4.9. God Is Holy. Bible Passage: 1 Peter 1 2 (Peter s Letter to the Jewish Christians) Schedule

Transcription

1 date: Bible Passage: 1 Peter 1 2 (Peter s Letter to the Jewish Christians) REMEMBER VERSE Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint Isaiah 40:31 God Is Holy Schedule Anticipate 5 10 minutes Celebrate & Respond Large Group minutes Respond & Bless Small Group minutes Environment: OUT OF THE COMFORT ZONE In this lesson we see the environment of OUT OF THE COMFORT ZONE highlighted in Peter s encouragement to the early church to live a life set apart from the world, holy and completely reliant upon the Holy Spirit.. TruResources are developed in partnership with ROCKHARBOR Church and a national network of family and children s ministry leaders. All rights reserved.

2 Inspire NOTES: My 12-year-old daughter smiled and waved at her friends as she climbed into the car. Then, in a litany of words and stories, she told me how some new friends had invited her to come with them to the movies. It just so happened that the movie was loosely based on the true story of a friend of mine from college. My daughter knew of my connection to the movie, which made her want to go even more. The problem was the movie was PG-13. So my daughter courageously told her friends she couldn t go because she wasn t allowed to watch PG-13 movies yet. Though I felt a bit of sorrow about her missing out on something fun with new friends, I was proud of her. Thank you for honoring my rules, I said. You really know who you are. Sometimes it s a hard truth that, as Christians, we re different set apart. I haven t enjoyed being left out or dismissed because of my faith and convictions. I cringe when people say things like Don t say that in front of Amy! I don t like to admit that sometimes it s really hard to be different. I learned something valuable as I watched my daughter make a decision I never would have had the courage to make at her age. My daughter chose to honor God and her family, even though her decision made her stand out as different from her friends. God wants us to choose to step out of our comfort zones and live differently because He s called us to be holy as He is holy. He wants to protect me like I want to protect my daughter. Though I m still learning how to be different, I trust that God will give me the strength and courage to be like Him. Amy Palmerton TruStory Team 2

3 Equip In order to follow Jesus and be like Him, we must discover more about who God is. The Bible describes God as perfect, righteous, transcendent wholly other. God s holiness makes Him distinct from everything and everyone else. In Isaiah 6 and Revelation 4 we witness heavenly creatures saying, Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty. In fact, they never cease saying this in God s presence (Revelation 4:8). First Peter 1:16 tells us to be holy, because [God] is holy. How can we, as sinful creatures, ever be holy? Peter explains that God calls us to be different from the world around us. This is the first step in living a life of holiness. We re to be obedient children (1:14), seeking to be holy in all we do (1:15) and trusting the Holy Spirit to transform us (1:2). But this can cause us much discomfort because we typically seek to fit in, not stand out from the crowd. But, inevitably, we will stand out because God has set us apart as His people. He s chosen us to represent Him, and we have the unique purpose of sharing His ways with the world. As we praise Him for His holiness and follow His plan, others will see we re different. We ll become a light in the darkness and a reflection of the One who calls us to holiness. Peter wrote this letter to Christians undergoing persecution. He was reminding them of the purpose behind their pain. They suffered, and we will suffer, because this world isn t our home. God designed us for a better place. We can rejoice that God calls us to be different. Hermeneutics Good biblical hermeneutics (Bible interpretation) require us to look at the context of a passage to understand what it s saying. Sometimes the context can be found in the immediate paragraph (or pericope); sometimes it s in the whole book. And sometimes we need to look at how the idea is presented in all of Scripture to fully grasp what the Holy Spirit is saying to us. Environment of OUT OF THE COMFORT ZONE As children are challenged to step out of their comfort zones from an early age, they learn to experience a dependence on the Holy Spirit to equip and strengthen them beyond their natural abilities and desires. We believe this environment will cultivate a generation that, instead of seeking comfort, seeks a radical life of faith in Christ. The 10 environments guide us in creating a climate that puts God on display. Encourage your families to discover more about creating the environment of OUT OF THE COMFORT ZONE in their homes by checking out HomeFront: A Spiritual Parenting Resource and Spiritual Parenting by Michelle Anthony. 3

4 Support In John 17:14 16, Jesus speaks to His Father about the fact that, as His people, we are different. We are God s holy people, set apart to do His work. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Jesus was hated, rejected, despised, and misunderstood by many. He knew we would experience the same difficulties. Though it s sometimes challenging to be different from the world around us, it s comforting to know Jesus experienced these challenges first. As God s Son, He lived a holy and sinless life. He stood out from the crowd. There was no one like Him. TIMELINE ADAM & EVE NOAH ABRAHAM JACOB JOSEPH MOSES JOSHUA EHUD DEBORAH GIDEON RUTH JONATHAN ABIGAIL ELIJAH ELISHA JONAH HABAKKUK This week, if you re feeling tired, rejected, left out, or despised by the world, bring your cares to God. Remember how He s chosen you to carry light in this dark world and that you re never alone. His Spirit will give you the strength and ability to carry on as strangers in the world (1 Peter 2:11). MARY JOSEPH JESUS PARABLES OF JESUS GOOD SAMARITAN WORKERS IN THE FIELD LOST SHEEP/COIN/SON WISE/FOOLISH BUILDERS UNMERCIFUL SERVANT PETER MARTHA & MARY THIEF ON THE CROSS MARY STEPHEN BARNABAS PAUL EPHESIANS 1 PETER ROMANS 7 CHURCHES YOU & ME OUR FUTURE WITH JESUS 4

5 NOTES: Lesson Overview Experience Time Summary Supplies/Prepare (Master Supply List at tru.davidccook.com) Anticipate// Small Group Check-In 5 10 min. Encourages interaction among kids, leaders, and parents; engages the kids in curiosity and anticipation of the lesson; and creates an inviting atmosphere. Real and Imagined Countries Option 1: Interesting Laws Interesting Laws sheets (see tru.davidccook.com) tape paper (1 sheet per child) pencils and/or pens (1 per child) Option 2: My Country My Country sheet (see tru.davidccook.com) map examples (see tru.davidccook.com) construction paper (various colors; 1 sheet per child) markers, colored pencils, etc. pencils and/or pens Celebrate// Large Group min. Establishes community and tells stories both personal and biblical in a fun and engaging way. Traditions mementos for your church Traditions (rocks, marbles, gumballs, etc.) Remember Verse cards, slide, and animation (see tru.davidccook.com) Connect Question Connect Question slide (see tru.davidccook.com) Connect Activity: Standing Out Option 1: What Stands Out? What Stands Out? sheet (see tru.davidccook.com) pens or pencils Connect Activity slide (see tru.davidccook.com) Option 2: I Have Never chairs or circle spots (butcher paper cut into circles on which kids sit; 1 fewer than your number of kids) Connect Activity slide (see tru.davidccook.com) The Big God Story Bibles (1 per person) Timeline slide and animation (see tru.davidccook.com) scrolls (see tru.davidccook.com) church signs (see tru.davidccook.com) church cards (see tru.davidccook.com) scissors (1 pair) tape pen optional: yarn or twine (2 3 ) 5

6 NOTES: Lesson Overview Experience Time Summary Supplies/Prepare (Master Supply List at tru.davidccook.com) Respond// Large Group min. Creates space for children to respond to the Holy Spirit in worship and community as a large group. Lights in the World battery-lit candles or glow sticks (1 per child) Respond// Small Group min. Discusses truth, reflects on the lesson, engages in relationships, and creates a project or a piece of art individually or together. Reflect: God Calls Us to Be Different Bibles (1 per person) scissors (1 pair) bowl or basket upbeat music (suggestions: Jump Up or Your Love, TruWorship You Are) Create: Shining Stars Option 1: Star Tour (for Younger Kids) star template (see tru.davidccook.com) yellow poster board or construction paper (enough paper to fit several stars) scissors (1 pair) duct tape markers Option 2: Star Maps (for Younger and Older Kids) constellation photos (see tru.davidccook.com) black construction paper (1 sheet per child) white chalk silver or gold star stickers optional: black card stock (1 piece per child), golf tees (1 per child), strong flashlights (1 3) Bonus Engage: Who s the Shiniest One of All? tinfoil stopwatch or clock Bless// Small Group 5 min. Sends the kids out with a sense of peace and blessing so they can be a blessing to their families and others. Bible HomeFront Weekly (1 per child; see tru.davidccook.com) HomeFront: A Spiritual Parenting Resource (1 per family; see HomeFrontMag.com) 6

7 SMALL Group SECTION Anticipate// 5 10 min. Small Group Leaders An energizing time for parents and kids to start engaging with the material that will be presented in the lesson. It is intentionally designed to spark curiosity and cultivate a sense of awe and wonder about God. Real and Imagined Countries As believers, we re called to be holy because God is holy. Though this can sometimes be hard, it s encouraging to know we re really citizens of heaven. It s comforting to know that, as believers, we belong in heaven with God. SUPPLIES Option 1: Interesting Laws Interesting Laws sheets (see tru.davidccook.com) tape paper (1 sheet per child) pencils and/or pens (1 per child) Option 2: My Country My Country sheet (see tru.davidccook.com) map examples (see tru.davidccook.com) construction paper (various colors; 1 sheet per child) markers, colored pencils, etc. pencils and/or pens Encourage parents to participate in this time with their kids. Partner Church Comments We moved Option 1 (What Stands Out?) from CONNECT to this spot. It worked great. It was easy to engage kids as they arrived at different times. Good Shepherd Church SET UP Option 1: Interesting Laws Print the Interesting Laws and tape them to the walls around the room. Set out the paper and pencils or pens. Option 2: My Country Print a copy of the My Country sheet for each child. Also print the map examples. ENGAGE Option 1: Interesting Laws Every country has its own unique laws. Today let s learn about some of the unusual laws people around the world have to follow. Point out the laws posted around the room, and ask the kids questions about them, such as: Which law is your favorite? Which law do you think is the strangest? Now encourage the kids to write their own laws (silly or otherwise) on the paper and tape them around the room. Option 2: My Country Peter wrote his letter to the Jewish Christians living in unfamiliar lands with customs they weren t used to. Peter described them as strangers living in new 7

8 NOTES: places. It s always easier to live in a place where you know and understand the culture and customs. Today, consider what it would be like if you could create your own country. Have your kids use their imaginations to create their very own countries. First, have them fill out the My Country sheet. Then have them use the construction paper to draw maps of their new countries. (They can refer to the maps you printed for a few examples.) On their maps, have the kids include details such as mountains and rivers, major cities, and any other features unique to their new land. Encourage them to be as creative as possible as they design their own personal countries. When they re finished, have them share their maps and country facts with each other. Have them also share what their language would sound like and how the people who live there would look. For younger kids who might have difficulty reading the My Country sheet, pair them with older kids or a volunteer for this activity. 8

9 LARGE Group SECTION Celebrate//20 35 min. Host/Storyteller Kids get to be a part of the faith community of God s family. They participate in traditions and share them with newcomers, connect through fun and interaction, and experience The Big God Story through storytelling. Shake a Friend s Hand, Shake a Hand next to Ya A Community Tradition Sing the classic kids song The Hand Song (found online if you search for VeggieTales The Hand Song ) or have the kids shake as many hands or give as many hugs as they can in one minute. Welcome and Traditions REMEMBER VERSE This week s Remember Verse comes from the environment of OUT OF THE COMFORT ZONE. The environment changes every four weeks. Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31 Connect Question What s one special talent or skill you have? Activity: Standing Out Option 1: What Stands Out? Supplies What Stands Out? sheet (see tru.davidccook.com) pencils or pens Connect Activity slide (see tru.davidccook.com) Set Up Print several copies of the What Stands Out? sheet. Engage Sometimes, as Christians, we can feel like the odd ones out. In his letter to the churches, Peter referred to Christians as foreigners in this world, because God calls His people to be holy, to be set apart. Living this way makes us stand out from the crowd. Today we re going to engage in an activity in which we look at groups of things and choose one that stands out in each group. Divide the kids into small groups and give each group a What Stands Out? sheet and pen or pencil. Let the kids work through the sheets together. 9

10 Partner Church Comments I Have Never was so fun! The older kids especially liked this game a lot. We could have played it a lot longer. Impact Christian Church NOTES: Option 2: I Have Never Supplies chairs or circle spots (butcher paper cut into circles on which kids sit; 1 fewer than your number of kids) Connect Activity slide (see tru.davidccook.com) Set Up The number of chairs (or circle spots) should equal the number of children minus one. Set up the chairs in a circle. Engage As believers, we can sometimes stand out from the rest of the world. Thankfully, we have something in common with each other, because we share the same faith! Today we ll play a game in which we ll see what else we have in common. To play the game, ask one person to stand in the middle of the circle and the rest to sit on the chairs (or circle spots). The person in the middle should share something she s never done, starting her sentence with I have never. For example, she might say I have never had braces. Once she makes her statement, everyone sitting in the circle who has had braces should quickly try to find a new chair while those who haven t had braces remain seated. The person in the middle should also look for a seat. Since there aren t enough seats for everyone, the last person left without a seat should go to the middle and share his own I have never statement. Play several rounds of this game to see what kinds of things the kids have in common. 10

11 NOTES: The Big God Story Leader Tip Before sharing this part of The Big God Story, tell your kids they re about to hear a true story that s recorded in the Bible. Open your Bible to 1 Peter 1:1 2:25, and invite kids to follow along in their own Bibles as you storytell. God Is Holy SUPPLIES Bibles (1 per person) Timeline slide and animation (see tru.davidccook.com) scrolls (see tru.davidccook.com) church signs (see tru.davidccook.com) church cards (see tru.davidccook.com) scissors (1 pair) tape pen optional: yarn or twine (2 3 ) SET UP Print out the five scrolls and roll up each one. (If you want, tie a piece of twine around each scroll.) Label the scrolls one through five. Print the church signs and tape them to the wall in five different areas of the room. Print the church cards (making sure you have one card for each child) and cut them apart. ENGAGE As we hear today s portion of The Big God Story, we re going to take part in an activity to help us experience what it would be like to be scattered, or live away from our homes. We re going to hand each one of you a card, and I want you to go sit by the sign that matches your card. (Have leaders pass out the church cards to the kids, and have the kids go to sit with members of their church. For fun, give the kids a few minutes to come up with a church cheer, and allow them to perform it in front of the rest of the group.) What we just did forced you to leave your seats and sit in new groups. Some of you had to leave behind your friends and sit with some people you might not know as well. This was similar to what happened to the Jews during the time of the early church. The emperor of Rome forced them to leave everything familiar and go to a strange, new place. 11

12 The Big God Story Partner Church Comments Before we handed out the church cards to the kids and had them move, we had them circle up in their small groups and find things they had in common. That part was easy. Then, once we handed out the cards, we did the same thing with their new groups. It was more difficult. It helped the kids understand more of what the Jewish people went through and why they would need to be encouraged. Good Shepherd Church NOTES: A couple of weeks ago you heard from two people who got kicked out of their home in Rome because they were Jews. Does anyone remember who they were? (Allow kids to answer.) Right, they were Priscilla and Aquila, who became missionaries with Paul. But Priscilla and Aquila weren t the only believers forced from their homes. Many Jews during that time got kicked out of their homes. How do you think the believers felt when they were forced to leave their homes and their friends? (Allow kids to answer.) They probably felt very afraid. Do you think they would have liked someone to encourage them? (Allow kids to answer.) Of course they would have! Today I m going to share a letter the apostle Peter wrote to encourage these people. Who was Peter? (Allow kids to answer.) He was one of Jesus disciples and close friends. Peter helped start the first church and told many people about Jesus. When the Jewish Christians were scattered from their homes and persecuted for their beliefs, Peter wrote them a letter sort of like this (hold up one of the scrolls) to encourage them. Instead of writing the letter to one church at a time, like Paul did, Peter wrote to several churches. He gave the letter to a messenger, who would have carried the letter to different places. The messenger would have read it to the main churches of the area. Those churches would have made copies of Peter s letter and passed it along to smaller churches. Let s read through some parts of his letter together. (Grab the scrolls and walk to one of the churches. Hand Scroll One to a child, and have her read it aloud: As God s people, you are strangers in this world. ) Hmm that s interesting. Why do you think Peter called the people in the church strangers? (Allow kids to answer.) Well, imagine waking up tomorrow morning in a brand-new country where everything is different: the people, the language, the food, even the holidays. How do you think that would make you feel? (Allow kids to answer.) That s what it was like for these churches. They didn t fit in. They were different. (Walk to the next church, hand Scroll Two to a child, and have him read it: As believers, you re not just different on the outside you re different on the inside too. ) Interesting. Why do you think the believers were different on the inside? (Allow kids to answer.) They were different because they trusted and obeyed Jesus. They were Christians. Peter told them to be holy in everything they did because God is holy. Let s all open our Bibles to 1 Peter 1: (Open your Bible and read these verses.) What does it mean to be holy? (Allow answers.) Good thinking. To be holy means to be set apart. When we choose to trust and obey God, we re choosing to live a life that s different from the rest of the world. People will notice this! Some people will 12

13 The Big God Story NOTES: see our lives and want to know more about what makes us different. Others may laugh, make fun of us, or even be cruel or unkind. When Peter wrote his letter, he knew many Christians were being persecuted for believing in Jesus. Does anyone know what it means to be persecuted? (Allow kids to answer.) Being persecuted means people make you suffer because of what you believe. Peter encouraged those being persecuted to remember the hope they had in Jesus and that, as God s holy people, they d been set apart to serve God and shine His light in the world. (Walk to the next church, hand Scroll Three to a child, and have her read it: Though God calls you to be holy, He gives you His Spirit to comfort you and help you be strong. ) When we choose to trust and obey Jesus, God calls us to be holy because He is holy. But we can t live holy lives in our own strength. We need the Holy Spirit of God to strengthen us and remind us of the hope we have in Him. As we trust and obey God, His Holy Spirit will change us to become more like Jesus. When we go through difficult times, it feels difficult to stand out in a world where everyone wants to fit in. But we can remember that the hard things we go through on earth won t last forever. One day we ll be with Jesus forever in heaven (Hebrews 11:16). (Walk to the next church, hand Scroll Four to a child, and have him read it: As those who believe in God, you re not of this world. ). As God s holy people, where is our true home? (Allow kids to answer.) Right it s in heaven, with God! That s what we get to look forward to: living forever with God. Because of this, Peter didn t want the church to worry about fitting in while they lived in this world. He wanted them to show the world that they were different because they belonged to God. (Walk to the last church, hand Scroll Five to a child, and have her read it: As those who follow Jesus, you are set apart for God. You shine His light. ) As believers, we will automatically be different from the world. We will automatically stand out. Even though this might sound scary, we have the Holy Spirit to fill us with the power and courage to live holy lives for the sake of the gospel. (Head back to the stage.) The words of this letter to the scattered churches are still true for us today. (Share a story about a time when God blessed you for stepping out of your comfort zone to be different from the world, for His sake.) 13

14 LARGE Group SECTION Respond// min. Host/Worship Leader This is a time for kids to worship through silence, prayer, singing, giving, sharing, thanksgiving, and many other ways. Make plans for your worship time but prepare yourself and your team to hold them loosely if the Holy Spirit leads the group in a different direction. Lights in the World SUPPLIES battery-lit candles or glow sticks (1 per child) SET UP Place the candles or glow sticks onstage. ENGAGE Believers in the early church were forced to live in foreign lands where they felt like strangers. Today, as believers, we may also feel like strangers in this world. (Shut off the lights in the room, and have the Storyteller turn on his candle or glow stick. Then have a leader pass out the candles or glow sticks to the children, or have the kids come up to the stage and pick them up.) As believers, sometimes we can feel like we re just a small light in this world. We can feel lonely. (Invite kids to turn on their lights as a way of saying they would like to go out of their comfort zones and stand out as a light for Jesus.) But we don t have to feel alone. As you can see from all the lights in this room, we aren t alone. Together, we are the church, and we don t have to do life alone. We have each other. Look at all the lights in this room. These lights represent people who understand us and can bring us comfort, because we all share the same faith in Jesus. We re all set apart for Him. NOTES: Gather the kids into small groups and have them pray for each other. (Alternatively, have them pray within the churches they formed earlier.) Then close in prayer as a big group, asking God to comfort the kids and help them to live holy lives. Ask God to give them courage as they follow their calling to be holy because He is holy. 14

15 SMALL Group SECTION Respond// min. Small Group Leaders A time to engage in relationship, reflect on the lesson with spiritual conversation, and/or create a meaningful project or piece of art. Reflect: God Is Holy Peter wrote to many believers scattered around the area believers who had been forced to leave their homes. Peter wanted to encourage them. He reminded them God calls us to be different from the rest of the world. SUPPLIES Bibles (1 per person) upbeat music (suggestions: Jump Up or Your Love, TruWorship You Are; available at tru.davidccook.com for Premium, Unlimited, and Combo users; or itunes) scissors (1 pair) bowl or basket NOTES: Resource Tip Drama Options activities are available for this lesson. Premium, Unlimited, and Combo users may access this resource at tru.davidccook.com. SET UP Print out the small group questions, cut them into strips, fold the strips, and place them in the bowl or basket. ENGAGE As you go through the questions below, play a game of Hot Potato! Play music as the kids pass around the bowl full of questions. When the music stops, have the child holding the bowl pull out a question and answer it. Keep playing until you ve answered all the questions. (Encourage the kids to open their Bibles and read the suggested passages.) Questions for Younger Kids Have you ever been to a place where you felt like a stranger? How did you feel? How do you think the Christians felt when they were forced to leave their homes? (1 Peter 1:1) What does it mean to be holy? (1 Peter 1:15 16) Why do you think God wants us to stand out as different from everyone else? (1 Peter 2:12) Questions for Older Kids Have you ever been to a place where you felt like a stranger? How did you feel? How do you think the Christians felt when they were forced to leave their homes? (1 Peter 1:1) Have you ever experienced suffering because of what you believed? What happened? How do you think trials stretch our faith? (1 Peter 1:6 8) Why does being holy mean we need to serve others? (1 Peter 1:22 23) Why do you think God wants us to stand out as different from everyone else? (1 Peter 2:12) How do you feel different from the rest of the world? 15

16 NOTES: Why are we called strangers or aliens? (1 Peter 2:11) How does the Holy Spirit give us strength to live in this world when things get difficult? Create: Shining Stars SUPPLIES Option 1: Star Tour (for Younger Kids) star template (see tru.davidccook.com) yellow poster board or construction paper (enough paper to fit several stars) scissors (1 pair) duct tape markers Option 2: Star Maps (for Younger and Older Kids) constellation photos (see tru.davidccook.com) black construction paper (1 sheet per child) white chalk silver or gold star stickers optional: black card stock (1 piece per child), golf tees (1 per child), strong flashlights (1 3) SET UP Option 1: Star Tour (for Younger Kids) Print the star template and use it to trace and cut out several stars from the yellow poster board or construction paper. On most of the stars, write different names of God: Famous One, Immanuel, Prince of Peace, Great I Am, etc. Tape these stars on the floor around the room. Leave some stars blank, and set these out along with the markers. Option 2: Star Maps (for Younger and Older Kids) Print the constellation photos. ENGAGE Today we learned the apostle Peter wrote a letter to Christians who needed some encouragement. Peter reminded them God had set them apart as holy people, and because of that, God s light shone through them. Option 1: Star Tour (for Younger Kids) Our God is so incredible! Throughout the Bible and in our lives, the amazing things about God shine into the world. What are some amazing things about God? (Examples: He s loving, good, beautiful, creative, etc.) 16

17 Bonus Engage: Who s the Shiniest One of All? Supplies tinfoil (1 roll for every 5 7 kids) stopwatch or clock Engage To get the kids further engaging with the idea that they shine God s light into the world, play this fun game. Divide kids into groups of five to seven, and pick one child from each group to be the model. Hand out the rolls of foil and explain that they will have two minutes to make a shiny outfit for the model. Then hold a fashion show and let the kids vote on who s the shiniest one of all! To help the kids brainstorm, invite them to go on a Star Tour. Lead them on a tour to the stars you ve taped to the floor, and read the names and descriptions of God together. Then allow them to decorate the blank stars with drawings or symbols of these characteristics of God. For example, they might draw a crown for Prince of Peace. Invite the kids to also write more personal names or attributes of God, such as The One who helps [child s name] at school or The One who hears [child s name] s prayers. Option 2: Star Maps (for Younger and Older Kids) Constellations are groups of stars that create a design or picture in the night sky. Throughout history, travelers, sailors, and explorers have used the stars to guide them home. In his letter to churches scattered across the Roman Empire, Peter referred to believers as strangers or travelers in this world. Like sailors look to the stars for light, we look to God for light. Also, others can see God s light through us when we live out of our comfort zones set apart for Him. Show the kids the photos of the constellations and point out the supplies. Have the kids use star stickers or chalk to create their own constellations on the black construction paper. They might stick the stars on the paper and use chalk to connect the stars and create cool designs. Optional: Give each child a piece of black card stock, and have her use a golf tee to poke holes in the paper and design a constellation that symbolizes how believers shine like stars. If possible, darken the room and use flashlights to shine your kids constellations onto the wall. NOTES: 17

18 SMALL Group SECTION Bless// 5 min. Small Group Leaders A blessing can be a prayer of commission, a portion of Scripture, or words of encouragement or guidance. A blessing can be offered in order to ask God s Spirit to overflow from the child s life to bless others or prayed over a child for the purpose of declaring God s protection, joy, or wisdom. As you bless your kids, tell them they have the opportunity to also be a blessing to others. Encourage them to freely share the joy and love they have received from God. Encourage the kids to stand in a circle and hold hands. Have them close their eyes as you read the blessing over them from 1 Thessalonians 5:23 24: May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it. Now have your kids bless one another by gently squeezing the hand of the person to the right and saying these words: May the God of peace remind you that He is with you as you go into the world this week. HomeFront Weekly: Be sure to send home the HomeFront Weekly for next week s lesson! This preteaching tool for parents encourages families to spend time in God s Word together before children arrive at church. HomeFront: A Spiritual Parenting Resource is a magazine that gives families ideas for creating fun, spiritually forming times in their homes setting aside a sacred space for family in the midst of their active, everyday lives! As the new issue becomes available each month, you may choose to print them for families or encourage them to visit HomeFrontMag.com to subscribe to have the magazine sent directly to their inbox. HomeFront is also available as an app for your iphone, ipad, or Android device. 18