Your Grace Kids resources for the week of July 20

Read 1 SAMUEL 4

Reflect: The Ark of God reminded the Israelites that God was with them. Years later, God gave His people something greater than a sign that He was with them; God gave them His Son, Jesus—God in the flesh. One of Jesus’ names is Immanuel, which means “God with us.”

What’s in the Bible Video & Devotional — Who is Emmanuel?

Have fun with some Christmas in July as you watch and learn together!     

Practice Psalm 19:1-4a, 7-9

LESSON 8: THE FAITHFUL

Focus on the “Study It” section and “Discuss It” sections in the Lesson and reading the “Hall of Faith” in Hebrews 11. 

Talk about the lives of those listed. Many were men and women with great flaws, yet God used them in mighty ways. 

What character quality did they have in common? What does it mean to live by faith? 

 Is there anything that God is asking our family to do by faith right now?

Review 1 Samuel 5-6. 

Watch the Gospel Project Bible story: The Ark was Captured 

Why was the Ark of God important? The Ark reminded the Israelites of God’s promise to be with His people.

What was wrong with the Israelites’ battle strategy? Emphasize that the ark was a reminder of God’s presence, but God did not live in it—you can’t put God into a box! We can ask God for things we want or need, but we cannot make God do what we want.

Do you always consult God when you want something to happen a certain way? Why or why not? Lead your child(ren) to recognize that God is in control of all things. He does everything for His glory and our good. If something happens in a way we do not desire or expect, we can still trust God even when we don’t understand. (Option: read John 14:13.) 

How is God with us today? Remind your child(ren) that God gave us His Son, Jesus—God in the flesh. One of Jesus’ names is Immanuel, which means “God with us.” When Jesus went back to heaven, He sent the Holy Spirit to live inside believers. (Option: read 1 Cor. 3:16.)

LESSON 8: THE FAITHFUL (continued)

Read the “Hall of Faith” in Hebrews 11 again. 

Discuss how your family can “Experience It”.  

Finish up with the “Map It” section. Read about Grace’s “Focus Areas” HERE  and mark their location on your world map.  Pray that God would bless the work of our field workers as they faithfully serve Him in those areas.

Have a fun Christmas in July Family Fun night as you continue to reflect on Emmanuel “God with us”!

Bake Christmas cookies, sing carols and make ice cream snowmen!

WORSHIP

WATCH: Adventure in Odyssey Electric Christmas

The name “Emmanuel” clearly works on the prevalent biblical theme of God’s presence with his people. The idea of “God with us” is the embodiment of all of God’s promises to Israel and to all who will trust in him. Through sacrifice and mercy God makes a way to be with his people, whether Israel in the Old Testament or the church in the New Testament, all leading up to God’s final act in Revelation 21:3: “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.'”

Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of this theme, both in his identification with humanity by becoming a man and by his death on the cross for sin. In this sense, the word “Emmanuel” truly does embody the meaning of Christmas. The birth of Jesus, the Holy One of Israel, the Messiah and Savior of all men, has made a way for God to be “with us. 

PRAY: Father, thank you that you are a God who is with us. That through your son, Jesus, His life and His death for us, you have made a way for us to be with you forever.  We thank you that we can celebrate this and who You are, Emmanuel, not just at Christmas time but everyday. We love you and pray all this in your name. Amen.