ELEMENTARY KIDS & FAMILIES date
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I’D FORGOTTEN THE KING WAS ALSO MY ABBA ... THANKS TO JESUS, I’M PART OF THE FAMILY. Inspire (for parents) Growing up I often heard the phrase, “Come boldly before the throne of grace.” As a mother, I continue to cling to this biblical truth while encouraging my children to do the same. Not too long ago, desperate for God’s attention regarding an issue I was struggling with, I sought Him, saying, “Your Word tells me to come boldly before the throne of grace.” “Paula,” I heard God whisper. “Where is Jesus in the throne room?” “Sitting at Your right hand,” I answered. “And where does my Word say that you are?” I heard God say. I gulped. “Uh, seated in the heavenly places with Jesus?” A lump formed in my throat. I grabbed my Bible and quickly looked up the Scriptures the Lord had just reminded me of. As I read, I realized what I had done for years was stand banging on the door of the throne room as if I were an outsider. I saw myself, heart pounding, holding my little
scrap of Scripture to gain entrance to God’s presence. Before that day, I’d forgotten the King was also my Abba. The word “Abba” means “Daddy,” and so God is my Dad. Thanks to Jesus’ sacrifice, I’m part of the family. Jesus’ blood covered all the legalities of adoption and made me God’s own special daughter. Because of Jesus, I belong in the throne room—and my children belong there as well, because we are His. When we need to talk about something, we can lean a bit to the left, and His arm envelops us as He listens. by Paula Moldenhauer
Gettinohgn 21S(JtesausrtReeinsdtates Peter)
Scripture: J hose We Are us Reminds Us W Main Point: Jes family to have ned to allow your sig de is ce ur so This re children attend ord before your W e d’s Go in e tim r parents to be th e God’s plan is fo we , ith fa n’s church. Becaus re child nurturers of their ll primary spiritual , your children wi lly ua irit sp ow gr u yo as at th know well. grow spiritually as
Equip (for parents) Equip is additional background information that will help you introduce this Scripture passage to your children this week. Jesus graciously reminded Peter of who he was. Of Jesus’ 12 apostles, Simon Peter was considered to be one of Jesus’ closest friends. Peter was passionate and overzealous—often overeager and outspoken. He was the first disciple to boldly declare Jesus was the Messiah. When Jesus shared that one of His disciples would betray Him, Peter vowed that he would never leave Jesus or deny Him. Before Jesus went to the cross, Peter cut off the ear of a man coming to arrest Him. Though Peter clearly had a passion for Jesus, there were times his passions were inconsistent and misdirected. Jesus rebuked Peter when he couldn’t accept that Jesus would have to die. And after Jesus’ arrest, Peter, who’d sworn his allegiance to Jesus just days prior, denied Him three times. For someone with such a volatile personality, it seems odd that Jesus would rename him “Peter,” which means “the rock.” But Jesus knew what He was doing. Though Peter may not have seemed like “the rock” to those watching, Jesus had the authority to give Peter this identity and the power to transform him to live in this identity. We see in Acts that Jesus led Peter into his transformed nature because Peter cared for the flock, preached to multitudes, and was even (believed to be) martyred in Rome in AD 64 or 65—crucified upside down because he felt unworthy to die the same way as Jesus. Though Peter experienced many pitfalls and slipups throughout his life, Jesus transformed him into his given identity—the “rock.”
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MEM “The BER r VER bee efore SE fait n just , sinc h i e f , i w God we h ed t eh Jes throu ave pehroughave us C gh o ace hris u t.” R r Lordwith oma
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Support (for parents & kids) JUST FOR FUN, read John 21:1–19 together at breakfast time. After reading this part of The Big God Story, ask your children why they think Peter jumped in the water when he realized it was Jesus standing on the shore. Then talk together about what type of conversations you might have with Jesus if He was eating breakfast with you. Ask them what they think Jesus meant when He said to Peter, “Feed my lambs.” Discuss together how you as a family can find ways to let others know God loves them and wants them to be a part of His family. Explain to your children that what they just heard is part of The Big God Story. Remind them they will learn more at church this week about how God wants us to know who we are in Him. Pray together, thanking God that He loves us and wants us to be a part of His family.
JESUS TRANSFORMED HIM INTO HIS GIVEN IDENTITY—”THE ROCK.”
© 2013 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.