TGP Parent's Guide for the Week of 6/23-6/29

Unit 10, Session 3: The Ark Was Captured

1 Samuel 4–5

Christ Connection: The ark of God was important to the Israelites because it reminded God’s people that God was with them. Years later, God gave His people something greater than a sign that He was with them; God gave them His Son, Jesus—God in the flesh. One of Jesus’ names is Immanuel, which means “God with us.”

Adult Connection Point:

Who is this God who is “with us” in Jesus? He is King, eternal, immortal, and covenant-keeper (1 Tim. 1:17; Ex. 3:13-15). First Timothy 1:17 describes God as invisible, for He is spirit. But Jesus has revealed Him; Jesus is the visible image of the invisible God. (See Col. 1:15.)

Family Devotion:

Materials: paper, markers or crayons

During the week before using this devotion, encourage your kids to look at signs or logos as they ride in the car. During devotion time, ask your children to recall any signs or logos they saw: restaurants, businesses, churches, and so forth. Ask what the sign or logo tells them. Logos are used by businesses to identify their business or product. Logos should be easily identifiable so people will quickly recognize them and trust their product.

Guide your family to create your own personal family logo. Be creative and try to incorporate activities and likes of all your family members. This project doesn’t need to be completed during your devotion time, but make sure everyone has input on the final logo.

 

Remind your family that the ark of God was a symbol of God’s presence while the Israelites were wandering in the desert. Help them recall that 1 Samuel 4–5  reveals the people of Israel started treating the ark as magical, and they took the ark into battle where it was captured.

 

Read aloud 1 Timothy 1:17. Say: “God sent His Son, Jesus, to show people what God is like. Jesus is not just a logo of who God is; the Bible tells us that Jesus is Immanuel, which means ‘God with us.’ Jesus is God the Son.

Close in prayer, thanking God for sending Jesus to be our Savior and to show us what God is like.