ELEMENTARY KIDS & FAMILIES date
2.2
We know that when he wHispers A PROMISE TO OUR SPIRIT, WE CAN TRUST HIM. Inspire (for parents) When I think of the promises of God, my son always comes to mind. My husband and I had been married four years when we found out we were pregnant, and we were completely overjoyed. We knew our lives would forever be changed for the better. Every moment to come would be richer, fuller, and more precious. But we hadn’t imagined that over the next nine months we would be reminded daily of the promise of new life. The first time we heard the baby’s heartbeat was a holy moment. We listened to the quick pitter-pat rhythms with tears streaming down our cheeks, grinning, and crying with joy. It was as if God was whispering, “This is your promise, new life.” The first time I felt him move I stopped everything, closed my eyes, and laughed out loud. “New life, new life, new life!” When we found out we were having a boy we went out to lunch and celebrated. God chose to show His love for us through an amazing community of believers that celebrated and cared for us. “Our son, new life, God’s promise.”
For nine months we heard the whispers of God and felt Him close as He reminded us of His promise. Of course, we did not have the fulfillment of our joy in holding our son until that special moment when he joined the planet, but for nine months we held tight to the promise of him. We are in awe of how God weaves His faithfulness into our lives. We know that when He whispers a promise to our spirit we can trust Him. He always fulfills his promises, and each time I hold my son I am reminded of that.
Getting Started
by Sarah Carter
14; Matthew 1 uel 7; Isaiah 7:1– Scripture: 2 Sam Joseph) (The Angel Visits Gives Us Hope Main Point: God your family to designed to allow This resource is your children d’s Word before for parents have time in Go n use God’s pla is ca Be . ch ur ch attend children’s faith, l nurturers of their ua irit sp e th be to lly, your children you grow spiritua we know that as lly as well. will grow spiritua
Equip (for parents)
RE “For to u MEMBER s to u s a s a child versE i on i he w s giv s born, ill b en, … e Cou nse called And lo W Eve rlas r, Migh onderf tin ty ul of P eace g Fath God, A prophet is someone to whom God er, P .” Isa has given the ability to make His will rinc iah 9:6 e known to His people. A priest is someone In the genealogy, at the beginning of Matthew 1, we find a list of Jesus’ family connection to Abraham and David. Christ’s connection with Abraham and David is significant. Abraham acted out the offices of priest and prophet. David was not only the “man after God’s own heart,” he was also a king.
called upon by God to offer sacrifices for sin. A king is someone God has appointed to rule over and protect His chosen people. Christ was not a prophet, though He made God’s will known to the world; in fact He is God Himself in the world. But Christ is a priest because He sacrificed Himself for our sin. And He is a king because He came to reign in the world at large, and in the hearts of all who believe. Do we as parents fully communicate to our children the wonder and grandeur of what Jesus came to do and of the fulfillment of so much prophecy? Or has Jesus become normal, routine, or unremarkable to us? He is here, in our everyday lives, and the privilege of being able to access Him so easily can easily be taken for granted. This Christmas season, let’s take the chance to remind our children that Jesus coming and fulfilling hundreds of prophecies is anything but normal.
Support
(for parents & kids) Sometime this week, read through the biblical account of the angel visiting Joseph in Matthew 1:17–24. At the end of the section, think of a question that reviews what you just read such as, “Who were the ancestors of Jesus?” or “What did the angel say to Joseph?” Before you begin to read the passage, pray together as a family and thank God for the prophecy He has fulfilled in order for Jesus to come to earth. Next, create a setting for your children that will help them engage with the passage they are about to hear. Just for fun make your own family tree with your children. This can be a simple illustration on a piece of paper that shows some of the generations that have gone before you in your family. If you have pictures, pull these out and let your children look through them as you explain your family tree. Then tell them that the Old Testament promised Jesus would come from a very special family line and then read the passage. When you are finished, share with your children that what they just heard is a part of The Big God Story in the Bible, and they will hear it in church. Close your time by praying and thanking God for sending Jesus!
© 2010 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.