Sunday, October 4th

Sunday, October 4 in Creek Kids


Preschool – “The Great Safari”
“Today in Large Group, the preschoolers went on a safari trip to hear a Bible story about Moses and the Israelites. They learned how they can show love to God.”

Need to Know: God wants us to love Him.

Memory Verse: “. . . Love the Lord your God with all your heart.” Deuteronomy 6:5

Motions: God (point up) wants us to love (hug self) Him.

Bible Summary: Exodus 19:16–20:17 God came in a cloud of lightning and thunder and called Moses up to the mountain to talk. He gave Moses ten rules He wanted the people to live by. The first four rules tell people how to show love to God. God said, “You shall have no other God before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol. You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God. Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.” These rules showed the Israelites how to love God.

Review: READ EXODUS 19:16–20:17. Consider all the times in a single day that a child must choose to obey. Maybe he wants to go outside and play, but mom asks him to come inside because it’s too cold. Maybe she doesn’t want to hold dad’s hand to cross the street, even though dad knows it’s safest. Or maybe he wants to go running down the hall with a sucker in his mouth, even after someone says “no.” Whatever the circumstance, children have a lot of rules placed in their lives to help them. When you ask a child to obey, he or she can choose to do otherwise. When the child does choose to obey, you feel that child is showing you respect, authority, or love. God has placed certain rules and boundaries in our lives He asks us to obey. When we obey, we grow closer to God. Obeying is one great way we can show love to Him. Pick the commandment most challenging to you. Think about the times you are tempted to break it. Admit your fears and weaknesses to God and ask Him to help you love Him through your obedience.

THIS WEEK AT HOME: Ask your child about the Ten Commandments (God’s Rules for us). Today your children learned a Bible story about Moses. God gave Moses some rules that tell us how to show love to God. What were the four rules? (Allow children to respond: 1. Love God more than anything else; 2.Worship God only; 3. Use God’s name with love; 4. Rest and think about God.) Were these rules for only Moses or everyone? (Everyone.) God gave us four rules we can obey and show love to Him. What did we learn today? God (point up) wants us to love (hug self) Him.” Have your child draw a picture for you to remember how they can obey. (Give children time to draw their pictures.) Say to your child when we obey, we make God happy.

Elementary – Virtue “Individuality”

This month’s theme is “Body Building,” discovering your part of the “body” so you can make a difference.

Virtue: Individuality – discovering who you are meant to be so you can make a difference.
Memory Verse: “How you made me is amazing and wonderful.” Psalm 139:14, NIrV

Bible Story: The Onesiums (Paul’s letter to Philemon about Onesimus) Philemon 1:1, 8-21

Bottom Line: When you belong to God, you can make a difference.

Review: Basically, a virtue is something God does in us to change the world around us. As you read the next paragraph, you’ll notice some numbers. Here’s what they refer to: (1) the virtue definition. (2) The fact that God created that virtue and exemplifies it. (3) God instills that virtue in us as He shapes us to become more like Him. (4) God uses that virtue in us to influence and impact our families, friends, and neighbors. As others notice the virtue being lived out in our lives, we have more opportunities to tell them about Jesus. As they come to trust Jesus, they’ll influence others as well. See the cycle?

In the culture we live in, celebrity goes hand in hand with how good you are at something. Just consider what’s on TV. Reality shows to see who can sing, dance, or cook better. There are game shows to see who can answer the most trivia questions. Sporting events to see who can run faster, jump higher, or drive across the finish line first. As a result, kids might think you have to be stronger, smarter, or more talented than everyone else in order to make a difference in the world. But thankfully God doesn’t just work through people who are better at something to make a difference. He works through our peculiarities, too. So this month, we’re talking about (1) individuality, which is discovering who you are meant to be so you can make a difference. (2) God is one-of-a-kind Himself. There is no one like Him. (3) And He wants us to be who He made us to be, making a difference in our individual ways. As we follow Him, He’ll make an even greater difference through us. (Think about the difference God made in Paul and Onesimus’ lives as a result of the everyday process of getting to know each other.) (4) When we use what we have now (even if it’s “just” a kind word to a lonely person or a helping hand to someone who needs it) instead of waiting around to be stronger, smarter, or more talented, there’s no end to the difference God can make through us.

THIS WEEK AT HOME: Remind your child that God made each of them individually, amazing and wonderful. Review the refrigerator door handout with your child this week for some great conversation starters at the dinner table.