Splink
» Transformation
1
Promises As Bright As The Stars!
Go outside and put a blanket on the ground. Look up and count the stars.
God made a promise to Abraham that his descendents (children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren, etc) would be as many as the stars in the sky (Genesis 15:5).
How many stars can you see with just your eyes? (Away from city lights, you may be able to count over 2000 stars.)
How many stars can you see with just your eyes? (Away from city lights, you may be able to count over 2000 stars.)
God also made the same promise to Abraham's son, Isaac in Genesis 26:4.
God also made a promise to Isaac's son, Jacob, who had just left home and was alone. As he lay under the stars, God appeared to him in a dream and made him a promise.
God promised Jacob that
- He would be with him
- He would protect him and bring him back to his home
- His descendants would someday live on that very land (Genesis 28:13-15)
God was with Jacob and blessed him; God protected him and brought him back to live on the land He had promised Abraham years ago (Genesis 33:18-20).
God always keep His promises! The God who made the stars has the power to do what He says. God can be trusted! God will be with us and protect us!
2
Our Strong Rock
Items needed: rocks and a permanent marker
Ask kids to go outside and find a rock they like. (This will be a reminder to them that God's promises are strong and sure, so it needs to be more than a pebble. One about the size of a hand is good.)
Read Matthew 7:24-27 (Jesus said that whoever heard His words and did them would be like a man who built his house on a strong rock. Storms would come, but the house would not fall apart. Another man built his house on sand, which did fall apart when the storms came.)
If we live by God's words, we will have strength to face the storms (trouble) that come. If we live by our own way and feelings, we will not be strong.
If we believe and live by God's promises, they can protect us when trouble comes. By putting God’s promises in our mind and thinking about them, we can be hopeful when sad and worried feelings come.
Ask:
How are God's promises like a rock? (They are strong and sure, not always changing; they last a long time; they are strong enough to build on)
How are God's promises like a rock? (They are strong and sure, not always changing; they last a long time; they are strong enough to build on)
Write a message or a Bible verse on the rock and keep it in their room as a reminder to keep God's promises in their minds. Here are some good promise verses: Hebrews 13:5b, Psalm 27:1, Romans 8:28, and Jeremiah 31:3.
3
Take A Seat
Pick a very sturdy chair and ask one of the kids to sit in it. After he or she gets up, ask if anyone else is willing to sit in the chair. Continue, "trying out" the chair.
Ask
Why were you willing to sit in the chair? (I thought it would hold me, she sat in it first and it held her, etc.)
Read Psalm 12:6-7:The words of the LORD are pure words, Like silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. You shall keep them, O LORD, You shall preserve them from this generation forever.
God's words are pure and right; they have been tried and found to be true. People have believed God's promises for thousands of years and they are still true today. Just as this chair has been tested and has proven its reliability, God's promises have been tested and have always come true. God will keep His Word!
4
The Best Part of Promises - Fulfillment!
Make a promise to your kids, but make them wait for the fulfillment of it. (Tell them today and “fulfill” the promise on Saturday.)
Ideas for promises: I will take you to get a toy from Dollar Tree. I will take you out for ice cream. I will allow you to stay up late and play a game together. I will take you to the park on Saturday.
Ask (after you have fulfilled your promise):
What was the best part about the promise I made to you? (When you actually did what you promised)
What is the best part of God’s promise to send Jesus into the world? (When He died for our sins to give us everlasting life in Heaven)
Read Galatians 4:4-5 (But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. ESV)
It was hard for the people to wait and to believe God’s promise, but when the time was right, God sent His Son into the world.
5
Blank Check
Item Needed: blank check
Write and give a check (for a few dollars) to each child.
Ask:
What is a check? (It’s a promise that the person who signs it will pay a certain amount to the person whose name is written on the top line
“I am saying that I will give you $____ out of my bank account.”)
Take the kids to the bank and let them cash their check. (This will be more meaningful than just showing them a check!)
The check was my promise to give you $_______. But a check is only as good as the person making the promise. If I didn’t have the money in the bank, the promise would not be any good.
God made a promise to send His Son thousands of years before Jesus was born. He kept that promise and we celebrate Jesus’ birth every year at Christmas. God always keeps His promises!
6
Thank You!
Items needed: paper, markers or colored pencils, stickers, etc.
Make a thank you note to God for sending His Son, Jesus to the earth for us. He kept the promise He made to Adam and Eve to send someone to save man from his sin.
Ask:
What should we say when someone gives us a gift? (Thank you)
What should we say when someone gives us a gift? (Thank you)
Why? (They took their time and money to give us something)
Why are you glad Jesus was born? (He came to earth to take away our sin; He gives us eternal life in Heaven when we receive His gift, etc.)
Ask each family member to read their note aloud as a prayer of thanks. Post them on the fridge.
(Write other thank you notes while you have supplies out, if you like.)
