Splink
» Promise
1
God's Warning Signs
While you are driving, ask the kids to look for any warning signs. (Railroad crossing sign, Construction Ahead; Slow: Children Playing, etc.)
Ask:
Why do they put up warning signs? (To keep us from getting hurt, to help us know what to do.)
Where does God give us warnings? (In the Bible)
Why do we need to pay attention to God's warnings? (So we will know what to do; so we will do what is best; so we will escape God's punishment for sin)
God warned Lot's family to escape the punishment for sin by sending angels to warn and tell them of the coming judgment. God did not have to warn them, but He did. Even when God has to judge sin, He is still merciful and kind.
2
What's This For?
To illustrate the concept of grace, give your kids (together or individually) a small gift; maybe even when they are least deserving of it. Optional: Prepare a special treat and offer it to each one.
Ask:
What did you have to do to get the gift? (Take it, receive it)
What were the two choices you could make with the gift? (Take it or refuse it)
Grace is God’s kindness to us even when we don’t deserve it. He wants to give us forgiveness for our sin. God gives His grace to all people, but not all people receive His grace. Some people ignore God or refuse His kindness. God wants all people to come to Him, but He will not make them. Some of Lot's family refused God's grace, but God wanted to save them all.
3
The Only Way
Ask:
If you fell off a giant cruise ship in the middle of the ocean, could you save yourself? It would be too far to swim to land and the ship would be too tall for you to climb. (No, we couldn’t save ourselves.)
What would you need? (Someone to throw you a life preserver and pull you to safety; someone to save/rescue you)
Read Ephesians 2:8-9 (We are saved by grace through faith–not by what we do, but it is the gift of God; not something we can work for so we can’t boast)
The Bible says that we can’t do anything to save ourselves. We can never be good enough to go to heaven. We can’t buy our way into heaven. There is only one way.
Read John 3:16. God made the way for us to be saved. He sent His Son, Jesus, into the world. Whoever believes in Him will be saved. They will be rescued from their sin and become a part of God’s family. He will live inside them and be with them every day. Then they will go to the wonderful place called heaven after they die.
*If your children are old enough to ask questions about sin and heaven, it may be time to talk to them about being saved. Even young children, if properly instructed, can understand and invite Jesus to save them and to take away their sin.
*If your children are old enough to ask questions about sin and heaven, it may be time to talk to them about being saved. Even young children, if properly instructed, can understand and invite Jesus to save them and to take away their sin.
4
The Gift of Grace
Buy a gift card for each of your children (can be as small as $1 at a fast food place). Take them to spend the gift card.
Ask:
What did you like about getting a gift card?(I liked buying stuff, etc.)
Did you have to pay for the stuff? (No)
Who paid for the stuff? (You–Dad or Mom—did)
Grace (God's kindness and salvation) is God's gift to us.
How is God's grace like a gift card? (We can't buy God's grace, it is a gift; Jesus paid the price for our salvation when He died on the cross, we can't earn it.)
Salvation is a free gift from God; we can't work for or earn it. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Say a prayer of thanks to God for His grace to us.
5
Grace Sets us Free
Read or tell the following true story.
This story takes place during the 1930s, during the Great Depression in our country. One night the mayor of New York City, Fiorello LaGuardia showed up at a night court in one of the poorest wards of the city. He dismissed the presiding judge for the evening and sent him home to his family. Then the mayor himself took over the bench.
As it happened on that bitterly cold night, a tattered old woman stood before the bench, accused of stealing a loaf of bread. You must understand these were desperate times. A lot of people were going hungry. With quivering lips and tear-filled eyes, she admitted to the theft. But, she added, "My daughter's husband has deserted her, she is sick, and her children are crying because they have nothing to eat."
The shopkeeper, however, refused to drop the charges. "It's a bad neighborhood, your honor, she's guilty," he shouted. "The law must be upheld, she's got to be punished to teach other people a lesson."
LaGuardia knew that her accuser was right. The very office that he swore to uphold required that he enforce the law.
LaGuardia sighed. He turned to the old woman and said, "I've got to punish you; the law makes no exceptions."
He then pronounced the sentence. The old woman shuddered when she heard the words, "Ten dollars or ten days in jail." But, already the judge was reaching into his pocket. He pulled out a ten-dollar bill and threw it into his hat. "Here's the ten dollar fine, which I now pay. Furthermore, I'm fining everyone in this courtroom fifty cents for living in a town where a person has to steal bread so that her grandchildren can eat. Mr. Bailiff, collect the fines and give them to the defendant."
Sitting in that courtroom that night were about seventy petty criminals, a few New York policemen, and her accuser, a fuming, red-faced, storekeeper. The bewildered old grandmother left the courtroom with $47.50. This was enough to buy groceries for several months.
(Taken from www.giveshare.org)
Ask:
Was the shopkeeper correct in his accusation?
Was the old woman guilty?
Who paid the penalty? (Judge)
What happened to the woman? (She went away free and with more than she had)
This true story is a picture of God's grace to us. God said the penalty for sin is death (Romans 6:23). We are guilty of sin. Jesus paid the penalty and when we receive what Jesus did, we are able to go free and have many blessings. He is even going to bring us to live with Him in Heaven some day.
6
Splashes of Grace
Item needed: water hose
As you're watering the garden or yard, tell your child that he is a water hose. What? A water hose? Yes, a water hose!
God's grace is like the water, clean, pure, and free. As we receive God's grace, we can pass it on (as a water hose passes on water) to others. Just as the water hose is not the source of the water and only passes on the water, so we can pass God's grace to others.
How can we give grace to others? (We can be kind and help others, we can share the good news about Jesus with them, we can forgive, etc.)
