Big Idea: We praise God because we can gather together as His people.

Bible Passage: Psalm 122:1-5 

Parent Prep: This week we begin yet another new routine. While it's exciting that we can begin meeting together again, another new change can bring some anxiety, or even a fresh wave of tiredness for some. After all, many of us have spent the last few months mustering what strength we have to create the current 'new normal'. The return to services means finding the strength to lead our kids and families through yet more change. If this is how you're feeling as a parent, take heart. This week's passage and promise is that in our gathering together, we are strengthened, filled with joy and encouraged for the journey. Think of this week as a sort of 'coming home at last' – a small window into what it will be like when at last, Jesus comes back and we are taken to our true home of rest with Him forever. If making it to join the online streamed service hasn't been a priority for your family and kids during this season, use this week as a 'reset' and return- to remind children why there is so much joy in the obedience of gathering with our family of believers.

Read Psalm 122:1-5 in a children's Bible, or this easy-to-read online version here. When you read this passage, explain to children that when we read and talk about 'The New Jerusalem', for us it is talking about the Church [Galatians 4:26]. 

Talk 

1) These verses talk about how happy it is to 'come home' to joining other believers in God's family to worship Him. The person who wrote this song was excited to be with other people who loved God and to sing to Him together. It is important for God's people to be together and praise Him. In Hebrews 10:25, we read, "We must not quit meeting together, as some are doing. No, we need to keep on encouraging each other."

2) The writer of this song tells us that Jerusalem is a city not scattered, but 'compact together'. This means the houses stuck to each other and helped each other stand, be strong and supported. This is what families and households of churches are like. They strengthen and support one another. They help each other be strong in the Lord.

3) The writer talks about all the families being 'as one'. He says, "The city has been rebuilt as one united city. This is where the tribes come, the tribes who belong to the Lord." So we, too, come as families from all over our city to be together and praise God. We are given instructions for how to live from God's word, and we respond to God speaking to us by praising Him with our thanks and prayers.

Listen

1) What special celebrations do you look forward to? Birthdays? Christmas? How about Sunday mornings? Does it fill you with joy and excitement to be with God's people, praising Him? Why or why not? What would make it feel like 'coming home'? If you could make it full of joy, what would you do as part of our church service gatherings to praise God? 

2) Who are other families in our church family that you look forward to seeing? Who is in your big 'tribe'? Who do you like to spend time with, or help out when they are busy, or check in with? Who checks in on your family? Who else in our church family could you strengthen and support by being close to?

3) What did you write or draw on your service notes this week? Was there anything that God spoke to you? Was there anything that you heard that you want to learn more about? Was there anything you liked or heard that was good? Was there anything that was said that you didn't understand? We gather with our church family to hear God's instructions from His word, so it's good to talk about what we learn together.

Do

Plan a special celebration meal or time this week. Consider inviting another family from church over for dinner, a play, some afternoon tea, or just to hang out. You could use an existing plan you've already made this week as your activity. Consider involving children in plans like what food you will have, how they might like to decorate the house or play area. As you plan together as a family, remind children that in our church family, we stand close and support each other to encourage one another to be closer to Jesus.

God willing, see you all this Sunday!

Big Idea: What makes us generous? When we know how much Jesus has first given us.

Bible Passage: 2 Corinthians 8:8-15

Parent Prep: The opening line to this passage is 'I am not commanding you.' If you've ever tried to 'command' your kids to be generous, you'll already know why Paul writes this statement. 'Generous' is not something you can force someone to be. You can make kids be 'giving', but 'generous' is another thing entirely. It's a joyful attitude of the heart. Generosity is less about the amount we give, and more about the 'sincerity of our love,' as Paul says in verse 8. As all parents know, you can't command a sanctified and joyful heart attitude when giving – it has to be grown by the Holy Spirit. So, in teaching generosity, the best way to help our kids grow 'sincere in their love' is to help them know and experience the generous love of Christ by our actions and words. This way, instead of forced or grumpy giving, generosity becomes an overflowing act of worship in response to what they know they have received, and are blessed to hand on. This week we will focus on the generosity of Jesus, in order that our kids' hearts grow in response to His love for them.

Read: 2 Corinthians 8:8-15 in a children's Bible, and watch this video on Generosity, here.

Listen: Have you ever been given a gift that you loved? What was it? How did it make you feel to receive that gift? Who gave it to you? How did it make you feel towards that person when they gave you that gift?

Talk: Read together. Read James 1:17 "Everything good comes from God. Every perfect gift is from him. These good gifts come down from the Father who made all the lights in the sky. But God never changes like the shadows from those lights. He is always the same." What good gifts has God given you?

The best gift God has given us is life, through Jesus. Read 2 Corinthians 8:9 again together. "You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. You know that Christ was rich, but for you he became poor. Christ did this so that by his being poor you might become rich." Jesus gave up everything He had as the rich King of Heaven, to come and live as a man here on earth. He was born in a stinky stable, grew up in an average home, and then when He was a grown up, he didn't even have a house. He travelled around and stayed with people, giving all His time, and work to the people He loved around Him. Then He died like a poor criminal. Only the lowest people were hung on crosses. Jesus didn't even have his own tomb. It was borrowed from a rich man. But Jesus became poor like us, so that we could know the riches of heaven. The richest part of heaven is that we are called 'sons and daughters' of the King. We are with God – His princes and princesses, forever. Close to Him forever and always.

Ask Knowing that Jesus has done this for us, how does that make you feel towards Him? If He was sitting at our dinner table, what would you say to Him? It's nice to give gifts back to people who give us gifts. What would you give Jesus as a present to say thank-you for His generosity to you?

Jesus says the best gift we can give Him is our hearts. When we choose to love Him most, as King and Rescuer, that's the gift He wants most of all. He tells us that if we do love Him with our whole hearts, that we are in His family. And families take care of each other. This is why we are asked to be generous to others in our church family. Paul says it's not about giving so that we miss out and others have lots, and it's not just about giving money. In a family, we share whatever we have – time, kindness, food, jokes, stories, holidays, belongings, and money – with our family so that everyone has enough. That's why Paul says, "the goal is equality' – if we have been given lots, it's so we can share with others that they would be able to know God's love, kindness and blessing, too.

Do: Put all your family's names on pieces of paper and place them in a hat or bowl. Each family member draws out a name (making sure they haven't drawn their own). This week, each family member must make, buy or give that person a gift. At the end of the week, everyone will have received a gift. Use the opportunity to talk about how it feels to both receive, and give gifts (whether they are big or small!). 

Have a great week!

Big Idea: We can be generous because God generously gives to us.

Bible Passage: 2 Corinthians 8:1-7

Parent Prep: This week we begin our series on generosity. It can be a hard concept for kids. Especially in our consumer-driven society, where kids are consistently told: more is better. "The more I have, the better I am," is the message perpetually communicated through media platforms like Instagram, TV, movies and more. Kids start to compare how much they have in relation to their peers at a young age. (Just try giving one of your kids a bigger piece of cake than another). And yet God's word stands in direct opposition to this way of thinking as a cultural norm. We are taught time and time again through the teachings of Jesus, and God's instructions to His people, right throughout the Old Testament, "to give is better than to receive." So how do we help our kids cultivate a heart of generosity? Acknowledging that it is difficult is a start- this helps them feel okay about finding it hard to share what they have. But truly, the best way to help children be generous is to show them how generous God has been to us, and show them what an incredible difference it can make in the lives of others- and how much joy this brings to us in the process. This week we begin by assuring them that by 'giving and giving and giving', we are not in fact, missing out ourselves. We give what God has given to us, and His blessings never ever run out.

Read: 2 Corinthians 8:1-7 in a children's Bible, and watch this video on Generosity, here.

Listen: Do you feel blessed? Why or why not? Would you say we have a lot? Or a little? Do you know someone who has more than you? Can you think of someone who has less than you? Can you think of anyone who has nothing? 

What do you think God has given us? Help children by writing down or drawing together things they can easily see are blessings from God. Then suggest more abstract blessings you can think of like, a safe neighbourhood, a loving family, a car with lots of seats, family holidays together.

Why do you think He has given us these things? Why do you think He has given us so much, when other people have so little?

Talk: Read together 1 John 3:17. John is saying here that people who truly know and receive generous love and blessings from God, overflow it outwards towards others. What are some ways we can overflow our blessings onto other people? Our God's love never ever runs out, and God promises that those who give in His name will lack nothing. Take another look at your list of blessings. What are some ways you can pour these blessings out generously onto others?

Do: Place an empty cup in a mixing bowl. Fill a jug with water. Have children name a blessing that God has given your family. As they name it, have them pour water into the cup. Keep going around all members of your family and watch as the cup overflows. Remind children that God gives and gives and gives and never runs out of love and blessings for His beloved children. We can give and give to others out of the abundance God has blessed us with.

Have a great week!

Big Idea: We all need God's kindness and mercy, so we can share it with others too.

Bible Passage: Luke 10:25-37.

Parent Prep: The Jews and the Samaritans were enemies. When Jesus told this story, it was a repulsive and offensive idea that someone as despised as the Samaritan man would be more likely to 'inherit eternal life' than a highly regarded priest or Levite. Jesus told this story to demonstrate to the religious elite that God wasn't impressed with their outward displays of obedience to the law, but that true obedience and love for God meant that they would also love and serve people who were nothing like them – even people they despised. Jesus modelled this love when He died for us to save us 'while we were still sinners', who despised and rejected Him as God. (Rom 5:8). In this story as you teach it to your children, help them see themselves in the shoes of the man who needs mercy – the attacked man. This will help them understand their need for God's mercy first, and then lead them to an understanding of why we then show mercy and compassion to others, even when we don't feel like it.

Read: The Story of the Good Samaritan – Read it in a children's Bible, or watch the video from Sunday, here.

Listen: Who do you think that you are most like in this story? If you saw someone who needed help, what would you do? Why would you choose to act this way? What if the person who needed help was someone you didn't like? Would you still help them? Why or why not? 

Talk: Did you know that the Bible says that we are actually most like the man who was attacked? We have no way of saving ourselves from our own sin, and we need God's kindness to save us. Without Him, we are helpless. It was while we had our hearts turned away from God that He died for us to save us. He shows us MERCY by loving us when we don't love Him. 

Can you think of someone you would find it really, really hard to help? This is the kind of person Jesus says is your 'neighbour', and that we should love and serve and help if we are going to follow Him. Jesus knows how hard it is. That's why He has given us His Holy Spirit to be strong for us, even when we don't feel like showing love to people we don't like. We can ask for the Holy Spirit's help, and choose to love even when we don't feel like it, because we can be STRONG by His SPIRIT.

Do: Write the words: GOD'S KINDNESS on a piece of paper, and stick it high up in a place in your home where children cannot reach it – even if they stand on something. Then, ask children to try and get it down. They cannot use any help like sticks or chairs – they must try and climb or reach it themselves. Make it impossible for them. Then, on an old T-shirt, write GOD'S MERCY. Alternatively, write it on your arms, if you don't mind writing on yourself. Then offer to lift the children up so they can reach the 'God's Kindness' poster. Explain to children that none of us deserve God's kindness, we can't earn it, or reach it ourselves. We have all 'fallen short' of God's glory. (Read this in Romans 3:23). But because of God's mercy to us, we can access or 'reach' God's kindness because He chooses to give it to us. 

Likewise, many people we meet do not deserve our love and kindess either. But Jesus says that those who follow Him will be like Him, and 'lift up' others to show them God's kindness, too. When we show kindness to people who don't deserve it, we are like Jesus, because we are showing God's Mercy and helping people see God's kindess to them, too.

Pray together that you would be a family that helps 'lift up others' to show God's kindess to them.

Big Idea: We participate in God's Mission – He is at work and we join him in it. 

Bible Passage: Acts 7:1-3, 54-60; 8:1-13, 26-40; 9:1-9, 15-22.

Parent Prep: This week we will be looking at the plan of God to save His people, and how He calls us to be a part of that work. God is all sustaining, and doesn't need our help. Yet we are given the profound privilege of joining in with His Holy Spirit and seeing people saved to eternal life. This perspective on our role as disciple-makers is refreshing because it reminds us that God is wholly responsible for the work of saving souls, and we are called to simply partner with Him in it and witness the glory of His work. When we reframe our job as disciple-makers in this light, we can release ourselves from the pressure of being 'good enough' at telling others about Him, and instead make our focus listening to God and trusting Him, and being open to share His love wherever go and whatever we do.

Read: Read these stories together Acts 7:1-3, 54-60; 8:1-13, 26-40; 9:1-9, 15-22. from a children's Bible, or from this easy-to-read translation here. For very young children, read the story 'A New Way To See' on page 334 from the Jesus Storybook Bible, or watch it here.

Talk: In these stories, we see God using ordinary people to tell His great message of the gospel to many people. They were sharing about Jesus wherever they went, and through whatever they were doing. They may have been ordinary people, but by the Holy Spirit's help, they did some extraordinary things that made them able to share God's love and words in powerful ways. (If you did the toolbox craft together on Sunday, you can write the following things down on your tools to help kids remember what we need to help God with His plan.)

1. (PRAY)  Stephen had courage to pray for others to know Jesus. Because He loved Jesus so much, he couldn't stay quiet when people threatened to hurt him. He prayed to Jesus in front of all the crowds. Because of his courage, Saul heard the gospel, and saw how much Stephen loved Jesus. Later, Saul met Jesus and was saved, too. 

2. (PROCLAIM) Philip was brave to share the gospel of Jesus with others. Because Philip believed and trusted in Jesus so much, he was ready to share about God's power and love wherever he went. Simon the Sorcerer heard his story and became a believer in Jesus, too.

3. (PERCEPTIVE)  Philip listened to God's Holy Spirit and was ready to go where He said. Philip was 'going along the way' when the Holy Spirit gave Him instructions. He was ready and listening to share with whoever God told Him to. 

Saul (Paul) became a follower of Jesus and followed the examples of these believers too. He had courage to pray and share the gospel with many people, even though they also threatened to hurt him and throw him in prison. He also listened carefully to Jesus speak to Him. Because Paul was brave and ready to speak to people about Jesus wherever he went, many, many people became believers in Jesus.

Listen: As you ask these questions, allow children to be honest about feeling worried or anxious about sharing their faith. Reassure them that having courage to pray and share their faith does not mean that it isn't scary, but that we do it even when we are afraid, just like Stephen.Remind them again that it is God's work, and we are just helpers. We don't have to worry about getting it all right, or what people might think of us, because God really calls us to be a part of this so that we can trust Him more and more. He doesn't get mad if we try but get it wrong. He doesn't mind if we are frightened, that's why He gives us His Holy Spirit to make us brave. Consider sharing a time it has been difficult for you to share your faith, to encourage your children that they are not alone.

Ask children, "Do you have courage to pray for your friends and family to come to know Jesus?" "What if sharing about Jesus with them might mean they make fun of you?" 

Ask "Do you feel brave enough to tell the gospel of Jesus to other people in your life?" "Why or Why not?"

Ask, "Have you ever felt the Holy Spirit tell you to tell someone about Jesus?" "If yes, what happened?" "If no, what do you think we could do to be ready to listen to the Holy Spirit wherever we go?"

Talk about how wonderful it is that God asks for our help, even though He doesn't need it. Ask, "Why do you think He does that?"

Do: Together as a family, list as many places as you can that you will go this week. Perhaps consider using the map you made of your 'community' a few weeks ago. If it looks different this week because of school holidays, make a new list. Eg. At home, in the car, at the shops, at the park, at a friend or family member's house etc. Think of a particular spot at each of these places that you can stop and pray and be ready to hear from the Holy Spirit. Maybe it's as you walk through the front door or garage door. Maybe it's on the driveway of a friend's house. Maybe it's in the carpark of the shops. Wherever you identify those places, take a sticker, or a piece of paper with you when you go there. When you arrive at those places this week, place your sticker or piece of paper on the floor. Then, stand at the mark as a family, and pray together. 

"Jesus, we want to help tell others about your love. Help us be brave. Show us the people here today who you want us to tell about your love. We are ready. Amen." 

Then, encourage your children to come and tell you if they feel the Holy Spirit tell them about a particular person while you are out together. If they feel prompted, help your children to use their own words to tell that person who Jesus is, and why we love Him. Pray for bravery for yourself too, you never know what God will do with your willingness!

Have a great week!

Big Idea: We can leave our prayers in God's hands, and trust Him because He is powerful and always answers.

Parent Prep: This week we are looking at the 'doxology' of the Lord's Prayer – the 'ending' that was often said together at the end of prayers, from the original Greek word doxologia meaning 'praising or glorifying God'. Some translations of the Bible omit this verse, as it was added in later translations of the English Bible. It is a traditional ending – meaning that when believers would pray the Lord's Prayer, they would finish with this ending – entrusting all they had prayed for into the Lord's hands, who alone had power to answer them. It is a similar ending to the doxology we read in Ephesians 3, or in Jude- "Now unto Him…to the only God our saviour be glory, majesty, power and authority through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forever more."; and similar to the words of David in 1 Chronicles 29:10-13, where he praises God in the presence of the whole assembly of Israel. These doxologies or declarations of praise tend to center around the same theme -that it is God alone who has the power and authority to answer prayer, and that He alone is worthy of praise. This week, as we finish our time studying the Lord's prayer together, we end by focusing on entrusting our desires to God, and praising Him for being strong enough to answer us.

Read: Matthew 6:5-13.

Talk

This week, read the entire prayer, and then as you finish, read or say aloud together "For yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever, Amen." Explain to children that this phrase is called a 'doxology' [dox-ol-o-jee]. It was the part of the prayer that everyone said loudly together to give praise to God. When we say this phrase, we are agreeing that God is in charge because He's the King, that He is strong enough to answer all our prayers, and that He deserves all our praise and hoorays. 

Listen

Read together, Jeremiah 33:3. "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." God encourages us to pray. Our living God promises to answer our prayers just like He says to Jeremiah. He says "great and unsearchable" things. That means He has wonderful things for us that are so wonderful we couldn't even imagine them if we tried. Read together Ephesians 3:20 "Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever, Amen!" This is Paul, hundreds of years later, saying the same thing! God can give us more than we can ever ask for or even imagine! 

Ask children If you could ask God for anything you could imagine for the good of the world and for people – and nothing is too big – what would you ask for? Allow children to dream up incredible things. For young children, consider drawing these elaborate things on some paper. Then hold it up.

Ask children Do you think these things are possible? Why or Why not? Did you know that all things are possible with God? Why don't we pray for these things? Let's pray for them right now. 

Do

Pray together for the amazing things that children have come up with, helping them see and believe that God can do incredible things- and even more than we could ever imagine. He is in charge, He is strong, and He is deserving of all our praise and hoorays.

Who's the strongest?

Collect everyday items of various weight from around your home. DVDs, books, spoons, blankets etc. Have children try and hold one item, and then slowly pile on more and more heavy items until it weighs too much for them. Take turns doing this as a family and identify who is the strongest. Then remind children that God is infinitely more strong than even the strongest person in your family, and nothing is ever too much for Him to carry. He can carry all our hurts and wishes and hopes and fears and everything, and it's never ever too much for Him. It's why we place all these things in His hands in prayer, and leave them there. It's why we can give HIm all our praise and hoorays, because He is the only one who is strong enough to help us.

Big Idea: Our habits and choices each day determine our closeness with Jesus.

Parent Prep: This week we will be talking about the practical side of our prayer habits and rhythms. As Ps Mark taught on Sunday, a 'habitus' is not quite the same as a daily habit, like making coffee. A habitus  is an 'acquired virtue or behaviour – one that is so linked to our identity and purpose that we ‘carry it out without thinking’'.  It’s not just something that we do, it’s something that indicates who we are. We desire for our children that prayer would not just be a daily chore for them, but that prayer would be a habitus. That they would know Jesus so closely that prayer would be a solace for them, where they can bring their heart's desires to their Saviour & Friend. However, we know that for children, as they are learning, repetitive habits and routine create safety and familiarity. They crave repitition by nature, and by it learn to trust. So while we hope that prayer becomes more than a religious habit for our kids, and that they 'carry it out without thinking', we can use daily routines and weekly rhythms to help them learn to trust the consistency of God's nature; that He is always there, and the importance of turning to Him in all things.

Read: Matthew 6:5-13

Talk 

Look up the word 'habit' in the dictionary together. Talk about some of the habits that you have as a family or as individuals everyday. They can be good or bad habits! Eg. Eating weetbix, chewing with your mouth open, going for a jog, putting a hat on, saying 'grace', etc.

Then talk about some of the habits your family has that have to do with your walk with Jesus. If it's helpful, use a weekly planner (like this one) as a visual to prompt things that might happen on different days. Eg. Going to church, lifegroup, praying, reading the Bible, talking about Jesus over the dinner table, singing worship songs in the car, devotions etc. For young children, you could draw these habits and stick them on.

Ask 

Ask children, Do you like doing these 'habits' or regular activities? Why or why not? Allow children to express feelings towards each of these habits. Read together, 1 Thessalonians 5:15-16. This verse, and others, tell us to be praying all the time! Do you feel like that is an easy or hard thing to do? Why?

Now read together Mark 12:33 "And you must love God with all your heart, all your mind, and all your strength. And you must love others the same as you love yourself. These commands are more important than all the animals and sacrifices we offer to God.” Explain to children, God desires that we would come to Him as His children who need their Father, not just because we feel like we have to. More than God wants us just to do what He says, like when the people were told to bring animal sacrifices, God wants us to love Him with everything we've got! So when it comes to praying, God wants it to be like talking to someone we love. 

Ask children, does it feel like a chore to talk to me and tell me or your (other family member's name) every day? No, we talk to each other because we love each other. In the same way, God wants us to talk to him not because He says so, but because we love Him, and because He loves us. When we pray each day, at the table, or at bed time, or in the car, we are doing it because we remember God loves us and loves to hear from us.

Remind children that we choose to make habits of prayer each day so that we grow closer and deeper in our love for God, not just so that we are 'good' at prayer! Eventually we hope that we would 'pray without thinking about it' because we just love talking to God so much!

Do

Forming habits: Place a teaspoon at each place where your family regularly prays this week. For younger children, hide them so that they can find teaspoons around the house in these places every day and be reminded those places are for prayer. Use the teaspoon to help remind your children what to say when we pray. TSP: Thank you, Sorry, Please. Allow children to hold the spoons while they pray, as a visual prompt. 

For fun: with older children this week, play a game of 'spoons' with teaspoons. (find instructions for how to play here.) As you play, use the opportunity to talk about prayer, prompted by the discussion above.

Have a great week!

Big Idea: Jesus helps us follow Him when we fix our eyes on Him.

Parent Prep: Facing temptation can be isolating for children. The shame they feel may cause them to think that because they have feelings of temptation, that they 'bad' followers of Jesus. The truth is, we all face temptation. And we have to fight to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and follow His ways.There is much to discourage and distract us in this world. And we will all be distracted and fall sometimes. It's not be easy, but following Jesus is always worth it. Your own testimonial stories will be powerful ways to help children see that they are not alone, and that they can face temptation with confidence. Take some time to think of a story you can share with your kids for this lesson. We are promised the help of the Holy Spirit – so this week, when temptation comes for us, we can remember that we can trust Jesus to help us when we pray this prayer.

Read: Matthew 6:5-13, (focus on: verse 13.)

Talk

Say to children, when we trust in Jesus as our King and Rescuer, he calls us to follow Him every day. He says that to follow Him means to listen to His words and obey His commands to us. Read together John 10:11-13. Jesus calls Himself the Good Shepherd, and us the sheep. We are to follow after Jesus, like sheep follow a shepherd, because He takes good care of us. His commands to us are always to keep us safe with Him, and to help us see how much He loves us. 

Ask

Sometimes it's hard to follow Jesus and trust Him. Just like sheep, we are pretty silly most of the time. Sheep have a tendency to get distracted by something they see and wander off by themselves, away from the safety of the shepherd. There are lots of things that distract us, too, or that we think may seem like more fun, or better than following Jesus. 

What are some things that seem like more fun than following Jesus to you? What do you think distracts you from following the ways of Jesus? What do you see other people doing that you think you wish you could do instead of following Jesus? 

Remind children that it is okay to be tempted by these things: that every single human being is tempted to follow the world's ways. Even Jesus was tempted by the evil one.

• Read together this verse from the Easy-to-Read translation in Romans 8:5 "People who live following their sinful selves think only about what they want. But those who live following the Spirit are thinking about what the Spirit wants them to do."

Say: God gives us His Holy Spirit to help us follow Jesus and keep on track by not getting distracted. We can pray this verse from the Lord's Prayer, and know that He will answer it. The Holy Spirit helps us understand why following Jesus is better than all the things we get distracted by. He shows us how great it is to keep our eyes on Jesus and follow Him.That's His job!

Do

Follow the leader
Set up a basic pathway in your house from one point to another. Place objects in the way of the path, as obstacles. Make it as difficult as you like for your kids. Explain to children that the pathway is like our life as we follow Jesus.The objects are things that distract us from following Jesus, or tempt us away from His ways. Have child stand at the starting line and explain they must walk to the end of the path.
 

1) The first time you lead children through the pathway, place a blindfold on them, or have them cover their eyes so that they cannot see. Read the words of Jesus together from Luke 4:18 "The Spirit of the Lord is on me. He has chosen me to tell good news to the poor. He sent me to tell prisoners that they are free and to tell the blind that they can see again. He sent me to free those who have been treated badly." Then, allow children to walk through the path with their eyes closed and try not to hit any obstacles. It will be difficult. Say to children, when we trust in Jesus, He helps us see the things that will distract us for what they really are: things that may harm us, or get in our way to a full and good life with Him.

2)  This time, turn the lights off so that children cannot see. (It might be best to try this down a hallway at night time.) Then, read this verse aloud. John 8:12 "Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Have children try to walk the path in the dark. Again, it will be difficult. Remind children that life with Jesus is life in the light. We can see where the distractions and hurtful choices are because Jesus shows us in His word.

3) This time, as your child walks the pathway, stand at the other end of the pathway, and direct children to step either 'left' or 'right' in order to make it to the end. Have other children try and speak to distract them away from the path. Have them make lots of noise, talking over each other and banging loud objects if they can. Read to them John 10:27 "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." Explain to children that there are lots of voices, people and opinions that they can listen to in life- but that the only way to true life is to listen to the words of Jesus and be closest to Him so we can hear Him above the other tempting voices in our lives.

4) This last time, explain that you will walk beside them, holding their hand, as God's Holy Spirit does for us. Lead children through the path holding their hand and directing them where to place their feet. If they slip or falter, hold on tight and pull them close, as God promises to do for us. Then, read Hebrews 12:1-2  "We have all these great people around us as examples. Their lives tell us what faith means. So we, too, should run the race that is before us and never quit. We should remove from our lives anything that would slow us down and the sin that so often makes us fall. We must never stop looking to Jesus. He is the leader of our faith, and he is the one who makes our faith complete." 

Together as a family, collect all the 'obstacles' and 'throw' them out of the way, and hold hands and walk together through the path. Remind children that Jesus calls us to follow 'after' him, but really, He is with us each step of the way. His Holy Spirit does the work of reminding us why following Jesus is best. It's okay if they find it tough. He is always with us, and will never leave us, and promises to always, always help us to fight temptation. He is strong. 

Pray at the pile of obstacles, and name the temptations your children listed earlier. Surrender these to Jesus and acknowledge that you are each powerless to fight their temptations alone, and ask for the Holy Spirit's help. "Jesus, help us to follow you only, and deliver us from the distractions and temptations of the evil one. We trust you Jesus, help us trust you more."

Have a great week encouraging each other as you fight temptation together, and keep your eyes fixed on Jesus!

Big Idea: Forgiveness is not fair, it's given freely to us, so we need God's help to give it to others.

Bible Passage: Matthew 6:5-13, (focus on: verse 11.)

Parent Prep: Forgiveness for those who have hurt them is hard for children. It's hard for everyone, really, but especially for children, as they are primarily focused on what is 'fair'. Fairness and equal treatment are paramount for children. Yet, by its nature, forgiveness is not 'fair'. It's God's grace to us. It is undeserved and freely given. So it is unnatural for children (and all our human natures) to want to extend grace and the 'unfairness' of mercy to others. This is why, as we teach about forgiveness, we need to acknowledge that in order to forgive those who have truly sinned against us and hurt us, we need God's help, because we can't do it in our own strength. When children acknowledge it is 'too hard' for them, or say that they 'don't want to' forgive others, remind them that really, none of us can truly forgive in our own human strength, because it doesn't feel fair. This is the grace of our God! That while we were still sinners, with our backs turned to Him, that He forgave us. This shifts our parenting focus from expecting a behavioural outcome, to helping them understand the depth of God's love and mercy for them. Then we wait on the Holy Spirit to bring about willing, heart-felt forgiveness in the hearts of our kids. Pray for them, that they would know and understand how much they have been forgiven, in order to help them learn to forgive others.

Read Matthew 6:5-13 together in your Bibles, or read it in a children's version here, or watch it together here.

Talk 

Explain to children that today we will be learning about forgiveness. 

Read the following three verses together:

• Romans 5:8 (ERV) 8 But Christ died for us while we were still sinners, and by this God showed how much he loves us.

• Ephesians 1:7 (ERV) 7 In Christ we are made free by his blood sacrifice. We have forgiveness of sins because of God’s rich grace.

• Psalm 103:12 (ERV) 12 And he has taken our sins as far away from us as the east is from the west.

​​​​​​Explain to children that God has looked at us, his children who have turned away from Him and chosen to be the boss of our own lives, and has chosen, by His grace, to make a way to forgive us so we can come back to Him. He is a loving Father. It is up to us to turn back to Him and ask for His forgiveness for our sins. He is faithful, and always says yes to that prayer. Talk with children about sins they think may be 'unforgiveable'. Reassure children that there is nothing they can do that will take God's forgiveness away from them if they trust Him and turn to Him. 

Read together: 1 John 1:9 (ERV) 9 But if we confess our sins, God will forgive us. We can trust God to do this. He always does what is right. He will make us clean from all the wrong things we have done.

He promises to forgive us when we come to Him. That is a promise, and God never breaks His promises.

Listen

Ask children, how does it feel when someone does something to hurt you? Ask children to share their feelings, their stories and examples. Ask children if it is hard or easy to forgive someone who hurts you. Make a point of noting that the deeper the hurt, the harder it is to forgive. 

Ask children what they think 'forgiveness' means. Explain to children that forgiveness is not forgetting about the hurt someone caused; it's letting go of anger and our want to 'get them back'. Ask children, "If I dropped something heavy on your finger and it hurt you, and I said sorry, would it make your finger stop hurting?" No, it wouldn't. Forgiveness means even though it still hurts, we let go of our anger and wanting to get someone back for what they did. We do this because it's what God has done for us. Our sin has hurt God, and even though His heart hurts when we turn from Him, He's not angry with us. He doesn't 'get us back' the way we deserve for our sin, instead, He opens His arms and says, "I love you, come to me." This is a very hard thing to do. Forgiveness isn't fair. It means even when we're hurting, we choose to be loving. Even when we're angry, we choose to let go of wanting to get people back. It's open hands instead of clenched fists. This is why we need God's help. He's the best at it, He always has His arms open to us. And He will show us how by reminding us of His great love.

Do

Read together: Colossians 1:13-14 (ERV)13 God made us free from the power of darkness. And he brought us into the kingdom of his dear Son. 14 The Son paid the price to make us free. In him we have forgiveness of our sins.

Write up on a poster: "Forgiveness isn't Fair. It's Freely-given." Stick it somewhere on a wall where everyone in your family will see it. At night time, stand in the room where your poster is, and turn off all the lights. Then, shine a bright torch or light on the poster, and read out the words. Explain to children, when we choose to forgive others, we bring the light of Jesus to others living in darkness. This is a powerful way to show the great love of God to others.

As you pray together, start with clenched fists. Explain that the closed fists are like our angry hearts when we are hurt by others. Forgiveness is opening our fists and letting go of our anger and giving it to Jesus. Practice this with your children as you pray forgiveness for others. Open your clenched fists and then raise your open hands to Jesus as a sign of letting go of being angry and giving it to Jesus. Then ask that God's Holy Spirit would be close and remind us of God's great love and forgiveness for us. Ask for His help to show this great love and forgiveness to others, knowing we cannot do it on our own. 

Have a great week!

Big Idea: God gives us all we need so that we would know He is all we need.

Bible Passage: Matthew 6:5-13, (focus on: verse 11.)

Parent Prep: This week we explore the idea of coming to God for all that we need. Jesus teaches us to understand God as a good father, who knows what we need and asks us to come to Him. Just as you know, care for and provide for your children, so God knows, cares for and provides for us, His children. Matthew Henry says, "Children do not need to make long speeches when they want anything. It is enough to say, "my head, my head."' As you meet the needs of your children this week – the everyday, simple needs, as well as the large requests – even as you wisely say 'no' to some, reflect on God's character towards you and how He also knows what you need and desires that you come to Him for it.

Read Matthew 6:5-13 together in your Bibles, or read it in a children's version here, or watch it together here.

Talk 

Ask children, "Why do you think Jesus tells us to ask God for bread?" Read Exodus 16:11-12. Explain to children, that God gives us all the things we need each day, just as He gave the Israelites bread in the desert,  so that then we will know that He is the Lord our God. When the Israelites had no food or water, God gave them bread to eat every day so that they would know He is the Lord, their provider. What are some things that we need everyday that God gives us? (Air, water, food, family, a home, sunshine, warmth, peace, love, forgiveness). Tell children, God gives us these things so that we would know 'that He is the Lord our God.' Read Luke 12:32 & Matthew 7:9. Both of these verses tell us that God delights to give us good things so that we would know that He is a good Father. 

Listen

Ask children, what are some things that you need that we can ask God for? On a large piece of paper, have children list by writing or drawing the things they need and want to ask God for. They can be big or small requests – God wants them all.

Ask children, "How does it feel when we pray for these things, and God doesn't answer?" Allow children to answer honestly about their feelings or doubts, and remind them that those feelings and doubts are okay. Our feelings of disappointment when God doesn't answer our prayers the way we want Him to may tell us that God isn't real or listening to us. But our feelings aren't always what is true – God's word is what is always, always true. Say with children, "So when we don't know what to do, we go back to what we know is true." 

God's word says that we shouldn't rest our hopes for happiness on getting what we want from God, because the things we want in this life can be taken away from us. Jesus tells us in John 6:27 &35 that instead, we should rest all our hopes for happiness on Jesus, because He will never ever let us down, and His love can never ever be taken away from us. He says that not only will He give us everything we need but that He will be everything that we need. He gives us Himself so we can know Him, and that's even better that Him giving us everything we ask for! So when God says 'No' to even our best prayers, it's because like a good Father, He knows what's best. He says that we will never be left wanting more when we come to Him for our needs. He wants to give us the very best, and the very best for us is to know and be close to Jesus.

Do 

Say again with children "When you don't know what to do, go back to what you know is true." Memorising these scriptures will help children fight against the lies that tell them that God isn't listening to them when their prayers aren't answered the way they want.

Next to each of the needs they wrote or drew on your piece of paper, choose a promise from the list below, and write it next to their need. Then, stick your poster up on a wall, and pray daily for your needs. When a prayer is answered, celebrate and praise God together. When a prayer seems un-answered, take children to the scripture they have chosen and read it aloud to them. 

• He is always watching us to see what we need. 2 Chron 16:9
• He often gives even before we even ask. Isaiah 65:24
• He knows that we are weak humans and has compassion for us.  Ps 103:14
• He tells us to call to Him and that He will answer. Jeremiah 33:3
• When we call to Him He answers & says, “Here I am.” Isaiah 58:9
• His Holy Spirit is with us through everything we face. John 14:18, 26-27 

This week, as you meet the needs of your children, every time you have to say 'no' to them – use it as a prompt to remind them that you love them, care for them and want the best for them. Then remind them that God's love is like your love. He gives us His best answer, everytime. 

If you can find the time, bake some bread together this week, and as you bake, use the time to talk about times your prayers have felt unanswered. Your stories of faith are incredibly powerful for your children to hear. Remind children as you tell your story, that our feelings are not what are always true, but that God's Word is always true, and that we can trust that God is for us, and that He will never let us down.

Have a great week!