D6 Family Theme: Justice
The Point: God is pleased when His people carry out biblical justice.Early Elementary
Sunday, your student learned that because God is our judge, we must
hate sin and realize its punishment. He or she learned how the Israelites
complained to Aaron while Moses was on Mt. Sinai. He had them bring
him their gold and he formed an idol for them to worship. When Moses
returned, he destroyed not only the stone tablets, but also the golden calf
Aaron had formed. As a punishment for their disobedience, God sent a
plague upon them to remind them of their sin. Help your student memorize
the third and fourth commandments.
Upper Elementary
Sunday,your student learned ways to treat others right and with fairness.
He or she learned about the last six of the Ten Commandments. God gave
them to help us with our relationships with other people. Help your student
learn the last six of the Ten Commandments.
Home Connection For Families
Listen to God: Read Leviticus 19:15-18
Our holy God expects His people to reflect His nature in their dealings with one another.
In this passage, we see a sampling of God’s expectations. The rest of the chapter includes
clear promises of blessing and cursing that would result from obedience and disobedience.
Select a few of the expectations listed in the chapter to discuss with your family.
Talk to God
Many of the expectations mentioned in the chapter could be summed up
with the reminder to love our neighbor as ourselves. Encourage family
members to think about their daily dealings with people. How do they line
up with the way God expects us to deal with others? Lead your family in a
time of prayer, asking God to help each of you live up to the expectations
He has provided in these passages.
Walk With God
Option 1: Play a game of “Hide and Seek” (or any game your family likes) with a twist—keep
changing the rules. (“No, you only have to count to 4; No, you don’t have to hide your
eyes, etc.”) After it’s over (and you hear lots of “But, that’s not fair!”), ask, why didn’t you
like me changing the rules? Why are rules good? (They help us know what to do, they
make it better for everyone, it’s more fun, etc.)
God has provided us some rules to follow. His Word makes them clear. They help us know
what to do and tell us how to live. God’s rules are just and fair and good.
Option 2: Review some of your family rules and discuss why these rules are important. What
are some of the consequences for wrong actions and why are they important? (Talking
through biblical truths supporting family discipline may help your child.) Imagine what
society would be like without rules. How would the lack of rules affect school, sports, and
the government? End the time with a family game time and talk about why it’s important to
follow rules.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Splink 1-29 through 2-4
Treating Each Other Fairly
Items needed: 10 dimes for each child
Tell the kids that you want to reward them for being such great kids and want to give each of them a dollar. Give the first one 10 dimes; give the second one 6 dimes; give the next one 2 dimes, etc. (Count out the dimes so they will notice the difference.) You will hear lots of THAT'S NOT FAIR!
Why didn't you like my system? (He got more; we should all get the same, etc.)
Justice is treating everyone fairly. We all want to be treated fairly. There is a standard that is right for all people, all times, and all places that says one dollar should equal 10 dimes. God is the standard for how we should treat others.
Read the last six commandments (which help us know how to treat other people) in Exodus 20:12-17.
Count out 10 dimes for each child!
2. Taste Test
Items Needed: different flavors of ice cream (small sizes would work fine)
Do a taste test to see what ice cream is the BEST. Taste all the different flavors and ask each family member to vote for the best one.
We may disagree on what is the best ice cream, but there are some things we can't disagree on.Is something wrong just because you or I think it is wrong? Why or why not? I may think something is right and you may thing it is wrong, but God is the judge for what is right and wrong. We may disagree with each other, but we cannot disagree with God. He made the rules and knows what is best! If people will live by His rules, they will be happier!
3.The Golden Rule
Role-play situations to help them see how important it is to treat others fairly.
*Everyone is waiting in line and someone walks up to the front of the line
*Two are playing with a toy and another child walks up and grabs it away
*The family is playing a game and one person won't wait his turn, but keeps taking an extra turn
Ask:
How do you feel when someone doesn't treat others fairly? (Angry, sad, disappointed, etc.)
A good thing to ask yourself is, "How would I like to be treated? And then do that to others.
Read Luke 6:31—the Golden Rule. (Do to others as you would have them do to you.) Write it out and post it on the refrigerator. If you have older kids, let them draw a picture of someone treating others fairly, and write the Golden Rule across the top of the picture.
Items needed: 10 dimes for each child
Tell the kids that you want to reward them for being such great kids and want to give each of them a dollar. Give the first one 10 dimes; give the second one 6 dimes; give the next one 2 dimes, etc. (Count out the dimes so they will notice the difference.) You will hear lots of THAT'S NOT FAIR!
Why didn't you like my system? (He got more; we should all get the same, etc.)
Justice is treating everyone fairly. We all want to be treated fairly. There is a standard that is right for all people, all times, and all places that says one dollar should equal 10 dimes. God is the standard for how we should treat others.
Read the last six commandments (which help us know how to treat other people) in Exodus 20:12-17.
Count out 10 dimes for each child!
2. Taste Test
Items Needed: different flavors of ice cream (small sizes would work fine)
Do a taste test to see what ice cream is the BEST. Taste all the different flavors and ask each family member to vote for the best one.
We may disagree on what is the best ice cream, but there are some things we can't disagree on.Is something wrong just because you or I think it is wrong? Why or why not? I may think something is right and you may thing it is wrong, but God is the judge for what is right and wrong. We may disagree with each other, but we cannot disagree with God. He made the rules and knows what is best! If people will live by His rules, they will be happier!
3.The Golden Rule
Role-play situations to help them see how important it is to treat others fairly.
*Everyone is waiting in line and someone walks up to the front of the line
*Two are playing with a toy and another child walks up and grabs it away
*The family is playing a game and one person won't wait his turn, but keeps taking an extra turn
Ask:
How do you feel when someone doesn't treat others fairly? (Angry, sad, disappointed, etc.)
A good thing to ask yourself is, "How would I like to be treated? And then do that to others.
Read Luke 6:31—the Golden Rule. (Do to others as you would have them do to you.) Write it out and post it on the refrigerator. If you have older kids, let them draw a picture of someone treating others fairly, and write the Golden Rule across the top of the picture.
Dear THC Parents,
Our First Wednesday celebration is this week at 5:45. We will eat a meal together as a church family and then, when the THC is dismissed we will go to room 106 for our very own worship service with the youth band led by Sam, Dan and Emma Lehtinen- Aric Archinal on drums, Colby Barnhill on keyboards & the cowbell- Becca Burkhead, Taylor Vann, Audrey Ruiz and Alexa-Rae Gist on vocals.
Afterward we will review the 10 commandments, (which is what we have been learning about in the THC for the past few weeks.)
Then we will eat vanilla ice cream!
THC kids will have the opportunity to recite the 10 commandments on stage for everyone or for their teachers, privately and they will be rewarded with 1 topping for every commandment they can recite.
Toppings will include...
a squirt of canned whipped cream
a sprinkle of sprinkles
a cherry
banana slices
strawberry slices
pineapple chunks
a squirt of chocolate syrup
a teaspoon of chocolate chips
4 marshmallows
4 gummy bears (a special request!)
Here is a simplified list of the 10 Commandments, so that you can work with your little one before Wednesday. Remember, the first four deal with how we relate to God and the last six deal with how we relate to each other.
1. Love God more than you love anything else.
2. Don't make make idols.
3. Always say God's name with love and respect.
4.Honor God by resting and worshipping on the sabbath.
5. Love and respect your mom and dad.
6. Don't kill.
7. Always be faithful to your husband or wife.
8. Don't steal.
9. Don't lie.
10. Be thankful for what you have and don't wish for other people's things.
On Sunday, we are continuing our "celebrate" series and Doug Halcomb is sharing a message on "kids matter to God." It's going to be fantastic, so please make plans to be here!
We are doing things just a litttle differently this week, because we want the THC to enjoy the worship time which is led by the youth band. We also want the THC to have the opportunity to see and support their friends who are being baptized.
With this in mind, please have your children here by 9:15 am in the first service and 10:45 in the second service. THC kids will sit with their teachers and classmates in the auditorium for the worship time and baptism. Then we will return to our classrooms before Doug's message.
Also Sunday, parents, don't forget to bring your new and gently used children's clothes and coats for the Lubbock Impact clothing drive. We will conclude our drive THIS Sunday! Please help us bless our friends at Lubbock Impact who are doing such good work with impoverished families. This is a fantastic way for you and your children to get involved with serving the poor in our community.
Have a blessed week,
Jeannette Gist
Our First Wednesday celebration is this week at 5:45. We will eat a meal together as a church family and then, when the THC is dismissed we will go to room 106 for our very own worship service with the youth band led by Sam, Dan and Emma Lehtinen- Aric Archinal on drums, Colby Barnhill on keyboards & the cowbell- Becca Burkhead, Taylor Vann, Audrey Ruiz and Alexa-Rae Gist on vocals.
Afterward we will review the 10 commandments, (which is what we have been learning about in the THC for the past few weeks.)
Then we will eat vanilla ice cream!
THC kids will have the opportunity to recite the 10 commandments on stage for everyone or for their teachers, privately and they will be rewarded with 1 topping for every commandment they can recite.
Toppings will include...
a squirt of canned whipped cream
a sprinkle of sprinkles
a cherry
banana slices
strawberry slices
pineapple chunks
a squirt of chocolate syrup
a teaspoon of chocolate chips
4 marshmallows
4 gummy bears (a special request!)
Here is a simplified list of the 10 Commandments, so that you can work with your little one before Wednesday. Remember, the first four deal with how we relate to God and the last six deal with how we relate to each other.
1. Love God more than you love anything else.
2. Don't make make idols.
3. Always say God's name with love and respect.
4.Honor God by resting and worshipping on the sabbath.
5. Love and respect your mom and dad.
6. Don't kill.
7. Always be faithful to your husband or wife.
8. Don't steal.
9. Don't lie.
10. Be thankful for what you have and don't wish for other people's things.
On Sunday, we are continuing our "celebrate" series and Doug Halcomb is sharing a message on "kids matter to God." It's going to be fantastic, so please make plans to be here!
We are doing things just a litttle differently this week, because we want the THC to enjoy the worship time which is led by the youth band. We also want the THC to have the opportunity to see and support their friends who are being baptized.
With this in mind, please have your children here by 9:15 am in the first service and 10:45 in the second service. THC kids will sit with their teachers and classmates in the auditorium for the worship time and baptism. Then we will return to our classrooms before Doug's message.
Also Sunday, parents, don't forget to bring your new and gently used children's clothes and coats for the Lubbock Impact clothing drive. We will conclude our drive THIS Sunday! Please help us bless our friends at Lubbock Impact who are doing such good work with impoverished families. This is a fantastic way for you and your children to get involved with serving the poor in our community.
Have a blessed week,
Jeannette Gist
Thursday, January 26, 2012
No Rules = No Fun
Items Needed: two pieces of fruit (or small balls) and two spoons
Announce to the family that you are going to play a game. Then say, "Start." (When they don't do anything, ask, "What's wrong?")
Tell them it's time to play the game, so start!
If they do come up with a plan and start playing a game, change the rules. (You have to hold the balloon between your legs and put the spoon on your head; You have to run around the couch, etc.)
Ask:
Why was it difficult to play this game? (We didn't know what to do; there were no rules, etc.)
Why are rules good? (They help us know what to do; they help us get along; they can protect us, etc.)
God gave Moses and His people the Ten Commandments (ten rules), which would help them know the best way to live.
Obedience Makes Our Lives Better
At the STOP sign, ask:
Why is a STOP sign a good thing? Why should we obey the sign?
(We could get in a crash if we don't obey it; it helps keep us safe; it makes the traffic go more smoothly, etc.)
God's rules (commandments) actually protect us from getting hurt and can make our lives go much better.
Pick one of the commandments and talk about how it protects us and makes our lives better. For example: the eight commandment—Do not steal.
How can keeping this rule protect us? (It protects us from getting in trouble; it can protect us from going to jail; it protects us from a guilty conscience, etc.)
How can keeping these rules make our lives better? (We will get along with others; we will have a good reputation; others will trust us, etc.)
Learning the Ten Commandments
Here's an address for you to use hand signals to learn the Ten Commandments:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8KDbIUACf4&feature=related
Watch the video and practice using the hand signals - or make up your own to help you learn the commandments
Items Needed: two pieces of fruit (or small balls) and two spoons
Announce to the family that you are going to play a game. Then say, "Start." (When they don't do anything, ask, "What's wrong?")
Tell them it's time to play the game, so start!
If they do come up with a plan and start playing a game, change the rules. (You have to hold the balloon between your legs and put the spoon on your head; You have to run around the couch, etc.)
Ask:
Why was it difficult to play this game? (We didn't know what to do; there were no rules, etc.)
Why are rules good? (They help us know what to do; they help us get along; they can protect us, etc.)
God gave Moses and His people the Ten Commandments (ten rules), which would help them know the best way to live.
Obedience Makes Our Lives Better
At the STOP sign, ask:
Why is a STOP sign a good thing? Why should we obey the sign?
(We could get in a crash if we don't obey it; it helps keep us safe; it makes the traffic go more smoothly, etc.)
God's rules (commandments) actually protect us from getting hurt and can make our lives go much better.
Pick one of the commandments and talk about how it protects us and makes our lives better. For example: the eight commandment—Do not steal.
How can keeping this rule protect us? (It protects us from getting in trouble; it can protect us from going to jail; it protects us from a guilty conscience, etc.)
How can keeping these rules make our lives better? (We will get along with others; we will have a good reputation; others will trust us, etc.)
Learning the Ten Commandments
Here's an address for you to use hand signals to learn the Ten Commandments:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8KDbIUACf4&feature=related
Watch the video and practice using the hand signals - or make up your own to help you learn the commandments
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
January 22 Theme Holiness
In Exodus 20 God gives Moses the Ten Commandments. Read these as a family. Explain to your child what fearing God means (respect, reverence, worship) When we recognize who God is and what He has done for us, we won't keep sinning.
Plan a restoration project as a family. Pick an old chair, a cluttered room, or stained coins to restore to ther previous state. Isaiah 1:18 tells us that when our sins are removed, our hearts are white as snow. Talk with your child about God's holiness- how it is perfect and how He shares it with us. Discuss how you can better follow Him.
Plan a restoration project as a family. Pick an old chair, a cluttered room, or stained coins to restore to ther previous state. Isaiah 1:18 tells us that when our sins are removed, our hearts are white as snow. Talk with your child about God's holiness- how it is perfect and how He shares it with us. Discuss how you can better follow Him.
SPLINK!
Don't Worry, Even the Birds Get Fed
Items Needed: Pine cones
Peanut butter
Birdseed
Yarn or twine
Coat a pinecone with peanut butter, roll it in birdseed, and hang it from a tree branch.
How did God provide for the Israelites while they were in the desert? (He gave them manna and meat to eat.)
Read Matthew 6:25-26. If God cares and provides for the birds, how much more will He care for us? We don't need to worry because God can be trusted to provide for us!
Why Do We Pray Before We Eat?
Just before you eat a meal, ask:
Why do we pray before we eat?
When we thank the Lord for our food, we recognize that God gives us all good things (James 1:17). We thank Him for our daily provisions, for without them we couldn't even live. Don't let mealtime prayers become an empty ritual. Pause and think of something specific to give thanks for.
Start Giving, Stop Complaining
Items Needed: a roll of dimes for each child
On Sunday, call a family meeting and give each child a roll of dimes. Explain that we do NOT want to be like the Israelites who constantly complained instead of being thankful. Tell them that every time you hear a complaint from them this week, they will have to hand over one of their dimes. Any dimes that they have left at the end of the week will be theirs to keep. (Take them to a store to spend the dimes they have left!)
God gives us what we need so we shouldn't complain!
Items Needed: Pine cones
Peanut butter
Birdseed
Yarn or twine
Coat a pinecone with peanut butter, roll it in birdseed, and hang it from a tree branch.
How did God provide for the Israelites while they were in the desert? (He gave them manna and meat to eat.)
Read Matthew 6:25-26. If God cares and provides for the birds, how much more will He care for us? We don't need to worry because God can be trusted to provide for us!
Why Do We Pray Before We Eat?
Just before you eat a meal, ask:
Why do we pray before we eat?
When we thank the Lord for our food, we recognize that God gives us all good things (James 1:17). We thank Him for our daily provisions, for without them we couldn't even live. Don't let mealtime prayers become an empty ritual. Pause and think of something specific to give thanks for.
Start Giving, Stop Complaining
Items Needed: a roll of dimes for each child
On Sunday, call a family meeting and give each child a roll of dimes. Explain that we do NOT want to be like the Israelites who constantly complained instead of being thankful. Tell them that every time you hear a complaint from them this week, they will have to hand over one of their dimes. Any dimes that they have left at the end of the week will be theirs to keep. (Take them to a store to spend the dimes they have left!)
God gives us what we need so we shouldn't complain!
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Sunday January 15th's theme is PROVISION
Despite being led through a sea on dry land, the Isrealites complained to Moses that God led them to the desert to die. We might ask, "How could they not trust God?" but do we trust God to provide for us? As a family, share ways you have seen God care and provide for your needs. Spend quality time praying to God thaking Him for what He has provided and asking forgiveness for Prideful attitudes. Let God use your family to provide for someone elses needs. Donate socks, gloves, and scarves to your local rescue mission. Encourage your child to recognize God's hand in all of their blessings.
SPLINK!
Red Sea Role Play
Act out the story of the Israelites' escape from the Egyptian army. Assign parts (Narrator, Moses with a rod, Israelites, Egyptian army, two people to be the Red Sea which will part and then come back together when the army comes through). If you have a smaller family, act it out in scenes and have the same people play different parts. Read Exodus 14:3-31 aloud as the actors do what you say.
Talk about it:
How do you think you would have felt if you had been there before and after the Red Sea parted?
What does this story teach us about God? (He is all-powerful, He can be trusted, He is watching over His people, etc.)
Psalm 118:6
Students are learning Psalm 118:6, a GREAT verse to memorize and say when you feel afraid.
Ask:
The Israelites had been delivered from slavery, but faced the Red Sea in front and the Egyptian army was approaching from behind.
How do you think they felt? (Scared, hopeless, worried, etc.)
What did God do for them? (He parted the Red Sea so they could walk through it on dry land. When they passed safely through, He then brought the water together and the Egyptian army drowned.)
What makes you feel afraid?
Why do we not need to be afraid? (The Lord is on our side)
Why is it hard to trust Him? (We can't always see Him, we are not sure what He is going to do, etc)
Pair up and bat a balloon (or toss a ball or small stuffed animal) back and forth saying a word of the verse as you hit the balloon. Change partners and review the verse several times.
Say thank you to God for being on our side and for protecting us.
Replace It
Teach your kids the "replace it" principle. Instead of just saying, "don't think about it, don't be afraid," REPLACE those fearful thoughts with faith-filled thoughts. We can find faith-filled thoughts/statements in the Bible. (Read Romans 10:17.)
Ask each family member to think of one situation where one might feel afraid and write it on a slip of paper. Put the slips in a bag and take turns drawing out a slip. Think of true statements about God (God is with me; God loves me; God is for me; God wants to help me; God has all power; etc.) or find an actual Bible verse that would build trust in God in that situation.
Take it a step further and write the faith statements on slips of paper; keep them in a jar so they can be pulled out and read when needed.
*A good website to help you find verses is http://www.biblegateway.com. You can type in a word and it will bring up all the verses with that word in it.
Act out the story of the Israelites' escape from the Egyptian army. Assign parts (Narrator, Moses with a rod, Israelites, Egyptian army, two people to be the Red Sea which will part and then come back together when the army comes through). If you have a smaller family, act it out in scenes and have the same people play different parts. Read Exodus 14:3-31 aloud as the actors do what you say.
Talk about it:
How do you think you would have felt if you had been there before and after the Red Sea parted?
What does this story teach us about God? (He is all-powerful, He can be trusted, He is watching over His people, etc.)
Psalm 118:6
Students are learning Psalm 118:6, a GREAT verse to memorize and say when you feel afraid.
Ask:
The Israelites had been delivered from slavery, but faced the Red Sea in front and the Egyptian army was approaching from behind.
How do you think they felt? (Scared, hopeless, worried, etc.)
What did God do for them? (He parted the Red Sea so they could walk through it on dry land. When they passed safely through, He then brought the water together and the Egyptian army drowned.)
What makes you feel afraid?
Why do we not need to be afraid? (The Lord is on our side)
Why is it hard to trust Him? (We can't always see Him, we are not sure what He is going to do, etc)
Pair up and bat a balloon (or toss a ball or small stuffed animal) back and forth saying a word of the verse as you hit the balloon. Change partners and review the verse several times.
Say thank you to God for being on our side and for protecting us.
Replace It
Teach your kids the "replace it" principle. Instead of just saying, "don't think about it, don't be afraid," REPLACE those fearful thoughts with faith-filled thoughts. We can find faith-filled thoughts/statements in the Bible. (Read Romans 10:17.)
Ask each family member to think of one situation where one might feel afraid and write it on a slip of paper. Put the slips in a bag and take turns drawing out a slip. Think of true statements about God (God is with me; God loves me; God is for me; God wants to help me; God has all power; etc.) or find an actual Bible verse that would build trust in God in that situation.
Take it a step further and write the faith statements on slips of paper; keep them in a jar so they can be pulled out and read when needed.
*A good website to help you find verses is http://www.biblegateway.com. You can type in a word and it will bring up all the verses with that word in it.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
This Week's theme is TRUST
Create a treasure map for your family with instructions, a map, and clues. When you create your hunt, plan some difficult tasks along the way. For example, set up a maze or create a riddle that must be completed before moving to the next clue. Keep the treasure a secret. When your children complete the maze, talk about how trusting the clues and directions led to a great result. Discuss how trusting God's plans and commandments may be difficult but result in the best reward. Remind your child of Jeremiah 29:11
SPLINK!
The 10 Plagues
Items Needed: white board/marker (chalkboard/chalk or poster board/marker)
Slips of paper
Review the ten plagues God brought on Egypt. Write each one on a slip of paper and toss them into a bag or hat. Take turns picking a slip and drawing it on a board while the others guess.
1. Water, which turned to blood and killed all fish and other aquatic life ( Exodus 7:14–25)
2. Frogs ( Exodus 8:1–8:15)
3. Lice ( Exodus 8:16–19)
4. Flies ( Exodus 8:20–30)
5. Disease on livestock ( Exodus 9:1–7)
6. Boils ( Exodus 9:8–12)
7. Hail and thunder ( Exodus 9:13–35)
8. Locusts ( Exodus 10:1–20)
9. Darkness ( Exodus 10:21–29)
10. Death of the first-born of all Egyptian humans and animals ( Exodus 11 and 12)
Pharaoh refused to obey God's command to free the people from slavery, so He and the people suffered the consequences. Pharaoh may have thought he was in charge, but God had a plan to deliver His people all along.
Unleavened Bread
Make unleavened bread similar to what the Jews might have eaten during Passover.
Ingredients:
1 c. flour
3 tbsp. sugar
1/3 tsp. salt
1/3 c. shortening
2 - 2 1/2 tbsp. milk
Combine the flour, sugar and salt. Cut in shortening. Add a little bit of milk at a time, and only enough to form in dough. Roll dough (using floured rolling pin) to 1/4" thick. Cut in 1/2" squares. Pierce it with a fork in long rows from top to bottom of each piece. Bake at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes until done. (There are many recipes online; this recipe was found at: http://www.haydid.org/unleaven.htm)
Ask:
How did God save His people from death during the last plague - the death of the first born in each family? (Moses told all the people to kill a lamb and put its blood on the top and the sides of the doorposts of their homes. When the angel came through that night, he would “pass over” the homes of the ones who had the blood on their doorposts.)
God saved His people from death that night and freed them from slavery. God told them to celebrate the Passover every year and REMEMBER His power and love.
Why did God's people, the Jews, eat only unleavened bread during the Passover? (The Jews did not have time to let their bread rise when they left Egypt, but leaven is also symbolic of sin. They had to rid their houses of all leaven (any kind of yeast) and eat only unleavened bread for seven days during the Passover celebration. )
*They ate other special foods -each full of meaning - during the Passover celebration.
Communion
Items Needed: grape juice and bread (unleavened, if possible - many stores sell matzah/unleavened bread)
Explain communion to your kids, so they will understand its meaning when you feel it is time for them to participate. Explain that the bread represents Jesus' broken body and the juice represents the blood He shed for our sin.
God saw His people suffering, so He delivered them.
Ask:
Why were the Jews to celebrate Passover? (They were to REMEMBER God's power and love when He delivered them from slavery.)
Why are we to celebrate communion? (We are to REMEMBER Jesus' death - His great love and sacrifice for us.)
God has freed us from a different kind of slavery - the slavery to sin. Jesus, the "Passover Lamb" took our sin, so we could be free. We REMEMBER His sacrifice every time we take communion. We are thankful that He gave up His life, so we can have eternal life.
(If you have older kids, read the story of Jesus instituting the "Lord's Supper" in Matthew 26:26-29.)
Items Needed: white board/marker (chalkboard/chalk or poster board/marker)
Slips of paper
Review the ten plagues God brought on Egypt. Write each one on a slip of paper and toss them into a bag or hat. Take turns picking a slip and drawing it on a board while the others guess.
1. Water, which turned to blood and killed all fish and other aquatic life ( Exodus 7:14–25)
2. Frogs ( Exodus 8:1–8:15)
3. Lice ( Exodus 8:16–19)
4. Flies ( Exodus 8:20–30)
5. Disease on livestock ( Exodus 9:1–7)
6. Boils ( Exodus 9:8–12)
7. Hail and thunder ( Exodus 9:13–35)
8. Locusts ( Exodus 10:1–20)
9. Darkness ( Exodus 10:21–29)
10. Death of the first-born of all Egyptian humans and animals ( Exodus 11 and 12)
Pharaoh refused to obey God's command to free the people from slavery, so He and the people suffered the consequences. Pharaoh may have thought he was in charge, but God had a plan to deliver His people all along.
Unleavened Bread
Make unleavened bread similar to what the Jews might have eaten during Passover.
Ingredients:
1 c. flour
3 tbsp. sugar
1/3 tsp. salt
1/3 c. shortening
2 - 2 1/2 tbsp. milk
Combine the flour, sugar and salt. Cut in shortening. Add a little bit of milk at a time, and only enough to form in dough. Roll dough (using floured rolling pin) to 1/4" thick. Cut in 1/2" squares. Pierce it with a fork in long rows from top to bottom of each piece. Bake at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes until done. (There are many recipes online; this recipe was found at: http://www.haydid.org/unleaven.htm)
Ask:
How did God save His people from death during the last plague - the death of the first born in each family? (Moses told all the people to kill a lamb and put its blood on the top and the sides of the doorposts of their homes. When the angel came through that night, he would “pass over” the homes of the ones who had the blood on their doorposts.)
God saved His people from death that night and freed them from slavery. God told them to celebrate the Passover every year and REMEMBER His power and love.
Why did God's people, the Jews, eat only unleavened bread during the Passover? (The Jews did not have time to let their bread rise when they left Egypt, but leaven is also symbolic of sin. They had to rid their houses of all leaven (any kind of yeast) and eat only unleavened bread for seven days during the Passover celebration. )
*They ate other special foods -each full of meaning - during the Passover celebration.
Communion
Items Needed: grape juice and bread (unleavened, if possible - many stores sell matzah/unleavened bread)
Explain communion to your kids, so they will understand its meaning when you feel it is time for them to participate. Explain that the bread represents Jesus' broken body and the juice represents the blood He shed for our sin.
God saw His people suffering, so He delivered them.
Ask:
Why were the Jews to celebrate Passover? (They were to REMEMBER God's power and love when He delivered them from slavery.)
Why are we to celebrate communion? (We are to REMEMBER Jesus' death - His great love and sacrifice for us.)
God has freed us from a different kind of slavery - the slavery to sin. Jesus, the "Passover Lamb" took our sin, so we could be free. We REMEMBER His sacrifice every time we take communion. We are thankful that He gave up His life, so we can have eternal life.
(If you have older kids, read the story of Jesus instituting the "Lord's Supper" in Matthew 26:26-29.)
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