D6 Family Connection

Listen to God: Read Numbers 13:26—14:10
After covering hundreds of miles, the spies gave their report to the community. They agreed that the land was a wonderful place, flowing with milk and honey, and producing great fruit.
They should have stopped the report there because they went on to scare the people with reports of the size and strength of the people who lived there. Caleb did not overlook the danger, but he saw beyond it to the promises of God (13:30). The others caved in to fear but Caleb showed his courage.
Talk to God. It’s often human nature to complain or adopt a “woe is me” attitude rather than show courage or willingness to do something difficult. Courage and faith go hand-in-hand so we need to exercise our faith more in these situations.
Lead your family in a time of prayer, asking the Lord to increase your
faith, which will increase your courage.

Walk With God
Option 1: Many Christians around the world are courageously braving dangerous situations.
As a family, take on a project to encourage these individuals. Pack a large shoebox with goodies, encouraging cards, and other helpful items to send to a missionary family. Contact organizations to learn about specific areas of need. Visit http://www.persecution.com/colombia for another idea on helping persecuted Christians. Pray each day for specific people in different
countries. Remind your family of the truth in Joshua 1:9.

Option 2: It is very important to talk to your kids about your own struggles with hard situations. Hearing your story can actually be one way to give them courage. (If my dad was afraid on his first day of school and he made it, so can I!) Write the following situations on slips of paper (first day of school, spending the night away from home, a bad storm, facing a bully, getting lost from a parent, facing peer pressure, standing for what is right, or others you think of). Allow each family member to choose a question from the pile. Ask the following questions:
How would you feel in this situation? What could you do so you could face this situation with courage?
Continue letting each person pick a slip of paper and brainstorm ideas about what to do in each situation.
Week 10
February 5, 2012
D6 Family Theme: Courage
The Point: Courage and faith go hand-in-hand.
Early Elementary
Your student learned Moses sent 12 spies into Canaan to check out the land.
Ten of the spies reported having doubts about entering the land. Caleb and
Joshua, however, trusted God’s plan and voiced their courage about going.
He or she learned about the consequences of the people who didn’t trust
God and His blessings on Caleb and Joshua and their families. Help your
student learn the fi fth and sixth commandments. Use the activities found in
the Family Link as a tool to help your student apply the lessons learned at
church to his or her life.

Upper Elementary
Your student learned about the importance of courage and standing up for
what is right. Moses sent 12 spies into Canaan to check out the land. Ten
of the spies reported having doubts about entering the land. Caleb and
Joshua, however, trusted God and voiced their courage about going. The
ten who didn’t trust God suffered sad consequences; Caleb, Joshua, and
their families were blessed.