It has been another rewarding month of teaching for me, I hope you also are benefiting from the discussions we have been having in class.  For this week's challenge you have a choice:

1)  Spend time over dinner this week talking to your family about your favorite miracles that are recorded in the Bible.  Then open up the discussion to what miracles you have experienced in your life.  Talk about how these occurrences have affected your faith.

2)  Here is a list of some of the highlights of Mary’s hymn of praise in the Magnificat. (vs. 46-55)

 

a. (v. 46) Her soul exalted the Lord

b. (v. 47) Her spirit rejoiced in God

c. (v. 48) She humbled herself

d. (v. 48) Recognized that generations will call her blessed

e. (v. 49) She gave God all of the credit

f. (v. 50) She acknowledged God’s mercy

g. (v. 51) She acknowledged God’s power

h. (v. 52) She stated that God can bring down the mighty and exalt the lowly

i. (v. 53) She stated that God has filled the hungry and emptied the rich

j. (vs. 54-55) She stated that God has kept His promises to Israe

Pick the one(s) that resonate most with you and spend time talking about them with your family over dinner this week.

In Him,
Aaron

Once again, great conversation last night in class!  In order to keep that going we have to continue to prepare for class during the week; be sure and read Luke 1:5-56 a few times this week  so you will be ready for next week's discussion.

William Barclay writes, "It is most significant that Luke was not satisfied with anyone else's story of Christ.  He must have his own.  Real religion is never a second-hand thing.  It is a personal discovery. Professor Arthur Gossip of Trinity College, Glasgow, used to say that the four gospels were important, but beyond them all came the gospel of personal experience.  Luke had to rediscover Jesus Christ for himself." (from the New Daily Study Bible, "The Gospel of Luke," page 10)

Spend time this week discussing with your family what your personal experience is with the gospel.  Share how you have come to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the gospel is true.  Start planning ways to help your children put into to words what their personal experiences are.

In Him,
Aaron

Wow, what great dialogue we had on Saturday night as we wrapped up our study on the fruit of the Spirit.

Things to meditate on: We are sealed with the Holy Spirit, we are already given the fruit, all we have to do is walk in the Spirit.

This week's challenge:

1) Read Luke 1:1-4 several times in preparation for our upcoming class time.

2) Check out the class blog that Keely created: http://www.king-swanson-lg.blogspot.com/
3) Do the Price is Right devotional with your family (thank you Crystal for sharing)

In Him,
Aaron

“The Price is Right” Devotional Adapted from: www.kidssundayschool.com

Best Use: Family Game Night

Ingredients Needed:

8 small items (see Preparations below)
Bible
Heaven poster (http://www.kidssundayschool.com/Gradeschool/Games/1game21b.php)
10 large index cards
Tally sheet for each team or child (http://www.kidssundayschool.com/Gradeschool/Games/1game21a.php)

Pen
Treats (optional)

           

Nutritional Value: Children will understand that it is impossible for someone to get to Heaven on his or her own efforts.

Preparation: Purchase 8 items, or find inexpensive items from around the house, like a bottle of lotion, mirror, sponge, candy bar, box of soap, etc. Give each item a value (price) close to the actual cost and write it down in black ink on one side of a large index card. On the other side in red ink, write down an estimated amount that is either slightly higher or slightly lower than the actual price. Try to have about half of the estimated amounts higher, and half lower. Fold the index cards into tents so the red estimated amounts are showing.

Make a card for the Bible also, with the actual value being what the Bible may have actually cost, and the estimated amount slightly higher. Then make a card for the heaven poster, with the actual value being $0 and the estimated amount $10,000.

Display all 10 items in a row on a table with the Bible in the 9th spot and Heaven in the 10th spot.

Serve It Up:

1. Explain during Jesus' ministry, many people heard Him talk about the Kingdom of God and eternal life in Heaven. It was clear that life on earth was different than the life Jesus was talking about. One day, a young ruler came to Jesus to find out what he had to do to have eternal life in Heaven. The passage we are going to read is from Matthew chapter 19, but the very same account can also be found in Mark 10 and Luke 18. Have family member read Matthew 19: 16-26 (The Rich Young Man).

2. Use these questions to discuss the passage with your child(ren).

 Did you recognize any of the commandments Jesus gave the young ruler? (Last 5 of the 10 commandments, except Jesus changed the 10th one from do not covet to love your neighbor.)

Since the man said he kept all the commands mentioned by Jesus, why do you think he asked, what do I still lack? (He was aware of something holding him back.)

Why did the young man go away sad? (He had great wealth, but more importantly, he knew he couldn't do what Jesus suggested.)
Does having great wealth make it impossible to go to Heaven? (No.)
Then what was really keeping this man from eternal life? (The man loved his wealth more than Jesus. So his riches prevented him from placing his faith in Jesus and following Him in obedience. Without Jesus, no one can receive the gift of eternal life.)
Based on verse 26, can a man be good enough to save himself? (No, with man it is impossible, but with God all things are possible.)

3. Play “The Price is Right.” Pair up the family members and give each team a tally sheet. (You can also do this individually, but the kids will have more fun working together) As you point to the first item, have the kids decide if the price shown is higher or lower than the actual price. Have them check the box accordingly on their tally sheet. Once they have made their choice, turn over the card to show the actual price and see if they got it right. Do the same for the rest of the items 2-8, one by one, as the kids keep score. Ham it up as a game show host might do, describing each item, etc.

4. Have the kids guess if the actual price of the Bible is higher or lower, but before revealing the actual price, stop to see how well the kids are doing so far. Ask if any team got eight correct, seven, six, etc. Then turn over the Bible price. Whether the kids said the actual price is higher or lower doesn’t really matter. Explain that even a Bible has a price, and can be bought.

5. Last, have them guess if the actual price for Heaven is higher or lower than $10,000. The price of Heaven is important. Tell the children not to consider only the poster, but Heaven being the real thing. Most likely, some of the teams/individuals will guess that the price of heaven is higher, much higher than $10,000. Some adults may too. As you turn over the card to reveal the actual price of $0, explain how Heaven is absolutely free. Not even one hundred thousand million dollars can buy heaven. Did anyone get that right? Give a special treat to anyone who did.

6. Read Ephesians 2:8,9 "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast" NIV.
Have children repeat these verses. Then explain that "saved" is similar in meaning to eternal life, or Heaven. Read the verse again, but this time substitute the words "can go to Heaven" for "have been saved." Ask, what does "not by works" mean? Emphasis that there is nothing we can do to earn going to heaven. Heaven cannot be earned. No matter how much money we have, no matter how good we are, we cannot buy Heaven. It is a free gift - yes completely free! There are many verses in the Bible that tell us no one can earn the gift of heaven. However, the one thing everyone must do to receive eternal life is to believe in Jesus, ask for forgiveness of your sins, and make Him boss of your life.

7. Close in prayer thanking God for sending Jesus, our free gift, as a way for us to spend eternity in heaven with Him.