PRESCHOOL & KINDERGARTEN KIDS & FAMILIES date
3.9
I’ve gained a deeper understanding of God through the lens of parenting. Inspire (for parents) I’ve gotten to know my son pretty well in the five years since he was born. He’s an off-the-chart extrovert who makes friends everywhere—the grocery store, the post office, the mall. He hates saying goodbye when the party’s over and it’s time for everyone to go home. His smile melts hearts. His laugh is infectious. He won’t take no for an answer when it comes to gummy candies, milk chocolate, or peppermints. Caden’s gotten to know me quite well, too. He tells me, “Mommy likes perfumes, purses, and ‘dancing dresses.’” He knows my drink of choice at Starbucks is a decaf mocha with soy milk. He will also tell you, “Mommy loves me forever. For all of eternity. For more than infinity.” The relationship Caden and I have built thus far is a beautiful one. It feels deep as an ocean because the love we have for each other is endless. We’ve shared hundreds of memories built around laughter, joy, and even some tears. As we continue to interact, dialogue, and commune, we learn new things about each other along the way.
I’ve gained a deeper understanding of God through the lens of parenting. Just as I desire to know who Caden is (and now my infant daughter, Isobel), God desires for me to know Him and stays in relationship with me, revealing more of Himself to me day by day. That is such an intimate thing! Every time I contemplate this concept, I’m absolutely floored. The God of the universe wants me to know Him? And He chooses to reveal Himself to me? But when I think about Him as my Father, my Daddy, my ultimate Parent—it’s not such a difficult idea to grasp. God wants everyone to know Him. Jennifer Cho Salaff
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Equip (for parents) Equip is additional background information that will help as you introduce this passage of Scripture to your children this week. The first two chapters of Acts paint a rich portrait of the early days of the church, and God’s desire from the beginning that everyone would know Him. Luke, the writer of Acts, begins the book of Acts with a recap of Jesus’ post-resurrection ministry to His followers. The fact that Jesus tarried on earth for 40 days to comfort and teach His followers proves how much God wants everyone to know Him. God’s heart continues to be reflected in the Great Commission, which is for every Christfollower, not just those in the early church. Acts 1 and 2 also show us the fulfillment of God’s promise to send a helper, the Holy Spirit. Jesus’ words to His disciples, “Wait for the gift my Father promised,” remind us that it is only in the power of the Holy Spirit that God intends for us to fulfill the Great Commission. It is the work of the Holy Spirit that prepares hearts to know God. After Jesus ascended, the disciples returned to Jerusalem and waited, as they had been told. The time to celebrate the Feast of Pentecost, a Jewish celebration of harvest, was near. As they were praying on the day of Pentecost, three signs occurred: A sound like a rushing wind filled the room; what looked like flames of fire appeared above their heads; and they spoke in other languages. These manifestations of the Holy Spirit gave testimony to the truth of the gospel expressed in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. When Peter, in the power of the Holy Spirit, declared to the crowds the truth of who God is, thousands were added to the fellowship of believers—the beginning of the church—in just one day.
REMEMBER VERSE
“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” Isaiah 6:3
Support (for parents & kids) Read together Acts 2:1–7 (from a kid-friendly Bible version like the NIrV, if you have one). Imagine together what it would have been like to be there that day: What would you see, smell, hear? Can you imagine people talking in so many different languages all at one time? Share with your child that the Holy Spirit gave Peter boldness, and when he began telling the good news that God wants everyone to know Him, the people were really moved. Read together Acts 2:36–47. You might want to have a conversation about the Holy Spirit: Who is He? What does He do? Remind your children that what they just heard is part of The Big God Story, and they’ll hear more in church this week about how God wants everyone to know Him.
Who is the Holy Spirit? What does He do?
© 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.