ELEMENTARY KIDS & FAMILIES date:
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 want YOU to be the one to introduce this part of The Big God Story to them. For additional support in spiritual parenting and to learn more about creating transforming environments in your home, be sure to pick up HomeFront: A Spiritual Parenting Resource from your church, or download it at HomeFrontMag.com. You can also access the HomeFront app on your iPhone, iPad, or Android device.
1.13 REMEMBER & CELEBRATE Feast of Unleavened Bread: Celebrating God as Redeemer
n Just for Fu bread and some flat
Gather your family with a loaf of t yeast is and how crackers or matzah bread. Explain wha een the loaf of betw e renc diffe it works. Talk about the God’s people n whe bread and the crackers. Share that didn’t have time to they that kly fled Egypt, they left so quic Israelites celebrated wait for their bread dough to rise. The of remembering way a as ad Bre the Feast of Unleavened the One who er— and celebrating God as their Redeem d Luke 1:68. Talk Rea . them d save bought them back and us from sin and death. about how Jesus came to redeem to be with Him forever. us for way Praise God for making the
Younger Kids
Did You Know? • The Israelites celebrated seven annual festivals: 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). • During the festivals, the Israelites ate, danced, sang, played instruments, prayed, and offered sacrifices to God. • The Feast of Unleavened Bread began the day after Passover. God commanded the people to eat unleavened bread (bread without yeast) for seven days. He also told them not to work on the first and seventh days. The unleavened bread represented their quick departure from Egypt; they didn’t have time for the yeast to make their bread rise. • In the New Testament, Jesus spoke of yeast (or leaven) symbolically, as sin. Jesus broke unleavened bread with His disciples and said, “This is My body.” Jesus was without sin as His body was “broken” during His crucifixion.
Your younger child is becoming more aware of the world around him. As a result, he may become more self-critical. Be intentional about offering your child praise, and when he does fall short, remind him that God can redeem even our worst mistakes.
Older Kids Your child is developing a greater capacity for reasoning and a larger view of the world around her. Asking thought-provoking questions about how God is working in her life will help your child connect The Big God Story with the situations she faces every day.
Teachable Moments
After reading Luke 1:68, discuss the following together: • What do these verses tell us about God?
• How did God redeem the Israelites? • How has God redeemed you?
Blessing
For more information about blessing your child see the Blessing section in HomeFront: A Spiritual Parenting Resource.
A blessing to pray over your child: (Child’s name), God loves you very much. May you know His voice and obey Him. © 2014 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.