KINGDOMS Family Guide
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KINGDOMS Family Guide Welcome to IMMERSE The Bible Reading Experience Leading a family is arguably one of the most challenging tasks a person can undertake. And since families are the core unit in the church, their growth and development directly impacts the health of the communi- ties where they serve. The Immerse: Kingdoms Family Reading Guide is a resource designed to assist parents, guardians, and other family lead- ers to guide their families in the transformative Immerse experience. Planning Your Family Experience This family guide is essentially an abridged version of Immerse: King- doms. So it’s an excellent way for young readers in your family to par- ticipate in the Immerse experience without becoming overwhelmed. The readings are shorter than the readings in Immerse: Kingdoms and are always drawn from within a single day’s reading. This helps every- one in the family to stay together, whether reading from the family guide or the complete Kingdoms volume. Each daily Bible reading in the family guide is introduced by a short paragraph to orient young readers to what they are about to read. This paragraph will also help to connect the individual daily Scripture pas- sages to the big story revealed in the whole Bible. (This is an excellent tool for helping you guide your family discussions.) The family guide readings end with a feature called Thinking To- gether, created especially for young readers. These provide reflective statements and questions to help them think more deeply about the Scriptures they have read. (Thinking Together is also useful for guiding your family discussions.) The readings in the family guide are intended primarily for children i ii IMMERSE • KINGDOMS in grades 4 to 8. Older children may be better suited for reading the full text of Immerse: Kingdoms. (These age suggestions are only provided as a guideline. You know what is most appropriate for your children.) Sometimes the best way to get everyone on the same page is to read something together aloud. If your family enjoys reading aloud together on a regular basis, that may be the most natural way for you to use the family reading guide. For families that haven’t tried this, you may want to experiment with it by reading from this guide. Begin each daily reading with the introductory paragraph to give context, followed im- mediately by the daily Scripture passage. Then the Thinking Together feature can help you lead a family discussion. And don’t forget about the audio and video resources available at ImmerseBible.com. These small group tools could be just what your family needs to stay engaged in the Immerse experience. Enjoy your journey into Scripture with your family. We hope and pray that this family resource will help you and your family to experience God’s word together. KINGDOMS Family Reading Version DAY 1 A Fresh Start (from Kingdoms, pages 3-4) Through the leadership of Moses, God has brought his people to the edge of the Promised Land. God is working to restore all things in his creation to his original intention. The nation of Israel has been born, and God has rescued them from slavery and oppression. He has revealed his instructions to them. Through this nation, God is going to bring bless- ing to all nations. He wants Israel to be a light to the world, showing all people what it looks like when God is King. As we jump back into the story, Joshua is being commissioned as Israel’s new leader to bring the nation into a new land, so they can fulfill their special role in God’s great restoration project. After the death of Moses theLord ’s servant, the Lord spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant. He said, “Moses my servant is dead. There- fore, the time has come for you to lead these people, the Israelites, across the Jordan River into the land I am giving them. I promise you what I promised Moses: ‘Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you—from the Negev wilderness in the south to the Lebanon mountains in the north, from the Euphrates River in the east to the Mediterranean Sea in the west, including all the land of the Hittites.’ No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you. “Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is my command—be strong and courageous! 1 2 IMMERSE • KINGDOMS Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wher- ever you go.” Joshua then commanded the officers of Israel, “Go through the camp and tell the people to get their provisions ready. In three days you will cross the Jordan River and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you.” Then Joshua called together the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half- tribe of Manasseh. He told them, “Remember what Moses, the servant of the Lord, commanded you: ‘The Lord your God is giving you a place of rest. He has given you this land.’ Your wives, children, and livestock may remain here in the land Moses assigned to you on the east side of the Jordan River. But your strong warriors, fully armed, must lead the other tribes across the Jordan to help them conquer their territory. Stay with them until the Lord gives them rest, as he has given you rest, and until they, too, possess the land the Lord your God is giving them. Only then may you return and settle here on the east side of the Jordan River in the land that Moses, the servant of the Lord, assigned to you.” They answered Joshua, “We will do whatever you command us, and we will go wherever you send us. We will obey you just as we obeyed Moses. And may the Lord your God be with you as he was with Moses. Anyone who rebels against your orders and does not obey your words and every- thing you command will be put to death. So be strong and courageous!” —from the book of Joshua THINKING TOGETHER: Have you ever started something brand new in your life? Maybe mov- ing to a new school, starting a new friendship, or working on a major project? We are usually both excited and nervous as we approach new beginnings. There’s a chance for wonderful things to happen, but also for things to go wrong. This is exactly how it was for Israel as they en- tered their new homeland. But God promised them right from the start that they weren’t alone in this. God was going to be with them every step of the way. FAMILY READING GUIDE 3 DAY 2 Going with God (from Kingdoms, pages 5-6) Under Joshua’s leadership and God’s direction, the people are ready to move forward. God has given them a sign of his presence to be right there with them as they begin. The Ark of the Covenant was covered by two great angels, made from pure gold. Inside the Ark, there were two copies of the great covenant that God had made with Israel. As the people stood on the banks of the Jordan River, they knew that once they crossed it there would be no turning back. They would be in God’s new land for them, which was symbolic of the new world that God was promising for all the peoples on earth. Early the next morning Joshua and all the Israelites left Acacia Grove and arrived at the banks of the Jordan River, where they camped before cross- ing. Three days later the Israelite officers went through the camp, giving these instructions to the people: “When you see the Levitical priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord your God, move out from your positions and follow them. Since you have never traveled this way before, they will guide you. Stay about half a mile behind them, keep- ing a clear distance between you and the Ark. Make sure you don’t come any closer.” Then Joshua told the people, “Purify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do great wonders among you.” In the morning Joshua said to the priests, “Lift up the Ark of the Cov- enant and lead the people across the river.” And so they started out and went ahead of the people. The Lord told Joshua, “Today I will begin to make you a great leader in the eyes of all the Israelites. They will know that I am with you, just as I was with Moses. Give this command to the priests who carry the Ark of the Covenant: ‘When you reach the banks of the Jordan River, take a few steps into the river and stop there.’” So Joshua told the Israelites, “Come and listen to what the Lord your God says.