ELEMENTARY KIDS & FAMILIES date
4.5
How our children get introduced to God’s son, jesus, will be as unique as each of our children. Inspire (for parents) One of the greatest joys of being a parent is seeing your child discover his or her part in The Big God Story. My daughter Elizabeth was eight when I gave her a book called “From Paul With Love” about the apostle Paul and his missionary journeys. Inside, were envelopes with excerpts of the letters Paul wrote to various churches where he had helped to introduce Jesus. At the back of the book, there was an invitation, a prayer to join God’s family, and a “Kingdom Passport” with blank lines to fill in after praying the prayer. Elizabeth’s “passport” is complete, including the date and her eight-year-old signature. Elizabeth is an adult now, and she still has that book. When she was eight, if I had been asked to write out her life story, I would have written many things differently. She’s faced some real pain and suffering, but her faith is deeper and her character stronger because she has faced it with Jesus in her heart. And, as a parent, I have the confidence that the good work God has started in her, He will complete (Philippians 1:6).
How our children get introduced to God’s Son, Jesus, will be as unique as each of our children. As a parent, it’s our privilege to provide those opportunities. From the day your child is born, and every day after, you have to trust that God is good, He is wise, and has a unique plan for your child. The more you trust God to write your child’s life story, the more joy you will have as you watch how God’s Son changes everything. by Janet Lee
d Gettinctgs 9:S1–t31a(Praute l’s Conversion)
Scripture: A Everything ’s Son Changes Main Point: God your family to signed to allow de is ce ur so re This your children d’s Word before Go in e tim ve ha n is for parents Because God’s pla ren’s faith, attend church. rers of their child rtu nu l ua irit sp e to be th lly, your children you grow spiritua as at th ow kn we lly as well. will grow spiritua
Equip (for parents) Before he became an apostle of Jesus Christ, REM EMB “He p Paul (who was “Saul” before his conversion) ER v r ers o was a Pharisee, a scholar of the Jewish law, E his p vided re and the leader of the persecution of the eopl dem e; p cove church. He was convinced he was doing nant he orda tion for the will of God. From what we know of ined forev awe s e o Paul’s character, he probably would have r m —ho his Psal e is h m ly a 111:9 died before he rejected his Judaism. is na me.” nd God must have already been working on Paul’s heart before the miraculous vision in Damascus. Most of what we know about Paul’s conversion can be found in Acts 9, 22, and 26. Acts 9 details his encounter with Jesus on the road, his experience with Ananias, his baptism, and his inclusion in the body of believers. Acts 22 and 26 record Paul’s explanation of his conversion before a crowd and before King Agrippa. Paul’s defense before King Agrippa included the following statements: “I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth,” and “I was not disobedient to the vision …. First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God.” Paul’s conscience was probably affected by both his observation of Stephen’s martyrdom in Acts 4, and his gradual realization that the law would not save him. Many of Paul’s writings in the New Testament declare his previous frustrations with the law, and his free gift of salvation in Christ. After Jesus came to Paul, he was sold. Jesus was God. Gradually, then all-at-once, Jesus changed everything in Paul’s life. And once Paul was filled with the Spirit, he dedicated the rest of his days to proclaiming that Jesus was the Son of God.
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(for parents & kids) Just for fun, take a short walk with your children. After your walk, find a quiet spot and read the biblical account of Paul’s conversion in Acts 9:1–18 to your children. When you have finished reading, ask your children what they think Paul must have felt like when he suddenly heard from God and found himself blind. Ask them if they feel like they have ever heard from God. (Remind them that it’s okay if they have not heard from Him.) Share with your children that what they just heard is part of The Big God Story, and they will learn more about it at church this week. Close your time by thanking God for His Son, Jesus, who changes everything!
© 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.