Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Special Delivery: Postal Worker Vs. Angel
Click on this link to read a short lesson on the postal service. Look at the picture of the postal worker.
Would you trust news that is delivered by a postal worker like the one pictured at this site?
As a family, make a list of ways God shows us his plans for our lives. Post it in a prominent place in your home, perhaps on the refrigerator. Set a time to get back together to discuss how God guided you through the week when you trusted his plans.
Would you trust news that is delivered by a postal worker like the one pictured at this site?
How would it be different from plans that were delivered by an angel?
Which would you trust more? Why?As a family, make a list of ways God shows us his plans for our lives. Post it in a prominent place in your home, perhaps on the refrigerator. Set a time to get back together to discuss how God guided you through the week when you trusted his plans.
Christmas Angel Crafts
Browse this page of angel craft ideas. Do you find anything that interests you? Make one of the crafts as a family project.
As you work, discuss the following questions:
• What do you think it was like for Joseph when the angel appeared to him? Do you think he was frightened? Why or why not?
• What were God's plans for Joseph? What do you think made Joseph decide to trust God?
• Why should we trust God's plans?
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Winter Week 1 Take Home Sheet
I encourage you to think about starting or continuing to do these weekly take home activities. I think that our families could benefit so much by simply using these discussion starters and other ideas as families.
Planning for Jesus's coming
Find the Travelocity site and then click on "Vacation Packages."
Pretend you are planning a vacation to one of the places mentioned there. Discuss what each member of the family would need to do as a part of the family's preparation for the trip.
Be sure to discuss the following questions:
• Why would you look forward to this trip? In what ways would you need to plan and prepare?
• What if a friend or family member that doesn't live with you decided to plan a trip to come visit you? How would you prepare for his or her arrival? Would you get the guest room ready or buy groceries to prepare a special meal?
• If you had lived in Solomon's day, would you have believed him when he told of Jesus' coming the first time? What do you suppose Solomon wanted the people to do in order to prepare for Jesus' coming?
• Why should we look forward to Jesus' coming? How can we prepare for Jesus' return
GAMEDAY- LIKE PREPARATION (ONLINE GAME LINK!)
PLAY SOME OF THESE FUN GAMES AND THEN ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS!
Go to this football Web site and check out the games. How fast are your reflex effects? Whew! That was fun. But getting ready for real football games is hard work.
Spend a few minutes and talk about what it must take to get ready for each NFL game.
Compare that to what we should be doing to get ready for Jesus' coming.
Solomon encouraged the people to prepare for Jesus' coming. Are we ready today?
Go to this football Web site and check out the games. How fast are your reflex effects? Whew! That was fun. But getting ready for real football games is hard work.
Spend a few minutes and talk about what it must take to get ready for each NFL game.
Compare that to what we should be doing to get ready for Jesus' coming.
Solomon encouraged the people to prepare for Jesus' coming. Are we ready today?
Monday, November 29, 2010
Week 13 Take Home Page
I encourage you to take time this week as a family to do some or all of the things mentioned on this sheet as a family. It is amazing what spending time talking, reading, and learning about God as a family can do :)!
How God Works
Think about answers to some of these questions:
• How do you involve God in your daily life? How could you do more to keep God "in the loop"?
• In what ways can God help you with problems? Do you believe God can really tell you what to do in times of trouble? How?
• Does God understand the times in which we live? Is the Bible relevant today? If so, do you believe that God has answers for today? Explain.
Discuss how you, as a family and as individuals, can turn to God when you face problems.
Make your Home a Lighthouse of Prayer
Enter the Global Prayer Lighthouse to learn about the prayer ministry of this organization. As a family, consider making your home a "lighthouse of prayer." You could commit to praying for your own concerns and the problems of others and assign a certain time that you would come together to share prayer concerns and answers. God wants to help us with our problems. When we face difficult situations, there is no stronger course of action than to pray.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Example of faithfulness
Faithfulness
Read about the background of the Prayer Peaks ministry. How have the people involved in this ministry shown what it means to be faithful? What are some ways that we can be faithful?
Read about the background of the Prayer Peaks ministry. How have the people involved in this ministry shown what it means to be faithful? What are some ways that we can be faithful?
Monday, November 15, 2010
Put Yourself in Their Shoes
Read the personal testimonies on this site. Choose someone from one of the stories, and pretend you are in that circumstance.
Would you have reacted as he or she did? Why or why not?
Read 1 Kings 19:9-18.
Then discuss the following questions as a family:
• How do you think Elijah felt when it first began to thunder? How must he have felt when he finally realized that God's message was in a whisper?
• Have you ever been so scared that you suspected "thunderous" consequences despite your prayers? Were your needs met? How? When?
• Do you think it is important to listen for God's whisper? Why? What does this tell us about God?
Would you have reacted as he or she did? Why or why not?
Read 1 Kings 19:9-18.
Then discuss the following questions as a family:
• How do you think Elijah felt when it first began to thunder? How must he have felt when he finally realized that God's message was in a whisper?
• Have you ever been so scared that you suspected "thunderous" consequences despite your prayers? Were your needs met? How? When?
• Do you think it is important to listen for God's whisper? Why? What does this tell us about God?
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Why do we serve him??
WHY?
This site is full of good reasons for serving God. See how many you can find. Then ask each person in the family to pick his or her favorite reason for serving God and share it with everyone.Join hands, close your eyes, and just think about what it means to serve God. Privately commit to serve God in new ways throughout the upcoming week.
This site is full of good reasons for serving God. See how many you can find. Then ask each person in the family to pick his or her favorite reason for serving God and share it with everyone.Join hands, close your eyes, and just think about what it means to serve God. Privately commit to serve God in new ways throughout the upcoming week.
A 3rd Grader's God
A 3rd Grader's God
Ask a family member to read the story on this Web site aloud. Enjoy this child's explanation of the nature of God and have a good laugh! Then point out the things in the story that aren't quite right. Perhaps you can come up with a list of reasons we should choose to serve God, based on who he really is.
Ask a family member to read the story on this Web site aloud. Enjoy this child's explanation of the nature of God and have a good laugh! Then point out the things in the story that aren't quite right. Perhaps you can come up with a list of reasons we should choose to serve God, based on who he really is.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Week 9 Take Home Sheet
I greatly encourage the use of this sheet. It provides ideas that i believe will truly help your family to grow in numerous ways.
Take Home Page
Take Home Page
Some questions to discuss after doing the activities
After you have finished the 2 activities previously posted take a look at these questions and discuss them.
PRAY God, thank you that we can trust you with every aspect of our lives. You will never betray us. We are safe in your arms. In Jesus' name, amen.
- What have you learned about yourself and trust from the games and activities at the Wilderdom Web site?
- Is trusting someone with your physical safety difficult for you? Explain your answer. What about emotional and spiritual matters?
- Is it harder to trust someone with the private and personal challenges of your heart? Why?
- Do you find it difficult to trust God with your life? Why or why not? How do you know that you can really trust God? Talk about this as a family.
PRAY God, thank you that we can trust you with every aspect of our lives. You will never betray us. We are safe in your arms. In Jesus' name, amen.
Trust in God's Map for your life
mapquest
Click on the "Directions" link at the Mapquest Web site. Enter any two addresses or locations to get driving directions from one place to another. You might want to try getting directions from your home to famous landmarks such as the Grand Canyon or the Golden Gate Bridge. How are driving directions similar to God's plan for our lives? Do you think God has our lives all "mapped out"? Why or why not? How likely are you to trust these driving directions? How likely are you to trust God's plan for your life?
Click on the "Directions" link at the Mapquest Web site. Enter any two addresses or locations to get driving directions from one place to another. You might want to try getting directions from your home to famous landmarks such as the Grand Canyon or the Golden Gate Bridge. How are driving directions similar to God's plan for our lives? Do you think God has our lives all "mapped out"? Why or why not? How likely are you to trust these driving directions? How likely are you to trust God's plan for your life?
Having Fun While Learning to Trust
We have lately been talking about trusting in God to provide just as God did for Elijah and the widow during a time of great drought. use the following link to do the activity described below!
Group Games
Browse this group activities site, paying special attention to the trust- and relationship-building activities. You may want to try some of the games that are given when you click on the designated trust-building activities link. What can you learn about trust by playing these games as a family?
Group Games
Browse this group activities site, paying special attention to the trust- and relationship-building activities. You may want to try some of the games that are given when you click on the designated trust-building activities link. What can you learn about trust by playing these games as a family?
Friday, October 29, 2010
Week 8 Take Home page
Wk 8 Take Home Page
Follow the link above to find verses, discussion starters, other activities for your family.
Follow the link above to find verses, discussion starters, other activities for your family.
Choose a path
http://games.yahoo.com/games/kidsmz.html
Sometimes you can get lost even when you have a path to follow. Try to find the way that will lead you through the maze at this site. What was confusing about the maze? Would it have helped to have had a guide? Explain your thoughts.
When we choose to follow God, we may find that there are things and people in the world that cause us to be confused. But we don't have to give in to confusion. God offers us a lighted path, complete with a guide.
Ask a family member to read Psalm 119:105 and John 16:13. Then discuss and answer the following questions as a family:
• What is the light along God's path?
• Who is our guide on life's path?
PRAY Oh, God of the universe, teach us to follow you. In Jesus' name, amen.
Sometimes you can get lost even when you have a path to follow. Try to find the way that will lead you through the maze at this site. What was confusing about the maze? Would it have helped to have had a guide? Explain your thoughts.
When we choose to follow God, we may find that there are things and people in the world that cause us to be confused. But we don't have to give in to confusion. God offers us a lighted path, complete with a guide.
Ask a family member to read Psalm 119:105 and John 16:13. Then discuss and answer the following questions as a family:
• What is the light along God's path?
• Who is our guide on life's path?
PRAY Oh, God of the universe, teach us to follow you. In Jesus' name, amen.
Water Wisdom
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/kids/watertreatmentplant/index.html
Click on this URL to follow a drop of water. Where does it go? What did you learn about water? about following a path? Explain why it helps you know where to go when you have a path to follow.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Quotes of Devotion (Family Activity)
Browse the sayings, poems, and quotes on this Web page.
Be sure to scroll down to the quote by Elizabeth Elliot: "God gives all; God asks all."
What do you think this means?
Answer the following questions as a family:
• What have you learned about devotion to God from the stories, poems, songs, and quotes that you found on these Web sites?
• How can you be devoted to God?
Be sure to scroll down to the quote by Elizabeth Elliot: "God gives all; God asks all."
What do you think this means?
Answer the following questions as a family:
• What have you learned about devotion to God from the stories, poems, songs, and quotes that you found on these Web sites?
• How can you be devoted to God?
Stories of Devotion (Family Activity)
Check out the "Rainy Day Stories" site. Try to find a story that shows what it means to be devoted to God. Did you read the story about David and Goliath or the two stories about Moses? How were the people in these stories devoted to God?
Create your own worship song Family Activity
Go to this LINK to discover a music site that's loads of fun! Scroll down to the song "Jesus Loves Me." When you type the letters that correspond to the words of the song, you can hear the "Jesus Loves Me" melody. You can even make up your own songs that show your devotion to God.
Week 7 Take-Home Page/Devotions
This week we will be focusing on the idea of devotion to God. We will look at how important it is and also look at how out side influence(friends, media, etc) can easily draw our attention and devotion away from God. I encourage you as a family to look over these sheet and take time to discuss what your kids and teens are learning because you may be suprised and find that you will learn something too!
Take Home Page
Take Home Page
Friday, October 15, 2010
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Wednesday, October 13, 2010
AWESOME DAILY FAMILY DEVOTION RESOURCE AVAILABLE EACH WEEK!!
I really would like to encourage you to use the following PDF to do family devotions or at least to discuss what your children are learning as a family. It has discussion questions for your children from preschool to teens!
Week 6 Take it Home Page
Week 6 Take it Home Page
Wise Examples
Wise Example Site
Once you have reached the Christianity Today Web site, type the word "wise" into the search box at the top right of the home page. Click on "search," and watch as the results come in. Scroll down the list of articles that describe Christians who have displayed wisdom. If you see one that you really like, ask a member of the family to read the first part of the article aloud.
Discuss the following questions as a family:•
What principles of God did the person follow? What did you learn about wisdom?
• What guidelines does God give in his Word to equip us in our search for wisdom?
Spend a few moments in prayer, thanking God for the Bible. Wisdom can be learned by following the principles given in God's Word.
Once you have reached the Christianity Today Web site, type the word "wise" into the search box at the top right of the home page. Click on "search," and watch as the results come in. Scroll down the list of articles that describe Christians who have displayed wisdom. If you see one that you really like, ask a member of the family to read the first part of the article aloud.
Discuss the following questions as a family:•
What principles of God did the person follow? What did you learn about wisdom?
• What guidelines does God give in his Word to equip us in our search for wisdom?
Spend a few moments in prayer, thanking God for the Bible. Wisdom can be learned by following the principles given in God's Word.
Website Wisdom
Wisdom is important in so many areas. One of those areas where it is becoming increasingly important is the internet. Use the following activity to discuss this with your kids :)
Website Wisdom Link (also an awesome site for kids to explore on their own !!!!)
Let the children in the family take the lead by clicking on any of the areas listed on the left side of the screen: stories to crafts-it's all OK because these links have been carefully selected for kid surfers!
Allow the surfers to answer the following questions:
• What was it like to surf at this site?
• Why should we use wisdom in choosing which Web sites to explore?
• How can we use wisdom when making choices in everyday life?
Website Wisdom Link (also an awesome site for kids to explore on their own !!!!)
Let the children in the family take the lead by clicking on any of the areas listed on the left side of the screen: stories to crafts-it's all OK because these links have been carefully selected for kid surfers!
Allow the surfers to answer the following questions:
• What was it like to surf at this site?
• Why should we use wisdom in choosing which Web sites to explore?
• How can we use wisdom when making choices in everyday life?
The Wisdom to do what's right
This week in the ministries of First Kids, we are talking more about Solomon. We have been mostly focusing on the need for wisdom. Wisdom is using what we know to make good choices. In other words it is knowing what is wrong and what is right. It has been great to get to talk about how God gives us wisdom through people, prayer, and the Bible. I encourage you as parents to take time to read about Solomon and to also read the proverbs. I have personally found the Book of Proverbs to provide some great devotion time by providing me with small pieces of advice and wisdom and then taking it and reflecting on that wisdom and how it applies to my life.
I challenge you also to use the upcoming posts for the week to do devotions and spend time with your family growing in Christ.
I challenge you also to use the upcoming posts for the week to do devotions and spend time with your family growing in Christ.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Week 5 Take Home Page
http://teachersupport.group.com/media/26769/fa10%20adult%20ttlh%20l05web.pdf
This is a great resource for family devotion and family discussion. I would like to encourage you to use this is someway.
This is a great resource for family devotion and family discussion. I would like to encourage you to use this is someway.
Solomon's Wisdom Week 5 Home Connect
Solomon Asks for Wisdom
Here is a cool family devotional activity for the week!
Link: http://www.coolquotescollection.com/Wisdom1.aspx
Read some of these quotes about wisdom, keeping in mind that they represent the "wisdom" of humankind, not necessarily of God. Then let each family member declare a favorite. Discuss those that are selected. Why are they favorites? What did you learn from them?
Link: http://www.christianadvice.net/christian_wisdom.htm
At this site, you will find only quotes that have a Christian perspective. How are these quotes about wisdom different from some of those you read at the first site?Many people think they have the answers to all of life's questions. Perhaps they have studied all of their lives, and they are truly knowledgeable. But they don't have all the answers. Only God can sort through all that the world places in our paths and then help us to see with light and clarity.Discuss the following questions as a family:• How is knowledge different from wisdom? How is human wisdom different from God's wisdom? What kinds of things does God know that we don't know?• How is knowledge related to wisdom? Can one inspire the other?• How can we obtain wisdom?
Here is a cool family devotional activity for the week!
Link: http://www.coolquotescollection.com/Wisdom1.aspx
Read some of these quotes about wisdom, keeping in mind that they represent the "wisdom" of humankind, not necessarily of God. Then let each family member declare a favorite. Discuss those that are selected. Why are they favorites? What did you learn from them?
Link: http://www.christianadvice.net/christian_wisdom.htm
At this site, you will find only quotes that have a Christian perspective. How are these quotes about wisdom different from some of those you read at the first site?Many people think they have the answers to all of life's questions. Perhaps they have studied all of their lives, and they are truly knowledgeable. But they don't have all the answers. Only God can sort through all that the world places in our paths and then help us to see with light and clarity.Discuss the following questions as a family:• How is knowledge different from wisdom? How is human wisdom different from God's wisdom? What kinds of things does God know that we don't know?• How is knowledge related to wisdom? Can one inspire the other?• How can we obtain wisdom?
Monday, September 27, 2010
Week 4 Take Home Page
Here is a link to the PDF for the weekly take home page that will provide a starting place for discussion on what is being talked about within many of our sunday school ministry classes from children to youth to adult. This is even a tool that could be used for nightly family devotions with a bible verse per day and discussion starters for each age level. These will be posted each week and I encourage you to use these at home.
Week 4
Week 4
David And Absalom HomeConnect #1
Go ahead! Be brave and take the attitude test found at this site.
Attitude Test
Discuss the results as a family.
Let each family member participate as you discuss the following questions:
• How does a self-centered attitude affect a person's life?
• How does a self-centered attitude affect a person's relationships with friends and family? with God?
• What attitudes are pleasing to God?
Attitude Test
Discuss the results as a family.
Let each family member participate as you discuss the following questions:
• How does a self-centered attitude affect a person's life?
• How does a self-centered attitude affect a person's relationships with friends and family? with God?
• What attitudes are pleasing to God?
Blog For First Kids Ministry
I am working on developing this site to better make connections with all families and children within our ministries at First Church of the Nazarene and First Kids Learning Center. I have many ideas of what this blog/site can be but I am looking to you that visit this site for input and ideas of what can be the most helpful to you! I will be including post that are in connection with the weekly lessons and chapels that the children are recieving. I hope that this can become a tool for you as a family to use to grow both spiritually and together.
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