Category: Uncategorized

Family Discipleship: John Was Born

Written by MattMacNaughton on March 8, 2020. Posted in Uncategorized. No Comments on Family Discipleship: John Was Born

Dear Parents,

Our KidLife Preschool and Elementary Class are currently studying through the entire Bible while focusing on the Gospel. As they learn the incredible stories of Scripture, they’ll be taught how Christ is connected to all of it.

We have a deep desire to come along side you, the parent, and help you disciple your children. We want to help you teach them about God’s Word. Every week, we will send home information about the lesson your child learned. We also plan to include the lesson in our church program and post a weekly summary here, on the Grace Life Blog.

Take the time each day to go over what they learn, memorize the Scripture verse with them, and continue to show them Jesus. The greatest responsibility we have as parents is to disciple are kids and to show them how to follow Jesus. For more information on the importance of Family Discipleship, here’s a quick Facebook Live video or you can listen to this sermon on Family Discipleship from Pastor Matt.

Want the weekly KidLife lesson recap and other blog post delivered right to your inbox? Be sure to signup to receive post from the Grace Life Blog.

Here is this week’s summary:

John Was Born

Luke 1

Story Point: Jesus was born to prepare the way for Jesus.

Big Picture Question: Is Jesus God or a human? As the Son of God, Jesus is both fully God and fully human.

Christ Connection: When Zechariah believed God’s word, he praised God. John was born to prepare the way for Jesus. John would point people to Jesus, and they would praise God for keeping His promise to send the Savior.

Key Passage: John 1:1-2

Dear Parents,

Some of the last words of the Lord recorded in the Old Testament are found in Malachi 4—“Look, I am going to send you the prophet Elijah … he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers” (vv. 5-6). The Book of Malachi was written more than 400 years before Jesus was born. For centuries, God’s people did not hear from Him. They were back in their homeland but were subject to other ruling nations. Eventually, the Romans took over.

The Roman emperor installed Herod as a leader over Judea and surrounding regions such as Samaria and Galilee. To gain the people’s favor, King Herod replaced Zerubbabel’s temple in Jerusalem with a beautiful marble temple constructed by 10,000 workers. This was the temple in which Zechariah, a priest from the family of Abijah, served the Lord. This was the temple in which God, through the angel Gabriel, broke His silence after so many years.

Zechariah and his wife, Elizabeth, were both “righteous in God’s sight” (Luke 1:6), living by faith in God’s promise to send a Messiah. Like Abraham and Sarah in Genesis 18, they were getting along in years and did not have any children. Elizabeth’s barrenness was a point of disgrace for her among the community (Luke 1:25) and God graciously answered this couple’s prayers.

An angel appeared to Zechariah in the temple sanctuary and delivered good news: “Your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear a son.” Echoing Malachi’s prophecy, the angel declared this son would “turn the hearts of fathers to their children” (Luke 1:17)

For his doubting, Zechariah was rendered mute until the promise came to pass. When Zechariah believed God’s word, he praised God. John was born to prepare the way for Jesus. John would point people to Jesus, and they would praise God for keeping His promise to send the Savior.

Check this session’s Activity Page and Big Picture Card as well as the Gospel Project for Kids Family App for ways to interact with the Bible content this week.

FAMILY STARTING POINTS

Babies and Toddlers
- We can praise God for sending Jesus.
- There is no one like Jesus..
- An angel told Zechariah that Elizabeth would have a baby.
- John was born to get people ready for Jesus.
- Zechariah praised God for His plan to rescue people.
Preschool
- John was born to get people ready for Jesus.
- Is Jesus God or a human? Jesus is both fully God and fully human.
Kids
- John was born to prepare the way for Jesus.
- Is Jesus God or a human? As the Son of God, Jesus is both fully God and fully human.

UNIT KEY PASSAGE

John 1:1-2 (Preschool: John 1:1)

NEXT WEEK

“Jesus Was Born” (Luke 2)

Family Discipleship: From Adam to Jesus

Written by MattMacNaughton on March 1, 2020. Posted in Uncategorized. No Comments on Family Discipleship: From Adam to Jesus

Dear Parents,

Want the weekly KidLife lesson recap and other blog post delivered right to your inbox? Be sure to signup to receive post from the Grace Life Blog.

Here is this week’s summary:

From Adam to Jesus

Matthew 1; Luke 3; John 1

Story Point: Jesus’ family line proved He is the Messiah.

Big Picture Question: Is Jesus God or a human? As the Son of God, Jesus is both fully God and fully human.

Christ Connection: Jesus came to earth as a human. Jesus had earthly parents, Mary and Joseph, but His true Father is God. Through Jesus, God kept His promises to Abraham and David. Jesus saves people from their sins and adopts them into God’s family.

Key Passage: John 1:1-2

Dear Parents,

The prophecies concerning Jesus’ birth are numerous, and many of them refer to Jesus’ lineage. Old Testament prophecies tell of the promised Messiah being born from the seed of a woman (Gen. 3:15); from the seed of Abraham (Gen. 22:18), Isaac (Gen. 21:12), and Jacob (Num. 24:17); from the tribe of Judah (Micah 5:2); from the line of Jesse (Isa. 11:1); and from the house of David (Jer. 23:5). The prophecies said He would be born of a virgin (Isa. 7:14) and would be the Son of God (1 Chron. 17:13-14; Ps. 2:7). Jesus fulfilled all of these prophecies.

In Bible times, Jews took great care to record family genealogies accurately. The family a person belonged to was directly linked to property rights. Matthew 1:1-17 and Luke 3:23-38 both chronicle the genealogy of Jesus. The account in Matthew presents Jesus as the king of the Jews—the legal heir to the throne of David. The account in Luke was written to Greek Christians and focuses on Jesus’ descent from Adam.

Jesus was born as a baby in Bethlehem. He had earthly parents—Mary and Joseph—but His true Father is God. Jesus is fully God and fully man.

As fully God, “the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily in Christ” (Col. 2:9). As fully man, Jesus has a human body, human mind, and human emotions. (See Luke 2:7,52; Matt. 26:38.) He is our sinless representative (2 Cor. 5:21), sympathetic high priest (Heb. 4:15), and substitute sacrifice (1 John 4:10).

Use this Bible story to review Jesus’ ancestors and their stories in the Old Testament. Help your kids recognize that God had been working out His plan to send Jesus over hundreds of years—through Adam, Abraham, Isaac, Rahab, Ruth, David, and others. God sent His Son to earth to save people from their sins.

Jesus came to earth as a human. Jesus had earthly parents, Mary and Joseph, but His true Father is God. Through Jesus, God kept His promises to Abraham and David. Jesus saves people from their sins and adopts them into God’s family.

Check this session’s Activity Page and Big Picture Card as well as the Gospel Project for Kids Family App for ways to interact with the Bible content this week.

FAMILY STARTING POINTS

Babies and Toddlers
- Jesus rescues us and makes us part of God’s family.
- There is no one like Jesus.
- God promised to send Jesus to earth.
- Jesus is God’s Son, and Jesus is a man.
- God sent Jesus like He promised.
Preschool
- Jesus had a family.
- Is Jesus God or a human? Jesus is both fully God and fully human.
Kids
- Jesus’ family line proved He is the Messiah.
- Is Jesus God or a human? As the Son of God, Jesus is both fully God and fully human.

UNIT KEY PASSAGE

John 1:1-2 (Preschool: John 1:1)

NEXT WEEK

“John Was Born” (Luke 1)

Family Discipleship: Malachi the Prophet

Written by MattMacNaughton on February 25, 2020. Posted in Uncategorized. No Comments on Family Discipleship: Malachi the Prophet

Dear Parents,

Want the weekly KidLife lesson recap and other blog post delivered right to your inbox? Be sure to signup to receive post from the Grace Life Blog.

Here is this week’s summary:

Malachi the Prophet

Malachi

Story Point: God’s people repented and promised to be faithful.

Big Picture Question: Who is in control of everything? God is in control of everything in heaven and on earth.

Christ Connection: God’s Word is powerful. When Ezra read God’s Word, the people loved God more and changed their ways. The Bible says that Jesus is “the Word.” Jesus is God who came to live with people on earth. Jesus has the power to change our hearts.

Key Passage: 1 Peter 5:10

Dear Parents,

After many years living as prisoners in Babylon, God’s people had returned to Judah. They had worked hard and overcome opposition to rebuild the temple and the walls around Jerusalem. Surely God would restore them … finally! But nothing happened. As they waited, they faced drought and economic uncertainty. God’s people probably didn’t feel like God had blessed them at all.

“It is useless to serve God,” they said. “What have we gained by keeping his requirements?” (Mal. 3:14). Did God still care? It wasn’t long until God’s people fell back into the same patterns of sin that led to their exile in the first place: idolatry, covetousness, hypocrisy, arrogance, and abuse of the poor.

But God did still love His people. He had been working out His divine plan of redemption, and He never gave up on them. God sent a message to His people through the prophet Malachi.

Malachi was the last of the Old Testament prophets. He spoke to God’s people approximately 100 years after the end of the Babylonian captivity. Malachi’s message from God was a wake-up call.

God communicated through Malachi that the people’s lack of blessing didn’t mean that God didn’t care. God exposed His people’s sin and made clear that their actions merited a curse. God’s people needed to repent and turn back to God. “But for you who fear my name,” God said, “the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings” (Mal. 4:2).

Explain to your kids that 400 years of silence followed Malachi’s prophecy; God did not communicate to His people. This period brings us to the New Testament, when the silence would be broken by the last prophet before Jesus, John the Baptist. His words about Jesus in John 1:29 offered hope to all who heard: “Here is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

Malachi was a messenger—a prophet—who told God’s people to repent. Malachi also told about another messenger God would send. This messenger, John the Baptist, would call people to repent and get them ready for a final Messenger, Jesus Christ. Jesus would bring good news of salvation.

Check this session’s Activity Page and Big Picture Card as well as the Gospel Project for Kids Family App for ways to interact with the Bible content this week.

FAMILY STARTING POINTS

- Babies and Toddlers
  - Nothing can stop God’s good plan.
  - Jesus came to give us good news.
  - Malachi told people God’s words.
  - God promised to send a messenger before the Messiah.
  - Jesus is God’s Son, the Messiah.
- Preschool
  - Who is in control of everything? God is in control of everything.
  - Malachi said a messenger would get people ready for the Messiah.
- Kids
  - Who is in control of everything? God is in control of everything in heaven and on earth.
  - Malachi called God’s people to repent to prepare for the Messiah.

UNIT KEY PASSAGE

- 1 Peter 5:10

NEXT WEEK

- “From Adam to Jesus” (Matthew 1; Luke 3; John 1)

Family Discipleship: God’s People Repented

Written by MattMacNaughton on February 16, 2020. Posted in Uncategorized. No Comments on Family Discipleship: God’s People Repented

Dear Parents,

Want the weekly KidLife lesson recap and other blog post delivered right to your inbox? Be sure to signup to receive post from the Grace Life Blog.

Here is this week’s summary:

God’s People Repented

Nehemiah 8-13

Story Point: God’s people repented and promised to be faithful.

Big Picture Question: Who is in control of everything? God is in control of everything in heaven and on earth.

Key Passage: 1 Peter 5:10

Ezra was a priest in Babylon at the end of the exile. More than 50 years after the first group of exiles returned to Jerusalem and completed and dedicated the temple, Ezra led a second group back to Jerusalem.

Just as God had been with Nehemiah, He was with Ezra—granting him favor with the Persian king. The king gave Ezra permission to go to Jerusalem. He provided Ezra with a letter and access to resources to ensure safe travel. (See Ezra 7:11-26.)

Ezra traveled to Jerusalem with a purpose. God’s people had spent 70 years in exile, and they needed to be reminded how to live. As a scribe, Ezra was an expert on the law of Moses, and he had “determined in his heart to study the law of the LORD, obey it, and teach its statutes and ordinances in Israel” (Ezra 7:10).

Under Nehemiah’s leadership, the people had rebuilt Jerusalem’s walls. They gathered together at the Water Gate to hear the law of Moses. Men, women, and children—anyone who could understand—came to listen to the reading of God’s Word.

From early morning until midday, Ezra read from the book of the law of Moses. He stood on a high wooden platform where everyone could see and hear him. Ezra opened the book of the law, and everyone stood up. The Levites helped the listeners understand the words of the law. The people reacted strongly to hearing and understanding the law of Moses. Verse 9 says the people wept. The law revealed their sin, and they repented.

The law reveals our sin and how short we fall of meeting God’s standard. As you share with your kids, help them recognize that we cannot meet God’s requirements. We need a Savior. God sent Jesus to obey the law perfectly and die for our sins. We can trust in Him for salvation.

God’s Word is powerful. When Ezra read God’s Word, the people loved God more and changed their ways. The Bible says that Jesus is “the Word.” Jesus is God who came to live with people on earth. Jesus has the power to change our hearts.

Check this session’s Activity Page and Big Picture Card as well as the Gospel Project for Kids Family App for ways to interact with the Bible content this week.

FAMILY STARTING POINTS

- Babies and Toddlers
  - Nothing can stop God’s good plan.
  - The Bible tells us God’s plan to rescue us.
  - Ezra read God’s words to the people.
  - The people heard God’s words and turned back to God.
  - The Bible is God’s words to us.
- Preschool
  - Who is in control of everything? God is in control of everything.
  - God’s people promised to obey God.
- Kids
  - Who is in control of everything? God is in control of everything in heaven and on earth.
  - God’s people repented and promised to be faithful.

UNIT KEY PASSAGE

- 1 Peter 5:10

NEXT WEEK

- “Malachi the Prophet” (Malachi)

Family Discipleship: The Walls Rebuilt

Written by MattMacNaughton on February 9, 2020. Posted in Uncategorized. No Comments on Family Discipleship: The Walls Rebuilt

Dear Parents,

Want the weekly KidLife lesson recap and other blog post delivered right to your inbox? Be sure to signup to receive post from the Grace Life Blog.

Here is this week’s summary:

The Walls Rebuilt

Nehemiah 1-6

Story Point: God used Nehemiah to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls.

Big Picture Question: Who is in control of everything? God is in control of everything in heaven and on earth.

Christ Connection: Nehemiah led the people to rebuild the walls around Jerusalem to protect them from their enemies. Jesus came to protect us from our greatest enemies, sin and death. He died on the cross and rose from the dead to rescue everyone who trusts in Him.

Key Passage: 1 Peter 5:10

Nehemiah was a Jew living in Persia. He served as the king’s cupbearer. When the Persian Empire conquered the Babylonians, King Cyrus allowed God’s people to return to Judah. Two or three million Jews had originally been deported, but only a remnant—50,000 people—returned. They set up their homes and rebuilt the temple in Jerusalem.

But when God’s people faced opposition in rebuilding the rest of Jerusalem, they stopped. Some 70 years passed, and the walls and gates around the city were still ruined.

City walls and gates were very important in Bible times. Thick walls protected a city from its enemies and provided a sense of safety and security. Gates were the center of city life, the meeting place for commercial and social transactions. Without these structures, the surviving remnant of God’s people struggled and was vulnerable to attack.

Nehemiah traveled from Persia to Jerusalem to lead the effort in rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls. His leadership was effective. Nehemiah 3 describes all the people working together to rebuild the gates and walls. But it wasn’t long before Nehemiah met opposition from local governors. God’s people armed themselves and kept working. They completed the wall in just 52 days.

Note how their enemies reacted: “All the surrounding nations were intimidated and lost their confidence, for they realized that this task had been accomplished by our God” (Neh. 6:16).

Now God’s people were protected from their enemies. Help your kids see that God provided the way for us to be protected from our enemies, sin and death: He sent His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for our sins. When we repent and trust in Jesus, He frees us from sin and death. We still sin, but we are no longer slaves to sin. (See Rom. 6:17-18.) We may die a physical death as a result of sin, but we have eternal life. (See John 11:25-26; Rom. 6:23.)

Nehemiah led the people to rebuild the walls around Jerusalem to protect them from their enemies. Jesus came to protect us from our greatest enemy, sin and death. He died on the cross and rose from the dead to rescue everyone who trusts in Him.

Check this session’s Activity Page and Big Picture Card as well as the Gospel Project for Kids Family App for ways to interact with the Bible content this week.

FAMILY STARTING POINTS

- Babies and Toddlers
  - Nothing can stop God’s good plan.
  - Jesus protects us from our enemies.
  - Nehemiah led the people to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls.
  - God kept His people safe as they worked.
  - Jesus keeps us safe from sin when we trust in Him.
- Preschool
  - Who is in control of everything? God is in control of everything.
  - Nehemiah led God’s people to rebuild the walls.
- Kids
  - Who is in control of everything? God is in control of everything in heaven and on earth.
  - God used Nehemiah to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls.

UNIT KEY PASSAGE

- 1 Peter 5:10

NEXT WEEK

- “God’s People Repented” (Nehemiah 8–13)

Family Discipleship: Esther Saved Her People

Written by MattMacNaughton on February 2, 2020. Posted in Uncategorized. No Comments on Family Discipleship: Esther Saved Her People

Dear Parents,

Want the weekly KidLife lesson recap and other blog post delivered right to your inbox? Be sure to signup to receive post from the Grace Life Blog.

Here is this week’s summary:

Esther Saved Her People

Esther

Story Point: God made Esther a queen to protect His people.

Big Picture Question: Who is in control of everything? God is in control of everything in heaven and on earth.

Christ Connection: God was in control over Haman’s evil plan to destroy the Jews. Like Haman, Satan wants to ruin God’s plan and destroy believers. Satan thought he had won when Jesus died on the cross, but God raised Jesus from the dead and defeated Satan once and for all. All who believe in Jesus are rescued from sin and death.

Key Passage: 1 Peter 5:10

The Babylonian captivity ended when Cyrus, the king of Persia, took over Babylon and let God’s people go home. Some of God’s people—now called Jews (people from Judah)—traveled back to Judah to rebuild the temple, the city, and their lives. Others, however, stayed in Persia where life among the pagans was relatively comfortable.

The king of Persia was now Ahasuerus (uh haz yoo EHR uhs), also known by his Greek name, Xerxes (ZUHRK seez). Esther was a young Jewish girl who became queen of Persia. The former queen had defied the king and was promptly replaced.

Esther had been an orphan, so her cousin Mordecai adopted her. Mordecai kept in touch with Esther while she lived in the palace. One day, the king gave Haman the Agagite a very important position in the kingdom. The king even commanded the people to bow down to Haman. But Mordecai refused.

Haman was a descendant of Agag, king of the Amalekites. The nations of Israel and Amalek did not get along. Haman was angry, but instead of just punishing Mordecai, he planned to kill all the Jews in the kingdom.

In this week’s Bible story, Mordecai turned to Esther for help. After all, she was in a position of power, and the Jews were her people. The stakes were high, but Esther approached the king and explained her people’s plight. Review the details in Esther 7.

Note how Esther described Haman: “The adversary and enemy is this evil Haman” (Esth. 7:6). We too have an adversary—the Devil. He prowls around like a lion, seeking people to devour. (1 Pet. 5:8) He loves nothing more than to destroy believers and hinder the work of God. Satan thought he had succeeded when Jesus died on the cross, but God—working frequently behind the scenes—raised Jesus from the dead and defeated Satan once and for all. (See Heb. 2:14-15.)

God was in control over Haman’s evil plan to destroy the Jews. Like Haman, Satan wants to ruin God’s plan and destroy believers. Satan thought he had won when Jesus died on the cross, but God raised Jesus from the dead and defeated Satan once and for all. All who believe in Jesus are rescued from sin and death.

Check this session’s Activity Page and Big Picture Card as well as the Gospel Project for Kids Family App for ways to interact with the Bible content this week.

FAMILY STARTING POINTS

Babies and Toddlers
- Nothing can stop God’s good plan.
- Jesus died and rose again to do God’s plan.
- God made Esther queen of Persia.
- God used Esther to rescue His people.
- Jesus rescues us from sin and death.
Preschool
- Who is in control of everything? God is in control of everything.
- God used Esther to rescue God’s people from their enemies.
Kids
- Who is in control of everything? God is in control of everything in heaven and on earth.
- God made Esther a queen to protect His people.

UNIT KEY PASSAGE

1 Peter 5:10

NEXT WEEK

“The Walls Rebuilt” (Nehemiah 1–6)

Family Discipleship: Zechariah the Prophet

Written by MattMacNaughton on January 26, 2020. Posted in Uncategorized. No Comments on Family Discipleship: Zechariah the Prophet

Dear Parents,

Want the weekly KidLife lesson recap and other blog post delivered right to your inbox? Be sure to signup to receive post from the Grace Life Blog.

Here is this week’s summary:

Zechariah the Prophet

Zechariah

Story Point: Zechariah said the Messiah is coming.

Big Picture Question: How is Jesus the perfect Prophet? Jesus perfectly reveals God the Father and fulfills what the prophets spoke.

Christ Connection: God was going to help His people and give them a different kind of king. Jesus is the King who came and rode humbly on a donkey, just as Zechariah said. Because Zechariah’s prophecy came true in Jesus, we can have hope and forgiveness of sins when we trust in Jesus.

Key Passage: Jeremiah 29:11

The conflict between Edom and Israel originates in the story of Jacob and Esau. The twins struggled in the womb, and their mother, Rebekah, asked God why. God explained that from her womb would come two nations, and the older would serve the younger. (Gen. 25:23)

The nation of Israel descended from Jacob (the younger), and the nation of Edom descended from Esau (the older). God promised to Jacob the same promises He made to Abraham (Gen. 28:15), but Esau was a godless man who despised God’s promises. (Heb. 12:16)

For centuries, the two families were at odds. When Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, the king of Edom refused to let the Israelites pass through his country to get to the promised land. (Num. 20:14-21) Edom fought against Israel on several occasions. (See 2 Chron. 20:2; 28:17; 2 Kings 8:20-22.)

The Book of Obadiah is God’s message about Edom in response to their sin—specifically their gloating over the Babylonian invasion of Jerusalem. When the Babylonians invaded Jerusalem, the people of Edom didn’t help. Like an envious brother, Edom was glad to see Judah overcome. In fact, Edom was a guilty participant in the action against Judah. (Obad. 11)

The prophet Obadiah detailed the charges against Edom, announced their guilt, and handed down the sentence from the Lord: Edom would be totally destroyed. No remnant of Esau’s family would remain. On the other hand, Obadiah said God’s people would be restored.

God said the people of Edom would get what they deserved. “As you have done, it will be done to you; what you deserve will return on your own head” (Obad. 15). God’s rule is just. The fate of the Edomites might as well be ours. But here’s the reality: As you have done, it was done to Christ; what you deserve was returned on His head. Jesus is King, and one day He will deliver His people from their enemies once and for all.

Like God’s people were mistreated by the people of Edom, Jesus was mistreated by His own people. God will punish sin. Jesus died on the cross to take the punishment we deserve for our sin. We can trust Jesus to make wrong things right.

Check this session’s Activity Page and Big Picture Card as well as the Gospel Project for Kids Family App for ways to interact with the Bible content this week.

FAMILY STARTING POINTS

Babies and Toddlers
- The prophets told about Jesus.
- One day, Jesus will make wrong things right.
- Edom was happy when God punished Judah.
- Obadiah said God would bring His people back to their land.
- Jesus will be king over God’s people forever.
Preschool
- How is Jesus the perfect Prophet? God speaks to us through Jesus.
- God promised to take care of His people.
Kids
- How is Jesus the perfect Prophet? Jesus perfectly reveals God the Father and fulfills what the prophets spoke.
- God promised to restore Israel and rule the earth as King.

UNIT KEY PASSAGE

- Jeremiah 29:11

NEXT WEEK

- “The Captives Came Home” (Ezra 1–3)

Family Discipleship: The Temple was Rebuilt

Written by MattMacNaughton on January 19, 2020. Posted in Uncategorized. No Comments on Family Discipleship: The Temple was Rebuilt

Dear Parents,

Want the weekly KidLife lesson recap and other blog post delivered right to your inbox? Be sure to signup to receive post from the Grace Life Blog.

Here is this week’s summary:

The Temple Was Rebuilt

Ezra 4-6; Haggai

Story Point: God’s people rebuilt the temple to glorify God.

Big Picture Question: How is Jesus the perfect Prophet? Jesus perfectly reveals God the Father and fulfills what the prophets spoke.

Christ Connection: God’s people rebuilt the temple so they would have a place to worship God. Years later, God sent His Son, Jesus, to be with His people. Now God dwells not in the temple, but directly with His people. Jesus provided something better than the temple; He gives us Himself.

Key Passage: Jeremiah 29:11

At last! God’s people returned to Jerusalem, the home of their ancestors. God had given them another opportunity to live as His special people. They got to work right away, completing the foundation of the Lord’s temple.

Many of God’s people had been born in Babylon, but they had likely heard the stories of their parents and grandparents, stories of a life in the land God had given them. They probably heard of their families’ mistakes: ignoring God, worshiping idols, and mistreating the poor. But the Lord had been gracious! He kept His promise to bring His people back to Judah.

Life in Judah wasn’t exactly what they had imagined. It was difficult. Their national wealth was gone. The work of rebuilding the temple and the city of Jerusalem was hard. The land was desolate, and crops failed. Their neighbors opposed their efforts. (See Ezra 4:6,11-16.)

God’s people were disappointed and discouraged. Rather than fight their enemies, God’s people gave up. The temple of the Lord sat unfinished for 16 years. The people made excuses. “Maybe it’s not time to rebuild the temple,” they reasoned. If that was what God wanted, wouldn’t He make it easier for them? (See Hag. 1:2.) God’s people moved on to building their own homes.

The prophet Haggai stepped onto the scene and rebuked the people for their misplaced priorities. (Hag. 1:4) He brought words from the Lord, commanding them to finish the work they started. God promised to fill the temple with His glory, and comforted His weary people with this promise: “I will provide peace in this place” (Hag. 2:7,9).

God promised to be with His people and bless them—and not only them, but the whole world through them, keeping the promise He made to Abraham long ago. (See Gen. 12:3.) Through God’s servant, Zerubbabel, God would send His Son, Jesus—the greater Servant who is God with us.

God’s people rebuilt the temple so they would have a place to worship God. Years later, God sent His Son, Jesus, to be with His people. Now God dwells not in the temple, but directly with His people. Jesus provided something better than the temple; He gives us Himself.

Check this session’s Activity Page and Big Picture Card as well as the Gospel Project for Kids Family App for ways to interact with the Bible content this week.

FAMILY STARTING POINTS

- Babies and Toddlers
  - The prophets told about Jesus.
  - Jesus is with us wherever we go.
  - God helped His people rebuild the temple.
  - Haggai said God was with them.
  - Because of Jesus, we can worship God anywhere.
- Preschool
  - How is Jesus the perfect Prophet? God speaks to us through Jesus.
  - God’s people rebuilt the temple.
- Kids
  - How is Jesus the perfect Prophet? Jesus perfectly reveals God the Father and fulfills what the prophets spoke.
  - God’s people rebuilt the temple to glorify God.

UNIT KEY PASSAGE

- Jeremiah 29:11

NEXT WEEK

- “Zechariah the Prophet” (Zechariah)

Family Discipleship: The Captives Came Home

Written by MattMacNaughton on January 12, 2020. Posted in Uncategorized. No Comments on Family Discipleship: The Captives Came Home

Dear Parents,

Want the weekly KidLife lesson recap and other blog post delivered right to your inbox? Be sure to signup to receive post from the Grace Life Blog.

Here is this week’s summary:

The Captives Came Home

Ezra 1-3

Story Point: God kept His promise to bring His people home.

Big Picture Question: How is Jesus the perfect Prophet? Jesus perfectly reveals God the Father and fulfills what the prophets spoke.

Christ Connection: Zerubbabel led God’s people back to the temple to rebuild it. The temple was the place where God met with His people on earth. Jesus came to earth to rescue God’s people. One day Jesus will return to restore a greater home for all of God’s people, and we will spend eternity with Him.

Key Passage: Jeremiah 29:11

God’s people had been living in Babylon for 70 years. Some of God’s people had died in Babylon. Some of their children and grandchildren were born in Babylon and grew up there. But Babylon was not their home.

Before the people of Judah were exiled, God had spoken through the prophet Jeremiah. These are the words of the Lord: “These nations will serve the king of Babylon for seventy years” (Jer. 25:11). Then the Lord said, “When seventy years for Babylon are complete, I will attend to you and will confirm my promise concerning you to restore you to this place” (Jer. 29:10). The time had come for God’s people to go back home.

Cyrus, the king of the Persian empire, had overthrown Babylon. Cyrus took over the kingdom, including the lands of Israel and Judah. In the following year, the Lord did something miraculous in Cyrus’s heart. He prompted Cyrus to issue a decree: All the Jewish exiles are free to return to their ancestral homes.

The exile was over! God’s people were free to return to their own land. They were free to live as God’s special people. The first group of Judean exiles returned home under the leadership of Zerubbabel (zuh RUHB uh buhl). Zerubbabel was the grandson of King Jehoiachin, who had been taken to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar. (See 2 Kings 24:8-13.)

Ezra 2:64-65 says nearly 50,000 people traveled back to Judah. When they got to Jerusalem, they began working to rebuild the temple that the Chaldeans had destroyed. (See 2 Chron. 36:19.)

Explain to your kids that the temple was the place where God met with His people. Jesus came to earth to rescue God’s people from sin. When Jesus returns, He will restore the earth and will dwell with His people forever.

Zerubbabel led God’s people back to the temple to rebuild it. The temple was the place where God met with His people on earth. Jesus came to earth to rescue God’s people. One day Jesus will return to restore a greater home for all of God’s people, and we will spend eternity with Him.

Check this session’s Activity Page and Big Picture Card as well as the Gospel Project for Kids Family App for ways to interact with the Bible content this week.

FAMILY STARTING POINTS

- Babies and Toddlers
  - The prophets told about Jesus.
  - Jesus will give us a home with Him.
  - God brought His people back to their land.
  - Zerubbabel led the people to build the temple.
  - Jesus brings us to God.
- Preschool
  - How is Jesus the perfect Prophet? God speaks to us through Jesus.
  - God kept His promise to bring His people home.
- Kids
  - How is Jesus the perfect Prophet? Jesus perfectly reveals God the Father and fulfills what the prophets spoke.
  - God kept His promise to bring His people home.

UNIT KEY PASSAGE

- Jeremiah 29:11

NEXT WEEK

- “The Temple Was Rebuilt” (Ezra 4–6; Haggai)

Family Discipleship: Obadiah the Prophet

Written by MattMacNaughton on January 5, 2020. Posted in Uncategorized. No Comments on Family Discipleship: Obadiah the Prophet

Dear Parents,

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Here is this week’s summary:

Obadiah the Prophet

Obadiah

Story Point: God promised to restore Israel and rule the earth as King

Big Picture Question: How is Jesus the perfect Prophet? Jesus perfectly reveals God the Father and fulfills what the prophets spoke.

Christ Connection: Like God’s people were mistreated by the people of Edom, Jesus was mistreated by His own people. God will punish sin. Jesus died on the cross to take the punishment we deserve for our sin. We can trust Jesus to make wrong things right.

Key Passage: Jeremiah 29:11

Check this session’s Activity Page and Big Picture Card as well as the Gospel Project for Kids Family App for ways to interact with the Bible content this week.

FAMILY STARTING POINTS

Babies and Toddlers
- The prophets told about Jesus.
- One day, Jesus will make wrong things right.
- Edom was happy when God punished Judah.
- Obadiah said God would bring His people back to their land.
- Jesus will be king over God’s people forever
Preschool
- How is Jesus the perfect Prophet? God speaks to us through Jesus.
- God promised to take care of His people.
Kids
- How is Jesus the perfect Prophet? Jesus perfectly reveals God the Father and fulfills what the prophets spoke.
- God promised to restore Israel and rule the earth as King.

UNIT KEY PASSAGE

- Jeremiah 29:11

NEXT WEEK

- “The Captives Came Home” (Ezra 1–3)