Equip (for parents) date
2.6
festival of first fruits: Celebrating God as trustworthy Inspire (for parents) One of my favorite memories involves my more happy and fulfilled than I’d ever known to husband and son packing our car and driving be possible.” We draw on those happy memories the coastline until we hit the when times are difficult. I think memories are sand. We grabbed armfuls a gift God gives us, and the practice of of toys, beach chairs, remembering is a sacred act. oversized towels, and I’ve made a commitment to “I’ve made a navigated pathways to t notice the moments where commitmen to the water. The I’m so happy my heart might ts ocean was spouting notice the momen y actually burst with joy. I squeeze py m its welcome over where I’m so hap my eyes tightly shut, and try ally and over in the to capture the details, locking heart might actu language of its ” y. jo h it w t them in my memory. I do all that rs bu waves crashing along I can to remember the way the the shore. sand feels as it crunches under my When I was in college, feet. Or the way the salt water tastes I went to the beach to find on my lips, while taking in the smell of baby solace, peace, and communicate with sunscreen on my son’s head. I long for these God. Years later, I found sharing it with my family moments to exist in my life forever. And by added immeasurable joy to the experience. remembering and celebrating them, in a way, they do. I can remember taking my son, still under a year old, to the beach for the first time. I watched as he stuck his chubby toes into the sand and squealed with delight as the brilliant splashing water ran over his legs. There are so many moments we experience as parents we wish we could freeze in time. In those moments, I find myself whispering to God, “This fleeting, precious moment is enough. I am
by Sarah Carter This resource is designed to allow your family to have time in God’s Word before your children attend church. Because God’s plan is for parents to be the primary spiritual nurturers of their children’s faith, we know that as you grow spiritually, your children will grow spiritually as well.
the resurrection of the Messiah. The Feast of Harvest began with a great harvest of three Festival of first fruits thousand souls by the coming of the promised Holy Spirit, who continues to harvest souls This festival was for God’s people to today. The Feast of Trumpets will celebrate Him as their Provider and offer announce Christ’s return, thanksgiving. First fruits represents the “These the Day of Atonement will celebration of the first grain harvest were t imes usher in His judgment of the spring. One sheath offering to rem of the nations, and e of grain was taken to the temple. m ber what G finally, the Feast of od had These offerings were made the done for His Tabernacles begins day following the Sabbath, which people and the journey to our new to cele means it would be on Sunday, and brate H home in a new heaven it marked the beginning of the twois goodn ess.” and new earth. month spring harvest. In the New Testament, Jesus was resurrected as the first fruit offering on Sunday, the day after Passover Sabbath, providing a way for Support the resurrection of all believers. (for parents & kids) Old Testament Significance Several times a year, the Israelites gathered together for a festival. In Leviticus 23, the Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘These are my appointed feasts … which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies.’” These seven feasts and festivals are: Passover, Feast of Unleavened Bread, Festival of First Fruits, Feast of Harvest, Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles (or Booths). In addition, the Israelites would gather weekly to celebrate the Sabbath. These were times to remember what God had done for His people and to celebrate His goodness. They were times for the entire faith community to gather together without the burden of work to simply worship and celebrate. During the feasts, the Israelites ate, danced, sang, played instruments, prayed, and offered sacrifices to God.
This week at church, your children will pause to remember and celebrate what God has done in their lives over the past few weeks, and enjoy experiencing the Festival of First Fruits. A great way to help introduce your children to this festival is by creating an additional “special” act of service or household responsibility this week. When your children are finished, give them a small amount of money; over and above any normal allowance you may give them. Sit with them and talk about giving their best to God, and encourage them to consider giving a portion of the money they earned to God as an act of worship this week. Read together Psalm 85:7–12 (NLT). When you’re finished reading, remind your children that everything we have comes from God. Pray with them, thanking God that He is trustworthy to continually provide for all of our needs. Praise Him together for all the blessings He gives us.
New Testament Significance The Feast of Passover was fulfilled by the death of the Messiah, the Feast of Unleavened Bread was fulfilled by His sinless sacrifice, and the Festival of First Fruits was fulfilled by
© 2012 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.