ELEMENTARY KIDS & FAMILIES date
2.9
God brought victory through tears that day. Inspire (for parents) My friend Linda struggled through high school, a little ADD, never the belle of the ball. And yet, from her mouth flow treasures of tender love stories and tales of extraordinary life victories thanks to Jesus. One love story Linda tells is about Melissa. She was an eight-year-old foster child who, along with her five-year-old brother Johnny, had experienced 17 foster placements. Linda decided to bring them into her home because, well, no one else would.
failed placement. A few moments later, a quiet Melissa approached her and handed her a crumpled note that read, “I’m sorry … I love you.” God brought victory through tears that day. The raging and the running just stopped. Three months later, Melissa got a citizenship award at school. After a one-year absence, Melissa’s mom started visiting and began her own relationship with Jesus. That is victory! by Mark Chevalier
Melissa was larger than most kids her age, with a massive head of curls. Within the first 10 days in Linda’s home, Melissa was suspended twice from school. Kids on Linda’s street either made fun of Melissa or were afraid of her, even Linda’s own kids. Tantrums were regular id and Goliath) uel 16—17 (Dav Scripture: I Sam and intense, and, at least once a od Is Victorious Main Point: G day, Melissa would run down the your family to signed to allow de is ce ur so re middle of the street screaming. This your children d’s Word before Go in e tim ve ha n is for parents Linda had no great plan other Because God’s pla ren’s faith, attend church. rers of their child rtu than to simply love Melissa, but nu l ua irit sp e to be th lly, your children you grow spiritua on one particularly difficult day as at th ow kn we lly as well. she slipped out the door, sat on will grow spiritua the curb, and wept. She prayed, asking Jesus to prevent an 18th
Getting Started
Equip (for parents) REM The people of God wanted to “be like all the “I am EMB other nations, with a king to lead [them] and to t ER v and he wa ers y an the go out before [them] and fight [their] battles” E d th life. to th e (1 Samuel 8:20). When Samuel complained N e t o r F ut on at me. to the Lord that the people had rejected If yo her exc e come h u w e s pt t oul rea him as their leader, God answered that From d know lly knew hrough they had not rejected Samuel, but had m and now on y Fath me, you rejected Him. God had set up a system e hav of leadership in which He led His e se , you do r as we ll. e k n no him people through the priests, prophets, and .” Joh w him judges, who were to speak on God’s behalf. n 14 :6–7 But the people no longer wanted the system Support God had put in place; they wanted the system (for parents & kids) other nations had. By asking for a king, the nation of Israel was showing their refusal to be set apart for God’s glory. They showed a disregard for the God who had led them, fought for them, taken care of them, chosen them, and loved them. But, the actions of God’s people did not disrupt God’s plan for them. Though the people chose Saul to be their king, God would eventually reject him. David was God’s choice because he was a man who would consult God as he made decisions, and give Him the glory. When Samuel told Jesse to join him in worship and to invite his sons, David wasn’t included. It could have been because David was far away tending sheep. It may also have been because David was the youngest. Yet it seems that David may have been the one son whose heart was most closely in tune with God’s. As parents, we can sometimes underestimate how deep a relationship our children can have with God. If we give them opportunity, they may even show us how to love God in deeper ways.
Sometime this week, create a setting for your kids that will help them engage with the passage they are about to hear. Just for fun, gather your family together around your dinner table, on your couch, or in a circle on the floor, just as Jesse gathered his family together. Then read through the biblical account of Samuel anointing David in 1 Samuel 16:1–13. At the end, think of a question that reflects on what you just read such as, “Why did the Lord tell Samuel not to look at the outward appearance?” Or, “Why do you think God chose David to be king?” After you have discussed the questions, have each person name something about his heart he feels pleases God. When we choose to follow God, He will be victorious in our lives just as He was in David’s. After you are finished, share with your children that what they just heard from the Bible is a part of The Big God Story and they will hear it in church this week. Ask your children to share with you their thoughts and questions about what they just heard. Close your time by thanking God for looking at our hearts.
© 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.