ELEMENTARY KIDS & FAMILIES date
3.6
There were a lot of toasts to Jesus that night.
Inspire (for parents) One of the ways our culture takes time to remember and celebrate is with a toast. You’ve probably seen this tradition at a wedding or a formal meal. During a toast, someone stands up, raises his glass, and says something like, “To the bride!” or “Here’s to Joe!” Then everyone clinks their glasses and takes a sip of their drinks. This action of toasting is a way to celebrate someone, together with the community.
“Yea, Jesus!” the entire family echoed. Then we clinked our glasses and took a drink. It was so much fun that we decided to do it after each person shared. There were a lot of toasts to Jesus that night. More than anyone, He deserves to be recognized and celebrated for all He has done! by Justin Fox
Note: One polite element of toasting is that as you’re clinking glasses, be sure to look the person in the eye. In this way, you not only get to remember and celebrate Jesus through this activity, you also get to connect with each other!
I was thinking of this custom the other day while getting ready to celebrate a Sabbath family dinner. The dinner included candles, special blessings, and grape juice. As each family member took their turn to share the things God was teaching us, it seemed only natural to want to make a toast te ember & Celebra after each story—to Jesus! As Main Point: Rem your family to ow signed to all my youngest daughter finished de is ce ur so re This your children d’s Word before talking, I raised my glass of grape have time in Go n is for parents Because God’s pla juice and declared, “Let’s have a ren’s faith, attend church. rers of their child rtu nu l ua irit sp toast: To Jesus!” e to be th lly, your children you grow spiritua as at th ow kn we lly as well. will grow spiritua
Getting Started
Equip (for parents) Several times a year the Israelites gathered together for a festival. In Leviticus 23, the Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘These are my appointed feasts … which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies.’” These seven festivals are: 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). In addition, the Israelites would gather weekly to celebrate the Sabbath. These were times to remember what God had done for His people and to celebrate His goodness. They were times for the entire faith community to gather together without the burden of work to simply worship and celebrate. During the feasts, the Israelites ate, danced, sang, played instruments, prayed, and offered sacrifices to God. The Feast of Passover was fulfilled by the death of the Messiah, the Feast of Unleavened Bread was fulfilled by His sinless sacrifice, and the Festival of First Fruits was fulfilled by the resurrection of the Messiah. The Feast of Harvest began with a great harvest of three thousand souls by the coming of the promised Holy Spirit, who continues to harvest souls today. The Feast of Trumpets will announce Christ’s return, the Day of Atonement will usher in His judgment of the nations, and finally, the Feast of Tabernacles begins the journey to our new home in a new heaven and new earth. The Feast of Trumpets celebrated God’s creation and also marked the beginning of a time of repentance (in preparation for the Day of Atonement). As a remembrance, the people walked to the sea. At the water’s edge, they threw rocks as far as possible to show that God has removed their sins and taken them to the bottom of the sea.
REM EMB “I ha ER v ve b ers een and E c I no rucifi long lives e d w e i body n me. Th r live, bu ith Chris , I liv e life I t Chris t of Go e by t live f him d, who lo aith in t in the self for m ved me he Son and e.” G gave alat ians 2:20
Support
(for parents & kids) Every six weeks, your children spend their time at church remembering and celebrating what they have learned about God during the last six weeks. While using the Israelites’ festivals as a model for celebration, your children will remember what God did in their hearts and lives during the last few weeks. This month we are remembering the Feast of Trumpets. Just for fun, if you have a trumpet or any other type of horn, bring it with you to your family gathering time this week. Set aside an evening to remember and celebrate as a family. Just as the Israelite celebrations always revolved around a feast, create a “feast” for your family. Do something special and spend the time remembering what God has done in the life of your family and in each of you individually. Together read Psalm 98. Do exactly as the psalm says and shout for joy to the Lord, declaring His faithfulness. If you have a horn, this would be the time to blow it in celebration for all God has done. Tell your children this week in church they will have another opportunity to remember and celebrate God’s faithfulness to all of His children.
© 2011 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.