ELEMENTARY KIDS & FAMILIES For Sunday, December 13, 2015
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. HomeFront Magazine: A Spiritual Parenting Resource This monthly magazine gives your family ideas for creating fun, spiritually forming times in your home—setting aside sacred space in the midst of your active, everyday lives. Visit www.HomeFrontMag.com to subscribe to the print edition or to have a digital copy sent directly to your inbox.
THE LORD WILL PROVIDE Part of The Big God Story Luke 1:26–55 Because of His great love for His people, God kept His promises to them. From the beginning, God promised to send a Redeemer, who would restore peace and conquer sin. In the first few pages of the New Testament, God repeated His promise to Mary. God sent the angel Gabriel to declare that she had been chosen to help fulfill the promise and prophesies.
JUST FOR FUN Read this part of The Big God Story at bedtime. Before you get started, take some time to review the passage. Ask your children if they remember the promise God made to Adam and Eve in the garden. Encourage them to think about how many times God promised His people that He would send a Redeemer. Then read the account of Mary and the angel Gabriel in Luke 1:26– 38. Discuss together Mary’s response to what the angel told her. Allow each family member to share how she would respond if an angel appeared to her and told her this great news.
YOUNGER KIDS Your child learns to trust God’s promises by first learning he can trust the promises made by those closest to him. Be sure to do all you can to keep the promises you make to your child—no matter how big or small.
OLDER KIDS Your child may need to be reminded of the importance of keeping her word. Encourage her to follow through on her commitments as a reflection of who she is in Christ, explaining the importance of integrity when sharing the good news of Jesus with others. © 2015 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.
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DID YOU KNOW? • The first instance of God’s promise to send a Redeemer is in Genesis 3:15 when He promises the serpent that the offspring of the woman will crush its head. • When the angel Gabriel first visits Mary to deliver the news of Jesus’s birth, she is afraid and confused. • After Gabriel delivers the news to Mary, she visits her cousin Elizabeth, who is pregnant with John the Baptist! • After speaking with Elizabeth, Mary worships God through a beautiful song, which can be found in Luke 1:46–55.
REMEMBER VERSE Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them. Luke 1:68
TEACHABLE MOMENTS After reading Scripture, discuss the following together: • What do you think it was like for Mary to see and speak with an angel? • Why do you think God keeps His promises to His people? • What are some other promises that God makes to His people?
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), may you see how God provides for you every day. May His love and provision give you strength and peace.