ELEMENTARY KIDS & FAMILIES date
3.11
CHILDREN ARE TANGIBLE REMINDERS OF GOD’S ABILITY TO CREATE LIFE. Inspire (for parents) As my husband, Kevin, and I prepared for the birth of our first child, we painted the nursery, collected enough diapers to fill a bathtub, and replaced “normal” furniture with things like a pack ’n play and a baby swing. During those months, I dreamed about what it would be like to finally meet our son. Then, one foggy day in December, he arrived.
imparting life came when He sent His Son, as a baby, into the world to save a sinful humanity. Because of this extraordinary act, Paul writes, “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” (1 Corinthians 15:55). What a wonderful truth! Jesus replaced death with life as fresh and full of possibility as a newborn infant.
Brand-new emotions washed over me from the moment my husband placed Josiah Alexander in my arms. I felt a new kind of love, the type akin to a mother bear with her cub. I was so proud of this perfect little person. And I felt a new sense of solidarity with my husband.
God created Josiah as a spiritual being with the great capacity to walk in relationship with Him. Something marvelous to watch unfold and to encourage. Together, we will marvel at the beauty of a Savior who fills each day with life. by Suzanne Gosselin
But the most powerful emotion was one of awe as I witnessed firsthand God’s creation of a new life. Josiah had been fashioned by God Himself—from his tiny 20 Scripture: John fingers and toes to his crop of to His Disciples) (Jesus Appears sandy blond hair. There was no us Offers Life Main Point: Jes doubt that the Creator had given ur family to ned to allow yo sig de is ce ur so my baby life. Not only that, God This re your children d’s Word before Go in e tim ve already had intricate plans for ha is for parents to cause God’s plan attend church. Be every one of Josiah’s days. their children’s iritual nurturers of be the primary sp iritually, your sp as you grow at Children are tangible reminders th ow kn we faith, spiritually as well. of God’s ability to create life. But children will grow the ultimate example of God
Getting Started
Equip (for parents) Equip is additional background information that will help you introduce this Scripture passage to your children this week. These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 20:31 John’s belief that Jesus has the authority to give life is based on his knowledge that Jesus is the Son of God. He is also the Origin of, Creator of, and Embodiment of life. John also described Jesus as the Word of God: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men” (John 1:1–4). Because Jesus is life, He has the authority to give life on behalf of Himself to all who choose to believe He is Christ, the Son of God, and place their faith in Him. And when we choose to believe in His name, Christ gives us “the right to become children of God. [We] are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.” (John 1:12–13 NLT). When we choose to believe in Jesus, we not only receive life in His name, but we also receive our new identity as children of God. We receive the ability to live as we were created to live—in a beloved, life-giving relationship with our heavenly Father.
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(for parents & kids) Read John 20:1–20. Then, JUST FOR FUN, have your children draw a picture of the events you just read about. Encourage each family member to explain what he or she drew and how it is important. (Don’t forget to draw a picture yourself!) Then read John 20:30– 31 together. John wrote about these events because he wanted people to believe that Jesus offers life. Help your children understand that the new life Jesus offers to everyone is more than just physical life. This life gives us the power to think and act differently because we are living in relationship with Him. Discuss how our lives should be different from those who don’t believe in Jesus. Remind your children that this is all part of The Big God Story, and they will learn more in church this week about how Jesus offers life. Pray together and thank God for Jesus, in whom we can have a new life.
“IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD, AND THE WORD WAS WITH GOD, AND THE WORD WAS GOD.” © 2013 David C. Cook. TruResources are developed in partnership with ROCKHARBOR Church and a national network of family and children’s ministry leaders. All rights reserved.