October Activities--Preschool

PRESCHOOL PRESCHOOL WEEK PRESCHOOL WEEK PRESCHOOL OCTOBER 2020 PRESCHOOL OCTOBER 2020 PRESCHOOL ONE PRESCHOOL ONE PRESCHOOL PRESCHOOL PRESCHOOL

WATCH IT WATCH IT Follow the link from the QR code to watch this week’s Bible Follow the link from the QR code to watch this week’s Bible Story. (Just hold your phone camera or ipad camera over the Story. (Just hold your phone camera or ipad camera over the QR code, and it will take you to the link). QR code, and it will take you to the link).

TALK ABOUT IT - WEEKLY ACTIVITY TALK ABOUT IT - WEEKLY ACTIVITY Next, here is a weekly activity to do with your gK! small Group Next, here is a weekly activity to do with your gK! small Group Leader over Zoom. (Just hold your phone camera or ipad Leader over Zoom. (Just hold your phone camera or ipad camera over the QR code and it will direct you to your gK! camera over the QR code and it will direct you to your gK! Zoom call. The call starts at 10:30a) Zoom call. The call starts at 10:30a)

GOD HAS A PLAN FOR ME GOD HAS A PLAN FOR ME

What You Need: What You Need: Heart toy (included in bag) Heart toy (included in bag)

What You Do: What You Do: Join the gK! Zoom call at 10:30a Join the gK! Zoom call at 10:30a Your Small Group Leader will have a fun action Your Small Group Leader will have a fun action game for you to play game for you to play Afterwards, each child will hold up their heart toy Afterwards, each child will hold up their heart toy and say “God loves me,” and “God has a plan for and say “God loves me,” and “God has a plan for me.” me.”

Talk about it: Talk about it: Who loves you? Who loves you? How do you know God loves you? How do you know God loves you? How can we share God’s love with others? How can we share God’s love with others? What do you want to be when you grow up? What do you want to be when you grow up? PRESCHOOL PRESCHOOL WEEK PRESCHOOL WEEK PRESCHOOL OCTOBER 2020 PRESCHOOL OCTOBER 2020 PRESCHOOL TWO PRESCHOOL TWO PRESCHOOL PRESCHOOL PRESCHOOL

ABRAHAM LOVED GOD ABRAHAM LOVED GOD

WHAT YOU NEED: WHAT YOU NEED: Bring something that you love to the zoom call today. It can Bring something that you love to the zoom call today. It can be a stuffed animal, a sibling or a parent, your pet, your be a stuffed animal, a sibling or a parent, your pet, your favorite toy, your favorite food, your favorite movie, etc. favorite toy, your favorite food, your favorite movie, etc.

WHAT YOU DO: WHAT YOU DO: ·Join the gK! Zoom call at 10:30a ·Join the gK! Zoom call at 10:30a You and each of your friends will get a chance to show You and each of your friends will get a chance to show everyone what you love. It will be like show and tell! everyone what you love. It will be like show and tell!

TALK ABOUT IT: TALK ABOUT IT: What do you love? Do you love people in your family? What do you love? Do you love people in your family? What about a toy? Do you have a favorite toy that you What about a toy? Do you have a favorite toy that you love to play with? Or a favorite food that you love to eat? love to play with? Or a favorite food that you love to eat? Today we’ll learn about Abraham and how He loved God, Today we’ll learn about Abraham and how He loved God, don’t forget to watch the Bible Story video today! don’t forget to watch the Bible Story video today! PRESCHOOL PRESCHOOL WEEK PRESCHOOL WEEK PRESCHOOL OCTOBER 2020 PRESCHOOL OCTOBER 2020 PRESCHOOL THREE PRESCHOOL THREE PRESCHOOL PRESCHOOL PRESCHOOL

JACOB'S NEW NAME JACOB'S NEW NAME

WHAT YOU NEED: WHAT YOU NEED: Magic Color Scratch Picture Frame craft and wooden stick Magic Color Scratch Picture Frame craft and wooden stick (included in bag) and then bring a picture of your family or (included in bag) and then bring a picture of your family or draw a picture of your family. draw a picture of your family.

WHAT YOU DO: WHAT YOU DO: Join the gK! Zoom call at 10:30a Join the gK! Zoom call at 10:30a You and each of your friends will get a chance to show You and each of your friends will get a chance to show everyone a picture of your family. everyone a picture of your family. After the zoom call, use the wooden stick to make designs After the zoom call, use the wooden stick to make designs on your magic color scratch picture frame. Put the picture on your magic color scratch picture frame. Put the picture of your family in the frame and put on your refrigerator. of your family in the frame and put on your refrigerator.

TALK ABOUT IT: TALK ABOUT IT: Who is in your family? Who is in your family? Everyone’s family is so different! We are all different colors, Everyone’s family is so different! We are all different colors, different hair, different eyes, different siblings, different different hair, different eyes, different siblings, different pets! pets! Do you remember what family we are talking about this Do you remember what family we are talking about this month? That’s right! We are talking about Abraham’s family. month? That’s right! We are talking about Abraham’s family. Watch your Bible story this week to learn about the special Watch your Bible story this week to learn about the special plan God had for Abraham’s family. plan God had for Abraham’s family. PRESCHOOL PRESCHOOL WEEK PRESCHOOL WEEK PRESCHOOL OCTOBER 2020 PRESCHOOL OCTOBER 2020 PRESCHOOL FOUR PRESCHOOL FOUR PRESCHOOL PRESCHOOL PRESCHOOL

JOSEPH'S STORY JOSEPH'S STORY

WHAT YOU NEED: WHAT YOU NEED: Paper bag, googly eye stickers, Paper bag, googly eye stickers, and crayons (included in bag) and crayons (included in bag)

WHAT YOU DO: WHAT YOU DO: Join the gK! Zoom call at 10:30a Join the gK! Zoom call at 10:30a Make a Joseph paper bag puppet with the supplies provided before Make a Joseph paper bag puppet with the supplies provided before the zoom call. the zoom call. Use the googly eyes to make his face Use the googly eyes to make his face Use the crayons to draw a colorful coato See picture for examples Use the crayons to draw a colorful coato See picture for examples Show all your friends on the zoom call your puppet Show all your friends on the zoom call your puppet Joseph had some crazy dreams that he did not understand. Joseph had some crazy dreams that he did not understand. Today you will play a guessing game with your small group leader. Today you will play a guessing game with your small group leader.

TALK ABOUT IT: TALK ABOUT IT: When you watch your bible story today it will be all about Joseph. When you watch your bible story today it will be all about Joseph. Joseph had a lot of bad things that happened to him. He also had a Joseph had a lot of bad things that happened to him. He also had a lot of good thing happen to him. lot of good thing happen to him. What are some things that have ever made you sad? What are some things that have ever made you sad? What is something that has made you happy? What is something that has made you happy? Never matter what happens in your life, God is always with us and Never matter what happens in your life, God is always with us and He has a perfect plan for us! He has a perfect plan for us!

WEEK WEEK OCTOBER 2020 ONE OCTOBER 2020 ONE ELEMENTARY ELEMENTARY

WATCH IT WATCH IT

Follow the link from the QR code to watch this week’s Bible Follow the link from the QR code to watch this week’s Bible Story. (Just hold your phone camera or ipad camera over the Story. (Just hold your phone camera or ipad camera over the QR code, and it will take you to the link). QR code, and it will take you to the link).

TALK ABOUT IT- WEEKLY ACTIVITY TALK ABOUT IT- WEEKLY ACTIVITY

Next, here is a weekly activity to do with your gK! small Group Next, here is a weekly activity to do with your gK! small Group Leader over Zoom. (Just hold your phone camera or ipad Leader over Zoom. (Just hold your phone camera or ipad camera over the QR code and it will direct you to your gK! camera over the QR code and it will direct you to your gK! Zoom call. The call starts at 10:30a) Zoom call. The call starts at 10:30a)

GOD KEEPS HIS PROMISES GOD KEEPS HIS PROMISES

What You Need: What You Need: Brain Teaser Toy (included in bag) Brain Teaser Toy (included in bag)

What You Do: What You Do: Join the gK! Zoom call at 10:30a Join the gK! Zoom call at 10:30a Bring your brain teaser toy on the zoom call with you Bring your brain teaser toy on the zoom call with you Race against your small group to see who can undo their brain Race against your small group to see who can undo their brain teaser toy the fastest teaser toy the fastest

Talk about it: Talk about it: Was that difficult or easy? Was that difficult or easy? Have you ever had a time when you were sad or hurt and you Have you ever had a time when you were sad or hurt and you didn’t understand what God was doing in that situation? didn’t understand what God was doing in that situation? Today, when you watch our Bible Story, you will learn about Today, when you watch our Bible Story, you will learn about Abraham. He was sad because he didn’t have any children. But Abraham. He was sad because he didn’t have any children. But God made a covenant with Abraham. God made a covenant with Abraham. A covenant is a promise between two people or between a person A covenant is a promise between two people or between a person and God. and God. When God makes a covenant, He is always faithful to keep it. He When God makes a covenant, He is always faithful to keep it. He cannot separate or unlock himself from a covenant. cannot separate or unlock himself from a covenant. WEEK WEEK OCTOBER 2020 TWO OCTOBER 2020 TWO ELEMENTARY ELEMENTARY

WATCH IT WATCH IT

TALK ABOUT IT- WEEKLY ACTIVITY TALK ABOUT IT- WEEKLY ACTIVITY

TURST GOD TRUST GOD

What You Need: What You Need: Bring something that you love to the zoom call today. It can be a Bring something that you love to the zoom call today. It can be a stuffed animal, a sibling or a parent, your pet, your favorite toy, your stuffed animal, a sibling or a parent, your pet, your favorite toy, your favorite food, your favorite movie, etc. favorite food, your favorite movie, etc.

What You Do: What You Do: Join the gK! Zoom call at 10:30a Join the gK! Zoom call at 10:30a You and each of your friends will get a chance to show everyone You and each of your friends will get a chance to show everyone what you love. It will be like show and tell! what you love. It will be like show and tell!

Talk about it: Talk about it: If you were going on a trip and could only take what would fit in If you were going on a trip and could only take what would fit in your backpack, what would you take? your backpack, what would you take? If you were stuck on a desert island and could only have one thing If you were stuck on a desert island and could only have one thing with you, what would you take? with you, what would you take? How would you feel if I told you that you needed to give me your How would you feel if I told you that you needed to give me your most prized possession and you could no longer have it? most prized possession and you could no longer have it? In today’s story we are going to hear about a man who was told In today’s story we are going to hear about a man who was told by God to give up his most prized possession and trust God by God to give up his most prized possession and trust God WEEK WEEK OCTOBER 2020 THREE OCTOBER 2020 THREE ELEMENTARY ELEMENTARY

WATCH IT WATCH IT

TALK ABOUT IT- WEEKLY ACTIVITY TALK ABOUT IT- WEEKLY ACTIVITY

WHAT'S YOUR NAME WHAT'S YOUR NAME

What You Need: What You Need: Blank Slap Bracelet, name tag label, washable color marker (provided Blank Slap Bracelet, name tag label, washable color marker (provided in bag) in bag)

What You Do: What You Do: Join the gK! Zoom call at 10:30a Join the gK! Zoom call at 10:30a Before the zoom call, write your name on the slap bracelet and Before the zoom call, write your name on the slap bracelet and decorate it. decorate it. Talk to your group about what your name means. Talk to your group about what your name means. After talking with your group, put your name tag label on your After talking with your group, put your name tag label on your bracelet bracelet

Talk about it: Talk about it: Were you named after anyone? Do you know what your name Were you named after anyone? Do you know what your name means? means? How would you feel if someone changed your name? How would you feel if someone changed your name? What would you want to change your name to? What would you want to change your name to? In the Old Testament, names were very important. They held an In the Old Testament, names were very important. They held an important meaning or explained something about you. important meaning or explained something about you. Today we are going to learn about how God changed someone’s Today we are going to learn about how God changed someone’s name. name. WEEK WEEK OCTOBER 2020 FOUR OCTOBER 2020 FOUR ELEMENTARY ELEMENTARY

WATCH IT WATCH IT

TALK ABOUT IT- WEEKLY ACTIVITY TALK ABOUT IT- WEEKLY ACTIVITY

GOD HAS BIG PLANS FOR YOU GOD HAS BIG PLANS FOR YOU

What You Need: What You Need: Zoomed in Pictures Zoomed in Pictures

What You Do: What You Do: Join the gK! Zoom call at 10:30a Join the gK! Zoom call at 10:30a Look at the zoomed in pictures Look at the zoomed in pictures As a group, try to guess what each image is As a group, try to guess what each image is Your small group leader will reveal the right answer Your small group leader will reveal the right answer

Talk about it: Talk about it: What do you want to be when you grow up? Why do you want to What do you want to be when you grow up? Why do you want to be this? be this? What steps will you need to take to become ______? What steps will you need to take to become ______? Do you think it will be important for you to have some kind of plan Do you think it will be important for you to have some kind of plan to achieve your goals? to achieve your goals? Do you ever think that God has a BIG plan for you? Do you ever think that God has a BIG plan for you? In our Bible Story today, we’ll learn about someone who couldn’t In our Bible Story today, we’ll learn about someone who couldn’t see the whole picture but still trusted God even when things didn’t see the whole picture but still trusted God even when things didn’t make sense. make sense. AFTER GOD'S HEART

THE 10 COMMANDMENTS DISCOVERGRACE.COM/FAMILY KNOW GOD'S RESCUE Exodus 20:2, I am the Lord your God, who READ brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. (CSB)

You can obey to earn love or obey because you are ASK loved. How are these two very different from each other?

Write a thank you note to God for his love for you through Jesus Christ. Remember that when DO you obey it's more like a thank you note to God and less like a chore to earn something from him. Your obedience is not to earn his love. Instead, your obedience is because you already have received his love. SEPTEMBER 13 PLACE GOD FIRST Colossians 3:1-2, So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, READ where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. (CSB)

ASK What does it look like to place God first in your life?

The big swap-a-roo! Swap out one of your favorites this week (gaming, reading, YouTube, DO social media ) with a time of prayer or reading your Bible. Take a simple step and see how you can start a new habit. SEPTEMBER 20 HONOR GOD Psalm 145:5, I will speak of your splendor READ and glorious majesty and your wondrous works. (CSB)

What is something that amazes you about God or ASK what he has done?

We yell at sports games and we add 20 emojis to a text to show our enthusiasm. Consider your DO enthusiasm for God. Take a simple step this week by telling a friend, sibling, or parent something that amazes you about God or what he has done in your life. SEPTEMBER 27 HONOR PARENTS Proverbs 1:8, Listen, my son, to your READ father’s instruction, and don’t reject your mother’s teaching. (CSB)

ASK In what area of your life do you struggle to obey your mom and dad?

Have you ever gotten a note from your parent in your lunch box? Now it's your turn. They may DO not have a lunch box to put it in, but write a note to your mom or dad and thank them for who they are to you. Remember how important they are to you the next time you have a hard time obeying. OCTOBER 4 HONOR LIFE John 10:10-11, A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so READ that they may have life and have it in abundance. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. (CSB)

Knowing that Jesus gave his life so that others could ASK experience life change, how does that change the way you view, treat, and act towards others?

You probably haven't seen a shepherd lately, but shepherds are protectors. They defend the DO helpless. Talk to a parent and consider ways that you and your family or friends can be defenders (i.e. donate to a pregnancy center, learn about racism, visit a nursing home when it’s safe for everyone). OCTOBER 11 HONOR MARRIAGE Ephesians 5:25, Husbands, love your READ wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her. (CSB)

How is the love of Ephesians 5 different than what ASK we see in culture?

You probably aren't thinking about marriage anytime soon and that's good. However, have you DO heard the phrase, "you won't become tomorrow what you aren't becoming today?" What's one simple step you can take today to develop the selfless love described in Ephesians 5? OCTOBER 18 HONOR ALL RELATIONSHIPS Romans 12:10, Love one another deeply as READ brothers and sisters. Take the lead in honoring one another. (CSB)

ASK How can you know if your life is defined by love?

Competitive sports make sense. But have you ever thought about outdoing others in how you DO show them love? What's a simple step you can take this week to practically show love? Let Jesus' love for you be your motivation! OCTOBER 25 FAMILY DEVOTIONS OCTOBER 2020 MEMORMEMORYY VERSES

EARLY CHILDHOOD “TRUST THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART” PROVERBS 3:5

ELEMENTARY “HE WHO CALLS YOU IS FAITHFUL HE WILL SURELY DO IT” 1 Thessalonians 5:24 Dear Parents

At Grace it is our mission to partner with you to help your child or student take their next step towards Christ.

We pray that this Family Devotional will do just that.

Each week, we provide 4 devotions for your family to do together. Pre-school prompts are available to shorten your devotion to make it more age-speciﬁc, if needed.

These devotions line up with what your child is learning each week in graceKIDS!

This year we will go through the entire bible in chronolog- ical order and see how we worship a God of promises. A God who promises to love us no matter what, a God who has a plan and a purpose for us, a God who promises to ﬁght for us, a God who promises to give us strength, and a God who promises to rescue us! And we will see time and time again that God always keeps his promises. He is a Promise Keeper! And He loves us with a never stopping, never giving up, unbreaking, always and forever, love. the gracekids! team BIBLE READING

BIBLES: • NIV Adventure Bible • The Jesus Story Book Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones • The Gospel Story Bible by Marty Machowski

SEPTEMBER: The Story and the Song (JSSB pg 12-17) The Magniﬁcent Paradise God Creates the World - Genesis 1:1-25 God creates Man and Woman - Genesis 1:26-2:25 The Broken World Adam and Eve Disobey God – Genesis 3:1-24 Cain and Abel – Genesis 4:1-16 God chooses Noah – Genesis 6-7 The Rainbow of God’s Promise – Genesis 8-9 The Tower of Babel – Genesis 11:1-9

OCTOBER: The Lost Tribes Abram and God’s Promise – Genesis 12-13 God makes a covenant with Abram – Genesis 15 The Lord appears to Abraham -Genesis 17:1-10, 18:1-21 Abraham is tested - Genesis 21-22 God provides a wife for Isaac - Genesis 24 Jacob and Esau - Genesis 25:19-34 Jacob’s lie - Genesis 27 Jacob’s wrestling match - Genesis 32:1-32 Joseph’s dreams – Genesis 37:1-11 Joseph is attacked by his brothers – Genesis 37:12-36 Joseph reveals himself to his brothers Genesis 42-46

PLAN--FALL 2020

NOVEMBER: God protects Baby Moses – Exodus 1:1-2:10 God calls Moses – Exodus 2:11-4:31 God sends plagues against Egypt – Exodus 7- 11:1 The last plague and First Passover – Exodus 11-13 God parts the red sea – Exodus 14 God provided food & water - Exodus 16:1-17:7 God gives Moses the 10 commandments – Exodus 20:1-24 Israel spies out the land – Numbers 13-14 Battle of Jericho - Joshua 3-6 Israel demands a king - 1 Samuel 8-10 God chooses a new king - 1 Samuel 16:1-13 David and Goliath -1 Samuel 17 David the Psalmist - 1 Chronicles 16:1-36; 1 Samuel 16:14-23; Psalm 23 (JSSB or Gospel Bible)

DECEMBER: The fall of Israel - 2 Kings 17 Get ready! - Nehemiah 8-10; Malachi 1, 3, and 4; Ezra 7 (JSBB) The Promised One Operation No More Tears - Isaiah 9, 11, 40, 50, 53, 55, 60 The Birth of Jesus Foretold - Luke 1 The Birth of Jesus - Luke 2 1-21 Jesus presented at the Temple - Luke 2:22-52 PRAYER OCT DIALOGUE WITH GOD

In gK! we use the “Prayer Hand” as a helpful approach for teaching kids to pray. It’s a format that allows children to recall and pray in their own words the ﬁve distinctive elements of prayer. OCTOBER 3RD & 4TH

BOTTOM LINE: Our God is a big God with a perfect plan. DAY 1:

Pre-school Prompt: Tell your child that you promise to Read show them how to make a new color. Follow the instructions Genesis in the activity below. Cheer when you see the new color. Point 15:18a; out that you kept your promise and remind your child that God always keeps His promises! 26:4 FAMILY DEVOTIONAL

Have you ever mixed colors with paint, crayons, or markers to make a new color? If not we’re going to do this right now! So think “Bob Ross,” and go get two different color crayons and a piece of paper. Here’s some mix suggestions:

Red + Blue = Purple YYellowellow + Blue = Green Red + YYellowellow = Orange (my personal favorite)

Do you have your two crayons? Go ahead and mix the two colors on a piece of paper (Hint: Color with the darker color ﬁrst and then color over it with the light- er color)

Beautiful! You made a new color!

Now that you’ve mixed the colors, there’s no way to separate them again. It can’t be undone. The same is true with God’s Promises. When God makes a promise. He will always keep it! God cannot lie, He will always keep his covenant (Numbers 23:19; Psalms 12:6).

DO IT As a Family, think of some promises that are in the TOGETHER Bible or google some of God’s promises. Do any of those promises give you hope? What promises does your family need to remember?

Pray – Thank God for always keeping His Promises. DAY 2:

Pre-school Prompt: Show your child a picture of your Read family. Point out each family member. Then say, “When we Galatians believe in Jesus, we are a part of God’s family too!” 3:27-29

FAMILY DEVOTIONAL

God made a Covenant (promise) with Abraham.

Q: What did God promise Abram as part of the covenant? A: That his family would become a great nation

Q: Do you know who came from Abraham’s family to save us from sin? A: Jesus!

You don’t have to be left out of God’s promise to Abraham. Jesus, who was born many years later, came so we could be a part of Abraham’s family. This is all part of God’s Great Rescue Plan!

Jesus came to rescue us from sin. It is impossible for us to save ourselves from sin, but with God all things are possible!

Galatians 3:27-29 says anyone who comes to God through faith in Jesus is also adopted into Abraham’s family.

When you know and love Jesus, you also become part of the very same covenant God made with Abraham. Our God is a big God with a perfect plan!

Pray – Thank God for sending Jesus to rescue us. DAY 3:

Pre-school Prompt: Sometimes we all get scared. We Read get afraid of the dark, we get afraid of animals, we get afraid Genesis when we can’t ﬁnd our mommy or daddy, or we get afraid of 12:1-4 something on TV. But when we are afraid, we can always pray and talk to God. He is always with us.

FAMILY DEVOTIONAL

Can you imagine how scary it would be to leave your house, your friends—even your country—to head out to a place you know nothing about? It’s one thing to move today—when we can look online to research what a place looks like, learn the language, and even buy a house before we move! But Abram had no such luxuries—all He had was the promise of God, that He would bless Abram. And for Abram, that promise was enough!

Is there something scary coming up in your life that you have to trust and obey God with? Maybe your family is going through a hard time. Maybe there’s a bully at school. Or It could be something new that you believe God wants you to do, like making a new friend or inviting someone to church. Or maybe it’s something you didn’t choose at all—like your family is moving or you have to change schools.

DO IT Draw a picture or talk as a family about something TOGETHER you feel God wants you to do or trust Him with.

Then, go outside, or just walk around your house, and pray as you walk. Pray for strength and courage to trust and obey God!

Thank God for Him going before you, wherever He leads you. DAY 4:

Pre-school Prompt: Grab a flashlight. Show your child Read how to turn the flashlight on and off. Say: This flashlight gives Psalm us light. When it is dark, it shows us what is around us and 119:105 where to go. The Bible is our light! It shows us how God wants us to live.

FAMILY DEVOTIONAL

DO IT Where is the darkest place in your house? A closet? TOGETHER A bathroom? Grab a flashlight and find your way to that room now. You there? Great! Now turn the lights off and the flashlight on for the rest of today’s devotion.

In July 2012, a massive power outage affected northern India leaving over 620 million people without electricity! We aren’t talking about a flicker that makes you reset your clocks. We’re talking 620 million people—one out of every ten people in the world—with no light, no public transportation, no microwaves, fridges, or stoves and the blackout lasted for three days in some areas

That’s a lot of people wandering around in the dark, unable to see where they’re going! Whether you’ve seen a power outage or not, you can probably understand the feeling of not knowing where you’re going.

God’s Word is a different kind of light entirely.

We’re all on a path. The choices we make, the people we surround ourselves with, and how we react to life’s obstacles all determine where that path leads. But if we listen to God’s Word, we can see where our path will take us—as if we were holding a flashlight. The Bible can tell us if our choices are going to take us down an easy path or a difficult one. And when we find ourselves in the dark on a path we never meant to go down, God’s Word can lead us back to a better one if we listen and trust what it says.

So now that you have a Bible—one you can read and understand—start listening to what God’s Word has to say.

Pray and thank God for His word. Ask Him to help you follow His word. OCTOBER 10TH & 11TH

BOTTOM LINE: God can do anything, we can trust His promises DAY 1:

Pre-school Prompt: What is the most impossible thing Read you can think? The sky turning purple, dogs ﬂying, me picking Ephesians up our car like a toy? All of those seem impossible right?! Did 3:20 you know that God can do the impossible?! He can do anything! You name it, He can do it! God even did the impossible by raising Jesus from the dead! We serve a big God and we can always trust Him!

FAMILY DEVOTIONAL

DO IT What are some of the craziest/most impossible TOGETHER things you can think of? List some as a family.

Well that was fun right! You’re really creative. Did you know we serve a God who does the impossible! And because we serve a God who does the impossible, and who we can trust no matter what, Abraham was going to sacriﬁce his son, Isaac. His only son. The son he waited decades for. The son that would give him a big family. The son that God promised him.

But God… Those two little words are the most important in the whole Bible—they show up 3,930 times. When everything looks like it’s over, when there’s no hope – But God! God does something. He turns it all around. Those words are like a ﬁre en- gine rounding the bend. Help is on the way!

Adam and Eve left the garden. ‘But God whispered a promise to them.’ A ﬂood was coming. ‘But God remembered Noah.’ Abraham was about to sacriﬁce Isaac. ‘But God provided a ram.’ We were helpless. ‘But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ.’

Hebrews tells us that Abraham believed that God would raise Isaac from the dead (Hebrews 11:19). Abraham’s faith and love for God were even greater than his love for Isaac. He had no doubt that God would keep his promises, even though he didn’t understand God’s whole plan. One thing he was sure of: he could trust God and trust God’s promises.

Whatever is happening in your life today – look up! Help is on the way. And when things are feeling impossible……

Remember ‘But God,’ because God can do anything, we can trust His promises. DAY 2:

Pre-school Prompt: Has it ever been hard to do what Read Mommy or Daddy say to do? Do you ever want to not listen? Isaiah Sometimes it’s like that with God. Sometimes we don’t want 40:13 to listen to God, but we can always know that God’s way is the best way!

FAMILY DEVOTIONAL

Have you ever tried to tell God what to do? When you think about it, that’s what we do every time we disobey Him or someone He’s put in charge of us. We’re basically telling God that we know what is best and He doesn’t. That’s pretty crazy when you think that this is GOD we’re talking about! But when we obey Him, we usually discover He really does know what He’s doing!

The idea of giving God advice is silly, but taking the advice of others who are older and who have followed God longer is a great thing!

DO IT Ask a parent or another adult: TOGETHER • Tell me a time when you obeyed God, even though you didn’t understand why or what God’s plan was.

• How did things turned out?

• Are you glad you obeyed God?

• How can I obey, even when I don’t know how it will all work out?

Know that God’s ways are always the best way. DAY 3:

Pre-school Prompt: How has God blessed you? He has Read given you a home, a family who loves you, food, and water, and Genesis toys! God even gave us His Son, Jesus. God has given us soooo 22:12-13 much! How can we thank God for all He has given us? We can pray to Him. We can tell other’s that God loves them. We can be kind to others. What are some other ideas?

FAMILY DEVOTIONAL

DO IT Talk about this as a family: TOGETHER What is the most important thing in your life?

God asked Abraham to make God number one in his life. He even put it to the test and asked Abraham to sacriﬁce the most important thing in his life – his son, Isaac.

But, God’s always keeps His promises. Instead of sacriﬁcing Isaac, God provided a ram for Abraham.

And God kept His promise to us. God loved us so much that He gave his son, Je- sus, to take the punishment for our sin. He did this so that we can have a perfect friendship with Him. This is God’s Great Rescue Plan.

He is inviting us to be a part of His Bigger Story! He is inviting us to trust Him with everything that we have!

God showed his generous love by sending Jesus. How can you give more of yourself to God?

Ask God how you can make Him number one in your life? How can you live for Him? DAY 4:

Pre-school Prompt: Ask your child when are times they Read feel afraid? Tell your child that when we are afraid, we can 1 Corinthians remember to trust God! March around the house saying some 15:57 of God’s promises: “God has a plan for me.” “I can trust God no matter what.” “God loves me.” “Jesus is my friend forever.” “God keeps His promises.” “God gives me strength.”

FAMILY DEVOTIONAL

Did you know God has armed all his children with a secret weapon?

It’s not Ninja Stars, stink bombs, or nun chucks.

The whole universe was made by it! It can turn darkness into light!

What is it? A sharp sword – the Word of God.

You can use it on your fears. Instead of listening to what your fears are saying, and believing them, you can pick up the sword of God’s Word and go on attack.

How do you do that?

You say these things that are true – the things God has told you:

‘God has a good plan for my life!’

‘God keeps his promises’

‘I will trust and not be afraid!’

‘Through Jesus I am more than a conqueror!’

OCTOBER 17TH & 18TH

BOTTOM LINE: God ﬁghts for His promises DAY 1:

Pre-school Prompt: Hug your child! Say: I love you and Read God loves you! God has big plans for your life! God can do Ephesians really big things in your life and God can use you to tell others 3:20-21 about Him!

FAMILY DEVOTIONAL

Jacob made a lot of mistakes. He stole his brother Esau’s birthright, he was a liar, and a manipulator. He was a sinner, just like us.

Jacob tried to do things his way instead of God’s way.

DO IT What’s your biggest, most incredible dream? You TOGETHER should know that God can do far more than that, far more than you could ever ask or imagine. Ask God to ﬁll your mind with His dreams for you.

Don’t be discouraged if your prayers are not answered right away. Time is a great teacher. It teaches you to be patient and to trust in God’s perfect plan – even when you don’t know what is going to happen next.

Sometimes Jacob trusted his plan instead of God’s plan. He came up with schemes to take care of himself. He tried to ﬁx things on his own without God’s help. He forgot about the promise that God gave to his grandfather, Abraham.

So God came down to earth and taught Jacob a thing or two. He wrestled with Jacob all night. And from that day on, Jacob was changed forever. He was hum- bled and remembered that God is in charge not him. And God promised to bless Jacob and God always keeps his promises.

When everything seems way too hard, that is when you can truly see God’s power in your life. Don’t let this world’s craziness drag you into worry. Instead, choose to see all that God is doing around you. Remember, there is no limit to what He can do.

Read on your own: Romans 8:6; Isaiah 40:30-31; Revelation 5:13 DAY 2:

Pre-school Prompt: Tell your child why you picked their Read name. Say: I love you so much, I picked a special name just for you! Did you know that God has a name for you too? He calls John 1:2 you, “Child of God.” That means that God loves you just like mommy and daddy love you! You are a part of God’s family!

FAMILY DEVOTIONAL

DO IT Google the name of each member in your family. TOGETHER What does your name mean?

In Bible times, your name described something about you. For example Jacob’s name meant “heel-grabber,” because he was grabbing his twin brother’s heel when he was born. Jacob had sinned against his brother by stealing his blessing, and Esau had vowed to kill him. Jacob had a reason to fear Esau. After his wrestling match with God, Jacob ﬁnally took responsibility for his sin and faced Esau.

Jacob’s encounter with God changed him. God blessed Jacob and changed his name. God changed Jacob’s name to Israel, which became the name of God’s covenant people.

Jesus came and defeated sin so we could have a changed life too. When we know and love Him, we also get a new name. We get to be called a child of God.

As a child of God, how can you make God as number one in your life?

Thank God for sending Jesus to take away our sin and change us.

Ask God how you can make Him number one. DAY 3:

Pre-school Prompt: When you do bad things, do you think that God still loves you? Of course He does! There is Read nothing you could ever do to make God stop loving you! He Ephesians loves us so much, that He sent Jesus to this earth to take away our sin! When we do bad things, that’s called sin. And when we 1:13 sin, we have to tell God we are sorry.

FAMILY DEVOTIONAL God had a plan for Jacob, and God made a promise to Jacob that his family would be a great nation.

Jacob was not perfect, he didn’t always trust God. Many times he ran away and he sinned. Why would God use someone like this?

Because we are all sinners. Everyone sins. You sin, your mom and dad sin, even your pastor sins. That’s why God came up with a Great Rescue Plan! He knew we would sin and He knew we would need to be rescued.

And, even though we are sinners, God is still calling us to be a part of his Story! Just like He called Jacob. And even if you sin again and again – God is still faithful! His promise is still true and He is still calling us to be a part of his Story.

DO IT What do you think God wants to do in your life? How TOGETHER can you tell other’s about God’s Great Rescue Plan?

Ask God how He wants you to be a part of His Story. DAY 4:

Pre-school Prompt: Do you have any questions for God? Did you know that you can ask God anything? Let’s pray Read and ask God some questions right now. Psalm 118:8

FAMILY DEVOTIONAL

There are some things you just shouldn’t say out loud. “I really need to burp.” “Have you stopped wetting the bed yet?” “I don’t like the way your food tastes.” Then there are things you can only say to people you know and trust. “Is there anything in my teeth?” “I am really scared of the dark.” “I feel like I don’t have any friends.” “Is God really good all the time?”

Everyone has doubts and questions about God’s Story. It’s a natural part of ﬁguring out who God is. And if you want to really know God, the best thing to do is talk about your doubts and questions with God, and with people you know and trust.

If it feels like everyone in your life expects you to have it all ﬁgured out, listen to this verse: “Be merciful to those who doubt” (Jude 1:22)

A man named Jude wrote this letter to Christians all over the world in the years right after Jesus lived. He was telling the Christians that people would have questions and doubts about the story of God. And when those people asked their questions or had doubts, they were to show them mercy.

MERCY = COMPASSION, KINDNESS, SYMPATHY, UNDERSTANDING This is how everyone who knows God should treat doubts and questions. As Christians, it’s important to ﬁnd safe people to talk with about what you think you can’t say out loud.

If you keep your doubts and questions to yourself, you will always have something in the back of your mind keeping you from really getting to know God. But when you talk about your doubts and questions with God and with other people who know and love God, you start to see a little more of who God is. Jacob had questions. He even wrestled with God. And God showed up! This changed Jacob’s life forever!

DO IT What are some doubts and questions about God TOGETHER you have or have heard from others?

This week ﬁnd someone who has a great relation- ship with God, and talk thorugh these doubts and questions. OCT OCTOBER 24TH & 25TH

BOTTOM LINE: Whatever happens, remember God has a bigger story. DAY 1:

Pre-school Prompt: Let’s think about this week. What are some good things that happened? What are some bad Read things that happened? We can trust God all the time in the Genesis good times and the bad times. 45:4-5

FAMILY DEVOTIONAL

Remember that dream Joseph had about his brothers bowing down to him? Now his brothers ARE bowing before him. They needed food and Joseph is the only one who can help. But Joseph couldn’t see this mo- ment when he was sold off to those traders, or when he was put in jail for a crime he didn’t commit or when he was left there for two years before the cupbearer remembered him.

His life was full of ups and downs. And some of the down parts lasted a long time, giving Joseph a lot of time to think about all the wrong things others had done to him. But that’s not what Joseph focused on. Joseph didn’t blame his brothers. Instead, he thanked God because he realized that what others had meant for evil, God had used for good.

He didn’t know how things would turn out, but he trusted God anyway.

Will you choose to trust God like Joseph did, no matter what?

Whatever happens, remember God has a bigger story.

DO IT So if Joseph drew a timeline of his life, it’s like he TOGETHER saw God’s hand protecting him through it all. You can do that too! Using the timeline on the other page, write down some of the key events in your life. Have you moved? Did your mom have a baby brother or sister? Have you broken a bone? What about your ﬁrst day of school? Leave some space at the end to add to your timeline later on.

If they were good things, put them above the line. If they were bad or down times, put them below the line. Put a star next to the times that you needed to trust God. Then write God’s name above the event to remind you that God was with you then and God is with you now. When we look at our timeline, you can only see the past. But God can see it all. He knows the past and the future! He knows what will happen in your whole life! Whatever happens, remember God has a bigger story.

God wants to use you, just like He used Joseph. God may not make you King of Egypt, but God has big plans for your life!

Look back at your timeline and thank God for being with you in the good times and in the bad times. And know that God will always be with you. DAY 2:

Pre-school Prompt: Show your child a Bible. Say: This is a Bible, it’s God’s word. This is not a book of made up stories. Read Everything in this book is true! Psalm 22:4-5

FAMILY DEVOTIONAL

When you read the Bible, do you sometimes forget that these are real stories about real people? Maybe it feels like you’re reading about a char- acter in a book that an author made up. But the Bible isn’t a made up story. It’s history. It’s about real people who lived on the earth and faced some of the same tough stuff that you face everyday.

Did you see the first part of this verse? Read it again. What did people of long ago do? They put their trust in God! And what did God do? He saved them. He didn’t let them down. Real people with real problems have been trusting in a REAL God since the beginning of time. He is always there. He never changes and He can be counted on. Always. You can trust God no matter what. Pretty awesome, isn’t it? You can trust God no matter what.

DO IT You can trust God no matter what. TOGETHER As you go about your day, try to sneak this phrase into a conversation with a friend. Look for an opportunity to tell someone else that you want to trust God no matter what.

Know that you can put your trust in God, no matter what. DAY 3:

Pre-school Prompt: I love God sssoooo much! Do you love God? The Bible tell us that God should be the most Read important thing in our life! Let’s play a game today. Before we Deuteronomy do anything (like eating, opening the door, playing with toys, going outside, etc.) let’s say “I love God. 6:5

FAMILY DEVOTIONAL

DO IT What do you think it means to love God with all TOGETHER your heart, soul, and strength? It means that God is the most important thing in your life! That you love Him more than anyone or anything!

Do you love God with all your heart, soul, and strength?

No matter what was going on in Joseph’s life, he knew that he could trust God no matter what. He still loved God and made God number one in his life.

God used Joseph to do amazing things and He wants to use you to do amazing things!

As you put God ﬁrst in your life, your heart will change. The more you know God, the more you’ll love Him. How can you put God ﬁrst in your life?

Ask God to help you trust Him no matter what and to make God number one in your life. DAY 4:

Pre-school Prompt: Play a game of follow the leader with your child. Tell them to follow you around the house. Read Say: Sometimes we don’t know what God is doing or where Proverbs He is taking us. But when can always trust God because God’s way is the best way! 3:5-6

FAMILY DEVOTIONAL

DO IT As you do your family devotion together today, get TOGETHER a snack.

At the end of our story this week, Joseph’s brothers were hungry and asked Joseph for food. But God’s plan was so much bigger!

Instead of just food, God gave them a family member, Joseph’s forgive- ness, and a new safe place to live with food for their whole families!

As you eat your snack, know that we don’t always understand what God is doing, but we can always trust Him!

God has a purpose and direction already set out for you before you were born! Trust God and turn to Him when you don’t know what to do, He promises He will make the right path clear to you.

Sometimes life feels like a maze and you don’t know which way to go. But keep on – keep on listening to God and doing what he says – and He’ll help you ﬁnd your way.

Listen to God’s direction and ask Him for guidance. PRAYERS

Each week take time to pray as a family. Write each person’s prayer requests here and watch how God uses them each week! discovergrace.com/family