b

A A R

Family

Worship

SPiritual Markers For

Childhood

Dr. James Dobson says we haven’t been given a spiritual GPS

to help guide our children. However, we can point them to-

ward spiritual markers that will help them find true faith – how

to be vibrant followers of Christ.

Spiritual Marker for Early

Childhood: Respect

Teach your child these truths:

God is strong. He can do anything. God always keeps His promises. God gives us rules we must obey. God disci-plines us because He loves us.

Spiritual Marker for Early

EleMENTARY, WISdom

Wisdom is the ability to apply God’s Word to life situations. So, to grow in wisdom, your child must first learn God’s Word.

Use Bible stories to teach about God:

Who is God? (God is our Creator, our Father.)

What is truth? (We always can trust God. God’s Word is right. Obey the Bible and you won’t be sorry.)

Who is man? (Man is sinful, and needs a Savior.)

Who is Jesus? (Jesus is our Savior. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.)

Spiritual Marker for Late Elementary: Grace

The primary goal for 9-11 year olds is that they receive God’s grace.

Make sure your child fully understands how to be saved:

Admit that you need to be forgiven for your sins. Thank God that Jesus died to save you. Ask God to forgive you and help you turn away from wrongdoing. Thank God that Jesus will be with you forever.

Go

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Disc

ussio

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t: Eve

n th

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gh

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ct u

s.

Next tim

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t in a

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oto

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evic

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lain

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use

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jurie

s if the v

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qu

ick

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this to

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are

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Qu

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Rele

van

t Scrip

ture

Psa

lm 13

:5-6

“B

ut I tru

st in Y

ou

r un

failin

g lo

ve; m

y h

eart re

joic

es in

Yo

ur sa

lvatio

n. I w

ill sing

to th

e Lo

rd, fo

r He h

as b

een

go

od

to m

e.”

Psa

lm 12

1:7-8

“T

he L

ord

will k

eep

yo

u fro

m a

ll harm

– H

e will w

atc

h o

ver y

ou

r life; th

e L

ord

will w

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ver y

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r co

min

g a

nd

go

ing

bo

th n

ow

an

d fo

rever m

ore

."

“K

ids o

f Inte

grity

,” F

ocu

s on

the F

am

ily

The Story and The Song Introduction from

Psalm 19 and Hebrews 1

The Heavens are singing

About how great God is;

And the skies are shouting it out,

“See what God has made!”

Day after day….Night after night….

They are speaking to us.

God wrote, ‘I love you” - He wrote it in the sky, and on the earth, and under the sea. He wrote His message everywhere! Because God created everything in His world to reflect Him like a mirror…to show us what He is like, to help us know Him, to make our hearts sing.

The way a kitten chases her tail. The way red poppies grow wild. The way a dolphin swims.

And, God put it into words, too, and wrote it in a book called “the Bible.”

The Bible isn’t a book of rules, or a book of heroes. There are lots of stories in the Bible, but all the stories are telling on Big Story. The Story of how God loves his children and come to rescue them.

It takes the whole Bible to tell this Story.

Help your children read the stories in the Bible. Help them understand the messages. Help them seek God through its pages. What a great New Year resolution!!

(This script is taken from The Jesus Storybook Bible. “Every story whispers His name….) Highly recommend this Bible for your child to learn from…to enjoy…to get to know Him!

"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will

not turn from it." Proverbs 22:6

All children have their own learning language. Some kids learn things by seeing them in books, others by drawing pictures; still others remember a good story read aloud.

So why not tap into these strengths when teaching the Bible?

The Visual Learner

Be sure to pick up a variety of picture books that retell Bible stories.

Pick up a blank journal and let your child create his own book re-

counting God's Word.

Have your child memorize the books of the Bible by writing them in order.

The Visual/Nonverbal Learning Style

Purchase or rent movies that tell the Gospel message on video.

Some favorites are McGee and Me, VeggieTales, and The Beginner’s Bible

Help your child shoot a home movie featuring his favorite Bible story.

When teaching a lesson from the Word, have your child color the area on a map where the event takes place.

The Tactile/Kinesthetic Learning Style

Allow your child to copy Bible verses down for memorization using

colorful jelly pens or markers, then cut each word out and mix them up on the floor. Have your child put the verse back in order.

Make homemade finger paint and have your child write out

scripture verses with it.

Try teaching your child memory verses using sign language.

The Auditory/Verbal Learning Style

Purchase the Bible on CD and play during free time or at night

before bed.

Read a biblical account together and then discuss it at breakfast.

Help your child sing Bible verses for memorization.

You may want to try each of these activities until you discover your

child's unique learning style. In time your child will appreciate the many ways he can hide the Word of God in his heart and retain further

knowledge of the Creator. -Lynne Thompson, “Focus on the Family”

We can learn more about God when we

go to church.

Just need an envelope, some craft sticks,

and markers…

The more you know what God says, the

better you know Jesus and can trust Him!

Your word is like a lamp that shows me the way. It is like a light that guides me, Psalm 119:105 (NIrV).

(Show your child a flashlight and turn it on) When do you use a flashlight or a lamp? (Pause for responses.) Right! A flashlight helps you to see; a flashlight helps guide you so you don’t trip or fall when it is hard to see. Our verse says God’s Word is like a lamp; it helps you see what God wants you to know, and God wants you to know His Son, Jesus. Spend time reading God’s Word. Discovering what God says helps you know Jesus.

Thank you to all who donated to the United Kids

Advent Mission Project. Change of 1 appreciates the

money for their youth program sports equipment.

Your donation will bring hours of fun for these boys

and girls. May God bless each of you as you have

blessed youth in Gloversville, NY.

Bible Story: Extra Credit

(Boy Jesus in the Temple)

Luke 2:41-52

Life App: Knowledge– learn

something new so that you

can be better at whatever

you do.

Boy Jesus lost in

Temple

www.youtube.com/

watch?

v=trePi2pBtdM