Are We There Yet? - Week 2
Can you imagine needing to walk through the desert? You’d be surrounded by cacti, sand, snakes, and more sand. With the heat of the sun, we’d wind up so thirsty and wondering “Are we there yet?” That’s probably how the Israelites felt as they wandered around the desert, waiting to enter the Promised Land. But no matter how tired our feet get, we can focus on what’s happening in our lives right now rather than just on where we’re going. In this five-week series based on stories from Exodus, our families will explore how we can choose to be thankful, love God and others, turn to God when we’re lost, go to God when we need rest, and remember God’s promises.
BIG IDEA: We can love God and others.
BIBLE: Exodus 20:1–4, 7–9, 12–20; Matthew 22:34–40
MEMORY VERSE
Elementary: "I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." Isaiah 43:19B (NIV)
Toddler Twist: "Jesus makes a way for me!" Isaiah 43:19
WATCH:
Preschool- teaching video
Elementary- teaching video
DISCIPLE: Read or summarize Exodus 20:1-4; 7-9; 12-20.
Prepare a large cutout of a heart. Write "God" on one side and "Others" on the other side.
God’s rules tell us how to love God and love others. Sometimes it’s hard to do both when we don’t follow God’s rules. God gave us these commandments to help us see how God loves. God doesn't love part-way. God always loves completely.
When we don’t show love to people or God, it breaks God’s heart and it breaks our hearts too. (Tear the heart in half.)
Sometimes it can be really hard to love the people right in front of us. Maybe you can think of a time recently when you haven't been loving to a friend, sibling, or parent. As we learn to love those around us, we learn to love God.
The flip side of that is true too. As we keep learning to love God, we are better able to love others.
God loves completely, so we can trust that when we don't feel like we can love completely, God will help us by providing guidance for our us. As we follow God's commandments, we will see our love for God and others come together and grow.
Love God. (Hold up the "God" half of the heart.)
Love others. (Hold up the "Others" half of the heart and tape it together with the other part to complete the heart.)
Even though it might seem difficult sometimes, with God's help, we can love God and others.