TRANSFORMED
The focus of this family time is to use five easy steps to teach your family that Paul had courage because he knew God was with him. In the same way, we can have courage because we know that God is with us too!
MEMORY VERSE:
Don’t copy the ways of the world. Let God transform you. Romans 12:2
Learn the Memory Verse together and say it throughout the week to help your family remember and apply what they have learned.
STEP 1. GATHER!
- Gather kids in the center of the room. Explain you’ll give them a choice between two things that many people are afraid of. Their job is to decide which of the two things they’re most afraid of, and they’ll move to one side or the other of the room to indicate their decision. Then, at your signal, they’ll return to the center of the room again.
- As you present choices, indicate which side of the room represents each option. To crank up the fun, you can call out specific ways kids can move to their preferred side of the room: crab walk, hop, slide, slither, dance, skip, gallop, tiptoe, side step.
- Choices might include the following: snakes/spiders, cockroaches/cough drops, being alone/being in a huge crowd, thunderstorms/blizzards, getting a shot/taking a test, barking dogs/hissing cats, high places/ new places, totally dark rooms/loud noises, a dentist visit/an eye exam, getting hurt/hurting others, broccoli/eggplant, floods/tornadoes, falling/floating away, bats/rats, clowns/mosquitoes, otters/orangutans, scorpions/wasps, roller coasters/ice-skating, germs/gyms, being ignored/being the center of attention.
STEP 2. READ THE BIBLE AND WORSHIP
STEP 3. DISCUSSION !
Use these questions and points to have a conversation with your children about the Bible story.
REVIEW THE BIBLE STORY
- Who was Paul sailing to go see? (Caesar)
- What happened on Paul’s journey? (A storm came and threatened the ship.)
- What did God tell Paul about him and his shipmates? (Everyone would live.)
- What eventually happened to everyone on the ship? (They reached an island and were safe.)
- Why did Paul have courage? (Because he knew God was with him through the Holy Spirit)
- Why can we have courage in scary situations?
- Share about a time when God gave you courage when you were afraid.
- What can we remember about God even when we’re afraid?
Paul had courage because he knew God was with him. In the same way, we can have courage because we know that God is with us too! God cares about you, just like God cared about Paul and his shipmates. We are so blessed to have God’s presence with us through the Holy Spirit each day.
Mission Moment
George Miller
(1805-1898)
If you are hungry who do you ask for a snack? Your mom? Your dad? someone else who looks after you?
George Müller knew that the best person to ask when he needed anything was his friend Jesus. George was born in Germany, but came to England to tell people about his friend Jesus. He wasn't paid and never asked anyone for money. He asked Jesus to give him what he needed - and Jesus did!
George set up schools for boys and girls, so they could learn to read and write and find out about his friend Jesus. He asked Jesus to give him the money that he needed - and Jesus did! George set up homes for boys and girls with no families. He asked Jesus to give him the money that he needed - and Jesus did! One day George prayed for food for the children. The doorbell rang - it was the baker wanting to give them bread. It rang again - it was the milkman wanting to give them milk. George looked after thousands of children. They always had food, they always had clothes; they even had enough money to give away to people who needed it more!
George asked Jesus to help him with food, money and clothes - even he drains and holes in the roof too and he did! George knew that Jesus always looks after his friends.
STEP 5. Pray!