ELEMENTARY/ KIDS& FAMILIES date:
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. For additional support in spiritual parenting and to learn more about creating transforming environments in your home, be sure to pick up HomeFront: A Spiritual Parenting Resource from your church or download at HomeFrontMag.com. You can also access the HomeFront app for your iPhone, iPad, or Android device.
REMEMBER & CELEBRATE Festival of Jubilee: A Festival Celebrating God’s Gift of Freedom
4.13
Did You Know? • The Israelites celebrated seven annual festivals: 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). • During the festivals, the Israelites ate, danced, sang, played instruments, prayed, and offered sacrifices to God. • The Year of Jubilee occurred on the 50th year following the seven cycles of seven sabbatical years. This festival celebrated God’s gift of freedom. It was a consecrated year set aside to proclaim liberty and restoration for all the inhabitants of the land. • During the Year of Jubilee, debts were forgiven, and those who had sold themselves to settle a debt were set free. Through this festival God reminded His people that He would always provide for them and that He “held the deeds” to everything they held as possessions.
Just for Fuhimnyou’re going to
During your child’s bedtime story, tell e Big God Story. Then read share the best story of all time—Th explain that this passage Psalm 111. As you read the psalm, God does as He redeems s thing zing ama highlights some of the ut His people througho His story.
Younger Kids Your child learns continues to learn through repetition. Pausing to review and remember what he’s learned about God will help him solidify what he knows.
Older Kids Your child may develop a great sense of guilt when she does something wrong. Remind her that God can and will forgive our sins, and He desires for us to move forward on a better path.
Teachable Moments After reading Psalm 111, discuss the following together: • What is God praised for in this passage?
• What does this psalm say that God provides for His people?
• How can we celebrate God’s gift of forgiveness?
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), God loves you very much and is always with you. © 2014 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.