DAILY DEVOTIONAL 2 13 May – 16 June | Preschoolers Overview

Date Day Title Passage 2020/05/13 Wed Paul's Conversion and Baptism Acts 9:1-25 2020/05/14 Thu Paul's First Journey Acts 13:1-3; 14:8-28 2020/05/15 Fri The Message: "Christ Alone" Acts 15:1-35 2020/05/17 Sun Paul's Second Journey Acts 16:11-34 2020/05/18 Mon Paul Preached in Europe Acts 17:16-34 2020/05/19 Tue Paul's Third Journey Acts 18:1-4, 24-28; 20:17-38 2020/05/20 Wed Paul Confronted Peter Gal 2:11-21 2020/05/21 Thu The Church was Divided 1 Cor 1:10-31 2020/05/22 Fri The Church Showed Favoritism James 2:1-13 2020/05/24 Sun Love One Another 1 John 3: 10-18 2020/05/25 Mon Paul’s Letters to the Church 1 Tim 4: 11-16, Tim 4:1-8, Tit 2: 11-14 2020/05/26 Tue Children of God Rom 8:12-39 2020/05/27 Wed A Transformed Mind Rom 12:1-18, 1 Cor 1:9, Phil 1: 3-7 2020/05/28 Thu The Fruit of the Spirit Gal 5: 16-26 2020/05/29 Fri The Armor of God Eph 6:10-19 2020/05/31 Sun A Cheerful Giver 2 Cor 8: 1-15; 9: 6-15 2020/06/01 Mon Heroes of the Faith Heb 11: 1-12; 2 2020/06/02 Tue The Plan to Stop Paul Acts 23 2020/06/03 Wed Paul Before the Rulers Acts 24:22-27; 25:1-14; 26:24-32 2020/06/04 Thu The Shipwreck Acts 27:13-44; 28:11-16 2020/06/05 Fri Paul's Joy in Prison Philippians 1:12-30 2020/06/07 Sun Paul Made Much of Jesus Colossians 1:15–2:3 2020/06/08 Mon Paul's Letter to Philemon Philemon 8-22 2020/06/09 Tue Paul Gave Hope 1 Thessalonians 4:13–5:11 2020/06/10 Wed Remember God's truth Jude 3-4,17-25 2020/06/11 Thu While We Wait 2 Peter 3:1-13 2020/06/12 Fri John's Vision of Jesus Revelation 1:9-20 2020/06/14 Sun God's Warning to Seven Churches Revelation 2–3 2020/06/15 Mon Jesus on the Throne Revelation 4:2–5:14 2020/06/16 Tue Jesus Will Return Revelation 21–22

Note:

This material is copyrighted. Oxygen Life Church are paying for the licenses to use the curriculum for our children’s ministry. Lifeway has very kindly allowed us to distribute the material in this way given the current circumstance we find ourselves in. Please note that this material is only meant for personal, home use and may not be used in a corporate setting given that that would require you purchase the license. Let’s make the most of using them at home with our kids while we can!

For the Preschooler and Grades 1-3 notebooks, we have now included colouring pages at the end of the book that correspond to the lessons in the devotions.

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WEDNESDAY 13 MAY

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Paul's Conversion and Baptism Acts 9:1-25

In the early days of the church, a man named Saul worked hard to BIBLE STORY: stop people from telling about Jesus. He did not believe that Jesus is • Saul saw a bright light on the the Son of God. He thought that people who believed in Jesus should road to Damascus. be put in jail or be killed. Many believers left the city to get away from • Jesus spoke to Saul. Saul. • God sent Ananias to Saul to Saul decided to go to the city of Damascus (duh MASS kuhs) to arrest heal Saul’s eyes. • Jesus saved Saul from his sins. believers there. He was traveling along when all of a sudden, a very bright light came down from heaven. It flashed around Saul, and he FAMILY DISCUSSION STARTERS: fell to the ground. Then Saul heard a voice saying, “Saul, Saul, why are • How did Jesus change Saul you against Me?” when He saved him? “Who are You, Lord?” Saul asked. • Why would Ananias have “I am Jesus,” He said. Jesus told Saul to go into the city and wait for been afraid to visit Saul at more instructions. first? Saul got up and opened his eyes, but he couldn’t see anything! So • Why were people amazed to the men who were traveling with Saul led him into the city. hear Saul telling people about A man named Ananias (an uh NIGH uhs) lived in the city. Ananias Jesus? loved Jesus. God spoke to Ananias in a vision and told him to go visit Saul. Ananias knew that Saul was an enemy of Jesus, but God had a plan for Saul. God said, “I have chosen Saul to tell many people about Me.” Ananias obeyed God. He went to Saul and said, “Jesus sent me here to help you.” Then Ananias put his hands on Saul, and Saul could see FAMILY ACTIVITY: again. Saul got up and was baptized. • Take a long walk with your For the next few days, Saul stayed in the city with other people who family. Talk about how Paul believed in Jesus. He went to the synagogues to tell people about Jesus. must have felt to see a bright “Jesus is the Son of God!” Saul said. The people were amazed. They light. knew Saul had been an enemy of Jesus, but now he loved Jesus! • Invite those in your family The Jews did not like what Saul was saying, so they made a plan to who have trusted in Jesus to kill him. The other believers helped Saul sneak out of the city at night. tell how their life changed Later, Saul started using the name Paul. after becoming a Christian.

PRAY TOGETHER: Christ Connection: Saul was an enemy of Jesus and His followers, but God, thank You that Jesus came then God changed him. Jesus came to earth to save sinners like Paul. (1 to earth to save sinners like Paul Timothy 1:15). When we trust in Jesus, He changes us from the inside out. and us. Thank You for changing us when we put our trust in Jesus. Make us love You and others more. Help us to tell others the good news about Jesus. Amen.

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THURSDAY 14 MAY

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Paul's First Journey Acts 13:1-3; 14:8-28

Paul and his friend Barnabas helped start the first churches. The BIBLE STORY: Holy Spirit told Paul and Barnabas that they had a big job to do. The • The Holy Spirit sent Paul and church put their hands on Paul and Barnabas and prayed for them, Barnabas to tell people about and they left their city to go do the work God wanted them to do. God Jesus. led Paul and Barnabas to other cities to tell the good news about Jesus • Paul healed a man who could to both Jews and non-Jews. not walk. Paul and Barnabas went to the city of Lystra (LISS truh). A man was • Some people made Paul and there who had not been able to walk his whole life. He listened to Paul Barnabas leave the city. talking about Jesus. Paul saw the man and said in a loud voice, “Stand • Paul and Barnabas went to up!” The man jumped up and began walking around! The people saw another city to share the this miracle, and they thought Paul and Barnabas were gods! Paul and good news. Barnabas shouted, “No! We are not gods. We are men just like you. We want to tell you the good news of God.” Then some Jews came from the other cities Paul and Barnabas had FAMILY DISCUSSION STARTERS: visited. They made trouble in this new city, and the people decided to • Who gave Paul power to heal fight against Paul and Barnabas too. They threw rocks at Paul and the man who could not walk? dragged him out of the city. • Was everyone always happy The next day, Paul and Barnabas went to the city of Derbe (DUHR to hear the good news from bih). They told the people about Jesus, and many of them believed. Paul? Finally, they returned to the church and told the other believers • When might it be hard for everything that God had done on their journey and how God helped you to share the good news? them share the good news about Jesus with everyone. Who can help you?

FAMILY ACTIVITY: Christ Connection: Paul obeyed the Holy Spirit and shared the gospel • Watch online videos of with anyone who would listen. People tried to stop Paul, but Paul did not athletes in wheelchairs as a give up. Many people believed in Jesus, and the church grew. The Holy family. Spirit wants us to tell others about Jesus so they can be saved from their sin. PRAY TOGETHER:

God, make us bold to share the gospel with anyone who will listen. Help us to never give up. Help us listen to the Holy Spirit when He leads us. Thank You for sending Jesus to save us from sin. Amen.

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FRIDAY 15 MAY

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The Message: "Christ Alone" Acts 15:1-35

Paul and Barnabas had been teaching people—Jews and non- BIBLE STORY: Jews—about Jesus. Many people believed, and God’s church was • Some people thought non- growing. Jews could only be saved if But some of the people in the church began saying that non-Jews they kept the same rules as could only be saved if they followed the same rules as the Jews. Jews. Paul and Barnabas knew this was wrong. They had a meeting with • The church leaders met other church leaders to talk about what was true. Peter stood up and together to talk about what told the leaders about the Gentiles, the non-Jews, who had believed was true. the good news about Jesus. God had given them the Holy Spirit! • All people are saved the same Peter said that Jews could not obey God’s law perfectly, so why way—by God’s grace. should they tell non-Jews to obey perfectly? Jews and non-Jews are • The church encouraged saved in the same way: by God’s grace. Everyone listened as Paul and Barnabas talked about how they had Gentile believers. seen God save Jews and Gentiles too. Then James showed how the words of the prophets showed that God wanted to save both Jews and FAMILY DISCUSSION STARTERS: Gentiles. This was God’s plan all along. • Can a person be saved from So the church leaders decided to write a letter to the Gentile sin by keeping the rules? believers. The letter told the believers what they should not do now • Why is it good news that rules that they were believers. cannot save a person? Paul and Barnabas delivered the letter with Judas and Silas, and the • Who is the only One that can believers were encouraged. save us? How did He do it?

Christ Connection: The church leaders met to answer a hard question: FAMILY ACTIVITY: Can someone be saved by faith alone? Yes! The early church agreed that • As you discipline this week, Jesus is all we need. Anyone who trusts in Him will be saved. remind talk as a family about

our inability to obey perfectly. Point them to Jesus, who obeyed perfectly on their behalf. • Write encouraging notes to your church leaders.

PRAY TOGETHER: God, You gave Your very own Son to save people from sin. We do not have to try really hard to make You love us. You love us because You love Your Son. Help us to put all our trust in Him! Amen.

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SUNDAY 17 MAY

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Paul's Second Journey Acts 16:11-34

God sent Paul on another trip to tell people the good news about BIBLE STORY: Jesus. This time, Paul’s friend Silas (SIGH luhs) went too. Paul stopped • Paul and Silas told all kinds of in a city called Philippi (FIH lih pigh), and he went to the river to pray. people about Jesus. Paul talked to some women there. One of the women was named • A woman named Lydia Lydia. She sold purple cloth. Lydia believed what Paul said about Jesus. believed the truth about Everyone in her household believed, and they were baptized. Jesus. Another day, Paul and Silas were going to pray when a servant girl • An earthquake came while met them. She had a spirit in her that allowed her to predict the Paul and Silas were in jail. future. She earned a lot of money for her masters by telling the future. • The jailer and his family The girl followed Paul and Silas, shouting, “These men are servants of believed the truth about the Most High God!” Finally, Paul turned around. He spoke to the spirit: Jesus. “By the power of Jesus Christ, I command you to come out of her!” And the spirit came out right away. Now the girl’s owners were upset because she could no longer tell FAMILY DISCUSSION STARTERS: the future. They grabbed Paul and Silas, and the leaders threw them • Who gave Paul the power to into jail. make the spirit leave the girl? About midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing songs to • Would you sing songs if you God. All of a sudden, an earthquake shook the jail. The jail doors flew were in jail like Paul and Silas? open, and all of the prisoners’ chains came loose. • What did Paul and Silas tell When the jailer woke up and thought all the prisoners had escaped, the jailer he must do to be Paul shouted, “We are all here!” saved? What must anyone do The jailer was afraid. “Men, what must I do to be saved?” he asked. to be saved? They said to him, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved.” Paul and Silas told the jailer and everyone in his household about FAMILY ACTIVITY: Jesus, and they were baptized right away. Later that day, Paul and • Colour a whole page purple Silas were set free. with a crayon. Talk about how purple cloth was very Christ Connection: Lydia, the jailer, and many others believed in Jesus precious. Talk about the story and were saved from their sin. Paul and Silas told everyone the same of Lydia. thing: “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved.”

PRAY TOGETHER: God, the good news that Jesus died on the cross and rose again is the best news ever. It is the only news that can save us from sin. Help us to tell everyone about Jesus so they can be saved. Amen.

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MONDAY 18 MAY

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Paul Preached in Europe Acts 17:16-34

God sent Paul to the city of Athens to tell people about Jesus. When BIBLE STORY: Paul got there, he was upset! The people in Athens did not worship the • The people in Athens did not one true God. They worshiped false gods instead. Paul told the people worship the one true God. about Jesus. He told them that Jesus died and came back to life. Jesus is • Paul taught the people in alive! Athens about the one true The people wanted to know more. They had an altar where they God. worshiped a god they did not know. Paul told them that he knew who • Paul used an altar to an God is. “I will tell you about the one true God,” he said. unknown god to tell them Paul said, “God made everything. God made all the people of the about Jesus. world, and He loves them. God is so big! God is bigger than any • Some people believed in temple. He is not made of gold or silver or stone. God wants everyone Jesus. to turn away from their sin and turn to Him. Paul said that God sent Jesus to rescue people from sin. He said Jesus had died and come back to life, and some of the people laughed. FAMILY DISCUSSION STARTERS: Some people wanted to hear more later. And some people believed • Paul used an altar to an Paul’s words, and they believed in Jesus. unknown God to talk about Jesus. What can you use to Christ Connection: Paul taught the people in Athens about the one tell about Jesus? true God. He told them that Jesus died on the cross and is alive! People • What did people think about can know God because Jesus brings us into God’s family. what Paul had to say about the one true God?

FAMILY ACTIVITY: • Look at a map of Paul’s missionary journeys. Review the previous week’s Bible stories • Identify a people group that worships false gods. Pray that God would send missionaries to tell them the truth about Jesus.

PRAY TOGETHER: God, thank You that You want people to know You and Your Son, Jesus. Thank You for giving us the mission to share the good news about Jesus with others. Help us tell everyone that Jesus died on the cross and is alive. Amen.

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TUESDAY 19 MAY

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Paul's Third Journey Acts 18:1-4,24-28; 20:17-38

God sent Paul to the city of Corinth. Paul met a man and his wife, BIBLE STORY: Aquila (uh KWIL uh) and Priscilla. Their job was making tents. Paul • Paul met Aquila and Priscilla. made tents too. Paul stayed with them and worked with them. On the • Paul traveled all around to Sabbath, Paul went to the synagogue to talk to the people who lived in visit churches and help the city. He told them about Jesus. Some of the people believed. Now believers. the church was in Corinth too. • Aquila and Priscilla taught Paul and his new friends, Aquila and Priscilla, went to the city of Apollos more about Jesus. Ephesus (EF uh suhs). Aquila and Priscilla stayed there, and Paul • Paul met with the church traveled all around to visit churches. Paul met with believers at the leaders to tell them he was churches and helped them. going back to Jerusalem. While Paul traveled, a man named Apollos (uh PAHL uhs) came to • Ephesus. Apollos told people about Jesus. He knew what was true God helped Paul preach with about Jesus, but he did not understand everything. So Aquila and courage. Priscilla taught him more. Then Apollos traveled and taught more people about Jesus, and he told them that Jesus is the Messiah. FAMILY DISCUSSION STARTERS: Now Paul traveled back toward Ephesus. He asked the church • Who can help us understand leaders to meet him nearby. Paul told them that God wanted him to go more about Jesus? to the city of Jerusalem. “I do not know what will happen there,” Paul • Why was Paul willing to go said, “but I know there will be trouble. I will be put in prison.” back to Jerusalem even But this did not stop Paul. He knew that the most important thing though he knew he would be was not having an easy life; the most important thing was to do the put in prison? work God had for him. “I want to tell people the good news about • What is more important than Jesus,” he said. having an easy life?

The church leaders prayed with Paul and said goodbye. FAMILY ACTIVITY: Christ Connection: As Paul traveled, he told as many people as he • Camp out in a tent in your could about Jesus. God changed people’s hearts, and the church grew. backyard or build a blanket God called Paul to tell people the good news about Jesus, and Paul fort to sleep in together. wanted to follow God’s plan no matter what. Invite another family to join you.

PRAY TOGETHER: God, help us to tell as many people as we can about Jesus. Remind us the most important thing is to do the work You have for us. Help us to follow Your plan no matter what. Amen.

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WEDNESDAY 20 MAY

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Paul Confronted Peter Galatians 2:11-21

Paul was a follower of Jesus, and he worked hard to tell people all BIBLE STORY: over the world about Jesus. He told Jews and Gentiles, or people who • Paul told a story about were not Jews, what was true. something Peter did. Paul wrote a letter to the people at the church in Galatia (guh LAY • Peter made the Gentiles think shuh). Most of the people in that church were not Jews. In his letter, they had to follow the special Paul told a story about Peter. rules that Jews followed. Peter followed Jesus, too. Peter knew what was true: God loves and • Paul told Peter following rules accepts all people. He loves Jews and Gentiles. Peter ate meals with does not save people. the Gentile believers. But when the Jewish believers were around, • Paul wrote that we are saved Peter did not eat with the Gentiles. The Jewish believers thought the through Jesus alone. Gentiles needed to follow the same rules as the Jews. Their idea was wrong, but Peter pretended to agree with the Jews because he was afraid of them. FAMILY DISCUSSION STARTERS: Paul said that Peter was doing the wrong thing. Paul said to Peter, • Why was it wrong for Peter to “You are a Jew. You know that people aren’t saved from sin by not eat with the Gentile following rules; they are saved through faith in Jesus! Why would you believers? make the Gentiles think they have to obey all the Jewish rules to be • What did Paul tell Peter about saved? following the rules? Paul told Peter, “Our people tried to obey the rules perfectly to • What do the rules show us? make God happy, but we could not obey perfectly! We are sinners. The rules showed me that I need Jesus to save me from sin. Because of Jesus, I can live for God.” Paul also said, “The way I used to live is gone. Jesus gave me new life, and I trust in Him. Jesus loves me and gave up His life for me.” FAMILY ACTIVITY:

• Make up a new rule. When

someone breaks the rule, Christ Connection: Peter did the wrong thing by hiding his friendship point out how hard it is to with the Gentiles. The good news about Jesus is for everyone, and we keep rules. should love everyone. Paul said that only Jesus can save people from sin. No matter how hard we try to follow the rules, we will always break PRAY TOGETHER: some of God’s rules and so we need Jesus. God, no matter how hard we try to follow the rules, we still break them. We are sinners. We need Jesus to save us from sin. Thank You that the only thing we need to do to be saved from sin is to put our trust in Your Son, Jesus. Help us to do that. Amen.

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THURSDAY 21 MAY

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The Church was Divided 1 Corinthians 1:10-31

Paul started a church in the city of Corinth. He stayed there awhile, BIBLE STORY: and then he traveled on to tell more people about the good news of • The people in the church in Jesus. Years passed, and Paul heard some bad news: the church in Corinth were fighting. Corinth was not doing well. The believers there argued and had many • Paul wrote that Christians other problems. So Paul decided to write a letter to them. should work together. The people in the church should have been like one team working • All believers are part of God’s together, but they were divided into different groups. They thought family because of Jesus. that one teacher was better than the other. One group said, “We follow Paul.” Another group said, “We follow Apollos.” A third group FAMILY DISCUSSION STARTERS: said, “We follow Peter.” A fourth group said, “We follow Jesus.” Paul • What were the people in the said believers should not be divided. church fighting about? Paul asked, “Who died on the cross for you? It wasn’t Paul. It wasn’t Apollos. It wasn’t Peter. It was Jesus! Jesus died on the cross • What did Paul tell the church for you.” The people agreed that only Jesus is Lord, so Paul told them about which teacher to they should get along and love one another. follow? Paul said that people who do not believe in Jesus think the good • How do people become part news about Him is silly. He said, “Friends, think about this: God chose of God’s family? you to be in His family—not because of what you know or who is in your family here on earth.” God saves people who trust in Jesus. No one can brag about being saved because it is not something we can earn or make happen. We should only brag about Jesus and what He has done.

Christ Connection: Paul told believers in the church at Corinth to get FAMILY ACTIVITY: along. Paul reminded the people that Jesus saves sinners. Because of • Work a jigsaw puzzle together Jesus, believers can come together like one big, happy family. as a family. Commend

children for working together as a team. • Brag about Jesus and what He has done by making a list of the ways He has shown Himself faithful to your family.

PRAY TOGETHER: God, thank You for choosing us to be in Your family. Help us to love one another and get along. Remind us that Jesus died for us and is our Lord. Amen.

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FRIDAY 22 MAY

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The Church Showed Favoritism James 2:1-13

The early church had many leaders. One of these leaders was BIBLE STORY: James. James was Jesus’ younger brother, the son of Mary and Joseph, • James wrote to believers to and he was a leader at the church in Jerusalem. tell them how they should James wrote a letter to other believers. He told them how they live. should live. People who trust in Jesus should be different than people • Christians should treat who do not believe in Jesus. They should do good and right things everyone the same. because they trust in Him. • God has a place in His family James said, “People who believe in Jesus should not show for everyone who loves Him. favoritism.” That means they should not treat some people better • James tells us to love others than they treat other people. They should treat everyone the same. because Jesus loves us. James said, “If someone with lots of money and fancy clothes comes to church, do not treat him better than other people. Do not give the rich man a seat and tell the poor man to stand or sit on the FAMILY DISCUSSION STARTERS: floor.” • Why should Christians live God does not have favorites. He does not treat rich people better differently than unbelievers? than poor people. God has a place in His family for everyone who loves • How should Christians treat Him. people who are poor? People God says to love other people like you love yourself. If you treat who are rich? some people with kindness but you are unkind to other people, you • How did Jesus show kindness are not obeying God. to us? Why should we show James told the believers to be kind to people who do not deserve kindness to others? kindness because God showed kindness to us when we did not deserve it. We were sinners, but God sent Jesus to rescue us.

FAMILY ACTIVITY: • Talk about your favorite foods Christ Connection: James said treating some people better than – favorite ice cream flavours, others is the wrong thing to do. Jesus said people who follow Him should favorite pizza toppings, love one another. Jesus showed kindness to us, so we can show kindness favorite breakfasts. Then talk to others. about why it is OK to have a

favorite flavor, but not OK to show favoritism among people.

PRAY TOGETHER: God, thank You for showing kindness to us even though we do not deserve it. We are sinners, and You sent Jesus to rescue us. Help us to love others and show them kindness. Amen.

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SUNDAY 24 MAY

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Love One Another 1 John 3:10-18

John was a friend of Jesus. He had seen Jesus teach, and he saw Him BIBLE STORY: go back to heaven. Many years passed, and now John was an old man. • John wrote that Christians John wanted people to know about Jesus, so he wrote a letter to help should love one another. believers know that Jesus is God’s Son. • John said people will know we John wrote about love. He said that God is love. “If believers really follow Jesus because we love love God,” he said, “they will love one another.” We can show our one another. love in the things we say and do. • Jesus showed us what love is John also said that people who are in God’s family live in a way that by giving up His life for us. is different from people who are not in God’s family. People who love

Jesus and believe in Him should do what is right, and they should love FAMILY DISCUSSION STARTERS: one another. John said people will know we follow Jesus because we • Love is more than a feeling or love one another. John’s letter said, “Do not be surprised if people who do not love something we say. Why is Jesus do not love you. But God has loved us and given us life, so we can love more about what we do? love one another. • How did Jesus show love to “Jesus showed us what love is. He gave up His life for us. We should us? love like that too! When we have something someone else needs, we • Brainstorm ways to show can give it to him.” love. Then John said, “Children, we must not just talk about loving others. We must show them love by what we do.”

Christ Connection: John wrote a letter to teach believers in the church FAMILY ACTIVITY: about showing love. Love is more than something we feel or say; love is • After brainstorming ways to something we do. Jesus showed God’s love for us when He died on the show love, choose a few cross to take our punishment for sin. options everyone can agree on and put them on your family’s calendar to complete. • Play dress-up as a family. Discuss what costume props mark specific careers or characters. Talk about the way love marks Christians.

PRAY TOGETHER: God, Jesus showed Your love for us when He died on the cross to take our punishment for sin. Help us to love people like Jesus! When we have something someone else needs, help us to give it to him. Help us to show love to others freely so they will know You love them too. Amen.

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MONDAY 25 MAY

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Paul’s Letters to the Church 1 Timothy 4:11-16; 2 Timothy 4:1-8; Titus 2:11-14

After Jesus went up to heaven, the Holy Spirit came down to help BIBLE STORY: Jesus’ followers. The church grew because more and more people heard • Paul wrote letters to Timothy the good news about Jesus and believed. Jesus’ followers went to and Titus. different cities to tell more people about Jesus. The believers met • Paul told church leaders to together, and leaders taught them about God and about how Christians teach God’s Word. should live. • Paul said to keep telling God’s Paul wrote letters to some of the church leaders. One of the truth no matter what. leaders was named Timothy. He was Paul’s friend. Paul and Timothy had traveled together, and Timothy helped Paul. Now Timothy was a FAMILY DISCUSSION STARTERS: church leader in the city of Ephesus. • Why did Paul write letters to Paul’s letter to Timothy said, “Dear Timothy, it does not matter church leaders? that you are young. Be an example for the other believers. Show them how to live, how to love, and how to trust God.” Paul also said, “Teach • Why is it important for church the people what is right. Teach God’s Word, and always be ready to leaders to teach God’s Word? share the good news about Jesus. Later on, people will not want to • How can teaching God’s Word hear what is right. They will want you to say things that make them be hard for leaders to do? happy even if they are not true. Don’t do that! Keep telling God’s truth no matter what.” Another church leader was named Titus. Titus had traveled with Paul too. Now Titus was a church leader on the island of Crete. Paul wrote to Timothy and Titus to share good ideas with them and tell all the church leaders what they should do. Paul’s letter to Titus said, “God is kind to people who sin. He sent Jesus to rescue people from their sins. This is why we want to do what FAMILY ACTIVITY: is right. We want to live in a way that pleases God. One day, Jesus will • Send your church leaders a come again. We want to do what is good because He loves us. message from your family to show your appreciation for Christ Connection: Paul wrote letters to leaders in the church. He them. helped them know how to lead God’s people. Church leaders help believers know what is true, and they serve the church. Jesus served us by dying on the cross for our sins. PRAY TOGETHER: God, thank You for our church leaders. Help them as they lead Your people. Some of these children may be church leaders one day. Help them grow in their love for You and knowledge of Your Word. Make them mighty men and women of God. Amen.

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TUESDAY 26 MAY

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Children of God Romans 8:12-39

Paul wrote a letter to Jesus’ followers in Rome. He wanted to make BIBLE STORY: sure they believed the right things about Jesus and that they knew • Paul wrote a letter to teach how they should live. Paul said that when we trust in Jesus, God gives believers in Rome about us the Holy Spirit and makes us His children. Jesus. Paul wrote, “The Holy Spirit helps believers say no to sin, and He • When we trust in Jesus, God gives us power to live in a way that makes God happy. The Holy Spirit makes us His children. makes us God’s children! We do not need to be afraid of God; He is • Nothing can make God stop like a Father. He loves us! loving His children. “God sent His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross. When we trust in • The future will be good for Jesus, God the Father forgives our sin and treats us like His own everyone in God’s family. children. We are His children!

“Because we are in God’s family, our future will be good. This life might be hard, but one day we will be with God forever. God has a FAMILY DISCUSSION STARTERS: wonderful blessing for us that is much greater than any hard things • How does God show us that that happen. He is the best Father? “The Holy Spirit helps us when we are weak. He even prays for us • Talk about ways the Holy when we do not know what to say. He changes us to be more like Spirit helps us and changes us Jesus. God uses everything that happens for our good. to live like God’s children. “God gave us the gift we needed the most: Jesus. We know He will • How does knowing we have a give us everything we need. Nothing can ever make God stop loving home with God forever His children—not life or death or power or anything in all the world. change the way we live on God’s love is forever. earth?

FAMILY ACTIVITY: Christ Connection: God is changing believers to be more like Jesus. • Get each person in the family We are God’s children! Jesus took our punishment for sin, we are to draw a picture of your adopted into God’s family. Because Jesus died on the cross, God the whole family. Talk about how Father welcomes us and gives us a home with Him forever. even though the whole family aren’t children anymore, you are all children of God.

PRAY TOGETHER: God, You are so good! How amazing that You would welcome us into Your family and make us Your children! We thank You for sending Jesus to save us from sin so we can know Your forever love. Amen.

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WEDNESDAY 27 MAY

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A Transformed Mind Romans 12:1-18; 1 Corinthians 1:9; Philippians 1:3-7

Paul said that God wants believers to be good friends with one BIBLE STORY: another and with Jesus. Should a person who loves God live in the • The Holy Spirit helps believers same way as a person who does not love God? No. Paul wrote a letter know the right way to live. to his friends in Rome about how believers should live. This is what • God wants us to be friends Paul wrote. with one another. “Dear friends, God is kind. He loves us even though we are sinners. • Every believer has a special So live in a way that pleases God. The Holy Spirit lives inside you. Let gift from God. Him change how you think and act. The Holy Spirit will help you know • Everyone who loves Jesus is the right way to live. like a family. “Remember that every believer is different in a special way. God has given us different gifts, and He has a special plan for us. Some FAMILY DISCUSSION STARTERS: people teach about Jesus. Some people serve the church. Some people help those who are sad or sick. We all work together because we are • Why should believers work one family in Jesus. together? Everyone who loves Jesus is like a family. If someone is happy, be • What are some of the special happy with him. If he is sad, be sad too. Get along with one another as gifts God gives believers? much as possible. We can love one another, help one another, and • Why was Paul happy when he pray for one another.” was in prison? Later, Paul was in prison in Rome. He wrote a letter to Christians in Philippi. Paul was happy because God was working in their lives. The Christians helped Paul by sending him money and praying for him. Paul thanked God for his friends. He knew God was changing them to be more like Jesus.

FAMILY ACTIVITY: • Watch a YouTube video of a Christ Connection: God wants us to show friendship and love to one caterpillar turning into a another. All believers are part of God’s family. Jesus brings us together. butterfly. Relate it to how The Holy Spirit changes how we think and live so we can love one God makes us a new creation another like God has loved us. when we trust in Jesus.

PRAY TOGETHER: God, thank You that when we turn from sin and trust in Jesus, You start to change us. Thank You for the Holy Spirit who changes how we think and act. Help us to love others like You love us. Amen.

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THURSDAY 28 MAY

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The Fruit of the Spirit Galatians 5:16-26

Paul wrote a letter to the Christians in Galatia. Paul said that God BIBLE STORY: changes people who trust in Jesus. God gives the Holy Spirit to people • The Holy Spirit helps us be who believe in Jesus. The Holy Spirit guides them and gives them more like Jesus. power to be more like Jesus. The Holy Spirit changes how we think • Without Jesus, sin controls us. and act. He guides us to do what God wants. • Jesus frees us from the power Without Jesus, sin controls us. We do wrong things. We fight and of sin. get into trouble. Sinners who have not trusted in Jesus cannot be part • We know someone loves God of God’s kingdom. But when we trust in Jesus, He frees us from the if he or she shows the fruit of power of sin. Sin no longer controls us. The Holy Spirit controls us. He the Spirit. lives in us and gives us power to do what is right.

When the Holy Spirit is in control, people have love, joy, peace, FAMILY DISCUSSION STARTERS: patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self- control. When we show these actions, God is pleased. These things are • How can we know someone called the fruit of the Spirit. We know someone loves God if he or she loves God? shows the fruit of the Spirit. A healthy tree grows fruit, and a healthy • Name a characteristic of the believer shows the fruit of the Spirit. fruit of the Spirit. What does Living this way is not easy, but the Holy Spirit helps us become more each characteristic mean? like Jesus every day. He gives us power to say no to things that are • How does the Holy Spirit help wrong and live in a way that pleases God. us? The Holy Spirit helps us feel joy and peace even when sad things happen. He gives us patience and helps us treat others with kindness FAMILY ACTIVITY: and gentleness. He helps us control our thoughts, actions, and words. • Look at the fruit and The more we know God, the more the Holy Spirit changes us to be like vegetables in your kitchen, Jesus. then look up pictures on the Christ Connection: When we trust in Jesus, the Holy Spirit starts to Internet of what the plants change us. Paul told believers how the Holy Spirit helps. The Holy Spirit and trees look like that they changes our hearts to help us love God and want to obey Him. come from. Discuss how plants naturally grow fruit, and how Christians naturally sprout the fruit of the Spirit. • Watch your children this week and specifically commend them when they exhibit a characteristic of the fruit of the Spirit.

PRAY TOGETHER: God, thank You that when we trust in Jesus, He frees us from the power of sin. Sin no longer controls us, and the Holy Spirit takes over. Holy Spirit, continue the work of changing our hearts to help us love You and be like Jesus. Amen.

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FRIDAY 29 MAY

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The Armor of God Ephesians 6:10-19

Paul was sitting in prison. Being a Christian was not an easy life. BIBLE STORY: Paul wrote a letter to the people in Ephesus who believed in Jesus • Following Jesus is like fighting because he wanted them to be strong. a battle: good against evil. Paul said that following Jesus is like fighting a battle: good against • God makes us strong against evil. God gives people who believe in Jesus everything they need to evil. fight against evil. • God’s Word tells us what is “Put on the armor of God,” he said. “Be ready.” true. Paul said, “Truth is like a belt.” We know what is true because God tells us about Himself in His Word, the Bible. FAMILY DISCUSSION STARTERS: Paul also said, “Righteousness is like armor on your chest.” God gives • Why do believers need the us righteousness when we trust in Jesus. armor of God? Then Paul said, “Be ready with the gospel—like sandals on your feet.” We must always be ready to tell others the good news about • What are some of the pieces Jesus. of armor? What do they Paul said, “Take faith with you everywhere you go. Faith is like a mean? shield; it will protect you.” The Devil wants us to doubt God or believe • Talk about possible what is not true, but God gives us faith to help us trust in Him. opportunities to use the Paul added, “Salvation is like your helmet, and God’s Word is like armor of God. your sword.” A helmet protects your head. We should remember that God has saved us! And God’s Word tells us what is true. Finally Paul said, “Pray. Pray for God’s people, and pray for me. Pray that God will help me when I tell others about Jesus. Christ Connection: Jesus won the war against evil when He died on the cross and rose from the dead. God gives us what we need to be FAMILY ACTIVITY: strong against evil. We fight against sin each day, but we know Jesus • Make pretend armor out of already won for us. newspaper. As you put each piece on discuss what it means.

PRAY TOGETHER: God, thank You that Jesus won the war against sin when He died on the cross and rose from the dead. Make us strong against evil. Thank You that as we fight against sin each day, we know Jesus already won for us. Amen.

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SUNDAY 31 MAY

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A Cheerful Giver 2 Corinthians 8:1-15; 9:6-15

Paul was collecting money for the believers in Jerusalem because BIBLE STORY: they needed help. He wrote a letter to the people at the church in • Paul wrote about giving to Corinth who believed in Jesus. They were his friends, and he wanted to people who need help. tell them about something amazing God did. • Giving to others shows we Paul wrote about Christians in other churches who were poor. Even love God. though they did not have a lot of money, God gave them joy. And the • God wants us to give to believers gave as much as they could to help others. others. Paul encouraged the believers in Corinth to give too. Giving is one • We can give to others way we can show we love God. God is happy to give us what we need, because Jesus gave His life for and we can happily give others what they need. Jesus gave up us. everything He had in heaven and came to earth to rescue sinners. We had nothing, but because of Jesus, we now have salvation and life forever with God. FAMILY DISCUSSION STARTERS: The believers in Corinth were not poor like the Christians in the • Why does God want His other churches. They had more than enough! Paul said, “Give to followers to give? people who do not have enough. Then everyone will have what they • Why does God love a cheerful need.” giver? Paul said that God loves a cheerful giver. When we give to the • What is more important: the church, the church uses what we give to help people in need. Then amount we give or what’s in those people will thank God. our heart when we give? Paul said, “Giving cheerfully shows that you believe the good news Why? about Jesus. Let’s thank God for the most wonderful gift of all—His Son, Jesus!”

FAMILY ACTIVITY: • Brainstorm ways you can give Christ Connection: God has provided everything we need. He gave us to others as a family. Choose the greatest gift—His own Son. Jesus gave everything He had—even His one or two of the ideas very own life—to save us from sin. Because of Jesus, we can be kind and suggested and make a plan to giving to others. follow through. Put dates on

the calendar and encourage family members to hold one another other accountable.

PRAY TOGETHER: God, thank You that Jesus gave everything He had—even His very own life—to save us from sin. Help us to remember that and to let it change us so that we will joyfully share what we have with others and show them kindness. Amen.

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MONDAY 1 JUNE

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Heroes of the Faith Hebrews 11:1–12:2

People who love Jesus live by faith. Faith is when you believe BIBLE STORY: something that you have not seen. Faith is trusting God. By faith, we • Faith is believing something believe that God is who He says He is and that He will do everything you have not seen. He said He will do. It is impossible to please God without having faith. • The Bible tells us about Many people in the Bible had faith, and this pleased God. Abel had people who lived by faith. faith. He made an offering to God, and God accepted it. Noah had faith • We can have faith in God’s too. He believed God when God told him to build an ark and rescue his good plan. family. God was pleased with Noah. • Jesus helps believers have Abraham had faith when God told him to leave his home. God faith. made promises to Abraham, and Abraham believed that God was going to keep His promises. FAMILY DISCUSSION STARTERS: Abraham’s wife Sarah had faith. She trusted God to give her a family even though she was too old to have children. God gave • What does having faith Abraham and Sarah a big family. mean? Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and Moses had faith. Rahab had faith when • Who are some people in the she hid the Israelite spies in Jericho. King David had faith too. All of Bible who had faith? How did these people trusted God, and so did many others. Having faith was they show it? not easy. Many suffered, and they all died before God’s greatest • How can we trust in God? promise—the arrival of Jesus—came true, but they believed that God had a wonderful plan. God was pleased with them because they trusted Him. We too know that God has a great plan. He kept His promise to send His own Son to save people from sin. Jesus gives us faith. We can look to Him because He makes all of God’s promises come true. FAMILY ACTIVITY:

• Use the Bible cross- Christ Connection: The Bible tells us about people who had faith, but references in Hebrews 11 to Jesus is the only true hero of the Bible. He trusted in God’s plan even locate the Bible stories about though it meant dying on the cross. Because of Jesus, all of God’s the people mentioned. Read promises will come true. One day Jesus will come back, just like God several of the stories as a promised. family.

PRAY TOGETHER: God, make these boys and girls mighty men and women of faith. Give us faith and help us to live trusting that You are who You say You are and that You will do everything You said You will do. Amen.

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TUESDAY 2 JUNE

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The Plan to Stop Paul Acts 23

Paul was in Jerusalem. The believers there were happy to see BIBLE STORY: Paul, but some of the Jews were not happy. One day, when Paul • Some Jewish people planned went to the temple, a crowd of Jews grabbed Paul and dragged him to hurt Paul for teaching that outside. They wanted to hurt him, but the commander of the Roman Jesus rose from the dead. army stopped them. • The army commander sent The army commander arrested Paul and took him to a group of Paul away to another city. leaders whose job was to decide if someone had broken the law and • God protected Paul so he to decide how lawbreakers should be punished. could preach about Jesus. Paul stood in front of the leaders and said, “Friends, I did what

God wants me to do. I did not do anything wrong.” Paul told them FAMILY DISCUSSION STARTERS: he was in jail for teaching that Jesus rose from the dead. Then the • Did Paul do something leaders began arguing. Some of them thought Paul was doing the right thing, but some thought he was wrong. The Roman soldiers wrong? Why was he took Paul away so he would be safe. arrested? The next night, the Lord came to Paul. “Have courage!” said the • How did God use Paul’s Lord. “You told people about Me in Jerusalem. You must tell people nephew in His plan? in Rome too.” • Who gives us courage to obey But the next morning, a group of Jews made another plan to hurt God no matter what? Paul. They told the Jewish leaders about their plan. “Ask the army commander to bring Paul to you,” the group said. “Pretend you FAMILY ACTIVITY: need to ask him some questions. Then, when he is almost here, we • Look on a Bible times map will get him!” and identify Jerusalem and Paul’s nephew heard the Jews talking about their plan. He Rome. Remind children that hurried to Paul and told him what they said. Paul told him to tell the God told Paul he would army commander about the plan. preach in Rome. So the army commander told two of his soldiers to get a bunch of • Notice and discuss ways God soldiers and horses. The soldiers brought a horse for Paul to ride. has protected and is That night, the soldiers took Paul to another city to see the Roman protecting your family. Talk governor. God took care of Paul and protected him from the men about ways God may want to who wanted to get him. use your family to spread the

Christ Connection: Even when others wanted to hurt Paul, Paul gospel. trusted God. God showed His love for the world by sending Jesus, and Paul believed God would help him through hard times. Like PRAY TOGETHER: Paul, we can obey God no matter what because we know God loves God, thank You for protecting us and takes care of us. Paul so he could keep on telling people about how much You love them. Remind us of how You love us and care for us. Make us bold to tell others about how You love them and sent Your Son, Jesus, to rescue them from sin. Amen.

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WEDNESDAY 3 JUNE

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Paul Before the Rulers Acts 24:22-27; 25:1-14; 26:24-32

Paul was in prison, but he was safe for now. A group of Jews in BIBLE STORY: Jerusalem had tried to hurt him, and the Roman soldiers took him away • Paul was in prison. to meet with important leaders. The leaders wanted to figure out what • Paul wanted everyone to was going on and why people were upset with Paul. believe that Jesus is Lord. First, Paul met with Felix, the governor. Felix already knew what • Paul preached about Jesus to Paul believed, but he agreed to listen to him. Felix told the jail guards to rulers. let Paul’s friends visit him. Then, a few days later, Felix asked Paul to come speak to him and his wife. Paul talked about faith in Jesus. He FAMILY DISCUSSION STARTERS: told them about being right with God and having self-control. Paul said • Why did Paul not stop telling that one day God is going to judge the world. people about Jesus even Felix was afraid of what Paul said. He sent Paul away. For two though people were against years, Paul stayed in prison and sometimes met with Felix to talk. But Felix did not let Paul go free. him? Then a new governor came, and his name was Festus. Festus met • What are some things that with Paul and Paul said, “I have not done anything wrong. I want to may tempt us to not tell see Caesar!” Caesar was the emperor of Rome. As a Roman citizen, others about Jesus? Paul had the right to take his case to him. Festus agreed. • Who has the power to save Before Paul went to Rome, Agrippa—king of Judea—and the queen people from sin? came to visit. Paul told the king about how he became a believer. He told the king that Jesus died to bring salvation to Jews and Gentiles. “Paul, you are crazy!” the king said. “No, I am telling you the truth,” said Paul. “I wish you—and everyone who is listening—might believe in Jesus.” The king and other leaders got up. They did not think Paul had done FAMILY ACTIVITY: anything wrong. The king was ready to let Paul go, but Paul had asked • Pray as a family for local and to go to Rome, so they had to send him there. national leaders. Pray for Christ Connection: God chose Paul to tell all kinds of people—even those who do not believe to kings!—about Jesus. Even when people were against him, Paul did not turn from sin and be saved. Pray that they would lead in a stop. He wanted everyone to believe that Jesus is way that glorifies and honors the Lord. • Make a “We are praying for you!” card to send to a leader.

PRAY TOGETHER: God, thank You for giving Jesus power to save us from sin. Make us like Paul so we will believe the good news about Jesus and be willing to do anything to share it with others. Amen.

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THURSDAY 4 JUNE

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The Shipwreck Acts 27:13-44; 28:11-16

Paul was a prisoner, and he was going to Rome to see Caesar, the BIBLE STORY: emperor of the Roman Empire. Paul got on a ship with other prisoners • Paul got on a ship with other going to Rome. But a big storm made the journey difficult. Strong prisoners heading to Rome. winds, waves, and rain pushed the ship up and down. All the people on • A big storm came and the the ship were afraid they would die. ship wrecked on a sandbar. God sent an angel to Paul. The angel told Paul to not be afraid. God • God kept everyone safe. was going to keep everyone on the ship safe. Paul told the other • God protected Paul in the people on the ship what God had said. “Be brave,” he said. “I believe shipwreck. God is telling the truth. We will be safe, but we have to get the ship onto an island.” FAMILY DISCUSSION STARTERS: The ship got close to an island, and some of the sailors tried to • escape in a lifeboat. Paul told them to stay on the ship if they wanted How would you feel on a ship to be safe. The sailors obeyed Paul. Now, everyone was really hungry in the middle of a storm? so Paul told them it was time to eat. He thanked God and broke the • How would you feel in that bread, and everyone ate. Then they sailed closer to the island. same storm if God said He All of a sudden, the ship hit a sandbar in the water and got stuck. would keep you and everyone The waves crashed into the ship, and it began to break into pieces. A else safe? soldier in charge told everyone to swim to the shore. Anyone who • Who died to keep us safe could not swim clung to the pieces of the ship. Everyone made it to from sin and death? shore. Paul was right; God had kept all of them safe. Three months later, Paul got onto another ship and went to Rome. He was still a prisoner, but instead of going to jail, Paul was allowed to live by himself in a house. A soldier stayed with him to guard him, and people came to Paul’s house to visit. Paul taught people about God’s FAMILY ACTIVITY: kingdom and about Jesus, and some of them believed. • As a family, act out what it

Christ Connection: Paul trusted God’s promise to keep him and must be like to be in a everyone else safe from the storm. He told the sailors to trust God too. shipwreck. Discuss what it God wants us to trust Jesus. Jesus died to keep us safe from sin and must have been like for Paul. death. We can tell this good news to everyone. PRAY TOGETHER: God, thank You for giving us the Bible. When we read about Paul’s life, it helps us to know that we can trust Jesus. It gives us boldness to tell everyone the good news. Amen.

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FRIDAY 5 JUNE

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Paul's Joy in Prison Philippians 1:12-30

Paul was living as a prisoner in Rome with a guard who watched BIBLE STORY: him. Some Jewish people had tried to hurt him because they did not like • Paul was a prisoner in Rome. what he believed. Paul believed and told others that Jesus had risen • Paul wrote a letter to the from the dead. Now Paul was waiting to meet with Caesar, the Philippian believers. emperor of Rome. • Paul told the Philippians to be Believers visited Paul. Some sent him gifts. Paul wrote a letter to joyful. the Christians in Philippi. He thanked them for sending a gift and told them about his work. FAMILY DISCUSSION STARTERS: This is what Paul wrote: “I want you to know that even though the • How did the things that Jews tried to stop me, everything that happened has actually helped happened to Paul help him me tell more people the good news about Jesus.” As a prisoner, Paul’s tell more people about Jesus? special guards were with him all the time, so Paul had many chances to tell them about Jesus. Other believers bravely shared the good news • Name some times when it is about Jesus too. hard for you to feel joyful. Paul wrote, “Thank you for praying for me. I know that God has • How can remembering Jesus, given me the Holy Spirit to help me. I hope that I will never be afraid who went through the or embarrassed about anything. I want to be bold and honor Jesus no hardest time to save us from matter what. If I live, I live for Jesus. If I die for Jesus, I will live with sin, help us in hard times? Him forever.” Paul knew that being with Jesus is far better than anything else. But while he was alive, Paul wanted to help other believers. “No matter what happens,” Paul wrote, “live your life in a way that honors Jesus. Then, whether I am with you or away, I will hear that you are working together to share the good news about Jesus. FAMILY ACTIVITY: “Do not let anyone scare you away from doing this work. This is the • Practice saying the key work God has given you to do—not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him.” passage, Philippians 1:21, from memory. Talk about Christ Connection: Paul faced hard times, but God used him to share what the verse means. the good news about Jesus and to help the church. Paul knew that because Jesus suffered to rescue people from their sins, believers who do PRAY TOGETHER: God’s work will suffer too. God, nobody wants to have hard times, but thank You for the hard times Paul had. Paul did Your work, and because You used Paul, many people have heard that Jesus rescues people from sin. When we face hard times, help us remember that Jesus suffered too. Remind us that You are doing good things in our hard times. Amen.

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SUNDAY 7 JUNE

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Paul Made Much of Jesus Colossians 1:15–2:3

When Paul was a prisoner in Rome, people came to tell him news BIBLE STORY: about believers and churches all over the world. Paul had visited many • Paul was a prisoner in Rome. of the churches, and he wrote letters to tell the believers to keep • Paul wrote a letter to the following Jesus. Colossian believers. Paul wrote a letter to the church in Colossae (koh LAHS sih). The • Paul said that Jesus is most believers there knew the good news about Jesus, but there was a important. problem. New teachers had come and told them things that were not true. Paul’s letter reminded them what is true about Jesus. This is FAMILY DISCUSSION STARTERS: what Paul wrote: • What book tells us what is

true about Jesus? “Jesus shows us what God is like. • The Son of God was with God before God created anything. Why is Jesus most important? He created everything in heaven and on earth, • Who is someone you can tell Everything you see and don’t see; the good news about Jesus? Everything is for Him. The church—all the believers in the world—are the body, and He is the head. God was happy to send His Son to earth to rescue people from sin through His blood on the cross.”

Paul reminded the believers that their sin had kept them away from God. Our sin makes us God’s enemies. But God rescues us from FAMILY ACTIVITY: sin and forgives us through Jesus. • Write Jesus is most Paul said, “This is the gospel. If anyone tells you the gospel is important! on a sheet of something else, that person is lying. poster board and post it “Have courage and love one another. All wisdom and knowledge prominently in your home. comes from God.” Challenge family members to think of reasons Jesus is most Christ Connection: Paul reminded believers that Jesus is most important. Use Colossians 1 important. Jesus is God’s Son, and He died on the cross to get you started. Write each reason on the sign. Add to the sign all week. At the end of the week, invite friends over. Show them the sign and see if they can add a few more reasons.

PRAY TOGETHER: God, thank You for giving us the best gift of all, Jesus, who died on the cross so we can have forgiveness from sin. Help us to tell that good news to everyone we meet. Amen.

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MONDAY 8 JUNE

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Paul's Letter to Philemon Philemon 8-22

Onesimus was a servant. He had run away from his owner, BIBLE STORY: Philemon. Philemon was Paul’s friend. • Onesimus ran away. Paul told Onesimus the good news about Jesus, and Onesimus • Paul told Onesimus the truth believed. He helped Paul, and Paul wanted Onesimus to stay with him. about Jesus and he believed. But Paul knew Onesimus needed to do the right thing: to go back to • Onesimus needed to go back Philemon and ask for forgiveness. First, Paul wrote a letter for to Philemon and ask Onesimus to give to Philemon. forgiveness. “Dear Philemon, I am writing you because I love you. I want you to • Paul told Philemon to forgive do the right thing. I am getting old, and I am in prison because I tell his servant. people about Jesus. I met Onesimus and told him about Jesus, and he believed. I want him to stay with me, but I want your permission first. FAMILY DISCUSSION STARTERS: “Onesimus is a believer now. Maybe this is why he left you for a little while—so that he could come back to you as a brother instead of • Why did Onesimus need to a servant. He is our friend and brother in Christ. Please welcome him ask Philemon to forgive him? like you would welcome me. • What did Paul mean when he “Philemon, I would be so happy if you agree to do this. I know you said that Onesimus was will do what is right. Please get a room ready for me. I know you are Philemon’s brother? praying for me. I hope God will answer your prayers so I can visit you • Who makes peace between soon.” God and us? How?

Christ Connection: Paul asked Philemon to forgive Onesimus and treat him like a brother in Jesus. He wanted to make peace between his friends. In this way, Paul acted like Jesus. Jesus came into the world to make peace between God and people. He died on the cross for our sin so FAMILY ACTIVITY: we can be part of God’s family forever. • Pray for brothers and sisters

in Christ around the world. As you do so, point out the places on a map and/or look up pictures of that country on the Internet.

PRAY TOGETHER: God, thank You for always loving and forgiving us. Sometimes it is hard for us to say we’re sorry or forgive someone who has hurt us. But You sent Jesus to die for our sin and give us Your Spirit. So please help us forgive others as You have forgiven us. Amen!

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TUESDAY 9 JUNE

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Paul Gave Hope 1 Thessalonians 4:13–5:11

Paul had traveled to the city of Thessalonica. The people there BIBLE STORY: worshiped idols, things that were not God. Some of them even • Paul sent Timothy to visit the worshiped the leader of Rome. Paul told the people about Jesus, and believers in Thessalonica. many of them believed. Paul started the church in Thessalonica, but • Paul encouraged believers in not everyone liked Paul or his teaching about Jesus. They made him hard times. leave the city. • Paul said Jesus would come Paul worried about the believers in Thessalonica. They had not back someday. been believers for very long. So Paul sent his friend Timothy to visit them. Timothy brought back happy news. Even though following Jesus FAMILY DISCUSSION STARTERS: was not easy, the believers did not give up. • Why was Paul worried about Paul wrote a letter to encourage the believers. He told them that the believers in Thessalonica? Jesus will come back someday. On that day, believers will not suffer any more. This message gave the believers hope. • Talk about things you are Paul wrote, “To the church in Thessalonica. We want you to know looking forward to when what is true. We believe that Jesus died and rose again.” Paul said that Jesus comes back. believers who die before Jesus comes back will not miss out. When • How does knowing Jesus is Christians die, Jesus takes them to be with Him. When Jesus comes coming back give us hope? back, He will bring with Him the Christians who died and we will live with Him forever. Paul wrote, “No one knows when Jesus will come again, so we should always be ready.”

Christ Connection: The prophets in the Old Testament told about the FAMILY ACTIVITY: day when God would judge the world and save His people. Paul said • Look at pictures of believing that in the future, Jesus will come back for His people and judge the wicked. Believers can live with hope because Jesus will come again. loved ones who have passed away. Talk about how these friends will come back with Jesus when He comes.

PRAY TOGETHER: Jesus, thank You for promising to come back for us. Sometimes we get really sad when someone we love dies. But You promised that when You come back, we will all live with You together forever. Help us trust You as we wait, and please come back soon! Amen.

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WEDNESDAY 10 JUNE

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Remember God's truth Jude 1:3-4,17-25

After Jesus was born, Mary and Joseph had other children. One of BIBLE STORY: them, Jude, wrote a letter to his fellow believers because he wanted • Jude wrote a letter to them to tell others the good news about Jesus. believers. Jude said to watch Jude wrote, “Dear friends, I have an important message for you. You out for people who sin and should remember what is true about Jesus and be bold. Tell others say wrong things about Jesus. what you believe.” • Jude told believers to always Jude said that some people do not follow Jesus. They make excuses remember God’s truth. for doing wrong things. They ignore Jesus, and God will punish them. Jude wrote, “Friends, Jesus’ followers said what would happen. FAMILY DISCUSSION STARTERS: They said that people would make fun of believers and of Jesus. These • What kind of people did Jude people live however they want. They sin against God. They want to tell believers to look out for? cause problems in the church. These people do not have the Holy • Spirit. How can we know what is “Friends, you should be strong as Jesus’ followers. Teach what is true about Jesus? right. Let the Holy Spirit help you when you pray. Remember God’s • Who protects us from sin? truth. He loves you, and Jesus will come again. You will live with God forever.” Jude told the believers to show kindness to others and tell them about Jesus. Jude told the believers to hate sin. “God gives us power to stay away from sin. Thank You, God, for Jesus—our Savior and Lord— and for helping us live how You taught us. All praise goes to God!”

Christ Connection: Jude warned the early Christians to watch out for FAMILY ACTIVITY: people who sin and say wrong things about Jesus. Jesus is the way, the • Play a game where you say truth, and the life—the One who protects His people from sin. Because statements and children must of Jesus, God will welcome us and give us joy forever. decide if the statement is true or false. Emphasize that knowing what is true about Jesus is most important. • Practice saying the key passage, 2 Timothy 3:16, from memory as a family.

PRAY TOGETHER: God, thank You so much for Jesus. Thank You for saving us and for giving us power to follow You. Help us to remember Your truth and tell others about You. Amen!

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THURSDAY 11 JUNE

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While We Wait 2 Peter 3:1-13

Peter, one of Jesus’ friends, was an old man and a leader in the BIBLE STORY: church. Peter wrote a letter to tell the believers to read God’s Word and • Peter wrote a letter to watch out for teachers who said things that weren’t true. God’s Word believers. helps us know how to live. Peter told the believers how to live the way • Peter wrote that Jesus will Jesus wants them to live. come back soon. Peter also wrote about the day when Jesus will come back. Some of • No one knows exactly when the false teachers said that Jesus will never come back. This is not true! Jesus will come, so we must Peter was with Jesus when He promised He would come back. So Peter always be ready. told the believers to be ready.

Peter wrote, “Dear friends, the prophets said this would happen. FAMILY DISCUSSION STARTERS: They said people would make fun of you for believing that Jesus will • Why does it seem that God is come back. But God is not being slow to keep His promise. God is being patient. He wants everyone to know Jesus. He wants everyone to turn slow in sending Jesus back to away from their sin and turn to Him!” earth? No one knows exactly when Jesus will come, so we must always be • How does God show that He ready. Peter told the believers to live in a way that makes God happy. is patient? When Jesus comes, He will make the new heavens and a new earth. • How can we be ready for Jesus’ return?

Christ Connection: Some people thought the believers were foolish for thinking Jesus is coming again, but it is true! Peter said that God is patient. He wants everyone to trust in Jesus. At just the right time, Jesus will come again. We look forward to that day when Jesus will make the new heavens and a new earth. FAMILY ACTIVITY: • Pray for unbelieving friends and family to turn from sin and follow Jesus before He comes back. • Use some recyclable materials to build something or make a craft together. Discuss how God renews us, and doesn’t throw us away if we turn to Him.

PRAY TOGETHER: God, thank You for always keeping Your promises. Thank You for sending Jesus to rescue us. We believe You will come back for us, too. Give us patience, and use us to help more people trust in You. Amen!

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FRIDAY 12 JUNE

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John's Vision of Jesus Revelation 1:9-20

Like many people who believed in Jesus, John was hurt and hated BIBLE STORY: because he told people about Jesus. The leader of Rome punished • Jesus appeared to John in a John by sending him to a small island. When John was on the island, vision. he had a vision. A vision is like a dream, but John was awake. • When John saw Jesus, he fell John heard a loud voice like a trumpet. The voice said, “Write on a down at Jesus’ feet. scroll what you see. Then send the message to the seven churches in • Jesus said that He is the First Ephesus (EF uh suhs), Smyrna (SMUHR nuh), Pergamum (PUHR guh and the Last, the Living One. muhm), Thyatira (THIGH uh TIGH ruh), Sardis (SAHR diss), Philadelphia (FIL uh DEL fih uh), and Laodicea (lay AHD ih SEE uh).” FAMILY DISCUSSION STARTERS: John turned around and saw seven gold lampstands. Then he saw • Why do you think Jesus who had spoken to him: it was Jesus! Jesus was wearing a long robe showed John the future? with a gold sash wrapped around His chest. When John saw Jesus, he fell down at Jesus’ feet. Jesus put His • Why did John fall at Jesus’ hand on John and said, “Do not be afraid! I am the First and the Last, feet? and the Living One. I was dead, but look—I am alive forever and ever.” • What did Jesus mean when Jesus said that the seven lampstands were the seven churches. He He said that He is the First told John to write about everything he had seen. and the Last, the Living One?

Christ Connection: Jesus showed Himself to John. Jesus said that He is the First and the Last, the Living One. While Jesus was on earth, He won the fight against sin and death by dying on the cross and coming back to life. Everyone who trusts in Jesus will live with Him forever.

FAMILY ACTIVITY: • Practice finding the Book of Revelation in the Bible. • Light a candle or shine a flashlight in a dark room. Talk about how the church is supposed to be like a light in the darkness.

PRAY TOGETHER: Jesus, thank You for appearing to John! You are the Living One because You rose from the dead! Help us to believe that You already won the fight against sin and death. Give us hearts that trust in You alone. We love You. Amen.

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SUNDAY 14 JUNE

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God's Warning to Seven Churches Revelation 2–3

John was on a small island when he saw a vision of Jesus. Jesus told BIBLE STORY: John to write down a message for the churches in these seven cities: • Jesus sent messages to the Ephesus (EF uh suhs), Smyrna (SMUHR nuh), Pergamum (PUHR guh seven churches. muhm), Thyatira (THIGH uh TIGH ruh), Sardis (SAHR diss), Philadelphia • Jesus had a different message (FIL uh DEL fih uh), and Laodicea (lay AHD ih SEE uh). for each church. John obeyed Jesus. This is what he wrote: “To the church in • Jesus warned the churches to Ephesus: You keep working hard and are sad when people do evil turn away from their sin and things. You used to love God more, though. You need to love Him like follow Him. that again.

“To the church in Smyrna: You are poor and hurting, but really you FAMILY DISCUSSION STARTERS: are rich! I know that people say mean things to you. You might be put • What were some of Jesus’ in jail or be killed, but do not be afraid. “To the church in Pergamum: Your neighbors do evil things, but you messages for the churches? are faithful. You tell others about Me even when it is hard. But not What were they doing well? everyone in the church is doing what is right. Turn away from your sin What were they doing and turn to Me! wrong? What did they need “To the church in Thyatira: I know you are loving and faithful. You to do? serve others. But some of you believe the lies you hear, and I will • How can these messages to punish you. Keep believing the truth. the churches help us today? “To the church in Sardis: You used to love Me and be faithful to Me. • How does Jesus work through You stopped serving Me and loving Me. Be ready for Me to come again. the church to help believers Stop sinning and remember the good news about Jesus. work together to do God’s “To the church in Philadelphia: You are a small church, but you plan? listen to Me and obey My word. I am coming soon. Be ready and keep believing. FAMILY ACTIVITY: “To the church in Laodicea: You are not hot or cold, so you are not • Look up the names of a few good for anything. I will spit you out of My mouth! You think you are churches in your rich, but you are actually poor, blind, and naked. Come to Me, and I neighborhood. Chat about will make you rich. I will make you see, and I will put clothes on you. the fact that many believers “I am here! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear My voice and are part of different churches open the door, I will come in and eat with you, and you will eat with but that we all serve the same Me.” Jesus will reward every faithful and obedient believer. John God. Pray for a few of the wrote, “Anyone who has ears should listen to the Spirit’s message to the churches.” churches close to you.

Christ Connection: Jesus loves the church. He warned seven churches PRAY TOGETHER: and told them to turn away from their sin and follow Him. Jesus works God, thank You for sending through the church to help believers work together to do God’s plan. messages to the seven churches. You love Your church, and You want to help the church follow You! Give us hearts that want to listen to You and obey You. Help us to follow You. Amen.

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MONDAY 15 JUNE

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Jesus on the Throne Revelation 4:2–5:14

John was on a small island when he had a vision of Jesus. Jesus BIBLE STORY: showed John what will happen in the future. John wrote about what • John saw a vision of heaven. he saw in the Book of Revelation. • John cried because no one John saw a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. He saw was worthy to open the other thrones around it, and elders wearing crowns were sitting on scroll. them. He saw beautiful colors and four different creatures around the • Jesus is good enough to open throne. The creatures were different, but they each had six wings. the scroll. The first creature was like a lion; the second creature was like a calf; • Everyone and everything will the third creature had a face like a man; and the fourth creature was worship Jesus. like an eagle. All day and night they said:

FAMILY DISCUSSION STARTERS: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God, the Almighty, • Why is Jesus good enough to Who was, who is, and who is coming.” open the scroll? • Why does Jesus deserve to be John said that when the creatures worshiped the One on the worshiped? throne, the elders fell down and worshiped too. They said to God: • What are some ways we can worship Jesus? “You deserve to have glory and honor and power, Because You have created all things.”

Then John saw a scroll in the Lord’s right hand. A mighty angel shouted, “Who is good enough to open the scroll?” FAMILY ACTIVITY: No one in heaven was good enough. No one on earth was good • Enjoy a time of worship enough. John began to cry loudly because no one was good enough. Finally, one of the elders said, “Look! The Lion of Judah can open the together as a family. Sing scroll. He is good enough!” your favorite songs to praise Then John saw Jesus near the throne. Jesus took the scroll, and Jesus. everyone fell down in front of Him. The elders threw their crowns at His feet. They worshiped Him and sang a new song. PRAY TOGETHER: Thousands of angels around the throne worshiped Jesus. John God, thank You for showing us heard every creature everywhere worshiping Jesus together. what will happen in the future. Jesus, You are worthy of our Christ Connection: John cried when he saw that no one was good worship! Help us to love You enough to open the scroll. Then John saw Jesus, the Lamb of God. Jesus more than anything else in the died on the cross so that we can have forgiveness and life forever with world. Give us hearts that want God. Jesus is good enough. He deserves all of our worship. to follow You. We love You. Amen.

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TUESDAY 16 JUNE

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Jesus Will Return Revelation 21–22

John had a vision of heaven. He heard a large crowd of people BIBLE STORY: praising God. John saw the things that will happen when Jesus comes • John saw a new heaven and a back to earth, and he wrote about what he saw. new earth. John saw a new heaven and a new earth. The first heaven and the • Jesus will come back and first earth had disappeared. He also saw the Holy City, a new make all things new. Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. • There will be no more death, John heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Look! God will no more sadness, no more live with His people. They will be His people, and He will be their God. crying, and no more pain. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more • God will live with His people. death, no more sadness, no more crying, and no more pain. These things are gone forever.” FAMILY DISCUSSION STARTERS: John saw an angel come and carry him to a high mountain. The angel showed him the holy city of Jerusalem. The city was shining with God’s • How does knowing these glory. The foundations of the city wall had every type of jewel, and the things about our future make city street was made of pure gold, as clear as glass. you feel? The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it. The glory • How will the new heaven and of God gives light to the city, and there is no darkness. The city is safe new earth be better than and clean; nothing unclean is in the city and no one will do wrong where we live now? things in the city. • What are you most looking Then the angel showed John the river of living water. It sparkled and forward to when Jesus flowed from God’s throne. God’s servants will see His face, and they will returns? worship Him. The Lord will reign forever and ever. Jesus said, “Listen, I am coming soon! I am the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” FAMILY ACTIVITY: Jesus is the One who says that all of these things will happen. He is • At night, sit in a dark room coming soon. “Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!” together and look out the window at a dark sky. Talk Christ Connection: Jesus said that He is coming back soon. When about how there will be no Jesus comes back, everyone who trusts in Him will be with Him forever. darkness on the new earth. If God will undo every bad thing—no more death, pain, or tears! Jesus is possible, watch the sunrise making all things new. together the next morning to reinforce it.

PRAY TOGETHER: Jesus, thank You for always keeping Your promises. You promise You will come back and make all things new. Give us hearts that believe this and trust You! You are trustworthy. Come, Lord Jesus. Come soon! We love You. Amen.

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