Ever After - Week 1
God gives us companions!
Fairy tales are full of fantasy and imagination. We love them because they take what could be real and add extraordinary circumstances. But what if there was a story where the extraordinary circumstances were real? Could a story like this exist? This month, we are going to look at the story of Ruth to see how God truly writes the best stories for us — full of companions, hope, boldness, and the knowledge that God is always taking care of us!
Click HERE to watch this month’s memory verse video!
MEMORY VERSE:
"The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore." Psalm 121:8
TODDLER TWIST:
"God always cares for me!" Psalm 121:8
READ: Ruth and Naomi Leave Moab: Ruth 1
WATCH:
Preschool- Teaching Video
Elementary- Teaching Video
SONG: Oceans
COLORING PAGE: Ruth and Naomi
DISCIPLE: Read Ruth 1 or retell in your own words to your children.
INSTRUCTIONS: Take the your kids outside if possible. If not, have several flashlights available. Take turns drawing the other's shadow on the ground. Use chalk if you're outside or a large sheet of paper with a washable marker if you are inside.
Option 2: Instead of tracing themselves, have your kids trace shadows of two things side by side (e.g., two dinosaur toys, two stuffed animals, two dolls, etc.).
God sent Ruth to be Naomi's companion during a difficult time in her life. God can send friends, family, maybe even animal friends, like many fairy tales, to give us hope and encouragement. But there is another companion that is always there for us, that we can't really see . . . kind of like our shadow. And that's God. Of course, your shadow disappears when there's no light, but God is there all the time – especially when things look dark! God gives us companions, and sometimes that companion is God!
Pray: Dear God, thank you for sending us friends and companions. Thank you most of all that because of Jesus we are never alone. Amen.
DISCUSSION:
Why did Naomi and her family leave their hometown and move to Moab?
What kinds of difficulties did Naomi face in Moab?
What did Ruth say when Naomi told her not to follow her?
Read Acts 2:4. Why do you think the Holy Spirit allowed the people to speak other languages?
Describe a time when you would need a companion.
What are some ways you can be a good companion to others?
What can you do to remind yourself in hard times that God (and the Holy Spirit) is your forever companion?