To The Depths Week 3

I Will Do The Right Thing, Not Just talk About It!

Take some time this week to read the Bible passage to your children. We read
James 2: 14-20 and we also read Ruth chapters 1&2. These passages show us that saying the right thing is good, but doing the right thing is what counts.

This weeks main Bible verse was James 2:17, this verse tells us that what we do brings what we say to life.

Here is an activy that you can do with your family during your family devotional time. Give each family member a note card. Have each one write one thing they will do this week for the family or for someone else (you may have to help the younger members of the family come up with ideas). Then have write one thing that they know God wants them to do. Example: Pray Everyday, read me Bible, tell me friends about church. After everyone has written on the cards, put them in a place where everyone can see them, like the refrigerator, check each day to make sure everyone is following through.

Another activity you can use to make this point is to play a game of Simon Says, but add these minor changes in the rules. When you say "Simon Says..." the family only repeats what you say. But when you say "Simon..."(Example: "Simon jumps," "Simon claps his hands.") everyone will do it. Discuss the face that we need to do the right things and not just say them.

To The Depths Week 2

When Trouble Comes I Will Praise Him

Our Main Point this past Sunday was "When Trouble Comes I Will Praise God". Your Child learned that in difficult times they should praise God instead of "Grumbling".

Today's Bible story was biased on the James 1:24 and Acts 16: 16-40. You should try to read this with your child(ren) at the first of the week and then you can spend the week helping them understand the importance of praising God during trouble.

The memory verse we used was James 1:2.

Here is an idea to help your family understand this point, we'll call it the "Grumble Bucket". Set up two buckets in a predominate place in your house, like the kitchen. Label one bucket "Praises" and the other "Grumble". When someone "Grumbles" about something they have to put a small amount in the "Grumble" bucket. When a person praises God during a tough time the get a piece of candy out of the "Praise" bucket. At the end of the week, take the money out of the "Grumble" bucket and use it to replace the candy on the "Praise" bucket. Have fun teaching your children about the difference between "Grumbling" and "Praising" God during tough times.

To the Depths Week 1

October 12 we began a new series called To The Depths.

Today the "Main Point" of our lesson was, God loves everyone and so should I. Your child will remember this because we repeated this several times and we also have motions to reinforce this point.



Bible Story James 2:8-9 & Luke 10:30-35 Read this to see what God says about favoritism.

Bible Verse Galatians 5:14: This weeks Bible verse helps us understand how to avoid favoritism.

On the Road: While you are driving around this week make a game of looking for different cars on the road. Try to guess where they live or what type of job they have. Especially look for cars with the logo of another school thet you may be rivals with.The point of thie game is help your children understand that we sometimes judge people based on thier appearance. Tell your children: We made a decision about these cares baised on thier appearance and sometime we do the same thing with people.Remind your children that we should show Gods love to everyone no matter how they look on the outside.

Who is a Samaritan?
Have your child list his/her favorite people at school and how your child treats them. Then have your child list his/her least favorite people and how your child treats them. Point out to your child that Jews and Samaritans did not get along with each other.Even though Jews and Samaritans did not like each other the Samaritan helped the Jewish travler in many ways.
Show your child how you show Gods love to those in your life like the Samaritan and how they can be Samaritans to other in thier life.

Be a "Good Samaritan" this week.
Barry Saunders