Jesus the Messiah is Born--Family Devotional with Object Lesson

(Plain and colored pencils provide us with the illustration of humility)

Weekly Scripture:
Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 2:1-7

Story:
“Jesus the Messiah is Born”

Precept:
Jesus was humble, are you?

Live the Lesson: Pretty Pencils
This week you need to a set of colored pencils and a plain pencil too. Sharpen all the pencils before the class or your family.

Show the children the colored pencils and ask each one of them to pick one to take to their seat with them. Ask the children which pencil is the best and to state their reason why?

After they discuss their favorites and why, show them some drawings done with only one color each. The drawings are pretty on their own, but when incorporating and blending all colors, the picture takes on a new dimension of beauty. They are each necessary for the resulting splendor. If you do not start out with what some may consider a boring color first for the outline, the picture does not stand out the same. The outline makes the picture remarkable.

In addition, share with them to manufacture a pencil takes a little bit of a lot of countries to put it together. The graphite comes from South America . The different colors come from all kinds of places around the world. The eraser comes from some islands. The wood may come from Oregon or Northern California for instance. It took people from different occupations (poor and rich) and from many different countries to bring all the products together required for these pencils.

Jesus resided in Heaven, came down and was born in a manger, and walked among the lowliest of sinners to bring us the greatest gift we can ever receive…Salvation. These pencils should serve to remind us to be humble, value others, and know that we all have a part to serve if we will just surrender to the working of God’s Masterpiece with our lives.

Memory Verse:
“And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21

Prayer:
Dear Lord, please help us to have the same heart of humility that Jesus had when He came down from Heaven to be born in a manger and die for our sins.

Living the Life:
This week share with your children times you have had to fight the spirit of pride or prejudices in your own life and seek to have the heart of Christ.

The Fall--Family Devotion with Object Lesson

(A 2 liter bottle and a $20 dollar bill help make an Adam and Eve trap as we learn to beware of temptation and learn about consequences this week with Adam and Eve.)

Weekly Scripture:
Genesis 3

Story:
“The Fall”

Precept:
God wants us to take responsibility for our sins, repent and seek restoration to Him, rather than try to hide our sins.

Finding Christ:
In this chapter, we hear God announce the enmity that will be between the seed of the serpent and the seed of the woman. The seed of the woman is a prophecy of Christ. Through the crucifixion and resurrection, Christ did bruise the serpent on the head.

Live the Lesson:
Prepare an Adam and Eve trap before the devotional time. Take a $20 bill and put it in the middle of a piece of paper. Crush the paper into the shape of a ball around it, adding 2 more sheets to the ball. Make sure to crush this very firmly. Tape around it, making sure there are not edges one could pinch anywhere.

Take a 2 liter bottle and cut the top ¼ of it. Find a very sturdy piece of cardboard or foam and cut a hole in it big enough for the ball only to pass through or a hand, but not a hand wrapped around the ball. Try dropping the ball through to make sure it can clear by itself. Secure the cardboard to the top of the bottle with duct tape or something of that nature until it holds firmly in place.

Now show the children how the ball can pass through the trap and place it in the bottom of the bottle. Tell them this is an Adam and Eve trap. Tell them the piece of cardboard on top represents God’s relationship with us. Explain to them the ball represents temptation and there is a $20 bill in the middle of the ball. Whoever can reach into the trap, wrap their hand around the ball, and remove it without damaging the relationship to God can have the $20! Having seen the ball drop in surely some child will believe they can pull this off.

As they realize it is impossible, explain to them so it is with temptation. You cannot keep focused on temptation without giving in to it and you cannot actually sin without it damaging your relationship with God. Then talk about how to seek God’s restoration.

Memory Verse:
“My sins are not hidden from You.”
Psalm 69:5

Prayer:
Dear Lord, please help me to overcome temptation. If I do sin, please help me to take responsibility and confess my sins to You, that I will repent and be restored to You!

Living the Life:
This week, name the various temptations we come across. Share how to overcome them with the Word. Remind children to take responsibility and not put the blame on others. They should repent and seek restoration.

Adam & Eve--Family Devotion with Object Lesson

(A foil covered “robot” given the ability to choose to obey or disobey shows us along with Adam and Eve why it is important to obey the Lord.)

Weekly Scripture:
Genesis 1:26-2:25

Story:
“Adam and Eve”

Precept:
God wanted Adam and Eve to live, just as He wants us to have eternal life, so He gives us commands to keep us spiritually alive, but He also gives us the choice to obey or disobey.

Finding Christ:
These two chapters are packed with types of Christ. See how many you can find. Just one would be the Adam is referred to as the “first Adam” and Jesus is referred to the “last Adam” according to 1 Corinthians 15.

Live the Lesson:
Make up Dad (or Mom) to be a robot! Have the kids help wrap and tape foil all around him! (Get out the camera…you do not want to miss this.) Now give the robot some basic commands and watch the robot comply and obey. Continue this and let the kids join in giving him some basic commands. Have the robot add some drama to get some laughs. Now go to the back of the robot. Take your screwdriver and open up his head and put the “ability to choose” into his mind to either obey or disobey you. Now give him some more commands in which he complies. However, beforehand have it planned which thing the robot will not obey. Such as if you are in the kitchen area (with a mop handy) you could tell him to get a glass of water (make sure to use a plastic cup in case this slips out of your hand). Tell the robot to drink the water. The robot begins to comply, but shocks everybody when instead he tosses the water on all of you!!! Explain to the kids how we too have the choice to obey or to disobey all of God’s commands. When we choose to disobey, we too will have a mess on our hands.

Memory Verse:
“Children obey your parents in all things.”
Colossians 3:20

Prayer:
Dear Lord, please help me to obey all of your commands. Help me to obey my parents too

Living the Life:
This week, discuss the commands of the Lord and the blessings and consequences associated with obedience or disobedience.

God Gave Man Responsibility--Family Devotion with Object Lesson

(Water balloons, eggs, or macaroni help teach us to be responsible as we learn with Adam about God giving us work to do.)

Weekly Scripture:
Genesis 1 & 2

Story:
“God Gave Man Responsibility”

Precept:
The Lord gives us responsibilities to do His work and care for each other.

Finding Christ:
These two chapters are packed with types of Christ. See how many you can find. Just one would be the Tree of Life. Jesus is our Eternal Life!

Live the Lesson:
Depending on where you will be doing this object lesson, what kind of weather you have, and what time of day/night…you have the option of using either: water balloons, eggs, uncooked elbow macaroni noodles, or whatever you can imagine. Have your family sit in a close circle if you use macaroni or a lot further apart if using water balloons or eggs. Without telling your family the purpose, place one bucket next to the first person in the circle with the entire “product” in it and place an empty bucket next to the last person. Explain the rules that they are responsible to pass the product around the circle. If anything drops, do not retrieve it. Just continue passing more product to the next person as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Memory Verse:
“We are God’s fellow workers.”
1 Corinthians 3:9

Prayer:
Dear Lord, please help me to be very careful with the responsibilities you give to me. Help me to always do my best and to always seek Your help!

Living the Life:
This week discuss responsibilities each person is given to care for each other in the family. Teach your children good manners such as holding the door open for others.

God's Nature Expressed in Creation--Family Devotion with Object Lesson

(A flashlight, a mirror, and a bowl of water help to remind us that God created light and colors this week as we study Creation.)




Weekly Scripture:
Read Genesis 1 & 2 to your family

Story:
“God’s Nature Expressed in Creation”

Precept:
We praise God and express appreciation for His creation that reveals to us how Almighty He is!

Finding Christ:
These two chapters are packed with types of Christ. See how many you can find. Just one would be the Sabbath (the 7th day) represents Christ, our perpetual rest. Jesus also declares He is Lord of the Sabbath.

Live the Lesson:
Take a deep, clear bowl of water and place a small mirror inside of it. In a dark room shine down the flashlight on the mirror and see how it reflects colors. Lift the mirror so that it leans on one side of the bowl to get a rainbow on your wall. Explain to your children that by creating light, God also created all the colors. Now follow it up with some chocolate pudding interlaced with gummi worms and then sprinkle some crushed oreo cookies on top. Mud pudding is really yummy! Don’t forget to say “Thank you Lord, it is good.”

Memory Verse:
“I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth.”
Matthew 11:25

Prayer:
Dear Lord, please help me to remember to notice all that you create and praise you for it.

Living the Life:
This week point out all the things around you that God has created and how unique each thing is. Praise the Lord for His wonders with your children.