Browsing Through Photos

Drag out the photo albums and talk about each child’s birth. (If you have an adopted child, tell the story of how God lovingly placed this child in your family.) Bring out the birth certificates and let them see their tiny hand and footprints.

Ask:
How does one become a member of God’s family?

It’s as easy as A, B, C

Admit – First, you must understand that all are born into this world as sinners. When you were just a little one, you yelled, “Mine” and “No” when we told you to share or obey. Even a child can understand he has sinned against God – gone his own way. (Ask him to name some sins – wrong things – that other boys or girls do. Many children do not want to admit they have sinned; share that you have sinned also. If they insist that they have not sinned, maybe they are too young to understand and you can talk with them at a later time. )

Believe –Believe that Jesus came to earth just to take the punishment for sin. God is holy (no sin) and must punish sin, so He made a way for you to have your sins taken away so you can go to heaven some day. You can’t wash them away with soap. You can’t be good enough. You just have to believe in Jesus who came to earth to take yourpunishment for sin. Jesus loved you so much that He died on the cross and took all your sin so you don’t have to be punished for it. Jesus didn’t stay dead, but came alive again three days later. Do you believe that Jesus died for you?

Confess – Tell God that you are a sinner and ask Him to come in and take away your sin and live inside you. Ask if your child would like to say a simple prayer or repeat a simple prayer after you. A simple prayer could be like this:

Dear Jesus, I know I have sinned. I believe You died on the cross and came alive again. Please come to live inside me and take away my sin. Thank You.

Use a Bible verse to reassure them – John 1:12 says that if we believe in Jesus and receive Him, we will become a part of God’s family. Actually, let them read the verse from the Bible themselves so they can be assured.

If they pray to receive Christ, celebrate! Write the date down in a family Bible or somewhere so you will remember it. Our family celebrates two birthdays each year – our physical birthday and our spiritual birthday!

GO With Goodies

The fruit of the Spirit for this week is goodness. Ask your kids what the first two letters of goodness spell. (Go) Brainstorm together one way you can GO and do good for someone in your church family.

One idea: Make up a basket of goodies and put it on their front porch. Ring the door bell and run so they won’t see you and will wonder who did such a good thing for them.

Another idea: Since October is Pastor Appreciation Month, think of something your pastor’s family would enjoy – and treat them with a gift card or basket of goodies for them. Add a note telling why you are glad you have him for a pastor.

Remember to Brush Your Teeth

As your kids are brushing their teeth, ask them:

What is a habit? (A habit is a behavior you do regularly until it is almost involuntary – you don’t even have to think about it.)

What are some habits you have? (Washing your hands before dinner, making your bed every morning, etc.)

****A habit my own mom ingrained into me is brushing my teeth before bedtime. If I am exhausted and fall into bed without brushing my teeth, I hear her voice asking me, “Did you brush your teeth?” I’m 51 years old butI get up and brush my teeth!

Habits make it easier for you to do what is right. If you do something – good or bad – often enough and long enough, it will probably become a habit.

Read Acts 10:38. (This verse says that Jesus “went about doing good.” Doing good was a habit for Him.)

Challenge your kids (and yourself) to “do good” every day this week. Think of one good thing you can do each day for someone in your family and do it! (Remind them as they brush their teeth after breakfast.)

Ask your kids each night when they brush their teeth, “What good thing did you do today?”

How can we talk to God?

Items needed:

Two empty tin cans or yogurt cups

Nail (and hammer to make a hole if you use tin cans)

String (about 12 feet long)

Scissors

Two paper clips

• Use the nail to make a hole in the bottom of the cups. (Warning: an adult should use the hammer and nail to make the hole in the can.)

• Cut a piece of string about 12 feet long

• Poke the string through the end of the can. (If you have trouble getting the string to go through the hole, wet a bar of soap, run the end across the soap and then between your fingers so it has a point.)

• Pull the string in a few inches and tie the end of the string to a paper clip (so it won’t slide out). Repeat this with the other string and can.

• Now, you’ve got a telephone. Give one can to a sibling or friend and tell your friend to walk away until the string is tight.

• Hold the can to your ear and ask your friend to talk into her can. Take turns speaking and listening.

FYI: Why does this work?

Everything that moves makes a sound by causing vibrations or movement of air. Your voice is a vibration. (Put your hand on your throat to feel the vibrations as you speak.) When you talk into the can, the vibrations from your voice go into the can, then from the can to the string, and then back into the other can. The can channels your voice into your friend’s ear. Our ears collect these vibrations (air movements) and change them to nerve signals that are sent to our brain. Our brain interprets these signals as sound.

Ask:

How can we talk to God? (Prayer)

How does God talk to us? (The Bible)

God gives us hope by giving us the privilege of asking Him anything. God wants us to talk to Him and believe that nothing is impossible with Him. He has recorded many words of hope (promises) to us in the Bible.

Red Light! Green Light!

When you're at a stoplight, use the three colors to teach your kids about prayer.

God always answers prayer. Sometimes He answers yes, sometimes no, and sometimes wait.

Red light: No

Yellow light: Wait

Green light: Yes

Share times (or ask children to think of times) when God answered in different ways. Remembering that God is wise and God gives what is best will help you to have hope through hard times.