Loving My Family
Respecting People in Charge
Read: 1 Samuel 24:1-22; Romans 13:1-2
Questions for Discussion:
How did David show that he had respect for King Saul?
Do you think it was easy for David to show respect to Saul?
What excuses could David have used to justify killing Saul?
How should we respond when the actions or decisions of those
in authority over us seem unjust?
How can you show that you have respect for people in charge?
- As a family make a list of people who have authority. You might include teachers, bosses, parents and different people in political authority. Do not leave out authorities that you may not agree with or that have opposing views. Brain storm different ways that you can support and show respect to each of these people. Discuss your individual responsibility to respect all of these authorities regardless of how you feel about them, their beliefs, and the decisions they make.
Key Thought: David respected King Saul because God had made Saul the king. King Saul had been trying to kill David, but David was kind to him in return! Some times respecting people isn’t easy, but God wants all of us to respect people in charge. The Bible makes it clear that children are required to respect their parents as an authority over them.
Pray for the people on your list of authorities. Be sure to pray for those who are unsaved, that they might be opened to the gospel. Also, pray that God would help all of your family members to be respectful toward all of the authorities over them.
Activities
Preschool: Remind your child that God wants us to respect people in charge, which includes our parents. Tell your child that you are going to watch them all day long and each time they show you respect (being obedient, helping before they are asked, speaking kindly, or sharing) you will put a marble into an empty glass jar or cup. Make a big deal about putting a marble into the jar each time you “catch” your child being respectful. Look at the jar at the end of the day and talk about all of the great ways that your child was respectful to you.
Play a game of Mother, May I or Dad Says (like Simon Says) with your child. Talk about how, when we do what we are told and use our manners, we are showing respect for people in charge.
Lower Elementary: Help your child acknowledge when they are being respectful to their parents. Write their name on a piece of paper and place stickers by their name every time you find that they are being respectful. Make a big deal about “Catching” them in the act of speaking kindly, sharing, being obedient or helpful. At the end of the day, look at all of the stickers and remember how respectful they were. Pray that God would help them remember to be respectful every day.
Help your child write a thank you note to some one who is in authority over them. It could be a teacher, a pastor, a grandparent or parent. Help them to mail or deliver their note to the person.
Upper Elementary: Show your parents respect by keeping your room clean and making your bed this week, without being asked.
Write a letter to the president, or the governor of Minnesota, or the Mayor of Winona. Thank this leader for serving and tell them why you respect people in charge. Find the person’s address on the internet, in the phone book, or at city hall or court house and then mail your letter of respect! Websites that can help are www.whitehouse.gov/contact , www.senate.gov , or www.astna.org/governors .
Teens: Ask a parent one way that you could show them respect. Do whatever they say out of love and respect.
Is their something your parents have been asking you to do, but that you have been putting off really doing. Do that thing today, and do a great job at it. Clean your room, or bathroom, offer your parents a night out while you babysit your siblings, take out the trash, mow they yard, or anything that you know they want you to do. If you can’t think of anything you have been putting off, then go the extra mile and surprise them by doing something for them that they usually do.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Lesson 3 Treating Others the Way You Want to be Treated
Loving My Family
Treating Others the Way You Want to be Treated
* Note to Parents: younger families may want to just read Genesis 45:1-15 and sum up the other passages.
Read: Genesis 37:16-36; 45:1-15; 47:1-12
Questions for Discussion:
How did Joseph’s brothers feel about him? Why?
What do you think about what they did to Joseph?
How did their father react to the news?
How do you think they would have felt if they were in Joseph’s place?
Later on, when they were at the mercy of Joseph, how do you think
they expected him to act?
How was his response to seeing his brothers different from their actions towards him?
Who’s actions, Joseph’s or his brothers’, displayed love?
Which way do you find yourself reacting more regularly to your family?
Out of love like Joseph or out of hate like his brothers?
How would you prefer that others respond to you?
As a family read Matthew 7:9-12. Let each person who can, read verse 12. Talk about what it means to treat others the way that you want to be treated. Make a list of words or sentences that your family brainstorms up for how you would all like to be treated. In a second column, make a corresponding list of ways you can treat others in those same ways.
Key Thought: Joseph treated his brothers with love and respect even after they sold him into slavery. Joseph understood what it meant to love his family and treat them the way that he wanted to be treated. We can do the same thing, everyday, as we interact with our family.
Activities
Preschool: Encourage your child to role play being a parent, either to a doll or stuffed animal, or you can pretend to be the child. After playing for a while, discuss the way the “parent” treated the “child”. Discuss any instances when they chose to treat the child in a way that was respectful and loving, in a way that they would like to be treated.
Lower Elementary: Help your child act out the story of Joseph and his brothers. Use other family members or even stuffed animals to fill in the cast.
Upper Elementary: Pray with your child that God would help them be eager to treat others in the way that they would like to be treated.
Help your child paint a wooden ruler gold. Talk about how the saying “Do to others what you would have them do to you” is sometimes called the golden rule. Talk about why it is called that, and that it is a way we can judge, or measure up, what we do and say to Jesus’ teaching in Matthew. Place the ruler someplace prominent as a reminder to them to use the golden rule.
Teens: Practice treating others the way you would want to be treated. Take extra care today to speak and act toward your siblings and parents only in ways that you would want to be treated.
Treating Others the Way You Want to be Treated
* Note to Parents: younger families may want to just read Genesis 45:1-15 and sum up the other passages.
Read: Genesis 37:16-36; 45:1-15; 47:1-12
Questions for Discussion:
How did Joseph’s brothers feel about him? Why?
What do you think about what they did to Joseph?
How did their father react to the news?
How do you think they would have felt if they were in Joseph’s place?
Later on, when they were at the mercy of Joseph, how do you think
they expected him to act?
How was his response to seeing his brothers different from their actions towards him?
Who’s actions, Joseph’s or his brothers’, displayed love?
Which way do you find yourself reacting more regularly to your family?
Out of love like Joseph or out of hate like his brothers?
How would you prefer that others respond to you?
As a family read Matthew 7:9-12. Let each person who can, read verse 12. Talk about what it means to treat others the way that you want to be treated. Make a list of words or sentences that your family brainstorms up for how you would all like to be treated. In a second column, make a corresponding list of ways you can treat others in those same ways.
Key Thought: Joseph treated his brothers with love and respect even after they sold him into slavery. Joseph understood what it meant to love his family and treat them the way that he wanted to be treated. We can do the same thing, everyday, as we interact with our family.
Activities
Preschool: Encourage your child to role play being a parent, either to a doll or stuffed animal, or you can pretend to be the child. After playing for a while, discuss the way the “parent” treated the “child”. Discuss any instances when they chose to treat the child in a way that was respectful and loving, in a way that they would like to be treated.
Lower Elementary: Help your child act out the story of Joseph and his brothers. Use other family members or even stuffed animals to fill in the cast.
Upper Elementary: Pray with your child that God would help them be eager to treat others in the way that they would like to be treated.
Help your child paint a wooden ruler gold. Talk about how the saying “Do to others what you would have them do to you” is sometimes called the golden rule. Talk about why it is called that, and that it is a way we can judge, or measure up, what we do and say to Jesus’ teaching in Matthew. Place the ruler someplace prominent as a reminder to them to use the golden rule.
Teens: Practice treating others the way you would want to be treated. Take extra care today to speak and act toward your siblings and parents only in ways that you would want to be treated.
Lesson 4 The Fruit of the Spirit in Family Life
Loving My Family
The Fruit of the Spirit in Family Life
Read: Galatians 5:22-26 (Older families may want to include verses 16-21)
Questions for Discussion:
How does the Holy Spirit help us?
Why is the fruit of the Spirit important?
Can you think of anyone who shows the fruit of the Spirit to you regularly?
How can we show the fruit of the Spirit to our family members this week?
As a family stand in front of a large mirror. Begin naming similarities between family members, how they look alike or even talk or laugh alike. After you are finished with this, discuss how family members can share many similarities. Make a connection to how it is the same with the Holy Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit in our lives is another way that the Spirit helps us to resemble our Spiritual Father.
Key Thought: The Holy Spirit helps us to be more like Jesus by helping us to have love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. As we obey and follow Jesus, the fruit grows in us. This fruit should be evident in how we interact with others, including our family!
Activities
Preschool: Blow bubbles with your child. As you pop each one, name a fruit of the Spirit.
Draw a large apple on a piece of poster board, and cut it out. Cut the apple into nine pieces. Hide the pieces around the room and encourage your child to find all of them. Put the pieces together. Help your child remember each fruit of the Spirit, and write one on each piece.
Lower Elementary: Go to the grocery Store with your child and allow them to pick out a piece of fruit, maybe one that they have never tried before. When you get home, cut the fruit into nine bites. Name a fruit of the Spirit with each bite, and thank God that the Holy Spirit helps you to be like Jesus.
Upper Elementary: Throughout the day, take a notebook with you wherever you go, and write down all the times you feel the Holy Spirit helps you to be like Jesus.
Go outside with your child. Look at a neighbor’s house. Take notes on what you see. How would you describe the house? What do you think the people inside the house are like? What does the outside of the house make you think about the people living inside the house? Make the connection to the fruit of the Spirit. When people look at us, if they see the Fruit of the Spirit in our lives, then they are getting a picture of what God is doing inside of us.
Teens: As you get ready in the morning, think about what your outward appearance tells other people about you. Think about how the evidence of the Fruit of the Spirit can tell others about what God is doing inside you.
The Fruit of the Spirit in Family Life
Read: Galatians 5:22-26 (Older families may want to include verses 16-21)
Questions for Discussion:
How does the Holy Spirit help us?
Why is the fruit of the Spirit important?
Can you think of anyone who shows the fruit of the Spirit to you regularly?
How can we show the fruit of the Spirit to our family members this week?
As a family stand in front of a large mirror. Begin naming similarities between family members, how they look alike or even talk or laugh alike. After you are finished with this, discuss how family members can share many similarities. Make a connection to how it is the same with the Holy Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit in our lives is another way that the Spirit helps us to resemble our Spiritual Father.
Key Thought: The Holy Spirit helps us to be more like Jesus by helping us to have love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. As we obey and follow Jesus, the fruit grows in us. This fruit should be evident in how we interact with others, including our family!
Activities
Preschool: Blow bubbles with your child. As you pop each one, name a fruit of the Spirit.
Draw a large apple on a piece of poster board, and cut it out. Cut the apple into nine pieces. Hide the pieces around the room and encourage your child to find all of them. Put the pieces together. Help your child remember each fruit of the Spirit, and write one on each piece.
Lower Elementary: Go to the grocery Store with your child and allow them to pick out a piece of fruit, maybe one that they have never tried before. When you get home, cut the fruit into nine bites. Name a fruit of the Spirit with each bite, and thank God that the Holy Spirit helps you to be like Jesus.
Upper Elementary: Throughout the day, take a notebook with you wherever you go, and write down all the times you feel the Holy Spirit helps you to be like Jesus.
Go outside with your child. Look at a neighbor’s house. Take notes on what you see. How would you describe the house? What do you think the people inside the house are like? What does the outside of the house make you think about the people living inside the house? Make the connection to the fruit of the Spirit. When people look at us, if they see the Fruit of the Spirit in our lives, then they are getting a picture of what God is doing inside of us.
Teens: As you get ready in the morning, think about what your outward appearance tells other people about you. Think about how the evidence of the Fruit of the Spirit can tell others about what God is doing inside you.
Lesson 5 What Does Love Look Like?
Loving My Family
What Does Love Look Like?
Read: 1 Corinthians 13 & Galatians 5:22-23
Questions for Discussion:
What things from the list in verses 4-7 stand out to you?
Can you think of any stories of Jesus displaying love during his ministry?
Which of these things does our family do well in?
Which of these things do we struggle to do on a daily basis?
What is the first fruit of the Spirit mentioned?
What do you think this means?
If we are lacking in love, how can we increase it?
As a family play a favorite game. Make it a goal to display as many of the characteristics of love while playing. Before playing the game cut out a heart out of paper. Pass the heart as an acknowledgement whenever someone displays love (patience, kindness, not boasting a victory, not being easily angered etcetera).
Key Thought: The Bible puts a strong emphasis on love, and 1 Corinthians 13 describes what perfect love is like. Because we know that love is a Fruit of the Spirit, this means that as we pursue God and His Holy Spirit works in us, then the fruit of the Spirit, including love, will be increased in us. We can also pray that our ability to love our family and other people would be increased.
Pray and thank God for loving us with a perfect love. Thank him for constantly showing us the kind of love described in 1 Corinthians 13. Ask him to increase the fruit of the Spirit at work in your families’ life every day, and underline it all with love. Pray that your family would grow stronger in their ability to show perfect love to one another and to others.
Activities
Preschool: Help your child make Valentines in July and pass them out to family members. While making the Valentines discuss the ways that we can show love out of 1 Corinthians 13.
Lower Elementary: Cut out paper hearts with your child. Than, help them write a note to
each member of the family expressing something they love about the person. Then, decorate each heart with stickers or markers. At dinner, place a finished heart at each person’s place at the table.
Have your child draw a picture of a time that they really felt loved. Let them explain to you why they picked the time or event that they did.
Upper Elementary: Play a family game of charades and act out different characteristics of love found in the Bible passage. While one person acts, let the others try and guess which quality it is.
Make a collage of love. Write 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 on a piece of paper or poster board. Cut out pictures or color pictures to illustrate each of the characteristics listed.
Teens: Think over the past day or two of an instance when you failed to show love to a family member. Maybe you were rude, rushed them, or gloated over them. Ask for their forgiveness for not loving them.
What Does Love Look Like?
Read: 1 Corinthians 13 & Galatians 5:22-23
Questions for Discussion:
What things from the list in verses 4-7 stand out to you?
Can you think of any stories of Jesus displaying love during his ministry?
Which of these things does our family do well in?
Which of these things do we struggle to do on a daily basis?
What is the first fruit of the Spirit mentioned?
What do you think this means?
If we are lacking in love, how can we increase it?
As a family play a favorite game. Make it a goal to display as many of the characteristics of love while playing. Before playing the game cut out a heart out of paper. Pass the heart as an acknowledgement whenever someone displays love (patience, kindness, not boasting a victory, not being easily angered etcetera).
Key Thought: The Bible puts a strong emphasis on love, and 1 Corinthians 13 describes what perfect love is like. Because we know that love is a Fruit of the Spirit, this means that as we pursue God and His Holy Spirit works in us, then the fruit of the Spirit, including love, will be increased in us. We can also pray that our ability to love our family and other people would be increased.
Pray and thank God for loving us with a perfect love. Thank him for constantly showing us the kind of love described in 1 Corinthians 13. Ask him to increase the fruit of the Spirit at work in your families’ life every day, and underline it all with love. Pray that your family would grow stronger in their ability to show perfect love to one another and to others.
Activities
Preschool: Help your child make Valentines in July and pass them out to family members. While making the Valentines discuss the ways that we can show love out of 1 Corinthians 13.
Lower Elementary: Cut out paper hearts with your child. Than, help them write a note to
each member of the family expressing something they love about the person. Then, decorate each heart with stickers or markers. At dinner, place a finished heart at each person’s place at the table.
Have your child draw a picture of a time that they really felt loved. Let them explain to you why they picked the time or event that they did.
Upper Elementary: Play a family game of charades and act out different characteristics of love found in the Bible passage. While one person acts, let the others try and guess which quality it is.
Make a collage of love. Write 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 on a piece of paper or poster board. Cut out pictures or color pictures to illustrate each of the characteristics listed.
Teens: Think over the past day or two of an instance when you failed to show love to a family member. Maybe you were rude, rushed them, or gloated over them. Ask for their forgiveness for not loving them.
Lesson 6 Helpfulness
Loving My Family
Helpfulness
Read: 1 Kings 17: 7 - 16
Questions for Discussion:
What do you think would have happened if the widow hadn’t believed Elijah?
Can you think of a time you didn’t want to be helpful because you didn’t
think it would make a difference?
Think of a time you were helpful when no one asked you for help.
What was their response? How did that make you feel?
What are some thing you can do to be more helpful to your family?
As a family take turns doing chores around the house this week. For example a different person could to dishes for a day and then rotate. Another idea could be to have everyone pitch in to do chores together and finish them up a lot faster.
Key Thought: All families get busy from time to time. If all the members can pitch in and be helpful it can make stressful times become much easier for everyone.
Pray that your family will work together to be a blessing to each other.
Activities
Preschool: Ask them to help you do a project around the house. It could be pulling weeds in a garden, holding a screw driver for you, or helping feed a pet.
Lower Elementary: Ask them to help clean up a play room or other room in the house that someone else normally ends up cleaning. Explain to them how helpful it can be if they join in the cleaning.
Upper Elementary: Ask your child to make a lunch for mom or dad to take to work. Explain that it can help save time, energy, and money.
Teens: Make breakfast for the whole family in the morning. Wake up a little earlier to help
everyone as they start their day.
Helpfulness
Read: 1 Kings 17: 7 - 16
Questions for Discussion:
What do you think would have happened if the widow hadn’t believed Elijah?
Can you think of a time you didn’t want to be helpful because you didn’t
think it would make a difference?
Think of a time you were helpful when no one asked you for help.
What was their response? How did that make you feel?
What are some thing you can do to be more helpful to your family?
As a family take turns doing chores around the house this week. For example a different person could to dishes for a day and then rotate. Another idea could be to have everyone pitch in to do chores together and finish them up a lot faster.
Key Thought: All families get busy from time to time. If all the members can pitch in and be helpful it can make stressful times become much easier for everyone.
Pray that your family will work together to be a blessing to each other.
Activities
Preschool: Ask them to help you do a project around the house. It could be pulling weeds in a garden, holding a screw driver for you, or helping feed a pet.
Lower Elementary: Ask them to help clean up a play room or other room in the house that someone else normally ends up cleaning. Explain to them how helpful it can be if they join in the cleaning.
Upper Elementary: Ask your child to make a lunch for mom or dad to take to work. Explain that it can help save time, energy, and money.
Teens: Make breakfast for the whole family in the morning. Wake up a little earlier to help
everyone as they start their day.
Lesson 7 The Power of Words
Loving My Family
The Power of Words
Read: James 3: 3 – 10; Matthew 12:33 - 37
Questions for discussion:
What sticks out to you in these verses about the power of our words?
Can you think of a time when someone’s words made you feel great?
Can you think of a time when someone’s words made you feel terrible?
Why is it so important to be careful of what we say when we are upset?
What are some ways to help us be more careful about what we say?
As a family share in a time of building eachother up. Have each person say something they appreciate about each of the other members of your family.
Key Thought: Your words have the power to build up or destroy; to bring life or death.
Pray that God will help you be more careful in how you talk to each other as a family and to use your words to show your love and to encourage each other.
Activities
Preschool: Call a relative just to talk and catch up and let you preschooler say hi, and just talk for a minute or two. Even though your relative might not make out everything just hearing the small voice is sure to get a big smile.
Lower Elementary: Help your children make a homemade card to send to a grand parents or close friend of the family. Encourage them to draw a family picture or a memory they shared with them, and help them write a nice message. Explain to them how their words can be a blessing and make the persons day brighter.
Upper Elementary: Help your children write thank you cards to a teacher, coach, pastor or someone who has been a great help or influence in their life lately. It is always an encouragement to know that your help is appreciated.
Teens: Encourage your teen to write an encouraging letter to someone in the local or state Government. Make sure the note is positive and let them know they are appreciated and that you will be praying for them. Follow up by praying for them as a family.
Take a trip to a local nursing home and spend some time just visiting or playing games
with the residents. Just a few minutes of your time can really brighten their day!
The Power of Words
Read: James 3: 3 – 10; Matthew 12:33 - 37
Questions for discussion:
What sticks out to you in these verses about the power of our words?
Can you think of a time when someone’s words made you feel great?
Can you think of a time when someone’s words made you feel terrible?
Why is it so important to be careful of what we say when we are upset?
What are some ways to help us be more careful about what we say?
As a family share in a time of building eachother up. Have each person say something they appreciate about each of the other members of your family.
Key Thought: Your words have the power to build up or destroy; to bring life or death.
Pray that God will help you be more careful in how you talk to each other as a family and to use your words to show your love and to encourage each other.
Activities
Preschool: Call a relative just to talk and catch up and let you preschooler say hi, and just talk for a minute or two. Even though your relative might not make out everything just hearing the small voice is sure to get a big smile.
Lower Elementary: Help your children make a homemade card to send to a grand parents or close friend of the family. Encourage them to draw a family picture or a memory they shared with them, and help them write a nice message. Explain to them how their words can be a blessing and make the persons day brighter.
Upper Elementary: Help your children write thank you cards to a teacher, coach, pastor or someone who has been a great help or influence in their life lately. It is always an encouragement to know that your help is appreciated.
Teens: Encourage your teen to write an encouraging letter to someone in the local or state Government. Make sure the note is positive and let them know they are appreciated and that you will be praying for them. Follow up by praying for them as a family.
Take a trip to a local nursing home and spend some time just visiting or playing games
with the residents. Just a few minutes of your time can really brighten their day!
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