Breaking News: Week 3
A 5-WEEK SERIES ON THE PROPHETS
Our kids may not be absorbing the news cycle like adults are, but they are experiencing the news cycle through others around them. It’s tough to know what news is helpful and what news is true. This month, our families will have a chance to journey with a few prophets – Micah, Amos, Zephaniah, Ezekiel, and Isaiah – to discover news they can count on. Breaking News will help them develop a strong identity in an ever-changing world. We will learn that when things go wrong, they can choose what’s right; when they worship God, they can be sincere; when times are tough, they can count on God; when they are lost, God will guide them, and that they can be faithful just like God is faithful.
MEMORY VERSE: "Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong." 1 Corinthians 16:13
Click HERE to watch this month’s memory verse video!
When times are tough, I can count on God
READ: Zephaniah 1:7,12-18, 3:14-17
WATCH:
Preschool: teaching video
Elementary: teaching video
SONG: Through It All
ACTIVITY/CRAFT:
Print this Trust Chain printable, and have your kids trace each of the words. Then have them cut along the dotted lines to create four strips of paper. Help each kid make a paper chain with their strips, using tape or glue to connect the ends together.
Let’s make a paper chain to help you remember the Big Idea "When times are tough, I can count on God."
Connect the edges of the first strip, “When times,” to make a circle. Then, loop the second strip, “are tough,” through the first one and connect the ends of that strip. Next, add the third strip, “I can,” and then the fourth strip, “count on God.”
Now, you have a chain to remind you when times are tough, I can count on God.
COLORING: coloring page
DISCIPLE:
Read Zephaniah 1:7, 12-18, 3:14-17 together.
This sounds a lot like the breaking news from the stories we heard before! God told a prophet to warn everyone about what could happen because of their actions.
Zephaniah called for the people to pay more attention to God instead of other things. That is something we can do, too. Whenever we are upset or when we don’t know what to do, instead of trying to find the answers ourselves, we can look to God first!
Activity Have family stand in a line, side by side while holding hands. When mom or dad says, “Go,” work together to pass the hula hoop from one end of the line to the other without letting go of hands. Set a timer and see how fast your family can do it. (If you have smaller children; hold up a hula hoop for each other while your children goes through).
Counting on others and being someone others can count on is important. Let’s count on each other to get this hoop from one end to the other!
Pray
Dear God, please help us to remember the words of Zephaniah. Help us to trust you no matter what is happening around us. Help us to remember that when times are tough, we can count on You. Amen.
DISCUSSION:
What can you tell me about Zephaniah?
What was the bad news?
What was the good news?
The Bible verses we read in 1 Thessalonians tell us to “not be like the others, who are asleep." What do you think this means for you and me?
Has there ever been a time when you felt like you weren't sure you could trust God?
How can we trust God in our everyday lives?
How will you trust God in your life this week?