Parent Resources for May 31

FOR PRESCHOOL AND YOUNG ELEMENTARY CHILDREN:

We talk about being thankful every year at thanksgiving, but we always have things to be thankful for! What is something you are thankful for today?

Read Psalm 138 aloud. Tell your child to raise his/her hand each time he/she hears the phrase “give thanks.”

  • Psalm 138 is a psalm of thanksgiving. God loved David and was faithful to him, which means God kept his promises and took care of David. When David thought about this, it made him feel very thankful for God. 

Take a few minutes to look through the psalm together. Make a list of everything David’s psalm teaches us about God. 

  • This psalm teaches us many important truths about God. He is loving, faithful, and holy. He listens to us, gives us strength, and cares about each of our lives. He fights for us, protects us, and has a great purpose for every single one of us. 

  • These truths about God remind us that we matter to him. The same God who created the universe created you and wants you to trust him with your life. 

Parents, share with your children about a time when God blessed your family, a time you look back on when you need to be reminded that God cares about you and is in control of your life.

As a family, what is one way you can respond to the steadfast love of God? 

  • David responded to God in a prayer or song of thanksgiving. We should regularly thank God for creating us, loving us, caring about us, and promising to be in control of our daily lives. The greatest blessing in our lives is the gospel, the fact that Jesus came down from heaven to pull us out of the pit of sin. The kind of relationship with God that David described is only possible through Jesus.

Review these songs we sing in Sunday School and Catechism worship:

  • Who made you? God. What else did God make? God made all things. Why did God make you and all things? For his own glory.

  • Does God know all things? Yes, nothing can be hidden from God.

  • “Jesus Is the Boss”

  • “All Creatures of Our God and King”

FOR OLDER ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL CHILDREN:

If your child used the listening guide to follow along with the sermon, take a few minutes to talk through his or her notes.

Name someone you look up to. How would you describe that person? What is he or she like?

Read Psalm 138 together. As you read, make a list of all of the descriptions of God that David included in this psalm.

  • This psalm teaches us many important truths about God. He is loving, faithful, and holy. He listens to us, gives us strength, and cares about each of our lives. He fights for us, protects us, and has a great purpose for every single one of us. 

  • These truths about God remind us that we matter to him. The same God who created the universe created you and wants you to trust him with your life. 

  • If you have a child who just finished the 4th/5th grade Sunday School class, remind them that this is one of the places where God’s name, “El Elyon, the Most High,” is used in the Old Testament.

How did David respond as he reflected on God and his relationship with David?

  • David responded to God in a prayer or song of thanksgiving. We should regularly thank God for creating us, loving us, caring about us, and promising to be in control of our daily lives. 

How does this psalm point forward to Jesus and his work in the world?

  • In verse 6, David wrote, “For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly.” This is exactly what Jesus did when he came down from heaven. In Matt’s words from the sermon, Jesus “came down from heaven to pull us out of the pit of sin.” He left heaven and all of its glory to offer hope to us and save us from our sin. The life and sacrifice of Jesus shows us just how much God loves and cares for us.

What does Psalm 138 teach us about how we should handle times of trouble or uncertainty that come our way?

  • As Matt noted in his sermon, especially in times of trouble we need a God who is higher and wiser than us. When we look back and see God’s faithfulness and promise-keeping in our past, it gives us hope and confidence in God for the future.

  • Parents, one of the ways you can help your kids trust God is by telling them your own stories of his faithfulness in your life and the life of your family. Sharing your own testimonies of God’s glory and faithfulness can help open your child’s eyes to the truth of the gospel and/or help them grow in their relationship with God.

Parent Resources for May 24

FOR PRESCHOOL AND YOUNG ELEMENTARY CHILDREN:

What is your favorite thing to do when you rest? Think about what you like to do during quiet time, or when you have some down time on the weekend.

  • We all need periods of rest in our weeks, even when we outgrow naps (and before we grow back into them!). Some kids like to spend rest time reading or listening to music, while for others it’s coloring, screen time, or putting together a puzzle. 

  • No matter what rest looks like in your family, we can all agree it is important, and so we build it into our days as much as we can. Our bodies need it! 

  • Just like our bodies need rest, so do our souls. In Psalm 62, David talks about finding rest in God, because his is the only rest we really need. 

Read Psalm 62 aloud. Have your children close their eyes while you read, and listen to the ways David talks about his relationship with God.

Do you remember any of the words or phrases David used to describe God in Psalm 62? (Some that may stand out are rock, fortress, refuge.) 

  • In this psalm, David compared God to other people in his life—people who were attacking him with lies, and people who were using their money and power against David. These were people who could not be trusted. 

  • On the other hand, David used words to describe God that make it clear he can be trusted. He said God was his rock, his salvation, his fortress, and his refuge. In David’s time, a fortress or a refuge was a place with big walls or towers where people could hide from their enemies. All of these words talk about how big, strong, powerful, and trustworthy God is. They also talk about the protection and rest David found in God.

  • Remind your kids of the lyrics to “My God Is So Big,” a song we sing often in children’s Sunday School: “My God is so big, so strong and so mighty, there’s nothing my God cannot do.” 

Can you think of any examples of what it might look like to rest in God—to trust him to be your refuge or your protector—like David did?

  • When we rest in God, it doesn’t mean we ask him to help us sleep well. It means we trust him with our lives! Some of the ways we can do this are by praying when we feel scared, memorizing Bible verses we can turn to when we need to be reminded of how big God is or how much he loves us, and talking about him often with our families.

  • God promises that he will always keep us safe, but this doesn’t mean he will protect our bodies from getting sick or hurt. It means he will keep us safe from the consequences of our sin. If we trust in him, God will make sure we will live with him forever in heaven, the ultimate place of rest and refuge.   

Review these songs we sing in Sunday School and Catechism worship:

  • Who made you? God. What else did God make? God made all things. Why did God make you and all things? For his own glory.

  • How can you glorify God? By loving him and doing what he commands. Why are you to glorify God? Because he made me and takes care of me.

  • Is there more than one true God? No, there is only one true God.

  • What else did God give Adam and Eve besides bodies? He gave them souls that will last forever. Do you have a soul as well as a body? Yes, and my soul will last forever. How do you know your soul will last forever? Because the Bible tells me so.

  • “My God Is So Big”

  • “All Creatures of Our God and King”

FOR OLDER ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL CHILDREN:

If your child used the listening guide to follow along with the sermon, take a few minutes to talk through his or her notes.

Read Psalm 62 together. After you read, take a few minutes to find all the different descriptions David used to describe God in this psalm.

  • Psalm 62, one of the psalms written by David, describes David’s trust and ability to rest in God. In this psalm, David compared God to other people in his life—people who were attacking him with lies, and people who were using their money and power against David. These were people who could not be trusted. 

  • On the other hand, David used words to describe God that make it clear he can be trusted, words such as rock, salvation, fortress, refuge, power, steadfast. All of these words talk about how big, strong, powerful, and trustworthy God is. They also talk about the protection, security, comfort, and rest David found in God.

In his sermon, Jonathan reminded us that because God is all of these things to us, we can rest in him, even when we feel anxious or out of control of the things going on around us. What do you think it means to rest in God?

  • When we rest in God, it doesn’t mean we ask him to help us sleep well, or trust that he has everything under control so we can go binge-watch Netflix. It means that instead of looking to money, friends, our parents, or our futures for security and protection, we look to God. When we feel anxious or out of control of our lives, we remind ourselves of who God says he is, and what he promises to do for us. 

  • The “How Majestic Is Your Name” curriculum our 4th-5th graders have used talks about Psalm 62:1-2 this way: “When we have troubles, or when we are attacked by others, this verse shows us what to do—trust God to work for us, to be our protection, to keep us from falling apart. If we trust in God when we encounter difficulties and troubles, we will not be shaken but we will stand firm.”

  • The greatest rest God promises us is the rest we can have in our future with him. God promises that he will always keep us safe, but this doesn’t mean he will protect our bodies from getting sick or hurt. It means he will keep us safe from the consequences of our sin. If we trust in him, God will make sure we will live with him forever in heaven, the ultimate place of rest and refuge.   

Which of the descriptions David used to describe God means the most to you at this time in your life? Why do you need to be reminded that God is that in your life?

What would it look like for you (or your family as a whole) to rest in God today?

Parent Resources for May 17

FOR PRESCHOOL AND YOUNG ELEMENTARY CHILDREN:

Have your child imagine he/she is stuck in a situation and needs help (exs: climbed too high in a tree, locked in the bedroom). Who are you going to ask for help when you need it? 

  • There are lots of times in our lives when we need help, times when we can’t do something on our own and need someone else to do it for us. If you climb too high in a tree, you need a grown up to help you get down. If you lock yourself in your bedroom, you need someone on the other side of the door to unlock it for you!

  • The Bible tells us many stories about times when people needed help, too. Let’s read what King David wrote at a time when he needed help, and he knew God was the only one who could help him.

Read Psalm 13:1-6 together. As you read, have your child count how many questions David asked God.

  • This psalm is a prayer from King David, but it doesn’t sound like a lot of our prayers, does it? David was going through something difficult in his life that made him feel like God had forgotten about him. 

  • Even though David was worried, sad, frustrated, and felt like God wasn’t listening, he still prayed to God and asked God to help him.

What are some of the things we pray for in our family? 

  • Prayer is simply another word for talking to God. As a family, we pray and thank God for our food, we pray at the beginning of our days and ask God for protection, we pray at the end of our days and thank him for keeping us healthy and safe, and for all the people we love. We can pray when we are worried or scared, like David did in Psalm 13, and we can pray when we are happy and feel thankful. God wants us to talk to him about everything.

How do we know God hears us when we pray?

  • We know God hears our prayers because the Bible tells us He does. (For example, 1 John 5:14: “. . . If we ask anything according to his will he hears us.”)

In Psalm 13:5, David said that he trusted in God and in God’s love for him. That is why he still prayed to God, even when he worried that God had forgotten about him. Do you know what it means to trust someone?

  • To trust someone means to believe they are able to do things. You trust your mom will feed you, because she can and she does. You trust your dad will protect you, because he always has.

How do we know we can trust God?

  • David trusted that God loved him and would save him, because God promised that he would. The Bible tells us God is good, and he always keeps his promises. (For points of reference with your children, the toddler Sunday School curriculum uses the example of God’s promise to give Abraham and Sarah a baby to teach the truth that God is good and trustworthy. And your second graders have spent all year learning about the promises of God.) 

  • Just like David, we can trust that God loves us and will take care of us no matter what is going on in our lives, because the Bible promises us that he will. 

Review these songs we sing in Sunday School and Catechism worship:

  • Where do you learn how to love and obey God? In the Bible alone. Who wrote the Bible? Chosen men who were inspired by the Holy Spirit.

  • What else did God give Adam and Eve besides bodies? He gave them souls that will last forever. Do you have a soul as well as a body? Yes, and my soul will last forever. How do you know your soul will last forever? Because the Bible tells me so.

  • “My God Is So Big”

  • “All Creatures of Our God and King”

FOR OLDER ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL CHILDREN:

If your child used the listening guide to follow along with the sermon, take a few minutes to talk through his or her notes.

Read Psalm 13:1-6 together. Have your children pick one thing that stands out or surprises them from David’s prayer.

Think about some of your recent prayers. How are they different from David’s in Psalm 13? Are they similar in any ways? 

  • This psalm is a lament prayer from King David, and it is an honest and desperate cry to God for God’s help in his life. As Matt taught in his sermon, Psalm 13 shows us that we can pray honest and desperate prayers, and that often those help us learn to trust God more. 

Like David’s example, God wants his children to be honest and open with him in their prayers, even if it means sharing worries and questions about how he is at work. Why does God want us to be honest with him?

  • Prayer is the primary way we communicate with God, and no relationship is healthy if it isn’t built on honesty and trust. When we take our questions, concerns, fears, and doubts to God in prayer, we are directing them at the only one who is truly powerful enough to do anything about them.

Matt mentioned that in addition to being honest, David’s prayer in Psalm 13 was desperate. David knew he had nowhere to turn but to God. Why are we prone to depend on ourselves first? What are some things that prevent us from asking God for help before we get to a place of desperation? 

  • Most of the time, we try to do things on our own, don’t we? Every once in a while, though, we encounter seasons like this one we are in now, times when we are reminded that we are not in control of our lives, and we desperately need God. The best thing we can do in those times is cry out to God, like David did.

In Psalm 13:5, David said that he trusted in God and in God’s love for him. That is why he still prayed to God, even when he worried that God had forgotten about him. What are some reasons you know you can trust God? 

  • David trusted that God loved him and would save him, because God promised that he would. The Bible tells us God makes many promises to his children, and he always keeps his promises. Among them are promises to be with us, to protect us, and to help us in times of trouble.

One of the main reasons we can trust God with today is because he has promised his children an eternity with him, free of pain and suffering, and he has fulfilled that promise in Jesus. Take a minute to think about what it will be like to spend eternity with Jesus. In the meantime, what are some ways we as a family can remind ourselves of the good things God has done for us? 

  • Over time, we can see a “track record” of God’s faithfulness in our lives. As parents, sharing about God’s past faithfulness can help your children learn to trust him with their own lives. In addition to sharing stories, we can worship and read Scripture together. All of these are ways we can remind ourselves and our kids of God’s grace and faithfulness in our lives. 

Parent Resources for May 10

FOR PRESCHOOL AND YOUNG ELEMENTARY CHILDREN:

Ask your child what his or her favorite food is. Where do you usually get that food? Imagine with them what it would be like if instead of rain, God sent that food down from the sky for them each day. 

  • It’s silly to think about the sky raining down pizza, ice cream, or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, but there is a story in the Bible that talks about a time when God sent food down like rain from heaven for some people who really needed it. 

Read Exodus 15:22-25 and Exodus 16:1-5,12-14. What were the Israelites complaining about? 

  • The Israelites were a group of people from Old Testament times who God called to be his special people. For many, many years the Israelites were slaves in Egypt, which meant they worked very hard for the Egyptian people and were not free to live their own lives. 

  • God used Moses and some very big miracles to set the Israelites free from Egypt, but they were confused when God led them into a different place (“the wilderness”) where they couldn’t find water or food. They were tired, thirsty, and hungry.

What three things did God provide for the Israelites to meet their needs in the wilderness? (water, bread, quail) How did God give them the water? How did he give them the food?

  • When God’s people were thirsty, God turned gross water into water that tasted good by having Moses throw a piece of wood into the water. That’s not how we get our water today, is it?

  • When the people complained about being hungry, God sent birds (quails) for them to eat, and he sent a special type of bread down from heaven. That’s definitely not how we get our food!

  • Each day God sent them new food because he wanted them to trust him to take care of them. Because a lot of difficult things happened in their lives, they had a hard time believing God would take care of them, and he really wanted them to know that he would, no matter what.

What are some of the good things God has given you? 

  • Talk about different ways God provides for your family and has met your needs recently, including through the gift of Jesus. Share with your child how God sent Jesus to take care of our biggest need—forgiving us for our sin. Because God sent his son to die on the cross for our sins, we know we can trust him to take care of our other needs, too.

Review these songs we sing in Sunday School and Catechism worship:

  • Is there more than one true God? No, there is only one true God.

  • Where is God? God is everywhere. Can you see God? No I cannot see God, but he always sees me.

  • Does God know all things? Yes, nothing can be hidden from God.

  • “My God Is So Big”

  • “All Creatures of Our God and King”

FOR OLDER ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL CHILDREN:

If your child used the listening guide to follow along with the sermon, take a few minutes to talk through his or her notes.

What is something you’ve complained about in the last week? Did the complaining work, did it get you what you wanted or make you feel better?

Read Exodus 15:22–16:36. Discuss what made this time in the wilderness especially hard for the Israelites. 

  • The Israelites spent years in slavery in Egypt, until God used Moses, Pharaoh, the ten plagues, and the miraculous parting of the Red Sea to set them free. We can understand their frustration when they realized their freedom from Egypt led not to the promised land but to the harsh climate of the wilderness. They were tired, hungry, thirsty, and confused about where God was leading them and what his plan was. 

How do we know God heard the Israelites’ complaints about not having food and water?

  • Exodus 15:25; 16:4; and 16:12 tell us that God heard the complaints of the Israelites, and that he had a plan to meet their needs in the wilderness. They just had to trust his plan, and not their own.

What do we learn about God from this part of Israel’s story?

  • Over and over again God showed Israel that he loves them, takes care of them, and they can trust him. This is the same story we read repeated throughout the Old Testament and into the New Testament. God is faithful, and he provides for the needs of his children. The difficult times in our lives often give us the best reminders that we are not in control of our lives; God is in control, and his plans are much better than ours.

  • Read Exodus 16:21. God not only gave the Israelites enough bread to survive, he gave them more than enough to be full and satisfied. But God made sure they only had enough for each day so that they were daily reminded of their reliance on him. 

Parents, share an example from your life of a time when you have seen God do the same, a time when God gave you something in abundance, or a time when he was faithful to give you exactly what you needed to get you through a tough season. 

What is the greatest need we have (even greater than water and food)? Did you know that God has already met that need for you? What does he want you to do in response?

  • In the sermon, Matt mentioned how the greatest need in our lives is not for physical food or water, but for Jesus the Bread of Life. We need the forgiveness of our sins that he offers us so that we can spend eternity living with him. We can trust God will get us through the difficulties of this life and provide for our physical needs because through the death and resurrection of Jesus, he has taken care of the greatest need we have. 

Parent Resources for May 3

FOR PRESCHOOL AND YOUNG ELEMENTARY CHILDREN:

Ask your child if he/she has heard of a man named Job from the Bible. If yes, find out what your child knows about him and his story.

  • The Book of Job is one of the books of the Old Testament, and it tells the story of a man who had a very strong faith in God, even though some horrible things happened in his life.

  • Faith is a word we hear a lot in the Bible and at church. When we talk about faith in God, it means trusting in God, trusting that he will do what he has promised. The Bible is full of promises God makes to his children, and God wants us to know those promises, believe them, and choose to love and obey him no matter what. 

Read Job 1:20-22, and have your child listen for one thing Job did not do when he was suffering (when some very sad things happened in his life).

  • When bad things happen in life, everyone responds differently. Job tore his clothes and shaved his head, which were common ways of dealing with sad feelings in Job’s world. But Job also worshiped God, and he did not sin. Even during the worst times in Job’s life, he trusted in God, and Job knew God loved him. 

Tell your child about a time when you went through something hard. Share one thing you learned about God through that experience. (For example: Did you see God’s faithfulness to you or feel his love in a certain way? Did you get the chance to tell someone else about God’s love? How did you see God work it out for good?) 

  • God makes many promises to his children—he loves them, he takes care of them, he is with them. He also promises that he always wins! When Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead, God beat sin and death. This means that no matter what happens to us in our lives, we can have faith that God is in control and that in the end he (and good) will win. And if we trust in Jesus, then one day we will live with him forever, too, and there will be no more suffering or sadness.

  • Read Job’s words in Job 19:25 and explain Job’s hope in God: “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.”

Review these songs we sing in Sunday School and Catechism worship:

  • Who made you? God. What else did God make? God made all things. Why did God make you and all things? For his own glory.

  • How can you glorify God? By loving him and doing what he commands. Why are you to glorify God? Because he made me and takes care of me.

  • Does God know all things? Yes, nothing can be hidden from God.

  • “My God Is So Big”

  • “All Creatures of Our God and King”

FOR OLDER ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL CHILDREN:

If your child used the listening guide to follow along with the sermon, take a few minutes to talk through his or her notes.

Read through Job 1:20-22 again as a family. 

Begin by having everyone share one thing they know about Job, either from the sermon or from previous study. 

  • An entire book of the Old Testament is dedicated to Job and his response to suffering. In the introduction to Matt’s sermon, he described Job as our model for wise responses to suffering. We know from Job 1:1 that he was “blameless and upright,” he “feared God and turned away from evil.” Unfortunately for Job, his righteous character put him under attack from Satan. In a single day, God allowed Satan to strip away everything Job loved. All his possessions, children, even his own health. 

Read Job 1:20-22. What stands out to you about Job’s response to the tragedies that God allowed to happen to him?

  • Grief hits everyone in different ways, and there is no wrong way to grieve in times of suffering. For Job, some of his grief was predictable for his day: he tore his clothes and shaved his head. But Job also worshiped God, and he did not sin. Even during the worst times in Job’s life, he trusted in God, and Job knew God loved him. 

Job’s response in verses 20-22 as well as his words and actions throughout the rest of the Book of Job show us what it looks like to suffer in faith. What does it mean to have faith in God?

  • When we talk about faith in God, it means trusting in him, believing he will do what he has promised. The Bible is full of promises God makes to his children, and God wants us to know those promises, believe them, and choose to love and obey him no matter what. As Job’s story shows, God often uses times of suffering to strengthen our faith in him.  

Share with your child about a time of suffering you have experienced and the impact it had on your relationship with God. (If your child is old enough and a Christian, encourage him/her to share an example with you as well.) What did you learn about God through that process? How was your faith impacted in the moment? How was it impacted in the long term? 

Can you look back and see any of the four marks of faith Matt pointed to from Job’s example in your own suffering (humility before God, honesty with God, hunger for God, hope in God)? 

Read Job 19:25. What is hopeful about Job’s words in this verse? What is hopeful when you think about Jesus as your Redeemer?

  • God makes many promises to his children—he loves them, he takes care of them, he is with them. He also promises that he will bring about his good purpose, and he has begun this work already through the death and resurrection of Jesus. When Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead, God beat sin and death. This means that when we suffer or find ourselves stuck in hard times, we can have faith that God is in control and that in the end he (and good) will win. And if we trust in Jesus, then one day we will live with him forever, too. The hope of eternity with God puts all of today’s suffering in perspective.

Parent Resources for April 26

FOR PRESCHOOL AND YOUNG ELEMENTARY CHILDREN:

Begin by reading Matthew 6:25-34 to your child. Have your child listen for the different word pictures Jesus used in this teaching (birds, wildflowers).

In these verses, Jesus tells us not to be anxious, which is another way of saying, “Don’t worry.” Do you know what it means to worry? 

  • Here’s a definition of worry for children: Worry is what happens when we focus on our problems and the things that scare us, instead of trusting God to take care of us.  

What is something you worry about? Think about what Jesus said in Matthew 6. Does God want you to worry about things like having enough food to eat, having clothes to wear, or getting sick?

  • It is easy to worry about lots of things, especially these days when everything feels different. But Jesus says God does not want us to worry. Instead, he wants us to trust in him, and believe that he will take care of us. 

  • Jesus gave us two pictures that help us understand: The birds we see in the sky don’t worry about finding food, God has made plenty of worms for them to eat. And the wildflowers that grow outside don’t worry about growing, they bloom every spring when God sends rain and sunshine. The birds and the flowers matter to God, because he made them!

  • In Genesis 1, we read that God made us, too, but he made us in an extra special way. Unlike the flowers and the birds, God made us in his own image. We are his most special creation, and he loves us so much that he sent Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. So if God will take care of things in nature, think about how much more he will take care of his special creation, people who he loves so much. 

Read Matthew 6:33 again. What does God want us to do when we feel like worrying?

  • Instead of worrying about the things going on around us, God wants us to seek him and his kingdom. But what does that mean? It means he wants us to spend the time we would be worrying trusting in his love for us, learning more about him through the Bible, loving him, and doing what he commands.

Review these songs we sing in Sunday School and Catechism worship:

  • How can you glorify God? By loving him and doing what he commands. Why are you to glorify God? Because he made me and takes care of me.

  • Where is God? God is everywhere. Can you see God? No, I cannot see God, but he always sees me.

  • “My God Is So Big”

  • “All Creatures of Our God and King”

FOR OLDER ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL CHILDREN:

If your child used the listening guide to follow along with the sermon, take a few minutes to talk through his or her notes.

Read through Matthew 6:25-34 again as a family. 

In these verses, Jesus tells us not to be anxious, which is another way of saying, “Don’t worry.” But this is a time in our lives when it is easy to get caught up in the worries of this world. What is one thing you have worried about this past week? Is that a new worry for you, or one you worry about often?

According to Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6, why does God not want us to be anxious? 

  • It is easy to worry about lots of things, especially these days when everything feels different. But Jesus says very clearly that God does not want us to feel anxious about things beyond our control, like what tomorrow holds. Instead, he wants us to trust in him, and believe that he will take care of us. The rest of this passage reminds us why his children do not need to worry.

What does the example of the birds teach you about God and his relationship with you? What about the example of the wildflowers?

  • With the imagery of the birds and the wildflowers, Jesus reminds us that if he meets the needs of these parts of his creation, he most certainly will take care of his children, those who are made in his own image (Gen. 1:26-27).

How can we be certain that God loves us and takes care of us, even when things don’t go how we want them to go?

  • In the sermon, Matt reminded us that Jesus spoke these words in the Sermon on the Mount knowing that the cross was coming. We trust God will take care of us and meet our needs because he has already done just that. When Jesus died on the cross and was resurrected, he made certain that one day all God’s children will live in a world free from sin, death, sadness, anxiety, and sickness. Our greatest need is to be free from sin and in relationship with God, and Jesus has already made that possible. Our hope in that future, like we have talked about so much these past few weeks, helps us trust him with today.

Instead of worrying, Jesus tells us to seek God’s kingdom. What does that mean, and what is one way you can do that if/when you start to feel anxious this week?

  • To seek God’s kingdom means to focus our thoughts on God, to spend time in his Word, to be grateful for God’s promises, to live obediently for him, to serve others, and so on.

  • As a family, take a few minutes to come up with specific ways you can help each other seek God’s kingdom this week.

Parent Resources for April 19

FOR PRESCHOOL AND YOUNG ELEMENTARY CHILDREN:

Read or summarize the story of Lazarus from John 11, or read it from a Bible storybook. 

Last week, as we talked about Easter, we learned that Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sins. Did Jesus stay dead?

  • No! Easter is a celebration to us because Jesus did not stay dead. He came back to life and is alive even today. That is great news!

The story of Lazarus from the Bible also talks about a man who died. How did Lazarus’s sisters, friends, and even Jesus act when they found out Lazarus was dead? 

What do you feel when you think about someone dying? (If your child has experienced the death of a loved one, talk to them about that loss. Share your own feelings and experiences, too.)

  • John 11:35 is the shortest verse in the whole Bible, and it tells us how Jesus felt when his friend died: “Jesus wept.” Jesus—along with Mary, Martha, and all of Lazarus’s friends and family—cried when Lazarus died. Death is very sad. It can also make us feel scared or angry. This is because death was not supposed to be a part of God’s creation. 

  • When God made Adam and Eve and put them in the garden of Eden, they were going to live with him there forever. Like we sing in catechism, God made them “holy and happy.” But then they sinned, and sin is why people and things die. That is why it is such good news that Jesus didn’t stay dead—His resurrection corrects what went wrong in the garden.

Did Lazarus stay dead? What does this story teach us about Jesus?

  • This story describes one of many miracles Jesus did while he was on earth. Jesus did not let Lazarus stay dead. He brought him back to life. Jesus used Lazarus’s death to show everyone there (and all of us who read the Bible today) that God is powerful, and he is in control of everything, even life and death. Jesus wants people to believe that he is the Son of God.

Read John 11:25-26 again, and have your child listen for the things Jesus calls himself in this passage. What words did they hear? 

What does Jesus say will happen to people who believe in him? Does this mean we will never die if we love and follow Jesus?

  • When Jesus comforted Martha after Lazarus’s death, he called himself the “resurrection and the life.” 

  • Sadly, everyone will someday die. But if you believe in Jesus, then when you die you will get to be with him forever in heaven. This is the good news of eternal life we talked about last week!

  • To help your child understand how a person can live with God in heaven even after they die, use Catechism Q&A 19-21:

    • What else did God give Adam and Eve besides bodies? He gave them souls that will last forever. 

    • Do you have a soul as well as a body? Yes and my soul will last forever. 

    • How do you know your soul will last forever? Because the Bible tells me so.

  • John 11 also teaches us that one day, Jesus will bring back to life the bodies of all who believe in Him, just like He did for Lazarus. A day will come when our bodies will rise as Jesus did.

Review these songs we sing in Sunday School and Catechism worship:

  • Is there more than one true God? No, there is only one true God.

  • In how many persons does this one God exist? In three persons. Name the persons. The Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

  • What else did God give Adam and Eve besides bodies? He gave them souls that will last forever. Do you have a soul as well as a body? Yes and my soul will last forever. How do you know your soul will last forever? Because the Bible tells me so.

  • “My God Is So Big”

  • “All Creatures of Our God and King”

FOR OLDER ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL CHILDREN:

If your child used the listening guide to follow along with the sermon, take a few minutes to talk through his or her notes.

Read through John 11:1-48 again as a family. 

This is probably a story you have heard before. Share some of the parts of the story that stood out to you when we read it together. 

In John 11, we learn that Jesus was sad (he “wept”) and angry at the death of Lazarus, even though Jesus knew what was about to happen. What words describe the way you feel when you think about the death of a loved one, or the reality of death in general?

  • Jesus knew he was about to raise Lazarus from the dead, but he still felt sadness at the death of his friend, grief because Lazarus’s friends and family were sad, and anger because of the sin that leads to death. Because Jesus felt these things, it’s OK for us to feel them too. Death is the ultimate consequence for the sin and brokenness of our world.

If you have been in the “Faithful to All His Promises” Sunday School class (currently 2nd Grade), then you might remember one of our promises: “God will not bring any unnecessary suffering into your life.” Jesus could have healed Lazarus before he died, and prevented the suffering of Martha, Mary, and many others. Why didn’t he? Why was their suffering “necessary”?

  • In the sermon, Jonathan pointed out that Jesus’ glory is on display in the death and resurrection of Lazarus.

  • “God tells us all through the Bible that He is great. But when He shows us, we really know that it is true because we see it, we experience it. Mary and Martha and their friends might have had an idea that God is great . . . but when they saw Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead they knew He is great! He did something no one else can do! Jesus’ miracle gave them a stronger faith in Him. They knew He could do anything.” (Sally Michael, Faithful to All His Promises, pp. 218-219)

What does this miracle show us about Jesus? 

  • From this miracle and the events surrounding it, we get a clear picture of Jesus’ power over death and his promise to give resurrection to everyone who trusts in him. 

Jesus used the death of Lazarus to show the people his glory and power as the Son of God. Where have you seen God’s glory and power on display in your life this week? In the world around you?

  • The story in John 11 ends with two responses to Jesus—choosing to rely on Jesus (v. 45) or choosing to reject him (v. 46). Talk with your child about why believing in Jesus is the only right response to this and everything the Bible teaches about him.

Parent Resources for April 12

Sunday, April 12: Discussion Questions for 2 Corinthians 5:1-4 - Longing for Life

FOR PRESCHOOL AND YOUNG ELEMENTARY CHILDREN:

Read or summarize the account of the crucifixion and resurrection (from Matthew 26–28; Mark 14–16; Luke 22–24; or John 18–20), or read it from a Bible storybook. 

What do we celebrate on Easter? 

  • A lot of things happen around the Easter holiday — egg and bunny decorations pop up in stores and yards, people get more excited about springtime, maybe you even do an Easter egg hunt with your family or neighbors. None of this is what Easter is really about, though. On Easter, we take extra time to remember and celebrate that Jesus is alive! Jesus died on the cross, but He did not stay dead; He came back and is alive again. (This is one of the main points of our toddler Sunday School curriculum, so that language will be familiar to your child.) 

Why did Jesus die on the cross? 

  • Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sin. Sin refers to all of the ways we fail to obey God, or “any lack of conformity to or transgression of the law of God” (Catechism Q&A 29-32, Track 14). Our sin comes with a punishment, but God loves us so much that He sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross as punishment for our sin. This is how Jesus gives us new hearts that can love Him.

Why is it good news that Jesus didn’t stay dead, but that He came back and is alive again?

  • After Jesus died and was buried, He came back alive, and He will never die again (this is what “resurrection” means). He is alive even today, and He is in heaven with God the Father! When this happened, Jesus did something else for us. He made it possible for us to have eternal life just like Him after our bodies die (John 11:25). 

  • Share with your child about the hope you have because of the eternal life Jesus has given to you. Read through 2 Corinthians 5:1-4 if your child(ren) listened to the sermon with you. 

Review these songs we sing in Sunday School and Catechism worship:

  • Where do you learn how to love and obey God? In the Bible alone. Who wrote the Bible? Chosen men who were inspired by the Holy Spirit.

  • “My God Is So Big”

  • “All Creatures of Our God and King”

NOTE FOR PARENTS: If you would like additional resources for Easter, email laura.magness@trinitynashville.org.

FOR OLDER ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL CHILDREN:

If your child used the listening guide to follow along with the sermon, take a few minutes to talk through his or her notes.

Read through 2 Corinthians 5:1-4 again as a family. You may also want to read or summarize the account of the crucifixion and resurrection (from Matthew 26–28; Mark 14–16; Luke 22–24; or John 18–20). 

On Easter weekend, we remember Jesus’ death on the cross and His resurrection from the dead. Why did the crucifixion and resurrection happen? Why did Jesus go through everything He did?

  • Discuss the good news of the gospel with your child — creation, the fall, our brokenness and need for redemption, and how Jesus’ death and resurrection accomplishes that. 

Do you believe these events are true? How can we know Jesus rose from the dead if we weren’t there to see it?

  • Remind your children that Christians believe in the radical claim of the resurrection because it is written about in the Bible. All four Gospel writers tell about these events and about the hundreds of people who saw Jesus after His resurrection.

  • Help them recall the following Catechism questions and answers: “Where do you learn how to love and obey God? In the Bible alone. Who wrote the Bible? Chosen men who were inspired by the Holy Spirit.

At this time in our lives, the entire world is suffering together, including our families, church, and neighbors. Share about a moment this week when you felt the way Paul described in 2 Corinthians 5:1-4—longing for a body that will not get sick and die, for a world that does not have to endure suffering and sin. What happened that made you feel that longing?

How does Jesus’ death and resurrection help you face those longings? Share your own example with your child to help him or her understand the hope we have in eternity with God.

  • Matt reminded us that for Christians, the resurrection is our source of hope. The good news of the resurrection is that Jesus made eternal life with God possible, this is the “heavenly dwelling” Paul talks about in 2 Corinthian 5. What fell apart with Adam and Eve’s sin in the garden of Eden is restored through Jesus, meaning one day everyone who believes in Him will join Him in eternal life, and all those longings will be no more. 


NOTE FOR PARENTS: If you would like additional resources for Easter, email laura.magness@trinitynashville.org.

Parent Resources for April 5

Sunday, April 5: Discussion Questions for Psalm 131 – "Be Still My Soul"

FOR PRESCHOOL AND YOUNG ELEMENTARY CHILDREN:

Begin by reading Psalm 131. As you read, have your child(ren) listen for the words “calmed and quieted” (v. 2, ESV), and tell them to raise both hands when they hear them. Psalm 131 was written by King David, and in it, he talks about what he would do when he felt nervous or afraid. 

Show me an example of what you look like when you feel calm. The opposite of calm is anxious or nervous. Show me an example of what you look like when you feel nervous.

  • Here’s a definition of anxiety for kids: “Anxiety means feeling worried, nervous, or afraid.” 

Can you think of any Bible stories where the people in the story probably felt afraid? 

  • A few examples include: Joseph and his brothers, the Israelites wandering in the wilderness, Daniel in the lion’s den, David with Goliath (David is the writer of Psalm 131!), Jonah and the big fish, and Queen Esther talking to the king.

  • One story we read in the New Testament is about a time when Jesus’ disciples were anxious or afraid. Read the story of Jesus calming the storm in Mark 4:35-41. (This story is one of the lessons in our Older Toddler Sunday School curriculum, so it should be familiar to your kids.)

Why were the disciples afraid in this story? Do you think you would have felt afraid too? What did the disciples do when they felt afraid?

  • Of course the disciples were afraid! They were caught in a huge storm in the middle of the sea, and they were on a little fishing boat. Fear was the right response; they knew they were in danger. 

  • Instead of jumping out of the boat, closing their eyes, and pretending the storm wasn’t happening, or trying to fix the problem themselves, the disciples looked to Jesus for help. 

  • In Sunday School, we learn that “Jesus is the Boss!” Jesus heard His disciples, He saw the storm, and He spoke: “Peace! Be still!” That is all it took for the storm to stop. Even the winds and the waves know that Jesus is in charge.

  • When we feel anxious or afraid, no matter why, we can remember that Jesus is the boss, Jesus loves us, and Jesus promises us that everything will be OK. He wants us to have faith (believe) that He is in control.

Review these songs we sing in Sunday School and Catechism worship:

  • Is there more than one true God? No, there is only one true God.

  • Who made you? God!

  • Why did God make you and all things? For His own glory!

Jesus is the Boss (to the tune of “The Farmer in the Dell”)

Yes, Jesus is the Boss

Yes, Jesus is the Boss

The wind obeys, the waves obey

Yes, Jesus is the Boss


NOTE FOR PARENTS: If you would like resource recommendations to help you talk to your kids about their anxieties related to COVID-19 and all the changes we are experiencing, email laura.magness@trinitynashville.org.

FOR OLDER ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL CHILDREN:

If your child used the listening guide to follow along with the sermon, take a few minutes to talk through his or her notes.

Ask your child to describe a time when he or she had the opposite of a “calm and quieted soul,” a time when something made him/her feel nervous. Consider sharing your own example with your child(ren).

Read Psalm 131 together. What is David’s main point in Psalm 131?

  • David’s main point, which shows up in verse 3, is that “hope in the Lord” is the appropriate response to anxiety and fear. For David, the hope He had in God and His steadfast love (Psalm 130:7) helped him feel at peace, instead of anxious, in whatever situation he faced.

In the sermon, Matt used the illustration of Christmas commercials to describe how people look for peace and confidence in many different things. If you have felt anxious lately, what are some things you have looked to for peace or comfort? What is wrong with looking to those things? Why is it better to look to Jesus?

  • We can look to all kinds of things to help us deal with anxieties and fears—books, video games, or movies that help us escape; the wisdom of our parents/friends/teachers; avoidance of the situations that made us anxious. 

  • Those may help for a little while (or maybe not at all), but the time will come when we feel anxious again. That’s why it’s so important for us to know the only good and lasting place for us to find peace and comfort is in the hope of Jesus (Psalm 131:3). Only in Jesus can we find the promise of a future where anxiety and fear will be no more, and we will be at peace with God forever.  

If you have time, discuss the following. The Bible tells David’s story in 1 & 2 Samuel. Think about the stories of David’s life found in these two chapters. What are some examples of times when David probably felt anxious?

  • A few examples might include when he: 

    • Was anointed as king instead of his older and stronger brothers.

    • Fought the Philistine giant Goliath (1 Samuel 17). 

    • Fled from King Saul, who tried to kill him (1 Samuel 19, 24).

    • Fought in many battles as the leader of Israel’s army.

  • Read 1 Samuel 17:37: And David said, “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” 

  • Even when he was young, David understood that God is in charge of and protects the lives of His children. When we put our hope and trust in Him, we can let go of our fears. This does not mean we will never feel anxious, but when we do, we will know where we can turn and trust in that.  

NOTE FOR PARENTS: If you would like additional resources to help you talk to your kids about their anxieties related to COVID-19 and all the changes we are experiencing, email laura.magness@trinitynashville.org.

Parent Resources for March 29

Sunday, March 29: Discussion Questions for 1 Peter 1:6-9–"Joy and Sorrow"

FOR PRESCHOOL AND YOUNG ELEMENTARY CHILDREN:

Last Sunday, we talked about things that make us excited and afraid. What were some of the things you said that make you excited or happy?

  • The Bible uses many words to talk about being happy, but the most important one it uses is the word joy. That word shows up more than 100 times in the Bible. 

  • Joy is a special type of happiness God gives us when we put our hope and trust in Him (Psalm 126:3). Lots of things can make us happy—going to the park with friends, eating ice cream, movie nights with our families, getting new toys. But only God can give us real joy. 

Read 1 Peter 1:6-9 together, and tell your kids to listen for the word “joy” (they may also catch “rejoice”!).

  • These are the apostle Peter’s words at the beginning of a letter he wrote to Christians who were going through a hard time in their lives, and it was making them sad. He worried that they would not feel joyful.

What face do you make when you feel sad? Share about something that made you feel very sad.

  • That’s how Peter’s readers felt! And he wanted them to know that it’s OK to feel sad or scared sometimes. Did you know Jesus felt this way, too? 

  • We know Jesus felt very sad at least two times—when His friend Lazarus died, and when He knew He had to die on the cross to save us from our sins. (If you have time, read or summarize the story of Lazarus from John 11, or from a Bible storybook, being sure to read John 11:32-36. Next, read Matthew 26:38.)

  • Jesus felt sad because the things happening on earth—like the death of His friend Lazarus—are reminders of sin. (For helpful language on sin, see tracks 13 and following on the catechism CD,  Ask Me Whooo? Volume 1.)

  • The important thing Jesus and Peter remembered, and the important thing for us to remember, is that if our hope is in Jesus (like we talked about last week), then even when we feel sad, we can feel joyful, too, because God promises that one day we won’t have to feel sad anymore!

Review these songs we sing in catechism:

  • Who made you? God!

  • Why did God make you and all things? For His own glory!

  • Why are you to glorify God? Because He made me and takes care of me!

  • Does God know all things? Yes! Nothing can be hidden from God

God knows all things, which means that He knows when you feel sad or scared. On days when you feel that way—and on every day!—God wants you to remember that He loves you and that He always wins.

FOR OLDER ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL CHILDREN:

If your child used the sermon listening guide to follow along with the sermon, take a few minutes to talk through his or her notes.

Read 1 Peter 1:3-9 together, pointing out the new verses from this week’s sermon text. 

What is Peter’s main point in verses 6-9? How does it connect to 1 Peter 1:3-5?

Help your kids think of words they hear repeated in verses 6-9.

  • One example is the word “though.” Help your kids see that this life has lots of “even though” moments, times when God shows Himself faithful and sufficient.

Come up with your own definitions for joy and sorrow. 

  • For the Christian, joy is a settled state of contentment, confidence, and hope that comes from God. Sorrow is a feeling of deep distress caused by loss, disappointment, or other misfortune suffered by oneself or others.

  • Share about the last time you felt very joyful. Then share about a time when you were sorrowful—a time when you were disappointed something didn’t go the way you felt it would.

Matt reminded us that Jesus felt joy and sorrow, too. Can you think of any examples from the Gospels of times when Jesus felt sorrow?

  • We know Jesus felt very sad at least two times—when His friend Lazarus died, and when He knew He had to die on the cross to save us from our sins. (If you have time, read or summarize the story of Lazarus from John 11, or from a Bible storybook, being sure to read John 11:32-36. Next, read Matthew 26:38.)

  • Jesus felt sad because the things happening on earth—like the death of His friend Lazarus—are reminders of the sin and brokenness in our world. 

Read Hebrews 12:1-2. What do we learn about feeling both joy and sorrow from Jesus’ example?

  • The important thing Jesus and Peter remembered, and the important thing for us to remember, is that if our hope is in Jesus (like we talked about last week), then even when we feel sorrow, disappointment, or sadness because of the things going on in our lives, we can feel joyful, too, because we know that the sorrow will be gone one day.

In the sermon, Matt mentioned that Peter “places our sorrow in the proper story.” That story is the gospel story. Take a few minutes to remind your children of the gospel: God created everything. Sin entered the world through Adam and Eve. God sent Jesus to rescue us from our sin. Through Jesus’ perfect life, death on the cross, and resurrection, He offers us the gift of eternal life, which is a joyful future we can put our hope in.    

Parent Resources for March 22

Discussion Questions for 1 Peter 1:3-5–"Hope Secured"

FOR PRESCHOOL CHILDREN:

What kinds of things make you excited?

  • Things that make us excited are often things we put our hope in. To hope in something means to get really excited about it happening, and to put our happiness in it. Think about how you feel knowing Christmas is coming. Your hope is to get all the exciting presents you asked your parents for! Or knowing the pool is about to open for the summer—so much fun is waiting for you!

What kinds of things make you afraid?

  • Things that make us afraid are often things we don't know a lot about, like a visit to the doctor—Will I get a shot? Will anything they do hurt?—or a big storm—Will it be loud? Will our house be ok? Will the power go out?

  • When we feel afraid, it is important to have a way to still feel hope, to know that we don't have to stay afraid, and to know that everything will be OK. The Bible tells us that the best place —the only place!—for us to put our hope is in Jesus.

Think about the songs we sing in catechism:

  • Who made you? God!

  • Why did God make you and all things? For His own glory!

  • Why are you to glorify God? Because He made me and takes care of me!

  • Never forget that God made you, He loves you, and He takes care of you.

FOR ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL CHILDREN:

If your child used the sermon listening guide to follow along with the sermon, take a few minutes to talk through his or her notes.

Read 1 Peter 1:3-5 together.

What is Peter's main point in this passage?

What is hope? What does it mean to hope in something? Share examples of things we put our hope in.

  • To hope in something means to get really excited about it happening, and to put your happiness in it. Think about how you feel knowing Christmas is coming—your hope is to get all the exciting presents you asked your parents for! Or knowing school is about to be out for the summer—no more waking up early, no more homework, lots more pool and beach and friend fun.

What is the difference between hoping in those things (your parents, presents, sports, friends, summertime), and hoping in Jesus?

  • All of the things we mentioned make us happy, but they are not promised, and they often disappoint us or let us down. Even at Christmas or during the summertime people get sick, storms happen, and plans change. That is why we need to be able to place our hope in something that is secure, something that will never go anywhere.

  • If your hope is in Jesus and His resurrection, what does that mean for your future? Think about the things Peter mentioned in today's verses. Why is that good news for today, with things happening around us that we can't control and feel scared about?
    Peter reminds us that the only thing guaranteed forever is eternity with God for those who believe in Jesus and His resurrection. No sickness and no storm is stronger than God's power and love. As Pastor Matt reminded us in the sermon, heaven is a place where God's love never ends, no matter what happens to us today.

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Phone - 615-730-7267
Email - mail@edgefieldnashville.org


Edgefield Church Nashville | 700 Russell Street, Nashville, TN 37206 | EIN 62-0550982