ELEMENTARY KIDS & FAMILIES date
4.8
IT’S EASY TO LIVE IN A STATE OF DISCONTENTMENT, FORGETTING THAT GOD GIVES US EVERYTHING WE NEED AND OFFERS TRUE CONTENTMENT. Inspire (for parents) The front door flew open. My son Steven ran into the house waving a bright green envelope. “Look, Mom!” he exclaimed. “I got invited to Matthew’s birthday party!” Matthew was famous for having the most elaborate parties in the class. Since kindergarten, Matthew’s birthday had become the highlight of the school year. His family generously entertained the entire class with jump castles, carnival games, lots of treats, and even a magician! Aaccording to Steven, our task was to find a “cool” present. So on the day of the party, Steven arrived with a “cool” science kit. He placed it on the gift pile and ran off to play.
fell apart when I told him we couldn’t afford to move into this neighborhood. He says he isn’t important unless he lives here and has the same stuff Matthew does. He’s nine years old! What would make him think this way?” As I drove home, I was burdened by how easily worldly values infiltrate our children’s minds (and ours as well). It’s easy to believe that our possessions and positions define us. It’s easy to live in a state of discontentment, forgetting that God gives us everything we need and offers true contentment. by Sue Funkhouser
As I was leaving, my friend Kathy entered the house with her son Joey. Kathy looked upset as Joey ran past her and out pians 3—4 the back door. “Something Scripture: Philip ilippians) (Letter to the Ph wrong?” I asked her. “My son ent Offers Contentm and I were arguing,” Kathy Main Point: God in mily to have time d to allow your fa said. “Joey is embarrassed ne sig e us de is ca ce Be . ur This reso tend church your children at by the size of our house. He rs re re fo rtu be nu d l or ua W God’s primary spirit parents to be the iritually, God’s plan is for at as you grow sp th ow kn we , ith fa n’s re of their child well. grow spiritually as your children will
Getting Started
Equip (for parents) Equip is additional background information that will help you introduce this Scripture passage to your children this week. God offers contentment. One way we see this is through Paul’s letter to the Philippians, which glows with joy, love, peace, and strength. When Paul wrote this letter, he was most likely in Rome, during the imprisonment detailed in Acts 28. Though his life lay in the balance as he awaited trial, his words shone with the contentment he had found in Christ. We can gather from 2 Corinthians 8:2 that the Christians in the church of Philippi were poor and persecuted. But unlike other early churches, this church wasn’t overcome with serious problems of doctrine, heresy, or sin. This church dealt with the problems of everyday life within community and within their own hearts. Paul’s letter to the Philippians overflows with expressions of praise, confidence, and most of all, rejoicing. For Paul, joy was not a feeling but an action. It was something that did not come and go with circumstances but came from the influence of the Holy Spirit and true fellowship with one another. By focusing the Philippian church on joy in the Lord, he called them to focus on God instead of their circumstances— to actively praise God. Though Paul continually called the Philippians to rejoice, he ended his letter with a statement about contentment, writing, “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation … I can do everything through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:12–13). In Paul’s letter to the Philippians, we see that to live contentedly is to have the ability to rejoice every day, to know the “peace that
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“Hea EMEMBE R VE l RSE will me, O L be h ord eale , and d; s and I I w a il you are l be sav ve me the ed, f or Jere one I mia p r aise h 17 :14 .” passes understanding,” and to stay the course on the path toward Jesus, following the lead of the Holy Spirit … every day.
Support (for parents & kids) This week, JUST FOR FUN, read the following part of The Big God Story right after dinner. Before you start to read this passage, ask your children what makes them feel content. Do they think having more things would make them content? What are those things? Then read Philippians 4:4–9. Here Paul tells us what we need to do to have peace and be content. Explain to your children that true contentment doesn’t depend on what we possess. Instead, true peace comes from our relationship with Christ. Ask your kids what it means to think about things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable. Remind your children that what they just heard is a part of The Big God Story, and they will hear more this week in church about how God offers contentment. End your time by praying, using verse 6 as your guide: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
© 2012 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.