Best Day of the Week!

A Place for Grace Parents to Partner with Sunday mornings to see the greatest inpact as they press their kids toward Jesus Christ.

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I'm Looking for Some Good Feet! (John 13:1-17)

Day One

DON'T FORGET TO PRAY FOR OUR FAITH PROMISE PARTNER IN JUNE-JUSTUS OKOTH! Check out the prayer calendar to see what to pray for in Week 1!

What do you know about yourself? Parents you may have to answer this one first to help your younger kids understand what you are asking.

Read John 13:1-17

Key verses 1-3- What do you learn about Jesus in these verses? What did He know and who did He love? Jesus understood that he was headed home soon and that God had put all things under his rule. That means that God had put Jesus in charge of EVERYTHING! Jesus also knew that he really loved his friends! Were all his friends lovable? NO! But Jesus didn't care. He loved them anyway. It is good for us to understand who we are, where we are going and who we love in order to live the Best Life that God has for us! This week we will learn about how Jesus used these things he knew about Himself to bless his friends.

Pray that your family would have a good understanding of who they are in light of God's love and Christ's death and resurrection.

  Day Two

If God put you in charge of EVERYTHING, what is the first thing you would do? 

Read John 13:1-17

Key verses 3-5-What does Jesus do? Help your kids understand what a lowly task this was. Remind them about the reality of no bathrooms and no real shoes (just sandals) when Jesus walked the earth. Jewish men and women wouldn't make their Jewish servants perform this task. It was consider to demeaning. They made their Gentile servants do it. So Jesus, their Master, does a SHOCKING thing by getting up to serve his friends. What does that tell us about Jesus and his heart?

Close in prayer.

  Day Three

What is something that mom or dad could do that would make you uncomfortable? 

Read John 13:1-17

Key verses 6-11-How does Peter respond to Christ when He first tries to wash Peter's feet? Why did it make him so uncomfortable? Peter doesn't want his King and Master Jesus to do something so demeaning and humiliating. But Jesus knows that in the next few days, He will be much more humiliated, and Peter needs to be ready for much worse. Follow Jesus doesn't always look victorious and awesome. Sometimes He leads us to places that are hard and humbling. That is what He wants Peter to understand.

Close and ask Christ to start opening your kids hearts to the reality of the Best Life with Him. Sometimes following Him includes suffering and humbling, but it is still the Best Life because we are with Him being made like Him.

  Day Four

If you were a slave to your brother or sister for a day, what do you think they would make you do?

Read John 13:1-17

Key verses 12-17-Jesus helps them understand what he has done by washing their feet. What does he tell the 12 he wants them to do in response to his washing their feet? He wants them to be like Him and serve others. He wants us to do that too! If we were someone's slave we would have to do what they wanted us to do, but God has asked us to serve others. We don't have to serve others because we are their slaves, we get to choose to serve them because we are God's kids. God wants us to understand that He has made us His own, He has given us everything we need and He is making a great place for us to come and be with Him forever! When we understand those things it becomes easy to look around and find others who need us to serve them. Think about your family, Grace Community Church, your school, your workplace: what are things you can do to follow Jesus and serve others in humility. Challenge each other over the next couple of weeks to allow your identity and destiny with God lead you to serve others in humility.

Pray for the plans you came up with. Ask God to be in them and allow them to prosper. 

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The Uniform for Worship (1 Corinthians 11:2-16)

Day One

DON'T FORGET TO PRAY FOR OUR FAITH PROMISE PARTNER IN MAY-THE JACOBSENS! We just heard from them this week. Check out the prayer calendar to see what to pray for in Week 4!

Look up big rivers and their sources. Show the kids how rivers start with a large body of water.

Read 1 Corinthians 11:2-16

Key verses 2-3-The word head in these verses is best understood as the "source." Source means that something comes out of, or begins in something else. How is Christ the source of every Believer? How does Genesis tell us that the source of Woman was man? How does John 3:16 tell us that the source of Christ is God?

Pray that your family would grow to understand the joy of Christ being their source.

Day Two

What sports do you play where you have to wear something on your head as part of the uniform? Why are those "hats" or head covering important? 

Read 1 Corinthians 11:2-16

Key verses 4-6- Paul is telling the Corinthians that there is a uniform for them when they come to worship. Just like baseball players wear a cap during the game, Paul is encouraging men and women in Corinth to observe a proper uniform when they come to worship. Their uniform is based on what was important in Rome 2000 years ago. Paul doesn't expect us to wear the same uniform for worship today, but he does want us to think about one big idea when we get ready for church on Sunday mornings or Wednesday nights-Is what we're wearing honoring to him and others?

Pray for those who are far from God that will come and check out Grace over the Summer. Ask God to help the clothes that we wear as a church be a blessing to those who visit and that they would come back.

  Day Three

How does it feel to be left out of a game or a party?

 Read 1 Corinthians 11:2-16

Key verses 4-12-Did you know that in Rome at the time Paul is writing this letter that women wore veils or shawls on top of their heads to show everyone that they were married? They didn't wear wedding rings like we do today. Veils were how they communicated that they were married. Women would only take off their veils at home or in the home of a very good friend.

Did you also know that churches back them were not held in building like they are today. They were held in the home of someone in the church! What would it be like if we had everyone from Grace here for church?

Well some of the women were taking off their veils at church because they were in the home of one of their very good friends, but this would make other women in the church feel left out, because it highlighted who was friends with whom. Paul was asking the women in the passage to leave their veils on so that no one would feel like they didn't belong in the church. It is important to God that all people feel comfortable and welcomed in His house.

How might we need to be more careful in how we treat kids that aren't our close friends at church? What about new kids? What should we do to make sure they feel like we want them to become part of God's family at Grace?

Ask God to help each of your kids to grow to be an inclusive and kind person. Ask that God would help them see those who are feeling lonely and excluded and God would give your family a heart to embrace them.

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What's Your Situation? A Lesson in Contentment: 1 Corinthians 7:17-40

Day One

DON'T FORGET TO PRAY FOR OUR FAITH PROMISE PARTNER IN April-HOPE ACADEMY! Check out the prayer calendar to see what to pray for in Week 4!

If you had to pick one rule that mom and dad wanted you to follow, what do you think that rule would be?

Read 1 Corinthians 7:17-40

Key verses 17- what is the one rule that Paul talks about with his friends in this chapter? The Corinthians would having a hard time being happy with the lives that God had given them. They wanted a different life. We are going to look at the different things they wanted this week, but what do you think Paul meant when he said each person should live as a believer? What is it that the Corinthians believe in? Help your kids see that Paul is reminding the Corinthians believe that Jesus has saved them and given them EVERY SPIRUAL GIFT! (look back at Paul's prayer of thanksgiving that open this letter 1:4-9)

 Close your time asking God to help your family see how he has already given them everything they need in Jesus and thank Him for that gift.

  Day Two

What is one thing you would to change about your life?

 Read 1 Corinthians 7:17-40

Key verses 17-28-What does Paul say to men who wanted to get circumcised? Circumcision simply means that someone grew up Jewish, so if you were not circumcised in Corinth it meant you grew up Gentile. Some people thought it was better to be Jewish and have faith in Jesus-so they wanted to be circumcised, but what does Paul say they should do?

What does he say to those in the church that were slaves? (Note for parents: slavery in Greco-Roman times was not the same as during the early years of the United States. Paul is not trying to comment one way or another on emancipation, but is instead urging them to glorify God where they are. He does say that if a slave can secure their freedom, they should.)

What does he say to married and single people

What do you think God is saying to us about the things we would like to change?

Pray for God to help your family to grow in content this week.

  Day Three

What is a long time to wait for something you really want?

Read 1 Corinthians 7:17-40

Key verse 29-What do you think Paul is talking about when he says the time is short? When Paul says "the time is short" in verse 29, he not talking about Jesus returning. Instead, he is saying that our lives here are very short, just a blink, in comparison to eternity. If they understood that their life was short compared to the time they will spend with God in eternity-how does that change how the Corinthians might deal with the situations they are unhappy about right now?

Think about your life! How does living with the understanding that our life here is short compared to the life we will live with God change how we see the things we own, our relationships with our family, or teachers, or friends? Tell you kids how thinking about this helps you be content with something in your life.

Pray that God will bless  your family with a eternal perspective.

  Day Four

What is the best secret you have ever heard?

Read Philippians 4: 10-13

Key verses 10-13- What does Paul say about the secret of contentment in these verses? It's JESUS! He is the secret! The Corinthians were all DISCONTENT! They had missed the secret to a happy or content life and they wanted their lives to be different. Paul is trying to help them see that situations don't make us happy. Jesus does! Paul is calling the Corinthians to glorify God in whatever situation they are in--to be happy and honor Jesus in that situation!

How does being unhappy with our situations or discontent affect our relationship with God or our willingness to talk about God with our friends?

Ask God to forgive any discontentment your family is struggling with and ask Him to help you understand and enjoy the secret to a content life-Jesus.

  Day Five

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would you change? 

1 Corinthians 7:17-40

Key verses 17- Where do you most struggle to accept "the situation you are in?" (Think about your school, your family, your house or toys you own, etc.) Is there another kid you wish your life was more like? Why would you like that kid's life? Parents make sure you share with your kids honestly here.

What would it look like for you to be happy with God and glorify Him right where you are, just as you are? (Glorifying God means understanding how great He is and how great He is toward you. It also means wanted to tell others how great God is!)

Pray to close. Ask God to help your family grow in contentment and glorify Him in all circumstances. 

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Build a Garden in Your Soul (Galatians 5:13-26)

Day One

DON'T FORGET TO PRAY FOR OUR FAITH PROMISE PARTNER IN APRIL- Hope Academy! Check out the prayer calendar to see what to pray for in Week 2!

 What does it mean to be Free? Are you free as kids?

 Read Galatians 5:13-26

Key verses 13-14, We are looking at a letter that Paul wrote to his friends in a town called Galatia. He starts out this passage by talking about freedom. What does Paul say our freedom is for? ("Opportunity for the flesh" is also translated "excuse for selfishness") We often think the word freedom means we can do whatever we want when we want to do it, but that is not God's way. He gives us the ULTIMATE freedom through the death and resurrection of Jesus, but that great gift is not given so we can do what we want when we want to. It is given so we can serve others, so we can love and think of others as much as we think about ourselves. If we use our freedom for these things our lives will be better and more fun! Is it easy to live thinking about others as much as you think about yourself?

Parents really consider this question for  yourself! Do you think about your spouse and kids as much as you think about yourself? Do you consider their needs and wants as much as you consider your own comfort? Tell your kids about a place where this is a hard thing to live out and make sure they know that you can't live this way on your own! You need the Spirit to help you conquer your flesh. This is what family zone is going to focus on the rest of the week: the flesh verses Spirit.

 Close in Prayer

  Day Two

Why do you think you do things that are wrong?

 Read Galatians 5:13-26

Key verses 15-21-Paul tells that we do things wrong because we are "gratifying our flesh." What do you think flesh is? Another translation calls flesh- our sinful nature- it is the part of us that wants to do things our own way and not God's way! This part of us is what makes us reject God and choose things that make us unhappy in the end. Let's look at these verses, what do you learn about our sinful nature or "flesh" in these verses?

Does a live lived in the "flesh" seem like a fun life? NO!! Jesus came to save us from the nature that leads us to misery! Tomorrow we will learn about a life lived in the Spirit, which is opposite to the life we just talked about.

  Pray to close.

  Day Three

What is your favorite kind for fruit? Why? Has your family ever been to a farm to pick fruit? If so remind your kids of the experience. If not look up some picture of people picking fruit. Or plan a family trip in late May to pick some Strawberries! When you go, bring this passage along and help your kids connect how the Spirit produces fruit the same way the vine produces fruit.

 Read Galatians 5:13-26

Key verses 22-23-Remember yesterday we learned about a life lived by our sinful nature. We decided that would not be a FUN LIFE. But what does Paul say about a life lived by the Spirit? What does the Spirit produce when we invite Him to live in us?

Imagine if your life was full of these fruit! What would life in our house be like if we were all allowing the Spirit to produce love, joy, peace and patience in our house! How would life here be different? Think about yourself, how would your life be different? Tell your kids about an area you have seen the Spirit produce fruit in your life.

 Close in Prayer

  Day Four

How do you stop doing things that are wrong or that you don't like doing?

 Read Galatians 5:13-26

Key verses 22-25-Yesterday we talked about wanting to live lives that are FULL of the fruit of the Spirit. Do you remember what some of the fruit are? Paul tells us how to do that in verse 24! How do we stop living in our sinful nature and start living in the Spirit?

We cannot produce those fun Spirit fruits on our own! We might be able to show love or kindness once in a while but we can't have lives full of them be our selves. Our lives are too trapped by our sinful natures. That is why Jesus needed to die! If we are His followers and we have giving our whole life to Him, then we can also nail all the things we do wrong and all things we don't like that we do to the cross with Jesus! He takes them and kills them in us, and then in His resurrection makes it possible for the Spirit to come and live in us and start are wonderful garden, where these great things like self-control and faithfulness can grow!

 Close in Prayer

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God Created Marriage! (Genesis 1:26-31; 2:15-25)

This week the sermon was out of 1 Corinthians 7 about singleness, marriage and sexuality in a marital relationship. If you have older children (4th or 5th grade) I encourage you to begin talking about God's view of marriage and sexuality from scripture. The past three sermons that Pastor Bill has preached would be a great place for you to start the conversation. 

Due to the more adult content of the passage this week, we are focusing Kid Zones (Bible study for kids in Community Groups) and Family Zone in Genesis and talking about how God created marriage and His purpose for it

Day One

DON'T FORGET TO PRAY FOR OUR FAITH PROMISE PARTNER IN April- HOPE ACADEMY! Check out the prayer calendar to see what to pray for in Week 1!

What do you think it means to be married?

Read Genesis 1:26-31

Key verses 26-28-These verses tell us about when we were first imagined and created by God. God is our creator! He created everything! That is what Genesis 1 & 2 tell us. If God created us, then what does He know about us? These verses also tell us that He made us like who? What does it mean that we were made in the image of God?

God made us and made us like Himself--that means that God knows what is best for us and how we work best. The Bible tells us all kinds of things that God made for us. This week we are going to look at marriage, which is actually the first thing that God designed for mankind.

Pray that God will prepare your family for a good conversation about God's design for marriage this week. Ask Him to give you and your spouse and kids eyes to see that His plans are better than our plans.

Day Two

What is good about being married?

Read Genesis 1:26-31; 2:15-18

Key verses 1:31; 2:15-18-After God was done creating everything what did he say about the job he did? But then in chapter 2 something is not good! What is not good in verse 18? Adam was not all alone. He had the animals and He had God, but God knew that those two things were not enough. Adam needed someone who was like him but also different. God called this being a "helper suitable." Did you know that the Hebrew word for "helper" is the same word that is used for God several times in the Old Testament.  God wanted Adam to have a team-mate. Someone who would help him fill up the earth and rule it.

Spend time thanking God for caring so well for Adam and for us. Thank Him for loving us so much and taking care of all our needs.

Day Three

What would be the crazy thing that could happen to you while you were sleeping?

Read Genesis 2:15-25

Key verses 20-23-What happen to Adam when he was asleep? What do you think it would feel like to wake up and see another human there for the first time? What is Adam's response to this gift from God? (POETRY!) These verses tell us that men and women need each other. We are a team! It was not good for Adam to be alone. He needed a helper to rule the world the way God wanted him to. Eve needed Adam because her creation started with his rib. Without the other, neither Adam or Eve could have lived the life that God created them for.

That is true of us too! We were made to be together. Men and women are made to live together and work together and take care of the world God gave us. You might have friends that are boys/girls. You may have brothers/sisters. You might work one day with men/women. God created us to work together and care for each other well.

And then one day God may choose to call us to marry a man (if we are a woman) or a woman (if we are a man). We were meant to work together as one! We needed someone who was like us-but also who was different. Eve was meant for Adam because like Adam, she was like God but she was not like God in the same way. So together Adam and Eve revealed the fullness of God to the world!! That is the purpose of marriage. That two people who are both like God but different from each other would come together and make ONE UNIT that shows God's love and glory to the world.

Pray for your kids and their futures. Ask God to help them understand how He made men and women to work together as team mates in ruling the world and sharing the Gospel. Ask Him to prepare them for the future He has for them. If that future is marriage, ask God to bless them with a godly spouse that will press them closer to God.

Day Four

If you could design the perfect marriage, what would it include?

Read Genesis 1:28-31; 2:20-25

Key verses 1:28-31; 23-25-What are some things we see in God's design for marriage? Making a family is a big part of God's design! When a man and woman get married, God calls them to work together to make a family, a unit, where they can begin showing His goodness and glory to the world around them-in Genesis God talks a lot about ruling the animals, but in the NT God helps men and women see the fullness of what He expects in marriage and families. It is important to remember that God made us and that we are like Him, so His design for marriage is the best! It doesn't always feel the best but we can trust that it is, but God is our creator and He always gives us His best! We don't get to design what marriage should or shouldn't be, because we don't always know what is best. Tell your kids about a part of God's marriage plans that can be hard for you to follow. When  you go God's way in your marriage, have you seen God bring fruit?

 Pray that God will help you and your spouse to live out God's design for marriage and not make your own plans try to work. Ask Him to reveal what in your marriage is not working according to His good design and confess that to Him and each other. Pray that your kids will grow to be men and women who listen to God's design in scripture and not our cultures designs for such things. 

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Who's the Boss? The Spirit! (1 Corinthians 6:12-20)

Day One

DON'T FORGET TO PRAY FOR OUR FAITH PROMISE PARTNER IN March- GSO YOUNG LIFE! Check out the prayer calendar to see what to pray for in Week 3!

If you could eat as much ice cream as you wanted, how much would you want to eat?

Read 1 Corinthians 6:12; 19-20; The whole passage might be too grown up for families with young children. If you have older kids read the whole passage (12-20), but our questions will focus on verses 12, 19-20.

Key verses 12: What are Paul's friends, the Corinthians saying? Paul's first response is to them is what? Another word for beneficial is good. How can something things that we would eat or do not be good for us? Think about that ice cream. If you ate that much would it be good for you? Paul is helping his friends see that doing what feels good isn't always good for you. And God cares deeply about our good. He wants us to have the Best Life and enjoy the food His has given us and the things He has blessed us with, but sometimes enjoying our life with God means saying no to certain things.

  Pray that your family would have a good understanding about what is good for them. Pray they would not eat, do, watch or listen to things that would lead them to doubt God or feel distant from His goodness and Love.

Day Two

What is one reason you are looking forward to being an adult? Mom and dad, when you were a kid why were you excited to grow up?

Read 1 Corinthians 6:12; 19-20; The whole passage might be too grown up for families with young children. If you have older kids read the whole passage (12-20), but our questions will focus on verses 12, 19-20.

Key verses 12: the Corinthians are living like they can do anything they want. Yesterday we talked about how Paul encouraged them that they would only do and eat things that are good for them. Look at the second thing he tells them. What does it mean to "be Mastered by" something? Why wouldn't Paul want his friends to be controlled by what they are doing, seeing or eating? Who does Paul want them controlled by? What are some things that we might be mastered by as a family? Help your kids see some things that control them. Toys they don't like to share or games they can't stop playing. Be honest about things that control you and ask your kids to pray for you as you let those things go or limit them in your life.

  Ask God to show your family things they are mastered by. Ask God for forgive you for those things and to break the control they have over your family. Make a plan to limit or cut out those things.

  Day Three

Imagine the house that God would live in. What would it include? What would are some of the cool features of God's house?

  Read 1 Corinthians 6:12; 19-20; The whole passage might be too grown up for families with young children. If you have older kids read the whole passage (12-20), but our questions will focus on verses 12, 19-20.

Key verses 19-20-What does verse 19 tell us about the Holy Spirit's house? Where does He live? He lives in us! When we become God's kid, our bodies and our lives are not our own. They become God's house, or dwelling place. How does that change the way we think about what we eat, see and do? If the Spirit lives in us, I want to live a life that allows the Spirit to be in charge of me. How does eating good things and doing healthy things help the Spirit to be in charge of my life? Tell your kids about a time when you were convicted about something in your life that wasn't good for you or that was controlling you. How did God show you that? How did you get rid of the thing that was making it hard for the Spirit to be in charge?

  Spend time thanking God that He chooses to send His Spirit to make a home in us! Thank Him for that commitment to His relationship with us. Ask Him to help your family be a good dwelling place for the Spirit, making choices that allow Him to be in charge of your lives.

  Day Four

Think about a toy you would love to have that is expensive. What would that toy be? If you saved up for 5 months and bought that toy, how would you treat it?

  Read 1 Corinthians 6:12; 19-20; The whole passage might be too grown up for families with young children. If you have older kids read the whole passage (12-20), but our questions will focus on verses 12, 19-20.

Key verses 19-20: Why does Paul encourage the Corinthians to honor God with their bodies? Christ gave His life so that we could be close to God and live the Best Life-which is a life with God. Paul is pointing out that Jesus paid the price by giving up His life, it only makes sense that we would then give our lives and bodies to Him. 

  Ask God to help your kids see the great price Jesus willingly paid for their freedom and closeness to God. Ask Him to help each of you understand the price and willingly give your lives and bodies to Him in honoring obedience.

  Day Five

If you have older children (4th grade or above) begin praying about when to talk with them about sexuality and their bodies. This is a great passage to spring from in helping them understand the gift of sexuality and how it can become harmful if we don't pursue it God's way.

  You can find some excellent resources here at Laugh Your Way…

http://www.laughyourway.com/teens/teen-resources/

  And at Focus on the Family.  

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Don't Forget to Remember (Deuteronomy 6:4-12; 20-25)

Day One

DON'T FORGET TO PRAY FOR OUR FAITH PROMISE PARTNER IN MAR-GREENSBORO YOUNG LIFE! Check out the prayer calendar to see what to pray for.

 If you could tell the world one things about God what would it be?

 Read Deuteronomy 6:4-12; 20-25

Key verses 4-5: The one thing that Moses focuses on is that God is the ONE TRUE GOD! The people that lived around God's people worshiped many false gods. Moses wanted his people to know and remember that their God was alive and true and He was One God. Today people may not think there are a lot of different gods but they do think it's ok to love a lot of different things as much or more than you love the ONE TRUE GOD. But God asks us, His people, to remember to worship Him and Love Him best! What are things that we as a family might love as much as we love God? Is there anything that any of us love more?

Ask God to give your family an undivided heart for the One True God. Ask Him to gently but firmly reveal if there are some lesser gods that your family loves more than Him and ask Him to give you the grace to cut those things out of your family's life.

Day Two

If you were super strong-how would you show God that you loved Him? How would superman use his super strength to show God love?

Read Deuteronomy 6:4-12; 20-25

Key verses 4-5: How does Moses tell the people to love God? Moses is helping the people see that they need to love God with everything they have--all that is in them. When we think about our whole selves, we can break it down into 3 areas-our thoughts, our feelings, and our mussels (what we do, our actions) How can we show God love through our thoughts? How can we show God love through our feelings? (think about when you are scared or angry-how do we love God when we are feeling those things?) How can we show God we love Him through our actions (our strength)?

Make an action plan for each member of your family. Have everyone pick one area (thoughts, feelings, actions) they want to work on this week. How are they going to work at showing God love in those areas? Write down a few action steps for each person and then ask God to bless the plan.

Day Three

Kids: What is something that is very important to mommy and daddy? Mom and Dad: what is something that is very important to each child?

Read Deuteronomy 6:4-12; 20-25

Key verses 6-12: What did Moses tell the people to do with God's instructions in these verses? He is trying to help them see that there is  no part of their lives that God is not a part of! Think about each of the things or times of day that he tells them to think or talk about God's word. It's ALL DAY!  God's ways are the most important part of our life and we need to be talking about them. Tell your kids a part of God's instructions to you that has brought you life or freedom. 

Ask God to make your family more aware of Him in the everyday! Ask Him to help you as parents do a good job impressing God's ways onto your kids' lives.

Day Four

Why do we follow the rules?

Read Deuteronomy 6:4-12; 20-25

Key verses 12; 20-15: Why does Moses tell the people to follow God's instructions? God delivered His people out of slavery! So following His rules are a response to that great love. That is why we want to follow God's rules too! He has freed us from a different type of slavery. It is the slavery of sin and death! Tell your kids your salvation story. Who were you before your faith in Jesus; how were you a slave to sin? What drew you to put your faith in Jesus? How are you different now?

Pray that your kids will put their faith in Christ and that he will rescue them from the slavery of sin. 

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His Way is the Best Way! (Isaiah 28:23-29)

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The Grace of Giving!! (2 Corinthians 8:1-14)

Monday DON'T FORGET TO PRAY FOR OUR FAITH PROMISE PARTNER IN FEB-La Luz De Cristo! Check out the prayer calendar to see what to pray for. Also if you have not sat down with your kids to talk about their Earn, Find, Pray cards, then do that TONIGHT! Make a list of your favorite things. Look all over the house and write down all the things you are glad that you have.   Read 2 Corinthians 8:1-14 Key verses 1-5-Paul tells his friends the Corinthians about others who love giving their money away! These verses start out by Paul saying that he wants to share about the "grace" that God has given other churches. Look at the List we just made. These things are part of the grace God has given us. Think about things that you might have over looked (health, house, good jobs, lots of food…) Grace means unmerited favor. All of our toys, clothes, beds, even our home, is a gift from God; a gift of grace.   Close with prayer. Thank God for all that He has given your family. Ask Him to help you see all that He has given. Ask for Him to help your family grow in their generosity this week, and that that growth would be rooted in the generous grace God has already given.   Tuesday Is it easier to share when you have a lot of candy or when you just have 2 pieces? Why?   Read 2 Corinthians 8:1-14 Key verses 1-5-Yesterday we made a list of all the things that God has graced us with; today what do we learn about the generous church that Paul is talking about? Where they a rich church living in a comfortable place? What was their attitude toward giving? Why does that surprise us? This church knew something about God's generosity to them and were committed to being generous no matter what their life situation was! Ask God to help your family look like the Macedonian churches. Pray that He would help you, your spouse, and your kids see His generosity in your lives and be fully committed to it in the lives of others.   Wednesday What is something you are really good at? Read 2 Corinthians 8:1-14 Key verse 6-9; The Corinthians were good at a lot of things! What were some of the things that Paul says they excelled at? What do you think each of those meant? Now Paul wants to see them excel in the grace of giving! What does that mean? Remember all the things we talked about being good at. What if this was something we as a family were really good at. What would it look like for us to be really good at giving to build God's kingdom? Make a plan as a family to grow in the grace of giving. Close by asking God to show your family how to excel here. If you family came up with a plan or some steps to be better at giving, ask Him to bless your efforts.   Thursday Get a bag of candy from the store, or make a plate of cookies for family zone. When your kids ask for some, tell them you probably don't have enough to share because they are your favorite.   Read 2 Corinthians 8:1-14 Key verse 6-9; What do these verses tell us about Jesus? How did He become poor? When we give Jesus our whole life- how do we become rich? If we really are rich in Christ, how should we feel about the money and things that we have. We have everything we need in our relationship with Jesus. He is who brings us TRUE satisfaction. When we have Him in our life we are more free to give to others. It's like this plate of goodies. They may be my favorite, but Jesus satisfies me more than any cookie could. Plus I'm rich with this goody! I have more than I could possibly enjoy. Knowing that I'm rich helps me give to others.   Ask God to give your family a deep understanding of the riches they have in a relationship with Jesus. Ask Him to give each of you vision to see how much Jesus has blessed them and then move toward given that blessing to others.     Friday   If you had all the money in the world-how much would you want to give to God?   Read 2 Corinthians 8:1-14 Key verses 1-14-This week we have been talking about giving generously! And in your Sunday school class this week, you learned that it is better to give than get (Acts 20). Over the next couple of weeks we as a family want to pray about how much God wants us to give toward Faith Promise. We are going to trust that God will give us the money to give toward our missionaries. But we wanted you kids to pray for us parents tonight.   Have your kids pray for you! Ask them to pray that you will make a FP commitment that will grow your faith and that will please God. Have them ask that God will surprise your family in big ways over the next year.

[bestdayoftheweek-blog]

Family Zone for Matthew 16:21-28

Monday   If your teachers or friends asked "Who are your Mom and Dad", what would you tell them? How would you describe Mom and Dad to other people?   Read Matthew 16:13-20 Key verses 13-20-Jesus asks His 12 followers what others are saying about Him. Why do you think He asks them that? It is important for us to be able to answer this question too. We need to know and understand what others think about Jesus and what we think about Jesus. How would you answer these two questions? Start with who do you say Jesus is. What do you think other who don't go to church or read the Bible think about Jesus? Talk with your kids about what you see and hear in our world. Encourage them that we have two power tools that help us know EXACTLY who Jesus was and is-they are the Bible and the God's Spirit. Challenge them that knowing who Jesus is, what He did and what the means for us is the MOST important thing to know in their whole life.   Close with prayer. This week we will look at the cost of following Jesus. Ask God to prepare your family's heart to count the cost and press further into their relationship with Him. Ask God to make this question "Who do you say I am" be the big question they answer with their whole heart, soul, mind and strength.   Tuesday Was there ever a time that you knew the answer to a question a grown-up asked? How did that make you feel?   Read Matthew 16:21-28 Key verses 21; yesterday we saw that Peter gets the right answer to Jesus's question, but today we see that he doesn't understand the right answer! He calls Jesus the Messiah- Messiah or Christ (Which is the Greek work for the Hebrew term Messiah), mean anointed one. It is a term talking about a person that God's people had been waiting for, for over 1,000 years! God was going to send His people an anointed one that was going to free them and save them from hardship. At the time Jesus came, God's people were being ruled by the Romans, who did not really like the Jewish people. They wanted God to send His Messiah to save them from the Romans. So when Peter tells Jesus that he thinks Jesus is the Messiah, he is also saying that he thinks Jesus came to save him and all his friends from the terrible Roman empire. How does Jesus correct that idea in verse 21? Does Peter respond well to what Jesus has to say (verse 22)? We see here that God has a bigger plan in mind that doesn't make sense to Peter. This bigger plan takes Peter trusting that God's plan is better than His. Is it easy to trust that God knows better than we do? What gets in our way when we try to trust God's way or plan instead of our own? Ask God to grow trust in your family. Pray that He would cultivate men and women out of you, your spouse and kids, that seek Him and allow Him to inform us of the Best way to live our Lives with Him.   Wednesday  Who is the worst bad guy you know? What makes him so bad? Read Matthew 16:21-28 Key verse 21-23; What does Jesus call Peter? Satan is God's enemy. He hates God and is jealous over how much power God has. He wants more power than God. He wants everyone to worship his and his twisted ways instead of worshiping God and following His wonderful ways. In this passage Jesus is not calling Peter Satan, but actually taking to Satan-who is trying to use Jesus's good friend to derail Him from His mission to save the world and win them away from His hated enemy! When we become God's kids by putting our faith in Jesus Satan becomes our enemy. He starts to look for ways to derail our life with God. He tells us lies about who God is and how much He loves us. But don't need to be afraid of this enemy!! Jesus has already defeated him and the Bible tells us that when we resist Satan, he has to flee from us. What are some ways you as a family can resist the work of the enemy in your home? Close by asking God to protect your family from the schemes of the enemy. Ask Him to not allow your kids or the adults to live in fear of Him but to grow a careful vigilance against him. Ask that God would cultivate you, your spouse and your kids as weapons against the schemes of this enemy in the world.   Thursday Think about your favorite restaurant. If you could order ANYTHING and any number of things, what would you get? (if it fits in your monthly budget-take them to restaurant and let them do this. Ask the waitress to keep a menu and when everyone is done, talk about the passage and show them the cost.)   Read Matthew 16:21-28 Key verse 24-28; What does Jesus tell us about following Him in these verses? Life with God is alot like ordering food off a menu. When we are out, you just see the food you want, but mom and dad see the food and the cost. We know how much money we brought and therefore what we can afford to buy. When you follow God there is a cost too. At first the cost can seem BIG!! But the longer you walk with God and the more time you spend with Jesus in prayer and His Word you see that cost is small. What do these verses tell us the cost is? Taking up their cross would have communicated to the 12 that they were walking toward death-you can help you kids engage this by telling them that when we follow Christ we say that we will follow Him anywhere--even if that means death. Tell your kids about something you had to "give up" to follow Jesus and how that felt at the time and how it feels now. Encourage them that you hope that they will one day be willing to give up everything and follow Christ to even better things!   Ask God to give you kids understanding about the cost of a life with Him. He can help them understand what that looks like in their specific context. Ask Him to give your family eyes to see how small the cost really is in light of the pay out of a Life with Him.     Friday   Which would you really want-$50 right now or $1,000,000 in 5 years?   Read Matthew 16:21-28 Key verses 25-27-Yesterday we talked about what it costs us to follow Jesus. Jesus told Peter that he had to deny himself, take up his cross and follow Him. Then He talks about our life-How does one save their life? Does that seem strange? Jesus points out here that our souls (and where we are headed eternally) are way more important than owning the WHOLE WORLD! Jesus is saying, that the whole world is like $50 right now, but saying no to the world and yes to God is like getting $1,000,000 a little later. Which is really better?   Ask God to help your kids see the world for what it is. Pray that he would give them eyes to see the temporary of what the world offers and the eternal greatness and joy of what God offers. Ask him to show you places in your family where you are investing time and resources in gaining the world, ask Him to give you the strength and life to put your family on a path to give their whole-selves to God.

[bestdayoftheweek-blog]

Don't Be Afraid of the Dark (Isaiah 9:1-7)

Family Zone for Isaiah 9:1-7

Day One

Why can the dark be scary? If you lived in the dark for several weeks, how do you think you would feel?

Read 1 Corinthians 3:1-23

Key verses 1-3 (& the big idea from chapter 8)-The people of Israel were living in great darkness. They had really messed up! They had walked about from God’s way and were living the way they wanted. This lead to God sending a terrible enemy to capture His people and carry them away from their home land. BUT that is not where God is going to leave His people. He is going to come and rescue His people from the great darkness they have made. That rescue comes as the LIGHT OF THE WORLD-Jesus! Are there any places in your life that feel dark and scary? Share with your kids a time you felt your life was burdened by darkness-How did God use the LIGHT of Jesus to change your heart?

Close with prayer. Thank God for the Light of Jesus that saved us from walking in darkness. Thank Him for sending the dawn of Christmas into the world. Ask Him to prepare you family to receive and enjoy the gift over this Christmas week.

Day Two

Check out www.gracegso.org to get the Christmas Eve family devotion

Day Three

Check out www.gracegso.org to get the Christmas day family devotion

Day Four

If you were fighting in a battle would you want God to send you a strong superhero/warrior with cool weapons and super strength or a toddler?

Read Isaiah 9:1-7

Key verse 3-7-We read words like shatter, and rod of the oppressor, warrior’s boots and clothes rolled in blood, and we think that God will be sending a might warrior to save His people and us from the enemy of evil and sin. But God sends a Baby, a son. Why do you think He chooses to send His son as a baby to win the battle against evil and sin?

God is surprising and His plan is mind blowing! Thank Him for using love and grace to win the battle against evil and sin. Thank Him for sending His son as a baby that grew into a man who would die us and forever win the war!

Day Five

If you had to live in a dark basement for 1,000 days how would you feel when the time came and someone came and brought you out into a light filled back yard?

Read Isaiah 9:1-7

Key verses 1-7-If we are God’s kids, why don’t we have to be afraid of the dark? This passage uses the idea of dark and light to help us understand what our lives are like when we live far from God. We might not see darkness, but our minds and hearts and souls live in darkness. When we try to walk and live our lives apart from God, we get bumped and bruised and cut and hurt, because we walk in darkness. That is what is so exciting about Jesus coming to earth! He brought the light we can live by. He brought the way for us to see and get back to God. This  passage in His birth announcement to us! And through His birth we are able to come out of great darkness in to warm and wonderful light.

How does this truth about who Jesus make you feel?

Thank God for the great light. Think about how you could take this birth announcement for Jesus coming and pray for men women and kids in your family, neighborhood, schools, and workplace. 

[bestdayoftheweek-blog]

Don't Be a Big Baby! (1 Corinthians 3:1-23)

Family Zone for 1 Corinthians 3:1-23

Day One

Would you like it if someone called you a big baby? Why not?

Read 1 Corinthians 3:1-23

Key verses 1-3-In these verses Paul calls the Corinthians BIG BABIES! Why does he call them that? They all have told Paul that they accept Jesus as their master and have given Jesus their whole lives. When you do that Christ comes and lives inside you. Paul is telling them that when you have Christ living in you, you start acting and thinking like Christ-not like the world. Paul wants his friends to stop acting like babies in the faith and start growing up and acting like Christ. When they do, he can start telling them more and more about this faith they have and the love of God that they now have access to. How do we as a family still act like babies in the faith? Where are we not acting like Jesus as a family?

Close with prayer. Thank God for giving the fullness of His Son when you and your family believe in Him. Ask Him to show you this week where you are still acting like babies in the faith and to give you the heart to grow up and act more like your big brother Jesus.

Day Two

Who is a friend that has a toy or gadget that you really wished you had? What is they have you want? What about a talent that a friend has, or an accomplishment that you wish you had?

Read 1 Corinthians 3:1-23

Key verses 1-4-Paul says that Jealousy and arguing are big Baby actions. Why is jealousy an immature act (a babyish act) of a child of God? What about arguing-why is it silly for God’s kids to argue with each other? Remember from yesterday, Paul is pointing out to his friends that now they are God’s kids they have Christ living in them, and they are live like Him. That is true for us too. When we give Jesus our whole selves we are given the Spirit of God and the fullness of Christ living in us. Christ always thinks and acts for others-not himself. Christ always does the biding of His Father-God- NOT HIS OWN. Jesus was never jealous or quarrelsome. He was kind and humble. HE didn’t always agree with everyone, but he treated everyone with patience and value. We need to act like big kids not babies. We need to work hard to act like Jesus! What are some things that make you feel jealous or that make you want to argue with each other or mom and dad? Parents be sure to answer this question! It is good for our kids to hear that we still struggle to live out our lives with God and to see us respond to the scripture.

Spend time confessing the areas of life where you feel jealous and argumentative. Ask God to allow Christ to grow more and more alive in you and in your family so you can live the life you all want to live. Over the next week-be aware of when your kids begin to argue with each other and with you. EACH TIME-gently pull out this passage and remind them that arguing with each other is for babies, but that we are going to be a family that acts like Jesus. Try to work out the disagreements and pray-each time- for God to help you family grow to be united and Christ like.

Day Three

Who is better-the man who dreamed up our house, or the man who took those plans and built it?

What about in a garden-who is better, the man who plants the seeds or the man who waters them?

Read 1 Corinthians 3:1-23

Key verses 5-15-Paul is trying to help his friends see that they don’t need to pick the best leader to follow (which is what they were fighting about) but that all of us who are working in God’s Kingdom are equal. We all have an important role to play and our work is used by God to do even bigger things than we can imagine. Who does Paul highlight in the garden image, who does he lift up in the building story? If you follow God and obey Him when he asks you to work at church or other places in His Kingdom, he will take your work and grow great things. He will take your work and root it in the foundation of Jesus! Tell you kids about a place you serve in God’s Kingdom and how you’ve seen Him take your small effort and do something big.

Thank God for giving you and your family the chance to build His Kingdom along with Him. Ask Him to give your kids insight into where He would like to see them serving (even now) in the kingdom of God. Ask Him to bless your family’s efforts in your neighborhood, work and school, and at church for His glory.

Day Four

If you were a house, what kind of house would you be?

Read 1 Corinthians 3:1-23

Key verse 16-17-Paul actually tells us that when we become God’s kids we become a house. Who’s house do we become? What do you think that means for us? If together we are the house of God, what does fighting and jealous do to that house?

This is why jealous and arguing are so harmful to us. We are the temple of God, and God is never jealous or quarrelsome. When we are those things with each other and with those that don’t know God, we don’t reflect Him to the world.

Close by asking God to help you and your family be true and glorious reflections of who He is-both at Grace and in the world.

Day Five

If you had all the toys and gadgets in the whole world would you ever fight with your brother or sister about sharing your things? Why or why not?

Read 1 Corinthians 3:1-23

Key verses 21-23-Paul tells us “No more” what? And what is the reason he gives for us to boast no more? Think about all that God has and Paul tells us that as God’s kids we have ALL THINGS! Does that mean that we can ask for any toy in the world and God will give it to us? NO! But what do you think it does mean?

We don’t fully get this yet, because we don’t know how REALLY big and wonderful God is, so we think that certain toys or things or vacations would be way better than getting God. But Paul knows better. Paul knows that God is everything. That God is the only thing that brings us pure joy and happiness. That is how we can stop feeling jealous and argumentative with others- God has given his kids everything they could want-all of Him.

And when we accept Christ, we get ALL OF JESUS, ALL OF THE SPIRIT AND ALL OF GOD-and He gives us only the best things for us. This why it is important to spend time with Him and in His word each day, so He can teach us to understand these things like Paul did-That God is better than anything else you could ever have and if you are His-You have all of Him! All things are yours!!

Thank God for giving you the fullness of Himself. Ask Him to help you family see things the way they are-that having God (Father Son and Spirit) is having all things. Ask Him to give your family an understanding of the goodness of this gift and see that it is better than anything the world has to offer.

[bestdayoftheweek-blog]

Become a Know it All! (1 Corinthians 2:6-16)

Family Zone for 1 Corinthians 2:6-16

Day One

Who do you think is the smartest person in the world? 

Read 1 Corinthians 2:6-16

Key verses 6-16-This passage is about God's wisdom. What is one thing you noticed about the wisdom of God from these verses? God knows everything! He made everything! He understands everything! And He offers us that wisdom when we give our whole selves to Him. This is one of the BEST parts of following Him, that He longs to show us true things about Himself. He wants to be known to us like we are known to God-What does God know about us? (review Psalm 139 to find the answer) And He allows us to know everything about Him-through the work of Jesus and gift of the Spirit (both of which we will talk about more this week)

Close with prayer. Tell God thank you for revealing Himself to you, your spouse and your family. Ask Him to help you family long to know more and more about the deep mystery and wisdom of God-not to be smarter or better than others, but to be more and more His and more and more like Him! 

Day Two

What would be the best place to hide in the house if we were playing hide and seek (or simply play hide and seek with your kids as you start family zone today)? If you have older kids, have them imagine playing hide and seek at their school or at Grace. What makes for a good hiding place? When you hide or hide something-do you want the hidden thing to stay hidden forever?

Read 1 Corinthians 2:6-16

Key verses 6-9-What do these verses tell us where hidden? Did God plan for His Wisdom and mystery to stay hidden forever? What was God's plan for His wisdom? God always meant to reveal Himself to those He loved and who followed Him. In His great goodness He wanted His wisdom to bring His kid's glory-As we get to know God, we become like Him-and that is glorious to us!

Pray that God will give your family humble hearts that stand in awe of God's goodness and the gift of His plan to show himself to us, to reveal to us His mystery and wisdom, and make us like Him.

Day Three

What is the hardest thing you are learning at school? What could really help you master that subject?

 Read 1 Corinthians 2:6-16

Key verses 9-14-Understanding God is TOO BIG for our small brains to handle! But what does God gives us to help us understand the deep mystery of who He is and what He is doing? What do we learn about the Spirit in these verses? Paul tells us we have received the Spirit-Explain to your kids that the Spirit of God comes to dwell in the spirit of those who have given their whole selves to God. When you accept Jesus you receive the FULL Spirit of God-which allows you to begin to understand the mysteries of Jesus! Tell them about how the Spirit guides you, how He has helped you understand the deep wisdom of God.

If you are not sure about how the Spirit ministers to you in this way consider reading up on the third person of the Trinity. "The Voice of Jesus" by Gordon Smith is an excellent book about the Spirit and how we can learn to hear from Him. Do a scripture study on the Spirit of God. Ask God to help you got to know the Spirit that is alive in you so you can better know Him.

Thank God for giving the fullness of Himself, the fullness of His Son and the fullness of His Spirit so that we might freely know him and freely live. Ask Him to give each member of your family an experience with the Spirit this week, and become men and women who walk by the Spirit.

Day Four

If you could have a brain transplant with any superhero, or cartoon character and be able to do what they do, who would you pick-why?

Read 1 Corinthians 2:6-16

Key verse 16-Who mind have we been given according to these verses? What do you think it means that when we give God our whole self and choose to follow Jesus that He gives us the mind of Jesus? Why is it good to get the mind of Jesus-What did Jesus know about God? Think about a time you thought about something poorly, but with the help of the spirit and the mind of Christ you were able to think about the situation better and be blessed-share that story with your kids.

For Parents: Having the mind of Christ is a part of the mystery called the great exchange. Christ took on our limited nature-our sin, our flesh, our emotions and our minds- and when we believe in Him- He gives us his righteousness, His life, His heart, His mind. We get them in FULL when we put our faith in Him. This wisdom is too high for us or our kids to understand-BUT it is not too high for the Spirit and the Son to teach us. If your kids have made a profession they have the fullness of the Spirit and the fullness of the mind of Christ working in their favor to help them understand this mystery. Share the truth of today the best you can and then ask the Spirit to do the work of helping your kids understand and Christ to do the work of renewing their minds everyday in this truth of who they really are when they are His.

Day Five

Who is your favorite teacher or who is someone you would really like to learn from? What are things you could do to learn everything that teacher knows?

If your kids are homeschooled or not fond of school-think about something they would like to learn to do-build, sew, cook, plant- and then ask the questions above about that activity.

Read 1 Corinthians 2:6-16

Key verses 9-16-We learned this week that when we follow God He gives us the mind of Christ and the gift of His Spirit. Jesus Knows everything about God and the Spirit understands everything about God (they actually both know all and understand all because of the unity found in the trinity, but Paul chooses to highlight these specific things) what are some things our family can do to better learn from them? Having the wisdom of God should be a top priority for our family! So how can we be better students of the Spirit and Jesus.

Make a list of the ideas you have (spend time memorizing God's word, each family member read the family Zone passage on their own each day, spend time in listening prayer...) and pick ONE item to practice throughout our study of 1 Corinthians.

Thank God for giving the Spirit to help us fully understand him and for giving the mind of His Son so we could fully know Him.  Ask God to help you embrace that this is who you and your family are- followers of God with the fullness of the Spirit and the mind of Christ. 

[bestdayoftheweek-blog]

STOP! DROP! Give Thanks!! (Luke 17:11-19)

Family Zone for Luke 17:11-19

Day One

How do you feel when you are in a crowd and someone starts yelling? How do you think you would respond to someone you didn't know yelling at you?

Read Luke 17:11-19

Key verses 11-14-In our story this week see that it starts with men yelling at Jesus. What did they yell? If you were with Jesus what would you be feeling? How would  you respond to the men? How does Jesus respond to them?

Close with prayer. Tell God thank you for His response to these men when they cried out. Tell Him thank you for the fact that He is a God who hears when we cry out to Him and rescues us!  

Day Two

What would be the most embarrassing thing you could wear to school, or to church? Why would that be embarrassing? Mom and Dad, tell the kids about a time you were embarrassed.

Read Luke 17:11-19

Key verses 11-14-How do you think these men felt to yell out in front of everyone for pity? Tell the kids about what having leprosy was like. It was a skin disorder that often lead to the infected losing ears, fingers, and toes. You were not allowed to live with your family or friends but had to live outside the city and when anyone came near you, you had to yell out UNCLEAN. Then those around you would walk far around you so they would come close. You also could not go to the temple to worship or to sacrifice, which meant anyone with leprosy felt very far from God. If you had the disease, how would you feel each day? Do you think you would have been desperate enough to yell at for help?

Rescue from God often comes when we are humble enough to ask for help. God can't ignore a child who asks for help.

Pray that God will give your family humble hearts that see their need for God's rescue, both in the every day and in the BIG way of giving their whole self to God and letting Him rescue them from sin.

Day Three

When do  you act a little crazy? (think about watching a game or concert) What are things that make us get so excited we don't care how we act?

Read Luke 17:11-19

Key verses 15-16-How many men were healed? How many came back? Where do you think the others went? Luke tells us some things about the man-what do we know about him? How did he show his gratitude?

What is something God has done for us that has made us respond to him like this man? What gets in the way of us saying thank you to God the way this man did?

Spend time making a list of things that God has blessed your family with-THINK BIG! House, Cars, Freedom to worship Him: Things like these we forget are not common for most of the people in the world. Enough to eat, healthy family and the ability to go to the doctor when we are sick. After you make your list, read it and after each item, everyone in the family shout together, "THANK  YOU GOD!" Close your time by asking God to open your family to praising Him with an abandoned sense of gratitude.

Day Four

What is something you often forget to say thank you to  mom and dad for?

Read Luke 17:11-19

Key verse 15-19-Remember from yesterday, that only one man that Jesus healed came back. How does Jesus respond to this? What does he say? Why do you think the "foreigner" came back but the men who were a part of God's people didn't?

Ask God to help your family not become blind to His great blessings. Ask that He would grow in you, your spouse and your kids a heart that would never fatigue and grow tire of seeing the miracles He gives your family every day.

Day Five

What  are you most thankful to God for about your day today?

Read Mark 8:27-38

Key verses 11-19-How could we as a family become more like the one who came back and not the 9 that never said thanks?                                                                      

Thanksgiving and seeing the blessings of the Lord take practice. Think about a time in your day or week where you could stop as a family and say thanks to God for all He has given. Put this time in your phone calendar or day planner, and KEEP THE APPOINTMENT! Kids who are trained in thanksgiving tend to be more content because the Spirit has a place to work that fruit in their lives. Ask God to "fill this good idea and act of faith with His own energy so that it all will amount to something" (2 Thessalonians 1:12 [MSG]).

[bestdayoftheweek-blog]

Don't be a Smartypants (1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5)

Family Zone for 1 Corinthians 1:10-17

Day One

What is something foolish you do? What does foolish mean? What is something wise that you do?

Read 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5

Key verses 18-19-What is the message of the Cross? (that Jesus was God born a baby, lived a perfect life, died of the cross for our sins and rose from the dead on the 3rd day. If we give our whole self to Jesus we can become God's kids-which is the BEST LIFE!) Why for those who don't know or care about God would this message of what Jesus did seem like foolishness?

Our family DOES know God and we try to live for and with Him, for us why is what Jesus did on the cross show us the POWER OF GOD?

Spend time as a family thanking Jesus for what He did on the cross. Spend time thinking together what your lives would be like if He had not come and saved you.

Day Two

How well do you think God wants you to do at school? Does He care about how hard you work to learn?

Read 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5

Key verses 18-19-Does it seem here that God doesn't like for people to learn or do well in school? What is Paul trying to get the Corinthians to understand about God and human wisdom? God loves learning and wants us to do our best in school (Col 4:23). He does not want our learning to replace our need for Him and His wisdom. When we do well at something, it can lead us to PRIDE. Pride means that we think more of ourselves than we do of God or others. Pride can put a big wedge between us and God, because the more we think we understand on our own the more we don't need God to help us understand. Tell your kids a story about when you struggled with pride over your own education or intelligence. How did it affect your relationship with God and understanding of His presence and provision?

Close your time thanking God for the grace of good schools and healthy minds. Ask Him to help you, your spouse, and your kids be excellent students. Ask Him to allow all learning to make your family more dependent and in love with Him. If you see the roots of pride in any member of your family consider praying for that God to break that sin in your personal time with Him leading up to Christmas.

Day Three

Which would you rather be known for; being smart or being strong?

Read 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5

Key verses 20-25-The Corinthians wanted to be known for being smart and strong, but who is Paul focused on? Who's knowledge/wisdom and strength is worth talking about? Why?

How could we as a family focus more week to week on God's wisdom and His strength?

Thank God for His infinite wisdom and power and that He gives those freely to us. Ask Him to give your family eyes to see Him as the one who knows all and the one who can do all. Ask Him to help your family grow in their dependence on God in these areas and to give you the gift of leadership to help point them in the right way.

Day Four

If you were writing a story of your life, what would you focus on if I asked, "Who did  you use to be?" (Parents make sure you answer this question with your kids.)

Read 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5

Key verses 26-31-Why does Paul remind them that they use to be not smart, not influential, not wealthy or from an important family? When they heard the good news they weren't very important people and so the truth that an all powerful God loved them and was moving toward them made them really happy! Since then they have started focusing not on this all powerful, all knowing God but on being the smartest, the best. If they are focused on themselves what is going to happen according to these verses?

Close your time by challenging your kids to remember who they are in light of God's all-knowing, all-powerful love. Encourage them to see each success as a way to boast in the Lord's goodness and not a chance to boast in themselves. Spend time thinking about things you and your kids have to "boast" in...make it a game. Se e who can come up with the most "BOASTS" in the Lord. An Example: Bobby scored the game winning touchdown in the game-God allowed Him to be open, God gave your family the money to for him to play ball, God gave him strong legs to run on….and go on and on around the circle thinking of how God can be praised--or have each family member make a list in 45 seconds and see who can come up with most things. Close your time by boasting in the Lord together and praising Him for how he has blessed your family.

Day Five

If you were in charge of a group of people- how would you describe yourself to them? What would you highlight? IS there anything you would try to keep secret?

Read 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5

Key verses 2:1-5-What does Paul highlight about himself in these verses? Why do you think he reminds his friends in Corinth about his weaknesses? What does it mean that He wanted to focus ONLY on Jesus and the message of His crucifixion?

We tend to think that people will become interested in Jesus if we say really cool things about Him. If we talk Him up, but Paul challenges us to see that simply telling the world of God's love and Christ's birth, life, death and resurrection will win people to God through the Spirit!

Christmas is coming and is a great time for your family to share the good news of Christ's coming. Think about hosting a cookie exchange, or neighborhood dinner, where your family could pray together before and after the event. During the event one of you could share why Christmas is such a gift, and tell your neighbors about Jesus and Him crucified to save everyone into a life with God.

Ask God to show your family how each of you can talk about Jesus and Him crucified with lost neighbors, family, and friends. Make a plan to spend time with these loved ones and take the risk to share the good news of God's love and Christ's death with them. 

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The Harmony of Unity (1 Corinthians 1:10-17)

Family Zone for 1 Corinthians 1:10-17

Day One

What is the difference between singing in unison and singing in harmony? What this video together: http://youtu.be/YkKnv0UYqXc .

Which version of the song sounded better?

Read 1 Corinthians 1:10-17

Key verses 10-- What does Paul appeal the Christians at Corinth to do in this verse? The Greek word for "agree" here means to work in harmony. God didn't want the Corinthians to be exactly the same, think the same, act the same. He wanted them to work hard to be united and together. He wants this for our family too. Is it hard for us to agree with each other? Why? How could we work hard to work in harmony with each other instead of disagreeing arguing?

Spend time thanking God for each family member and the unique gifts they bring to the table. Ask Him to unite your family in harmony. Ask Him to give you , your spouse, and your kids the vision and energy needed to do the hard work of working together. Ask Him to make your family a beautiful harmony in your neighborhood that will make your neighbors curious about a life with Him.

Day Two

If Ironman, Batman and Spiderman all wanted to be president who would you want to follow? Why? (if you kids don't know these heroes, plug in celebrities/characters they could relate to.)

Read 1 Corinthians 1:10-17

Key verses 10-11-  The Corinthians are fighting about which church leader is the best one. Some of them like Paul-who wrote the letter, some like other guys like Apollos and Peter (Cephas), others even say-"no we picked the best guy! We follow Christ!" Who of them do you think Paul says is right?  We can do this today. Daddy and Mommy could go to church and pick on of the pastors and say, "HE's the best pastor. We follow him." You kids could do that at home by saying, "I follow Mommy, she's the best." We all want to pick the best team to be on or the best leader to follow because we want to feel better, or more important that others. Tell you kids about a time when you really wanted to be better than others. What

Close your time confessing to God how your family sins in this area. Ask Him to forgive your families need/desire to be on the winning team, to be better than others. Thank Him that He loves all, that he made Himself nothing (put himself on the losing team) so that we could be with Him forever.

Day Three

Do you ever argue or fight with other kids (this includes your brother or sister)? What is the main reason your get into arguments with other kids? What could happen that would make you NEVER argue with another person again?

Read 1 Corinthians 1:10-17

Key verses 11-13-  Does anyone remember from yesterday why the Corinth Christians are fighting? (see day three for the answer). What Questions does Paul ask his friends? Why do you think he asks these things? Do you know in the first 10 verses in this letter Paul mentions the name of Jesus 10 times! That is a lot!! Why do you think he keeps bring up Jesus to these Jesus followers? How might remembering Jesus help the Corinthians stop arguing and start working hard to work together? How does thinking about being God's kids help us to stop arguing?

Ask God to help your kids see the importance of being united together in Christ. Pray that God would establish a stronghold in their hearts for the Lord Jesus Christ to reign in their argumentative natures and make them people who live in harmony. If your family has a struggle in this area consider taking a longer time in prayer asking God to break any chains that might be getting in the way of harmony. Also don't let unkind words slide this week, but remind your kids about this passage and call them to live out verse 10-11.

Day Four

If a very special guest(like president Obama) came to stay at our house, which rooms would we need to get ready for him? Which rooms would be hard to get clean enough?

Read 1 Corinthians 1:10-17

Key verses 10-13;17- When Paul asks "Is Christ Divided" and "Were you baptized into Paul?" What is he hoping the Corinthians will see? He is trying to help the Corinthians see that he is nothing compared to Christ. Christ is the Lord, Christ is the Savior and they each have Christ FULLY! We do to! If we are God's kids we have the fullness of Jesus. It is like He comes and lives in our house and when He does that, He wants to be allowed into all the rooms! How would you feel to have Christ come into all the rooms in our house? How would you feel to have Christ come into all the parts of your life? (Mom and Dad-make sure you share with  your kids what parts of your heart you have a hard time allowing Jesus ownership of. Bill said it well in the sermon. We don't need more of Jesus but Jesus needs more of us!)

Consider buying a copy of "My Heart, Christ's Home: Kid's Edition" by Robert Boyd Munger. This is a great book to help your kids engage and consider giving their whole selves to God. The adult edition is good for kids as young as 11 or 12.

Close your time by praying that your family will see and understand how to give more of themselves to Jesus.

[bestdayoftheweek-blog]

GET IT RIGHT! STEP 1: Who You Are & Who's You Are (1 Cor 1:1-9)

Family Zone for 1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Day One

If Mom and Dad went on a trip and they decided that you were big enough to stay on your own, how do you think they would react if they heard though other friends that you were breaking all the rules they had left for you to follow? If they sent you an email or message what do you think it would include?

 Read 1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Key verses 1-9-This book is a letter written to a church in Corinth. Paul was a great leader in the church and he help start the church in Corinth. He left them to go and start and encourage other churches in the area and then he hears through letters and other friends that the people in Corinth are making some silly and BIG mistakes. These verses are how Paul starts his letter to the church. Are you surprised by how he starts the letter? Why or Why not?

Paul exemplifies a key truth of God here, slow to anger and quick to love. He starts with loving and encouraging words and we will see him over and over in this letter correct with gentleness and affection. Encourage your kids that when they make mistakes God moves toward them with gentleness and love. Close your time thanking God for being such a kind and good God.

  Day Two

When you get in trouble why does Mom and Dad get to tell you how to act and what not to do? Why are mom and dad in charge?

Read 1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Key verses 1-Why does Paul say this stuff about himself at the very start of a letter that is mainly written to correct a church? He points out three things-that he was CALLED by the WILL of God to be an APOSTLE  An Apostle was a man sent by God to share the good news of Jesus-this title was reserved for the 12 men who had followed Christ on earth and Paul, who was trained by Christ after Paul's conversion (Gal 1:11-17; 2 Cor . 12:1-4).

Even though it doesn't feel like it, it is very good that God gives us authority in our lives that helps correct us when we are wrong. Tell your kids that God has given them you and your spouse, their teachers and leaders at their church. Tell them how you appreciate your friends and church leaders that God has given you for correction. Pray and ask God to make your family humble and able to accept correction when it comes. Thank Him for putting men and women in your life that care enough about you to point you toward the better way-God's way. Ask God that He would give each person in your family loving authority in their life and that they would utilize those relationships to battle back sin in their life.

  Day Three

Say to your kids: "We are ____________(fill in your last name). What does it mean to be ____________________? What makes being a part of our family different than other families?

 Read 1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Key verses 2-3; Paul tells the Corinth Christians some things about what it means to a part of the Family of God in verses 2-3- What does he point out?

Notice how verse 2 says together with all those everywhere who call on the name of the LORD. That is us! What Paul tells the Corinthians is true about them is also true about those of us who give our whole selves to God! Close your time by thanking Him for calling you and making you holy and uniting your family with the whole family of God.

   Day Four

Imagine that you walked into Target and the owner came up to you, gave you the keys to the store and told you that everything in the whole store now belonged to you-What would you do? How would you feel?

Read 1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Key verse 4-9; God owns much more than even all the Target's in the whole world! The Bible tells us that God owns everything! These verses tell us that we have been enriched in every way, or another translation says, "you have been blessed in every way!" What do you think that means? Paul focuses the Corinthians on how they have been blessed with knowing and speaking. Why would this be important to people who lived in a town where there were not many people who believed in Jesus or know about the Best Life-a Life with God?

 Becoming God's kid and getting into the best life is even better than getting the keys to any store. He gives us full access to everything He has. And He gives us all we need to help others see how big and great He is!                                                                

Thank God for the grace He gives to you,  your spouse and your family. Thank Him for the access He gives us to His resources. Ask Him to give your family the blessings they need to share Him and His Life with your neighbors!

  Day Five

What is fun about the days before holidays like Halloween and Christmas?

Read 1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Key verses 4-9-Paul tells us something about the gifts we get when we become God's kids-what does he say about that in verse 7-9? We eagerly await holidays like Halloween and Christmas because of the candy, gifts and fun that come with those holidays. These verses tell us that we have don't lack ANY SPIRITUAL gift when we eagerly await Jesus in our day. Do you look for Jesus with eagerness in your day? Do you expect to see Him move and work when you get up, or when you are at school? Why do we often forget about Him in our day? How could we as a family work together to remember that He is at work and to be on the lookout for Him?

                                                                                                               Ask God to open your eyes to how Christ is moving around, through and toward your family in the coming weeks. Ask Him to give each of your family a deep passion and excitement to jump in and work with Jesus when they see Him on the move.