Tag Archives: Devotions

Heart for Service

October 1, 2017Devotions for Childrens LeadersBilly Graham, Charles Borden, Charles Studd, Children, Church, Devotions, KidMin, kids, Leader, Lessons, Ministries, Ministry, Philippians 1:21, School, Sunday, Teacher, Volunteerskolbyking

Read:

Charles T. Studd was a famous sportsman in England, captain of the Cambridge XI cricket team. A century ago he gave away his vast wealth to needy causes and led the “Cambridge Seven” to China. His slogan was, “If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him.”

During the first decade of this century, Charles Borden left one of America’s greatest family fortunes to be a missionary in China. He only got as far as Egypt where, still in his twenties, he died of typhoid fever. Before his death he said, “No reserves, no retreats, no regrets!”

A generation ago, Jim Elliot went from Wheaton College to become a missionary to the Aucas in Ecuador. Before he was killed, he wrote, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

“…I [Billy Graham] have chosen Christ not because He takes away my pain but because He gives me strength to cope with that pain and in the long range to realize victory over it. Corrie ten Boom said, ‘The worst can happen but the best remains.’”*

Reflect

Read Philippians 1:21 from your Bible.

Respond

Service is one of God’s five purposes for your life and the heart for service begins when a person falls in love with Christ and is willing to say, “Lord, I will do anything you want me to do. Here I am. Send me.” Have you said this lately? Are you absolutely in love with Jesus? For what specific service did God create you? Consider it this way: When you want to drive a nail, you pick up a hammer. When God wants to _________________ (fill in the blank), He calls on you.

Prayerfully consider what you have read today. Then take a few moments to pray for yourself, your students, and others with whom you serve in ministry.

Remember

You’ll never be happier and you’ll never be safer than right in the middle of God’s will—even if it costs your life.

Get all 52 Children’s Leader Devotions HERE.

Find more children’s ministry resources and training at:
www.330resources.org/child ren.

If these resources bless you, consider supporting this ministry:

*Billy Graham, Approaching Hoofbeats: The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, (Waco, Texas: Word Books, 1983) p. 94-95

Going Forward

October 1, 2017Devotions for Childrens LeadersBerlin, Children, Church, Devotions, Jude 1:20, KidMin, kids, Leader, Lessons, Ministries, Ministry, purpose, School, story, Sunday, Teacher, Volunteerskolbyking

Read:

The story is told that when Berlin was being divided into East Berlin, controlled by the Communists, and West Berlin, part of the free world, a group of East Berliners dumped a whole truckload of garbage on the west side. The people from West Berlin thought they’d pick up all the garbage, put it on a truck, and dump it back on the east side. Then they decided that wasn’t the way to handle it. Instead they filled a dump truck with canned goods and other non-perishable food items, went over to the east side, stacked it neatly, and put a sign beside it. The sign read, “Each gives what each has to give.” What a great message! You can only give fruit to others when you are living a fruitful life inwardly yourself. So, here’s the question of the day: What kind of fruit are you producing? You can’t grow fruit if you’re not growing. How are you growing in your walk with Christ? *

Reflect

Read Jude 1:20 from your Bible.

Respond

One of God’s purposes for you is to grow day by day with Him. After, this is eternal life—Not just going to Heaven, but knowing God (John 17:3). How well are you growing? Are there things in your life that are stunting your growth? What is your plan for a closer walk with Christ?

Prayerfully consider what you have read today. Then take a few moments to pray for yourself, your students, and others with whom you serve in ministry.

Remember

If you’re not going forward, you’re probably going backwards. Growing takes time and is a process. God takes six hours to grow a mushroom but sixty years to grow an oak tree. Which do you want to be?

Get all 52 Children’s Leader Devotions HERE.

Find more children’s ministry resources and training at:
www.330resources.org/child ren.

If these resources bless you, consider supporting this ministry:

*John Maxwell, Be All You Can Be (publisher, date, and page unknown).

October 1, 2017Devotions for Childrens LeadersActs 1:8, Children, Church, Devotions, evangelism, Jesus, John 3:16, KidMin, kids, Leader, Lessons, Ministries, Ministry, School, Share, Sunday, Teacher, Volunteerskolbyking

Read:

Paul Bell was our missionary to the Mexicans in Bastrop, Texas. One Saturday afternoon he mingled with the men who came to town at that time. He came in contact with a man in his sixties and found him to be a ready listener to the sweet story of Jesus and His love. Later this man was gloriously converted. He said, “I can’t read or write, so I want you to teach me John 3:16. And since my people love to sing, I want you to teach me a gospel song.” With painstaking care, Brother Bell taught him John 3:16 and a stanza of the song, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” The man also promised to come to church and be baptized.

Three weeks went by and the man didn’t show up. On the fourth Sunday he came and brought with him five other Mexicans. He walked down the aisle with them and said, “We are all here to be baptized.” In this brief time, with just a little bit of knowledge, he had led five men to Christ. He lived for two more years. Again and again he would come in and bring someone that he had won to Christ. The total reached about fifty. Then one day somebody came to Brother Bell and said, “An old Mexican woodcutter is dying, and he is calling for you.” Brother Bell went out and found the man. “I am so glad to see you,” said the woodcutter, “Will you quote my verse for me?” Brother Bell did this and then the man said, “Now will you sing my song for me?” Brother Bell lifted up his voice and sang. He saw the old man’s lips moving for a while, then they stopped. At the end of the song, he saw that the soul of the dear old Christian had slipped out to be with his God. But in two year’s time, he had won fifty souls with one verse of Scripture and one stanza of a song.*

Reflect

Read Acts 1:8 from your Bible.

Respond

Evangelism is one of the five purposes God has for you. He created you to shine His life and light to all you meet. How effective do you feel in bringing other people to Christ? In what ways can you grow stronger in this area? What is your vision for seeing people saved?
Prayerfully consider what you have read today. Then take a few moments to pray for yourself, your students, and others with whom you serve in ministry.

Remember

You are witness everyday—either for Christ or against Him.

Get all 52 Children’s Leader Devotions HERE.

Find more children’s ministry resources and training at:
www.330resources.org/child ren.

If these resources bless you, consider supporting this ministry:

*W. Herschel Ford, Sermons You Can Preach on John, (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1958) p. 429-430
© Copyright 2017 Kolby King

Not Alone

October 1, 2017Devotions for Childrens LeadersChildren, Church, Devotions, fellowship, Hebrews 10, KidMin, kids, Leader, Lessons, lonely, Ministries, Ministry, School, Sunday, Teacher, Vietnam, Volunteerskolbyking

Read:

Nothing destroys like isolation. POW’s during the Vietnam War communicated and sustained one another by tapping through walls. The Hanoi Hilton, says ex-Air Force pilot Ron Bliss, sounded like a den of run-away woodpeckers. The North Vietnamese never mastered the code, which laid out the alphabet on a simple 5 x 5 grid. The code flowed so fluently that the men told one another jokes. Kicks on the wall meant a laugh. Every Sunday at a code signal the men stood and recited the Lord’s Prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. Even walls and guards could not stop the prisoners of war from having community and fellowship with one another. We face our own walls and barriers to true fellowship within our churches today. The essence of community is at the very least a conversation together, a quick connect, a holding of a hand to join forces together to serve this day. It’s important to know that you’re not alone. Question…“Is true fellowship alive and well in your life today?”*

Reflect

Read Hebrews 10:24-25 from your Bible.

Respond

Sometimes in children’s ministry, you can feel alone, even in the middle of a crowd. It’s easy to become isolated. On a scale of 1 to 10, how connected do you feel with other believers. Why or why not? How can you have true fellowship with others?
Prayerfully consider what you have read today. Then take a few moments to pray for yourself, your students, and others with whom you serve in ministry.

Remember

There are no Lone Rangers in God’s Army. Together we stand shoulder to shoulder.

Get all 52 Children’s Leader Devotions HERE.

Find more children’s ministry resources and training at:
www.330resources.org/child ren.

If these resources bless you, consider supporting this ministry:

*Adapted from a story told on Preaching Today Cassette number 218 entitled “Community At Risk.”
© Copyright 2017 Kolby King

Our Purpose

October 1, 2017Devotions for Childrens LeadersChildren, Church, Devotions, Ephesians 2:10, God, KidMin, kids, Leader, Lessons, Ministries, Ministry, Plan, purpose, School, Sunday, Teacher, Volunteerskolbyking

Read:

Today I woke up and combed my hair with a fork, blew my nose on sandpaper, put the bread in my shoes to make toast, poured milk in my car to make it run, and put the butter in the oven to keep it cold. “Am I crazy?” you say. Of course not. I just didn’t use things for what they were created.

Reflect

Read Ephesians 2:10 from your Bible.

Respond

Everything has a purpose. Milk can’t make your car go any more than an oven can keep your butter cold. You may be able to half-way comb your hair with a fork, but that’s not its purpose. As a believer God has five purposes for your life: Evangelism, Fellowship, Discipleship, Service, and Worship. Did you know that you’ll never truly be fulfilled as a Christian until you are operating in all five of these areas? Today do you feel like anything is lacking in your life or your walk with Christ?
Prayerfully consider what you have read today. Then take a few moments to pray for yourself, your students, and others with whom you serve in ministry.

Remember

“Before God created the world and before He even blew breath into Adam, He already knew your name and had plans for your life. Walk in His design for you.”

Get all 52 Children’s Leader Devotions HERE.

Find more children’s ministry resources and training at:
www.330resources.org/child ren.

If these resources bless you, consider supporting this ministry:

The Priority of a Children’s Ministry Leader

October 1, 2017Devotions for Childrens LeadersChildren, Church, Devotions, KidMin, kids, Leader, Lessons, Luke 10, Ministries, Ministry, purpose, School, Sunday, Volunteerskolbyking

Why does a children’s ministry exist?

(a) To babysit so parents can be ministered to? (Absolutely not!)

(b) To help children get their annual supply of cookies and kool-aid? (No, not never!)

(d) To reach and teach children and families with the Good News of Jesus Christ. (This is, has been, and always will be the purpose. Everything we do is measured against this aim.)

Read

A young couple had just taken home their firstborn child. The dad, named Jeff, had taken a few days off work to help around the house. One afternoon the wife walked by the nursery and saw him standing over the crib. There was a huge smile on his face. The window was open and a gentle breeze was blowing in. It was a picture-perfect sight. Quietly she walked over and put her arm around him.

“What are you thinking?” she asked.

“It’s amazing,” he said. “It’s a miracle. It a wonder that anyone can build a crib like this for $49.95.” *

In this story (which is true) the dad was so caught up in the package that he was missing the true miracle inside. Sometimes we too get so caught up in the “package” of life or ministry that we overlook what really matters.

Reflect

Read Luke 10: 38-42 from your Bible.

Respond

The priority of a children’s ministry volunteer is first and foremost to walk with Jesus daily. What you lead, and do, and teach in ministry comes as an overflow of your own relationship with Christ. On a scale of 1 to 10, how closely are you walking with Jesus? Do you have a daily time set aside just for Him? What is the most important thing in your life? And be careful not to get so caught up in the “package” of life, that you forget about the one thing that really matters in life—which is you and Jesus.

Also, be sure to remember that the most important thing in your classroom this week is not your preparation, not your teaching plans—the most important thing in your classroom is that child standing in front of you. Don’t get so caught up in the “package” of ministry that you forget what really matters—which is Jesus and your students.
Prayerfully consider what you have read today. Then take a few moments to pray for yourself, your students, and others with whom you serve in ministry.

Remember

As a children’s ministry leader God has not called you to cover lessons, but to connect the truth of the Gospel with kids.

Get all 52 Children’s Leader Devotions HERE.

Find more children’s ministry resources and training at:
www.330resources.org/child ren.

If these resources bless you, consider supporting this ministry:

—

*Craig Jutilla in a message “Making a Difference,” 2002.

The Power of a Children’s Ministry Leader

October 1, 2017Devotions for Childrens LeadersCare, Children, Church, Devotions, KidMin, kids, Leader, Lessons, Love, Ministries, Ministry, Philippians 2:15, School, Sunday, Teacher, Volunteerskolbyking

Read:

I saw him in the church building for the first time on Wednesday. He was in his mid-70’s with thinning silver hair and a neat brown suit.

Many times in the past I had invited him to come. Several other Christian friends had talked to him about the Lord and had tried to share the Good News with him. He was a well-respected, honest man with so many characteristics a Christian should have, but he never “put on Christ,” nor entered the doors of the church.

“Have you ever been to a church service in your life?” I had asked him a few years ago. We had just finished a pleasant day of visiting and talking. He hesitated. Then with a bitter smile he told me of his childhood experience some fifty years ago. He was one of the many children in a large, impoverished family. His parents had struggled to provide food, with little left for housing and clothing.

When he was about ten, some neighbors invited him to worship with them. The Sunday School class had been very exciting. He had never heard such songs and stories before. He had never heard anyone read from the bible. After class was over, the teacher took him aside and said, “Son, please don’t come again dressed as you are now. We want to look our best when we come into God’s house.”

He stood in his ragged, unpatched overalls. Then looking at his dirty bare feet, he answered softly, “No Ma’am, I won’t—ever.”

“And I never did,” he said, abruptly ending our conversation.

There must have been other factors to have hardened him so, but this experience formed a significant part of the bitterness in his heart.

I’m sure that Sunday school teacher meant well. But did she really understand the love of Christ? Had she studied and accepted the teaching found in the second chapter of James? What if she had put her arms around that dirty, ragged little boy and said, “Son, I am so glad you are here, and I hope you will come every chance you get to hear more about Jesus.”

Yes, I saw him in the church house for the first time on Wednesday. As I looked at that immaculately-dressed old gentleman lying in his casket, I thought of a little boy of long ago. I could almost hear him say, “No Ma’am, I won’t—ever.”

And I wept.

Oh God, help us all—pastors, teachers, parents, to remember the lowliness of the Babe in the manger and help us show forth His love to the lowly, unlovely, and unloved! In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Reflect

Read Philippians 2:15 from your Bible.

Respond

What do you think would have happened if the teacher in the story above had put her arms around that little boy and said, “We love you so much and we are so glad you came to church today”? What kind of difference do you think it would have made? As a children’s ministry leader God has given you the privilege of making a positive difference in the lives of kids. In what ways do you desire for God to grow and use you this year? Are there areas in which you desire to do better as compared to last year (i.e., build stronger relationships with students and parents, do better remembering and recognizing birthdays, do better in attending a ball game or other events that your students participate in outside of church to show how special they are to you, etc.)?

Prayerfully consider what you have read today. Then take a few moments to pray for yourself, your students, and others with whom you serve in ministry.

Remember

“A reflection is only as clear as the mirror is clean. Let Jesus shine in you this week.”

Get all 52 Children’s Leader Devotions HERE.

Find more children’s ministry resources and training at:
www.330resources.org/child ren.

If these resources bless you, consider supporting this ministry:

——

*Shirley Ward, published in the The Handley Herald.
© Copyright 2017 Kolby King

Christmas Family Devotion #9

November 25, 2016Family Devotions - Christmas Fun2 Corinthians 5:17, bible, Changed, Christ, Christian, Christmas, Devotions, family, Life, Marshmallow, New, Smore, studykolbyking

FOOD FOR THOUGHT, part 4

You will need:

1 bag of Large Marshmallows
A candle
A Bible marked at 2 Corinthians 5:17

Get Started

Take turns roasting marshmallows over a candle. This can be safely done inside, but be sure to tell your children never to do this unless you are with them. Also, if you put the marshmallow on a fork to hold it over the flame, don’t immediately stick it into your mouth. Instead, scrape it onto a plate and use a separate utensil with which to eat it

ASK—How did the marshmallow change when it was over the fire? (It looked different. It even tasted different. It got hot, etc.)

SAY—Just like the flame brought a change to the marshmallows, Jesus can bring a change to anyone who is willing to give their lives to Him.

Read 2 Corinthians 5:17 from your Bible.

SAY—It doesn’t matter how good or bad a person is or what they look like or what mistakes they’ve made, Jesus is willing to save anyone who comes to Him. Jesus can even change the heart of the meanest person in the world if that person is willing to accept Him as Lord and Savior.

PRAY—Pray for someone you know whom you think doesn’t know Jesus.

This family devotion is from:

72 Family Devotions for Spiritually Training Your Kids
ON SALE for $5.99. Regular price: $9.99 USD. Nonfiction.
Featuring 72 action-packed, easy-to-lead family devotions. Set aside a night or two each week for a “special time” where you and your kids can have family fun together and learn valuable lessons from God’s Word. No advanced planning is needed. Anyone can do this. The ebook contains devotions concerning a variety of topics including salvation, fear, trust, sin, forgiveness and much more.

Find more family resources at 330resources.org/family.

If these resources bless you, consider supporting this ministry:

Christmas Family Devotion #8

November 25, 2016Family Devotions - Christmas Fun1 Corinthians 10:13, bible, Christ, Christian, Christmas, Devotions, family, Marshmallow, snowball, study, temptation, temptedkolbyking

SNOWBALL FIGHT

You will need:

1 Bag of Large Marshmallows
A Bible marked at 1 Corinthians 10:13

Get Started

Have an inside “snowball” fight using large marshmallow. You may want to outline certain boundaries, such as not going in bedrooms, etc. Or, if you desire, you can play all over the house. You can even play a hide-and-seek version. Have fun and don’t worry about marshmallows going everywhere. Messes last a little while; memories last a lifetime. After your game, gather your family around and continue with the following:

ASK—Did anybody get hit by a marshmallow they didn’t see coming?

SAY—In life sometimes you get hit by a temptation you didn’t see coming.

ASK—What is an example of temptation? (Being tempted to cheat on a test, etc.)

ASK—Is it wrong to be tempted? (No. Temptation is not wrong, but if you give into the temptation, that’s sin. Jesus was tempted, but He overcame it.)

Read 1 Corinthians 10:13 from your Bible.

SAY—God always makes a way for you to escape from temptation. So the next time you’re being tempted, talk to Jesus and ask Him for the strength to do what’s right. Then let your love for Jesus overcome the temptation because those who love Jesus obey Him.

PRAY—Thank God for always making a way to escape from temptation.

This family devotion is from:

Find more family resources at 330resources.org/family.

If these resources bless you, consider supporting this ministry:

Christmas Family Devotion #7

November 25, 2016Family Devotions - Christmas Funbible, Christ, Christian, Christmas, Devotions, family, Hands, Hot Chocolate, John 10:28-29, Marshmallow, Romans 8:38-39, Separate, studykolbyking

FOOD FOR THOUGHT, part 3

You will need:

Instant Hot Chocolate
Cups
Small Marshmallows
Hot Water (but not too hot)
A Bible marked at Romans 8:38-39, John 10:28-29

Get Started

Help each member of your family make a cup of hot chocolate. Then, once it’s mixed, ask them if they can separate out the chocolate from the water.

SAY—Just like the chocolate and the water can’t be separated because they have been joined together, when you give your life to Jesus, you are joined to Him and nothing can separate you from His love.

Read Romans 8:38-39 from your Bible.

ASK—What can separate you from the love of Christ? (Nothing—not even you. After all, you are a “created thing”)

SAY—Once you’ve given your life to Christ, nothing can separate you from Him.

Read John 10:28-29 from your Bible.

Put a small marshmallow in your hand and make a fist. Ask if anyone thinks they can pull it out. Let them take turns trying. Even let them use two hands or join in together. The only way for them to get it out is to be stronger than you.

ASK—Is anyone stronger than God? (No.)

SAY—Then no one is able to pull you out of His hands and He will never let go of you. He loves you and will always keep you in His hands.

This family devotion is from:

Find more family resources at 330resources.org/family.

If these resources bless you, consider supporting this ministry:

Christmas Family Devotion #6

November 25, 2016Family Devotions - Christmas Funbible, Christ, Christian, Christmas, Devotions, family, Give Up, Ice, Jesus, Luke 22, Savior, study, Worldkolbyking

ICE CUBE MELT

You will need:

An ice cube or a small ice sickle for each child
A Bible marked at Luke 22:39-44

Get Started

Give each family member an ice cube and race to see who can melt theirs the fastest by holding it in their hand.

ASK—Did you ever feel like giving up?

SAY—I’m going to read a story to you out of the Bible about a time when Jesus didn’t give up.

Read Luke 22:39-44 from your Bible.

ASK—When Jesus said “cup” what do you think He was talking about?

SAY—He was referring to all the pain and suffering He would have to endure to pay the price for our sins. Even though He was born to be the Savior of the world–That’s what Christmas is all about! And even though He was perfect, it still didn’t make it easy for Him to take the punishment for everybody’s wrongdoings. But this is how much He loves you—That he suffered and died to make a way to forgive your sins and to make a way for you to go to heaven.

PRAY—Thank Jesus for being the Savior of the world.

This family devotion is from:

Find more family resources at 330resources.org/family.

If these resources bless you, consider supporting this ministry:

Christmas Family Devotion #5

November 25, 2016Family Devotions - Christmas Funbible, Christ, Christian, Christmas, Devotions, family, Gift, Luke 2, study, toilet paper, wrappedkolbyking

GIFT WRAPPED

You will need:

1 roll of toilet paper
A Bible marked at Luke 2:11-12

Get Started

Wrap your children from head to toe in toilet paper (Or you can use wrapping paper.) (NOTE: Be careful that they don’t fall over and are unable to catch themselves.) Keep them wrapped while you continue with the following.

ASK—How does it feel to be wrapped up like a gift?

SAY—Since you’re wrapped up like a toilet-papered, Christmas gift, I want you to know that you are a special gift from God to us and we love you and are proud of you.

On the count of three, have them break free as fast as they can. Put the toilet paper aside.

ASK—Do you know how the greatest gift in the world was wrapped?

SAY—Listen to what the Bible says and let’s find out.

Read Luke 2:11-12 from your Bible.

ANSWER—The greatest gift in the world was wrapped in cloths and laid in a manger. Jesus is the greatest gift of all.

ASK—Do you know what the name Jesus means?

SAY—“Jesus” means “He saves,” and that’s why Jesus came, to become the Savior of the world by taking the punishment for all the wrong things we would ever do so that we could be forgiven and have a way to go to heaven.

PRAY—Thank Jesus for being our Savior.

After you’re done, feel free to have a toilet paper fight or time your family to see who can pick up the most squares of toilet paper the fastest. Always have fun and even enjoy the clean-up!

This family devotion is from:

Find more family resources at 330resources.org/family.

If these resources bless you, consider supporting this ministry:

Christmas Family Devotion #4

November 25, 2016Family Devotions - Christmas Funbible, Christ, Christian, Christmas, Devotions, Egg Nog, family, fruit cake, John 3:16, Love, Sin, studykolbyking

FOOD FOR THOUGHT, part 2

Provide a bite of fruit cake to each member of your family.

SAY—Just like the Egg Nog, fruit cake is a matter of taste. Some people love it, but some people think it tastes disgusting.

ASK—What else can you think of that is disgusting? (Toilet water, Sumo wrestler sweat, body odor, etc.)

ASK—Do you think lying is disgusting?

ASK—What about cheating? Or stealing? Or saying bad words?

SAY—Sin is anything wrong you do and all sin is disgusting to God. Everything sin has and gives is the opposite of God.

ASK—How would you describe God?

SAY—Sin is the opposite of God. God is love—Sin creates hate; God gives peace—Sin destroys peace; God leads you to do right—Sin makes you a slave to doing wrong; God takes care of you—Sin will always hurt you. But God loves you so much, that even though we’ve all done wrong things, He sent Jesus to die to make a way to take your sins away. That’s what Christmas is all about.

Read John 3:16 from your Bible.

See if your child can say this verse. If not, begin saying it with them every night. This is an important verse for every student to know and understand.

This family devotion is from:

Find more family resources at 330resources.org/family.

If these resources bless you, consider supporting this ministry:

Christmas Family Devotion #3

November 25, 2016Family Devotions - Christmas Funbible, Christ, Christian, Christmas, Devotions, family, God, Isaiah 9:6, promise, study, Toothpastekolbyking

TOOTHPASTE SQUEEZE

You will need:

1 tube of toothpaste
1 plate
A Bible marked at Isaiah 9:6

Get Started

Gather your family around. Then squeeze out a good amount of toothpaste on a plate.

ASK—Do you think you can get it all back inside the tube?

Give each family member a chance to try.

(Some may try scooping it back in; Some may ask for scissors to cut it open and put it back. Just tell them no if you don’t want them to ruin the toothpaste tube; still others may want to lick all the toothpaste off the plate and use their mouth to put it back in. This is actually quite funny although if they push too hard, toothpaste will begin to come out of their nose—This really happened once!)

ASK—Is it possible to get all the toothpaste back inside? (No.)

SAY—The toothpaste is kind of like your words. Once something comes out of your mouth you can’t take it back. So if you don’t mean it, or you don’t plan to follow through with it, don’t say it. Every word you say should be as trustworthy as a promise.

ASK—Did God ever make promises? (Yes, the Bible is full of promises for you.)

ASK—Can you name a promise that God made? (Nothing can separate you from His love; He will never leave you; That you’re going to heaven once you’ve given your life to Jesus; etc.)

SAY—God also promised that a Savior would be born.

Read Isaiah 9:6 from your Bible.

SAY—This is a promise God made about 700 years before Jesus was born. God always does what He says, and we should do the same.

PRAY—Thank God for Jesus and how wonderful He is. Thank God for always keeping His promises.

This family devotion is from:

Find more family resources at 330resources.org/family.

If these resources bless you, consider supporting this ministry:

Christmas Family Devotion #2

November 25, 2016Family Devotions - Christmas Fun1 John 4:14, bible, Christ, Christian, Christmas, Devotions, Egg Nog, family, Savior, studykolbyking

FOOD FOR THOUGHT, part 1

You will need:

Egg Nog
Cups for each family member
A small object that you can throw (like a ball)
A Bible marked at 1 John 4:14

Get Started

Have each member of your family try a sip of Holiday Egg Nog. Some will like it. Others will probably hate it.

SAY—Whether or not you like Egg Nog is a matter of taste. There’s no right or wrong answer, but in life, right will always be right and wrong will always be wrong.

ASK—Would you believe me if I said I can throw [the object] in the air and it won’t fall back down?

Throw the object in the air.

ASK—Why did it come back? (A law called gravity that says what goes up must come down.)

ASK—A thousand years ago, if someone had thrown this up, what would have happened? (It would have fallen back down.)

ASK—A thousand years from now, if someone threw this up, what would happen? (It would fall back down.)

SAY—God’s law of gravity will never change. In the same way, what is right today was right when God made the world and will be right until the end of time. What’s wrong today has always been wrong and will always be wrong. Right and wrong will NEVER change.

ASK—What is something else that will never change? (God will never change. That there is only one way to heaven will never change, etc. These aren’t matters of opinion. They have always been true and they will always be true.)

KEY—So if anyone ever tells you that right and wrong are a matter of opinion—like whether or not you like Egg Nog—just realize that they’re wrong. Then take the opportunity to tell them about the Savior of the world.

Read 1 John 4:14 from your Bible.

PRAY—Thank God for loving us so much that He sent and Savior.
This family devotion is from:

Find more family resources at 330resources.org/family.

If these resources bless you, consider supporting this ministry: