Parents, COVID-19 has filled our lives with glaring challenges but also hidden opportunities. This page has been designed to provide resources for parents so they can navigate the challenges and find the opportunities. Check back regularly for updates!
Use the ideas below, or come up with your own, to create an at home family worship experience.
Read Luke 15:8-10.
"Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Won’t she light a lamp and sweep the house? Won’t she search carefully until she finds the coin? And when she finds it, she will call her friends and neighbors together. She will say, ‘Be joyful with me. I have found my lost coin.’ I tell you, it is the same in heaven. There is joy in heaven over one sinner who turns away from sin."
Ask,
-What is something that is special to you?
-How would you feel if you lost it?
-How would you feel if you found it?
Say something like, "You are so special to God! Even more special than any of the special things we talked about. He loves you and he wants a relationship with you! Isn't that cool?"
Hidden Coins
Hide quarters, nickles or other coins (silver dollars anyone?) throughout the room.
Say, “We’re going to pretend we’ve lost silver coins like the woman in the Bible story. But instead of just one coin we need to find ____ coins. When I say ‘Go’ everyone spread out and try to find the coins as fast as you can.” (If you have infants or toddlers, keep track of how many coins you hide so you know when they’ve all been found)
Tip: Reinforce the story by playing the game again tomorrow or Tuesday.
Say something like, “God, thank you for reminding us that we are special. I hope we never forget that You made us and love us, and that makes us all pretty special! We love You, God.”
Read what Peter said in Acts 10:34-35.
"Then Peter began to speak: 'I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.'"
Then ask,
-What does this passage tell us about God?
-Peter didn't accept people who were not like himself until God showed him the vision. The vision helped him see that God loves everyone and Jesus is for everyone. Who is someone that God loves, but is hard for you to love?
Note: If you children are old enough to already be aware of the racial tension taking place throughout the country this week, help them see how God's Word applies to those situations.
Give everyone several sheets of paper and then take turns being the leader. The leader tears their paper into a shape while the others follow along. The shape can be a random design or specific shape like a house or a cat, etc. The trick is the leader doesn’t tell the others what shape they are tearing. The others just do their best to follow what the leader is doing.
Say: We all had paper and we all tried to tear the same shape, but the shapes looked different. It’s like how God makes people. We’re made of the same things - muscles, bones and skin - but each person is different. Sometimes we can let these differences cause problems between us. But when we see others through God’s eyes, we see that he loves us all equally and we understand we should love others in the same way God does.
Say something, “Dear God, we are so grateful that you sent your Son, Jesus, to die for every person you ever created so that they can have the opportunity for a relationship with you. Help us to see others the way you see them. Help us learn to love them like you do. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Watch the Sunday message together HERE.
1. Have you ever tried to make changes in your life and failed? Why do you think the change didn't stick?
2. Have you ever wondered why hard things happen in life? What did Bevan explain is the reason for hard things?
3. In this time at home, everyone has dealt with different difficulties. What have you learned about the condition of your faith in this time?
Say something like, "God, You are in control and we can trust You as we live our lives. As hard things come in life and expose how much faith we have in You, please help us to grow and change from the inside out. Show us what specific next steps we need to take to face the hard things that come up in life. Thank you that You give us what we need to change from the inside out. In Jesus name, amen."
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Here’s an idea…
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