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 Feast of Tabernacles: A Feast Celebrating God’s Abundant Blessings
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Did You Know? • The Israelites celebrated seven 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 Feast of Tabernacles was a time of thanksgiving to remember God’s blessings in the wilderness as well as His continued blessings. • The New Testament significance of this feast reminds us that this life is temporary, and that all of our lifelong dreams, hopes, and aspirations will one day be fulfilled in our future home and inheritance with Jesus.
Your child is still learning to express appreciation. Ask her regularly to name the blessings she is thankful for, and encourage her to thank God in prayer every day.
Older Kids Your child is more likely to develop an attitude of thanksgiving when the adults in his life regularly express their thankfulness for the blessings in their everyday lives. Be sure to point out God’s blessings in your life, and encourage your child to do the same in his own life.
Teachable Moments After reading Psalm 95:1–6, discuss the following together: • How have you seen God’s blessings in your life?
r Fun Just fo ren to think about some things
During a meal, ask your child , He is love, He shows they know to be true about God (e.g. table and have each the nd mercy, He is righteous). Go arou t the festivals God’s abou ren child your with Talk e. person shar people spent time the how and e Bibl the in people celebrated . Share that one ness good ’s God ing remembering and celebrat king God for His than by was way the Israelites remembered r reading, spend Afte –6. 95:1 lm Psa d Rea s. sing many bles God for His king than and ing pray ly fami a some time as us into the ing bring for and e grac ng goodness and everlasti st. Chri s kingdom of Jesu
Younger Kids
• How has God blessed our family? • How can we thank God for His many blessings?
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), may you be filled to the brim with the riches of God’s love and blessings. © 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.