the gate. A bright light appeared. An angel stood before Peter and tapped him to wake up. The angel whispered, “Quick! Get up!” Peter’s chains fell off. “Get dressed!” the angel said, “and follow me.” Peter did as he was told. All the time, as they walked past the guards and through the gate, Peter thought it was a dream. He didn’t know it was real until the angel disappeared and Peter was standing alone in the street, free. Peter hurried to a home where many were gathered praying for him. He knocked at the door and the servant girl, Rhoda, recognized his voice and got so surprised and overjoyed, she ran upstairs to tell everyone without letting him inside. No one believed her and said it must be Peter’s spirit. Peter kept knocking. When they finally opened the door, they were amazed. Peter motioned them to be quiet. He told them what had happened. It was too dangerous to stay, so Peter went to another place.

PRAY: Dear God, when we seek you in prayer, amazing things happen. Amen.

WONDER TOGETHER

ASK: How do you think Peter felt when he was arrested? Why do you think Peter did not realize that the angel was real when it first appeared? How would you feel if you suddenly woke up in the middle of the street like Peter did? What’s your favorite part of the story? (Let everyone answer.)

PRAY: Jesus who rescues us, help us to remember that no matter what we face, you will be there. Amen.

LAB: BUBBLE-MAKING BUBBLE PRAYERS

Supplies: string, scissors, drinking straws, flat tub, bubble solution

SAY: There is no wrong way to pray. We can even pray with bubbles.

• Cut varying lengths of string between 14–24 inches long. Cut straws in half. Thread each string through two halves of a straw. Tie the ends of each string together with a tight and secure knot. Each straw half is a handle. Pull the handles tightly in opposite directions to make a string rectangle.

• Put bubble solution in a flat tub. To make bubbles, place your strings in the bubble solution and pull the handles tightly in opposite directions. Gently lift your taut string out of the liquid. Slowly pull your taut string through the air to make bubbles. Talk about how the bubbles are like prayers we send to God.

PRAY: God of prayer, thank you for hearing us when we pray. Help us to be like Peter. Help us to use many ways, including prayer, to teach people about Jesus. Amen.



PRAY: Dear Jesus, help us, like Peter, embrace unexpected wonders when they occur and use them to create opportunities to share more about Jesus with others. Amen.

9781501817366_INT_pages 31-43.indd 43 4/19/16 2:27 PM



CO UR A GEOUS D IS CIP LES (A CTS 2:1 -41 ) : JUNE 4–1 0

HEAR THE STORYThe believers of Jesus were together in Jerusalem for Pentecost. Suddenly, something that sounded like a windstorm swept through the house where they were, and what looked like flames came to rest upon each person’s head. The Holy Spirit filled them and they began to speak in languages they did not know. They went out in the streets of Jerusalem, where faithful Jews from all over the world had come to celebrate Pentecost. When people heard the apostles speaking the languages of their home nations, they were surprised. Some wondered, “How can simple Galileans know so many languages?” Others said, “Look at them, they must be drunk.” Peter stepped up and addressed the crowd. He said, “We are not drunk! What you see today was prophesied by the prophet Joel when he said that sons and daughters, young and old, men and women would be filled with God’s Spirit. We come to tell about Jesus and to proclaim Jesus as the Messiah.” As he spoke, many people started to believe. They asked, “What should we do?” Peter said, “Be baptized.” Peter preached for a long time, and by the end of the day, about three thousand people had been baptized and added to the church.

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for sending the Holy Spirit. Thank you for not leaving us alone. Amen.

MOVE TOGETHER: HOLY SPIRIT HUSTLE

Supplies: praise music

• Play some upbeat praise music, and encourage everyone to dance and celebrate as the Spirit leads them. Form a conga line of praise, do swing dances of praise, make up line dances of praise, or just let everybody jam out on their own. The important thing is to have fun, rejoice, and show that, thanks to the Holy Spirit, we can worship God anywhere at any time.

PRAY: Dear Holy Spirit, come and fill our hearts with joy. Give us the courage to celebrate you and rejoice in the love of Jesus anywhere we go. Amen.

WONDER TOGETHER

ASK: What do you think the disciples were thinking and feeling before the Holy Spirit came? What would you have thought when you first heard a huge windstorm? If you went to school and one of your friends suddenly could speak a totally different language, what would you think? How would you feel about it? How do you feel the Holy Spirit in your life? Has the Holy Spirit ever given you the courage to do something you were scared to do? What happened? (Let everyone answer.)

PRAY: God, thank you for the Holy Spirit, who gives us the courage to do what we need to do. May your Holy Spirit shape us and grow us into the children of God you want us to be. Amen.

SERVE TOGETHER: FOLLOW GOD’S LEAD

• This week has been all about the Holy Spirit and the courage the Holy Spirit can bring. Reinforce the lesson by putting it into practice. Follow God’s lead on how to serve this week. As a family take time talking together and praying about what act of love or service God may want you to do. Pray for the Holy Spirit to give you the wisdom, guidance, and courage to meet a need in someone’s life. Ask God to use your family as the perfect people in the perfect place at the perfect time to share God’s love in an awesome way.

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for letting us be part of the good works you do in the lives of others. Use us to help make a difference in the lives of those you love today. Amen.

9781501817366_INT_pages 44-56.indd 44 4/19/16 2:28 PM



CO UR A GEOUS QUEEN (B O O K O F ESTHER) : JUNE 1 1 –1 7

HEAR THE STORYThe Book of Esther is the story of a queen who saved the Jewish people in Persia from annihilation. Esther was an orphan who lived with her cousin, Mordecai, when King Ahasuerus chose her as his new queen. Mordecai told her not to tell that she was Jewish. About this time, Mordecai angered the official, Haman, so Haman wrote a law ordering that all the Jews in Persia be killed. Mordecai tore his clothes and sat in sackcloth and ashes at the city gate in anguish. When Esther asked what was wrong, Mordecai sent her a copy of the law. Mordecai asked her to beg the king for mercy. The law said if she went to the king without an invitation, she could be killed. She prayed for three days, then put on her very best clothes and bravely went to see the king. She asked for the king and Haman to join her at a banquet. At the banquet, the king asked Esther what she desired. She told him that her one request was to spare her life and the lives of her people. The king did not want to kill Esther and her people, so he gave Esther the power to overturn the law and save her people.

PRAY: God of courage, thank you for Esther and Mordecai. They show the good that can happen with prayer and courage. Give us courage to stand up for you against evil too. Amen.

CREATE TOGETHER: HAMAN’S POCKETS

Supplies: canned crescent rolls, butter, sugar, cinnamon, cookie sheet, non-stick spray

Make this tasty treat, sometimes served in Purim celebrations.

• In the middle of each triangle of crescent-roll dough, place a pat of butter and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Fold up the bottom corner of the triangle, then fold in the two sides. Spray the cookie sheet with non-stick spray and bake according to package directions.

• As you share your snack, invite the children to share what they remember from Esther’s story.

PRAY: Gracious God, help us to have the courage to live the way you want us to live. Amen.

LAB: ISSUING LAWS

SAY: In the story of Esther, King Ahasuerus gave his signet ring to his most trusted official. A signet ring allowed the person to make laws for the king. In addition, with the signet ring, the person had control over the king’s money. When Haman had the king’s signet ring, he abused the power. At the end of the Book of Esther, the king realizes his mistake and gives the signet ring to Mordecai, who can be trusted.

• Talk about how God allows us to share with people who Jesus was and how he lived. In a way, we have a signet ring. We are interpreters who help people understand who God is. As a family, write laws for your family that reflect how God wants your family to live. Invite everyone to add to the laws.

PRAY: God of our family, help us to live the way you want us to live. Teach us to be loving like you. Amen.



PRAY: Dear God, give us courage like Esther to be able to do the right thing, even when it’s hard. Amen.

9781501817366_INT_pages 44-56.indd 45 4/19/16 2:28 PM



CO UR A GEOUS FRIEND S (DA NIEL 3:1 -30): JUNE 1 8–24

HEAR THE STORYShadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were three friends who lived in the foreign land of Babylon. King Nebuchadnezzar ordered everyone to worship an idol, but they knew the commandments said, “Do not worship any gods before me,” so they refused to do as the king asked. This made the king mad, and he demanded an answer from them. They said, “Nebuchadnezzar, we don’t have to defend ourselves to you. If you throw us in a furnace, God will save us.” This made the king even angrier. He demanded the furnace be heated seven times hotter, then he had his guards throw these three friends into the furnace. The king was watching the flames, when suddenly he jumped up. He said, “They are not hurt by the fire. And there’s somebody else in there too!” The king went over to the furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, come out and come here!” So the three friends stepped out of the fire, and everyone was amazed. The fire had not burned a single hair on their heads, and their clothes did not even smell of smoke. The king praised God.

PRAY: God who saves, thank you for the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Amen.

MOVE TOGETHER: TAKE A SUNSET WALK

• As a family, go for a walk at sunset in a place where you can see the sun go down. As you walk, talk about the different colors you see in the sky. Stop along the way at times and just watch the sun. Talk about how the colors of the sun can remind you of the story of the three friends.

PRAY: God of creation, we give thanks that you have the power to control all things, even the fire in the story of the three friends. Help us to know you are with us, especially in times when we are scared. Amen.

LAB: HEAT OF THE SUMMER

Supplies: globe, flashlight

SAY: This week had the first full day of summer—the summer solstice. On the summer solstice, the sun is up for longer than on any other day in the Northern Hemisphere.

• Take an outing to the closest planetarium, or search for information on the solstice from websites such as nasa.gov and noaa.gov. As always, use parental controls when searching online.

• Use a globe and a flashlight to show how the earth moves around the sun. Sometimes we are closer or further away from the sun during the year. During the summer, the Northern Hemisphere is closer to the sun; it is therefore winter in the Southern Hemisphere. Then, during our winter, the Southern Hemisphere is closer to the sun, so they have summer while we have winter. On Wednesday, when we had the summer solstice, with the most sun in a day, the Southern Hemisphere was having its winter solstice, with the least amount of sun they have any day of the year.

PRAY: God who created the sun, thank you for creating a universe that it is growing and changing. Amen.



PRAY: God, help us to remember that friendship and faith both build our courage. Amen.

9781501817366_INT_pages 44-56.indd 46 4/19/16 2:28 PM



CO UR A GEOUS DANIEL (DA NIEL 6:1 -28) : JUNE 25–JULY 1

HEAR THE STORYDaniel grew up in the foreign land of Babylon. He was very smart and became a trusted administrator for King Darius. Darius was ready to put Daniel in charge of all the provinces. This made the other administrators and princes jealous, but they couldn’t find any fault in Daniel to accuse him of something wrong. So they tricked Darius into making a law that for thirty days, anyone who prayed to anybody but Darius had to be thrown to the lions. Darius signed the law. When Daniel heard about it, he went home and began to pray as usual. He prayed three times a day, always giving thanks to God. Those who were jealous went to Daniel’s house and found him praying. So they reminded the king of the law and told him Daniel was breaking it by praying three times a day. This made the king angry with himself for signing the law. The king tried and tried to find a way out, but he had to do as the law said. He ordered Daniel to be thrown into the den of lions. The king said, “May your God come rescue you.” Daniel was sealed into the den with the lions, and the king fasted all night, hoping for his safety. Early the next morning, they opened the lions’ den, and the king shouted, “Daniel, servant of the living God, did your God rescue you?” Daniel answered, “Long live the king! My God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths. I have been found innocent in his sight, and have not wronged you.” The king was overjoyed. He ordered Daniel to be lifted out of the den. Not a scratch was found on him. Darius sent this message to every nation across the world: “Peace and prosperity! Everyone should worship the God of Daniel.”

PRAY: God of Daniel, you are the living God. We give thanks for you and all that you do. Amen.

MOVE TOGETHER: GO TO THE ZOO

• Take the day as a family and walk around the zoo. Be sure to see the lions! Talk about the story of Daniel and the lions. Talk about ways you can share the truth about God with others.

PRAY: God of the lions, thank you for protecting Daniel in order to help the people of the Babylonian Empire learn the truth about you. Amen.

CREATE TOGETHER: DOODLE PRAYERS OF COURAGE Supplies: paper, colored pencils

• Give everyone paper and colored pencils. Have everyone create a doodle-prayer, lifting up one of their fears to God and asking for courage.

• To start, write a word or letter, or draw a symbol, that reminds you of a fear you have. Doodle all around what you drew with swirls and hearts and shapes as you pray for God to help you with your fear.

• Let everyone have as much time as they desire to pray and color. Come together later so whoever wants to can share their prayers.

PRAY: Dear God, help us with our fears. Help us to find our courage in you. Amen.

LAB: THE LION IN THE SKY

• Go out at night and find a place away from city lights where you can look for the constellation Leo. Check stardate.org to see where Leo is on the horizon before going out. As you look at the stars, talk about the fact that thousands of years ago, Daniel would have been able to look up and see the same stars.

PRAY: God of the stars, thank you for those things that remain constant in our universe. Thank you for your love for your people, the greatest constant reality of all time. Amen.

9781501817366_INT_pages 44-56.indd 47 4/19/16 2:28 PM



ELIJAH AND THE RAVE NS (1 KINGS 1 6:29-30; 1 7:1 -7) : JUL Y 2–8

HEAR THE STORYDuring the time of the kings in Israel, many different kings had power. Some of them were good and faithful to God. Others were not. When Ahab came to rule over Israel, he did things that were more evil in God’s sight than what was done by any king who had come before him. He didn’t worship God—instead, he worshipped Baal. He even built a temple to Baal in Israel. God was not pleased with Ahab at all. So God’s prophet, Elijah, went to Ahab and said, “As surely as the God of Israel lives, there will be no dew or rain for the next few years until I give the word.” God knew this would anger Ahab, so God sent Elijah away and told him to go to the east and hide. God told Elijah to camp by a brook. There he had fresh water, and God sent ravens every morning to bring him bread and meat. After a while, though, the brook dried up since there was no rainfall in the land.

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for the prophet Elijah. Help us to speak the truth like Elijah did. Amen.

MOVE TOGETHER: RUNNING RAVENS

• Find a nice, open space outside. Have one person stand in the middle of the space as Elijah. Everyone else is a raven, circling around. As the ravens are circling, they must constantly run to Elijah to give him food and then run back out to circle again. After every raven has visited Elijah twice, let one of the ravens become the new Elijah.

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for the ways you take care of us. Help us remember that even when things are hard, you are there. Amen.

LAB: RAVEN TOYS

SAY: Ravens are fascinating animals. They live in groups and look out for one another. They share with one another out of what they have. Ravens are also one of the few animals who make toys. Ravens have been observed using sticks, pinecones, rocks, and even golf balls to toss to each other or simply to play and entertain themselves.

• As a family, go on a nature walk and see what items everyone can find to try to make their own toys. The toys can be things that you play with together or things someone can use to play with alone. See who can come up with the most creative toy.

PRAY: God of creativity, thank you for our imaginations. Thank you for play. Amen.

SERVE TOGETHER: TAKE CARE OF THE BIRDS

Supplies: various, depending on project

• Make simple bird feeders. Pinecones can be smeared with peanut butter and rolled in birdseed. Attach thread to hang them in trees. String rolled oat cereal onto lengths of yarn and lay them in bushes or trees. Birds will love the yarn for their nests too. Toss natural bird feeders like apple peels onto branches. Fill shallow plastic dishes with water you can change out each day. Or find a bigger do-it-yourself project online to make a birdbath, birdhouse, or larger feeder.

PRAY: Dear God, help us to honor you by speaking your truth and caring for one another, as well as for all your creatures. Amen.

9781501817366_INT_pages 44-56.indd 48 4/19/16 2:28 PM



ELIJAH AND THE PROPHETS ( 1 KINGS 1 8:20-39): JULY 9–1 5

HEAR THE STORY When the time came for Elijah to come out of hiding and return to Israel, he did it in a big way. Elijah told Ahab to gather all the people of Israel at Mount Carmel and to bring all of the prophets of Baal. Elijah stood in front of the people and told them they had to choose which god was real, God or Baal. Elijah called for two bulls to be brought for a sacrifice. Each bull was to be sacrificed and then placed on wood on the altar, but not set on fire. Elijah challenged the prophets to call on Baal to set the fire under their bull. All morning they shouted, but there was no reply. Elijah mocked them, saying they should shout louder, that maybe Baal was distracted or in the bathroom or on a trip. They shouted all into the evening, but there was still no reply. Elijah then said to the people, “Come to the altar of God.” He took twelve stones for the twelve tribes of Israel and built an altar to God. He gathered wood together, sacrificed the bull, and laid it on the wood. Then he soaked the wood with water three times. Elijah prayed for God to answer him, and immediately the fire of God flashed down, burning the bull and everything under it. The prophets of Baal were defeated.

PRAY: God of power and might, help us to proclaim your great power as the only God to all the world. Amen.

CREATE TOGETHER: STONES TO REMEMBER

Supplies: rocks or stones, permanent markers

SAY: When Elijah built his altar, he used twelve stones that represented the twelve tribes of Israel.

• Have everyone find a rock or stone that they feel best represents themselves. Find three more stones to represent the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

• Use permanent markers to draw symbols or initials on the stones. Find a place in your house and assemble a pile of all the stones together to represent your family and God’s presence in your lives.

PRAY: God who unites us, thank you for our family. Thank you for Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit that helps to bind us all together. Help us to proudly speak about the wonders of you. Amen.

WONDER TOGETHER

ASK: What do you think the people thought about Elijah when he first called them together at Mount Carmel? How do you think they felt about him after the sacrifices of the bulls? What’s the most amazing thing that you have seen God do? How can you share that story with other people? (Let everyone answer.)

PRAY: Dear God, we love you. We thank you for being our God, and we are honored to be your people. Amen.

LAB: FIRE EXTINGUISHER TRAINING

Supplies: fire extinguisher, colored paper or other pretend flames

Many homes have a fire extinguisher, but many people don’t know how to use one properly. Since you’re supposed to replace your fire extinguisher yearly, it’s a good idea to use your old one to practice.

• Set up a pretend fire in a driveway or parking lot, and have the family members take turns using the fire extinguisher. Teach your children the code PASS—Pull the pin, Aim the nozzle, Squeeze the trigger, and Sweep side to side. Read and follow the directions on the extinguisher. Have everyone take a turn using the fire extinguisher so they’re not afraid of it. Use a garden hose to rinse the area when you’re through.

PRAY: God of power, thank you for giving us the tools to stay safe. Amen.

9781501817366_INT_pages 44-56.indd 49 4/19/16 2:28 PM



JON A H AND THE FIS H ( B O O K O F JO NA H): JULY 1 6–22

HEAR THE STORY Jonah was a prophet who was well-known by the people. One day God told Jonah to go to Nineveh to speak the truth about God. Nineveh had a horrible reputation, and Jonah did not want to go; so he ran away. Jonah got on a boat going in the opposite direction. While the boat was at sea, a great storm happened. The men on the boat tried to figure out what they had done to offend God. When they discovered Jonah’s story, they decided God was mad at him and threw Jonah overboard. A great fish came and swallowed Jonah, saving him from drowning. For three days, Jonah was trapped inside the giant fish. On the third day, the fish threw Jonah up on shore. Jonah decided to do what God had said and went to Nineveh. Jonah told the people about God and about how God wanted them to live. When the people heard, they repented and called the whole city together to pray for God not to destroy them. Jonah left the city and went up a hill, prepared to watch God rain down fire on the people of Nineveh. While he sat there, a giant weed grew and gave him shade. When the weed died, Jonah was very mad. God laughed at him, and said, “How can you be mad over this weed dying, when it wasn’t even yours, but you would rejoice if my people in Nineveh were destroyed?” Even though Jonah didn’t do exactly as God said, and didn’t act in a loving way, God still used the truth he spoke to save the people of Nineveh.

PRAY: Dear God, forgive us for the times when we run away from you. Forgive us when we are not loving. Thank you for still using the good we do to help others see the truth. Amen.

MOVE TOGETHER: PLAY HUG-AND-SEEK

• Have everyone play. Choose one person to be IT and have everyone else hide. When someone is found, IT hugs that person and says, “God loves you, and so do I.” Both people then go searching for the others. Together, when they find someone, they say, “God loves you, and so do we.” Play until everyone has had a chance to be IT.

PRAY: Dear God, help us remember there is no place we can hide from your love and care. Amen.

LAB: GET UP CLOSE WITH SOME FISH

• Take a trip to the nearest lake or aquarium, or if you live close to the ocean, head to the beach. Many zoos have aquariums in them.

• If going to the lake or beach, research what fish and other marine life are present where you are going. Talk about the story of Jonah and the big fish on the way there.

• On your way back, ask if anything anyone saw made them think about the story of Jonah in a new way.

PRAY: God of the oceans and the seas, help us to be mindful of ways we can care for your waters. Thank you for the ways our planet cares for us. Amen.



PRAY: Dear God, forgive us when we are reluctant to do what you want us to do. Teach us how to judge less and love more. Amen.

9781501817366_INT_pages 44-56.indd 50 4/19/16 2:28 PM



ELISHA AND THE WID O W‘S JA R S (2 KINGS 4:1 -7): JULY 2 3 –29

HEAR THE STORYThe widow of a man who had been a prophet with Elisha came to him one day. She said, “My husband served the Lord faithfully, but now he is gone and we have no money. The creditors want to take my sons and sell them as slaves.” Elisha asked what she had in her house. She said she had only one small jar of oil. Elisha told her to have her sons borrow as many empty jars as they could from their family and friends, and to take the jars and her sons into her house and close the door. He told her to fill the empty jars with oil from the flask that she had. Every time she filled a jar, the flask refilled. She filled every jar that her sons had brought. When she asked for more jars, they told her there were none, and the flask dried up. Elisha told the woman to sell all the oil and pay her debts. Thanks to Elisha’s miracle, the woman and her sons were safe and cared for.

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for the many ways that you take care of us. Amen.

CREATE TOGETHER: MAKE A PRAYER JAR

Supplies: a jar you already have, construction paper, gel pens, scissors, tape, paper

• Measure the construction paper against the outside of the jar and cut the paper to function as a sleeve that will decorate the jar. Decorate the jar sleeve with gel pens and write “Family Prayer Jar.” Tape the sleeve around the outside of the jar.

• Give everyone paper to cut into slips. Have everyone write down seven things they want the family to be praying for. Place the slips of prayers inside the prayer jar. Every day, each family member pulls out a slip of paper showing something to pray for that day. At the end of the day, the papers get returned to the jar. If new prayers arise, simply add these to the jar.

PRAY: God who loves us, help us to see ways we can support each other in our family. Amen.

WONDER TOGETHER

ASK: How do you think the woman felt after her husband, who had served God, died and the family became desperate and poor? What did the woman do when she was at risk of losing her sons? Who are some people you can go to and ask for help? How do you think the sons felt when they had to go everywhere and collect dozens of jars? What do you think the mom and the boys were thinking every time they watched a new jar fill up with oil? (Let everyone answer.)

PRAY: God, please be with all the families in need. Help them find people they can turn to for help. Amen.

SERVE TOGETHER: OVERFLOWING WITH LOVE

Supplies: construction paper, scissors, markers

• Contact a nursing facility near you about bringing notes of love to their patients. Ask how many patients they have.

• As a family, cut enough hearts from construction paper to have one for each patient. Make extra to take to staff as well, if you want. Decorate the hearts with statements like, “God loves you,” “Our hearts overflow with love for you,” “You make us smile,” “Thank you for being you,” and so forth.

• Take the hearts to the nursing facility. Later, talk as a family about what you learned, saw, and experienced.

PRAY: God of love, help us remember that the more love we give away, the more love we have to give. Amen.

9781501817366_INT_pages 44-56.indd 51 4/19/16 2:28 PM



ELISHA AND THE S ERVA NT GIRL ( 2 KINGS 5:1 -1 9): JU LY 30 – AUGUST 5

HEAR THE STORYNaaman was an army commander from Aram who suffered from leprosy. He was desperate to find help for his disease. A servant girl from Israel recommended that he go there and find the prophet Elisha. When Naaman arrived, he went to the palace of the king. The king was scared because he was afraid Naaman was coming to attack them. Elisha told the king to send Naaman to him. When Naaman got to Elisha’s, Elisha did not even come out of his house. Instead, he had someone else tell Naaman to wash in the Jordan River seven times, and his sores would fall away. Naaman became very angry that Elisha did not come welcome him. He was also frustrated at what Elisha asked him to do. He thought surely Elisha would give him some much more magnificent means of healing. He was ready to turn back home, but his servants stopped him and told him that if Elisha had told him to do something hard, he would have tried it, so the least he could do was wash and see what happened. When he came up from the Jordan River after washing seven times, Naaman was healed. He was so happy that he tried to leave huge amounts of money and expensive clothing with Elisha. Elisha refused to take them; the work Elisha did was for God, not for money. Naaman told Elisha that from that day forward, the only God he would worship would be the God of Israel.

PRAY: Dear God, help us to learn from our Bible stories so we know how to treat each other better. Amen.

CREATE TOGETHER: JORDAN RIVER WATERCOLORS

Supplies: paper, watercolors, paintbrushes

• Let everyone have paper, a paintbrush, and some watercolors. Invite everyone to paint pictures showing how God makes them feel or a picture from the story. Wait for the pictures to dry. Let everyone share their pictures.

PRAY: God of the waters, renew us with your strength. Help us to share your healing message with people who are hurting. Amen.



PRAY: Dear God, thank you for the example of Elisha, who was willing to help people no matter where they were from. Amen.

SERVE TOGETHER: GIVE A LITTLE COMFORT

• Have everyone look for gently used children’s books and DVDs your family can give away. Gather the items that you have to donate and take them to your local hospital’s children’s ward. Hospitals are always looking for good books to have on hand and movies the kids can watch.

SAY: As people of God, we have the opportunity to bring comfort, smiles, and a little happiness to those who are struggling with illnesses.

PRAY: Dear God, help us to continue to think of new ways we can show love and caring to other people. Thank you for the truths you share with us. Amen.

9781501817366_INT_pages 44-56.indd 52 4/19/16 2:28 PM



GOD CHOOS ES JOS HUA (JO SHUA 1 :1 -9) : A UGUST 6–1 2

HEAR THE STORYAfter Moses died, God chose Joshua to be the new leader of God’s people. God came to Joshua and told him it was time to get ready for all the people to cross the Jordan River into the Promised Land. God described the boundaries of the Promised Land that Joshua and the people would take. God promised that no one would be able to stand against Joshua or defeat him. God said, “I’ll be with you. I’ll never leave you or forsake you.” God told Joshua to be strong and courageous, and that his job would be to lead the people into the land God promised at the Exodus. God reminded Joshua to obey the law. God told him, “Always keep studying this book of the law. Think about it day and night.” God promised that Joshua would be successful and again encouraged him to be strong and courageous and not be afraid, because God would be with him wherever he went.

PRAY: God of promise, thank you for choosing us to be your people. We are happy to serve you. Amen.

MOVE TOGETHER: EMOTIONS CHARADES

Supplies: paper, pencils, basket or hat

SAY: Joshua was not sure what to think when God chose him to lead the people. In the stories of Moses and Joshua, we see the people of God show many different emotions.

• Have everyone write down three emotions on slips of paper. Put the papers in a basket or hat. Let everyone take turns drawing an emotion from the basket and then acting it out for the rest of the family to guess.

SAY: We have lots of emotions. Emotions are neither good nor bad.

PRAY: God who loves us, help us choose to serve you no matter how we feel. Amen.

WONDER TOGETHER

ASK: How do you think Joshua felt when God chose him to do the huge task of leading hundreds of thousands of Israelites? Have you ever been able to serve God in a really big way? How did you feel? What can you do to choose to serve God today? (Let everyone answer.)

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for Joshua. Thank you for teaching us that you will be with us. Amen.

LAB: BE STRONG

Supplies: twigs and sticks, rubber bands

SAY: When we choose to serve God, God goes with us. God surrounds us with others who serve God too. God tells us to be strong, but God doesn’t expect the strength to come from us alone.

• Have everyone collect five sticks. Have everyone take one of their sticks and snap it in half. Have everyone put two sticks together and try to break them. Let them feel the resistance as they try to break the two sticks at once. Take the two remaining sticks from each person and say, “One of the sticks that you gave stands for you. The other stands for how God is with you. When we put all of the sticks together, let’s see what happens.” Use rubber bands to bind the sticks together. Let everyone try to break the sticks. The sticks won’t break. Three sticks together is much stronger than one.

PRAY: God of our strength, thank you for the people you put in our lives who go with us. Amen.

9781501817366_INT_pages 44-56.indd 53 4/19/16 2:28 PM



SP I ES IN CANAAN (JOSHUA 2:1 -24): A UGUST 1 3–1 9

HEAR THE STORYAs Joshua and the people were coming into the Promised Land, Joshua sent two spies ahead to scout out Jericho. When they came to the city, they found a woman named Rahab whose home was built into the city wall. They stayed with her for the night, and when men from the king of Jericho came looking for the spies, Rahab lied and told them the spies had already left the city. Rahab had hidden the men on the roof. Rahab told the men it was clear they would conquer Jericho. She asked that the men not forget her and that when they came to destroy the city, they would rescue her, her parents, her brothers and sisters, and all of their families. That night she let them down outside the city walls, by lowering them on a rope from her house. They told her to hang the scarlet rope from her window so all the Israelites would know which house belonged to Rahab and leave it alone. When the spies returned to Joshua, they assured him they would be able to conquer the land.

PRAY: God, thank you for people who serve you. Help us to have courage like Rahab as we serve you. Amen.

CREATE TOGETHER: RAHAB’S ROPE ART

Supplies: newspaper or plastic covering, drawing paper, paints, string, paper plates

• Cover your table or workspace with newspapers or plastic. Cut lengths of string 6–9 inches long. Pour paint into paper plates.

• Encourage everyone to hold a section of string by both ends and dip the middle section of the string into the paint. Lift the string out of the paint and place it on a paper. Drag the string across the paper to make lines. Repeat with other strings and other paints to make a montage of string painting across the paper.

PRAY: God of Rahab, we celebrate those who choose to serve you. Help us to embrace the chances we have to serve you even in messy or scary times. We love you, God. Amen.

LAB: RAHAB’S PLACE IN HISTORY

SAY: Because Rahab chose to be brave, she was rewarded. Not only were Rahab and her family saved when Jericho was destroyed, but Rahab went on to claim one of the most highly honored places in the history of the Hebrew people. Rahab was from Jericho and thus not an Israelite, yet God chose for the greatest king, King David, and then for the Messiah, Jesus, to come from the line of descendants of Rahab. She also was so important that when the lineage of Jesus was listed, she was one of only four women named in the list.

• Read Matthew chapter 1 as a family and see where you find Rahab. Can you find who the son of Rahab was? Who was her great-great-grandson? Share as a family stories about people from your family history.

PRAY: God of courage, thank you for Rahab. She brought about great things for your people. Help us to remember those who came before us. Amen.



PRAY: Dear God, thank you for the story of how Rahab chose to serve you. Show us ways in our lives that we can help others and make a big difference for you. Amen.

9781501817366_INT_pages 44-56.indd 54 4/19/16 2:28 PM



CROSS ING THE JORDAN (JO SHUA 3–4) : A UGUST 20–26

HEAR THE STORYFinally, the time came when God was ready to lead the people across the Jordan River and into the Promised Land. Joshua told the priests to take up the ark of the covenant and lead the people toward the Jordan River. Once again, God assured Joshua that God would be with him and would not let a single nation of Canaan stand against him. God said for the priests to take a few steps into the river and then stop. As soon as the feet of the priests carrying the ark touched the water of the river, the waters began to pile up and the river parted, revealing dry ground underneath. The priests waited in the middle of the river until all the people had walked across the dry ground to get to the other side of the Jordan. Once everyone was across, God told Joshua to choose twelve men, one from each tribe. Each of them went to the middle of the riverbed and picked up a large stone to be used to build a memorial for the day when God stopped the river from flowing and the ark of the Lord went across. At God’s command, the priests came up from the riverbed, and the waters of the river came back together and flowed normally once more. The men from the twelve tribes carried the stones to the place where the people camped for the night and built a memorial there.

PRAY: Dear God, help us to serve you by following the instructions you give to us. Amen.

MOVE TOGETHER: CROSSING THE RIVER

• Find a place inside or outside that you can designate as a river. Let everyone have a turn being leader. The leader announces how people will cross the river. (Example: Skip across the river! Hop across the river! )

SAY: When the people of God crossed the river, they followed the instructions that God had given to Joshua.

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for those people who are leaders in our lives. Amen.

WONDER TOGETHER

ASK: How do you think Joshua felt when they crossed the river? What do you think the priests were thinking when they stood in the riverbed, watching what was happening? What great thing have you seen God do in your life this week? What is something we can do to serve God this week? (Let everyone answer.)

PRAY: God of greatness, give us the eyes to see the wonders and works that you continue to do. Amen.

SERVE TOGETHER: FAMILY PROJECT

SAY: The people of God cared for the things and the lands God gave to them. Today, we’re going to work together to care for the things God has given to us.

• Decide on a big project needing to be done in your home or yard. Work together to get the project completed. Assign tasks for each family member as appropriate, and celebrate throughout the project the good work and good things that are happening. Make a covenant to keep the focus on serving God and caring for what God has given to us. Try not to let frustrations derail your serving.

PRAY: God who provides for us, help us to remember what an honor and privilege it is to have the things we have. We choose to serve you by caring for one another and for what you have given to us. Amen.

9781501817366_INT_pages 44-56.indd 55 4/19/16 2:28 PM



JE RIC HO (JOS HUA 6 ): AUGUST 27–SEPTEMB ER 2

HEAR THE STORY When Joshua and the people of God came to Jericho, the gates of Jericho were shut tightly. God told Joshua that the Israelites had already won and defeated Jericho. God said seven priests should walk ahead of the ark and the entire army should walk behind it. The parade of the priests and the army was to march around the city once a day for six days. As they marched, the seven priests were to blow rams’ horns as loud as they could. The army and everyone else was to stay silent, though. On the seventh day, the entire parade was to march around the city seven times with the priests blowing their horns. When the priests gave one long blast on their horns, the army and all of the Israelites were to give their mightiest shout. When they did this, the walls of Jericho fell down. The armies were able to walk into the city and defeat it. The Israelites remembered the promise of the spies to Rahab, and she and her family were all saved.

PRAY: Dear God, help us to have faith that when we serve you, you will do great things in our lives. Amen.

WONDER TOGETHER

ASK: I wonder what the people thought when Joshua told them God’s plan for defeating the city. Can you imagine what it would be like to have to march around the giant city wall without saying a word? I wonder what the horns of the priests sounded like. What do you think Rahab and her family were thinking while the Israelites marched around the city? (Let everyone answer.)

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for the stories of your people. Help us to truly think about them and use them to discover ways we can serve you better. Amen.

LAB: THE WELL OF JERICHO

SAY: Jericho was a valuable place for the Israelites to control because Jericho had one of the oldest wells in Canaan. The well provided a reliable source of fresh water. In fact, the well in Jericho is still there today, thousands of years later, and continues to be a good source of fresh water. For this reason, Jericho is the oldest city to be continuously populated in the world.

• As a family, talk about where the water you have comes from. You can look at your water bill to get information about your water. If you want, you can go online and see pictures of the well at Jericho.

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for the waters you provide. Help us take care of what you have given us. Amen.

SERVE TOGETHER: THE WATER PROJECT

• As a family, make a donation to thewaterproject.org. They are a charitable organization that helps to build wells and provide clean, safe water in Africa. Decide as a family how much to give, and allow everyone to contribute to the giving. One of the great things about donating to The Water Project is that every donor gets to see where their gifts are used on a GPS map and with photos and short stories.

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for all that you have done. Thank you for the ways in which you guide us. Help us to continue to serve you. Amen.

9781501817366_INT_pages 44-56.indd 56 4/19/16 2:28 PM

www.abingdonpress.com

AB

ING

DO

N P

RE

SS

FA

MILY

DE

VO

TIO

NA

L: A

YE

AR

OF

DA

ILY D

EV

OT

ION

AL

SS

UZ

AN

N W

AD

E

9781501817366_CVR_PRINT.indd 1 4/19/16 2:25 PM

€¦ · joseph in egypt (genesis 39–40): september 11–17 hear the story when joseph arrived in...

Documents