TGP Family Devotional for the Week of 9/15-9/21

Unit 13, Session 3: Elijah Ran from Jezebel

1 Kings 19

Christ Connection: Elijah was Godʼs prophet, but Jezebel wanted to kill him. 
God was in control, and He protected Elijah. Jesus is the true and final Prophet. 
People hated Jesus and wanted to kill Him. God was in control. He used Jesusʼ enemies to fulfill His plan to save people from sin.

Adult Connection Point: 
Elijah was doing what God wanted him to do but it wasnʼt easy. There were 
obstacles. Ever since sin entered the world, what was meant for our good has 
been cursed, and our efforts at work push against a world that resists us. The 
work we have to do may not be physically exhausting, but itʼs emotionally 
exhausting. It may feel demeaning and useless, and it leads to a deep sense of 
apathy. Fantasies ensue, in which we dream, “If I only had that job, Iʼd be 
happy.” or “If only my situation were different.” Some grow bitter, feeling trapped 
in their work and jealous of others. But we can only find ourselves in such a 
place when weʼve lost sight of the Creator. Apart from Him, we canʼt see the 
bigger purpose our work might be serving in creation. We canʼt see that our 
role, even though it may be small, is good. For those who feel trapped, there is 
good news. God is in control. The gospel transforms everything about our lives, 
including our work. In fact, the gospel has a profound relationship with work. To Christ, we turn!

Family Devotion:
Set up an obstacle course in your house or outside that leads over, under, 
around, and through different obstacles. As you begin your family devotion 
guide each family member through the obstacle course. If a particular obstacle 
is difficult make sure you take the time necessary to complete the challenge. 
Recall Elijahʼs run from Jezebel and ask what Elijah had identified as the 
obstacles to his ministry. Elijah claimed that he was the only person in all of 
Israel that believed in God and that Jezebel had already killed all those who 
believed in God and she was now after Elijah. Ask your family members to 
identify things they may see as obstacles in their lives. 

Talk about the three events that passed Elijah before God spoke to him. Recall  the violent wind that went past Elijah, recall any wind storms or a heavy wind experience your family had. Talk about earthquakes that may have recently been in the news or your family experienced. Talk about fire and how destructive it can be. Remind your kids that God spoke to Elijah in a small whisper to bring him comfort and peace that can only come from God through circumstances.

Pray, thanking God for peace from Him that comes when overcoming a difficult

TGP Family Devotions for 9/8-9/14

Unit 13, Session 2: Elijah Confronted Evil Ahab

1 Kings 18
Christ Connection: Elijah called on the power of God to prove to the worshipers 
of Baal that Yahweh is the one true God. By sending fire from heaven, God 
displayed His great power. God would use His power years later to raise Jesus 
from the dead, showing that Jesus is the Son of God.

Adult Connection Point:
Jeremiah 9:23-24: “This is what the Lord says: The wise man must not boast in 
his wisdom; the strong man must not boast in his strength; the wealthy man 
must not boast in his wealth. But the one who boasts should boast in this, that 
he understands and knows Me—that I am Yahweh, showing faithful love, 
justice, and righteousness on the earth, for I delight in these things. This is the Lordʼs declaration.”

We are not to boast in our own strength but in that we know God, the One who 
raised Jesus up from the dead in power. The good news, announced and 
enacted by Jesus, was that the kingdom of God had arrived. A relationship with 
God was available again! Where Adam and Eveʼs sin led God to exile mankind 
from Eden, the gospel leads us back home. Jesusʼ death paid the penalty for 
our sin, and His resurrection paved the way to new life.

Family Devotion:
Materials: one heavy object, one light object.

Gather your family around the heavy object and—with guidance—invite each 
member of your family to try and lift it. If someone struggles to lift it, encourage 
him and give assistance as needed. Repeat using the light object, assuming no 
one will struggle to lift it. 

Read Jeremiah 9:23-24. Define the word boast as talking proudly about 
oneself.
 Ask, “What does the Bible say people should boast in?” People should 
boast in God and who He is. 
Ask, “Why was it hard to lift the heavy object but not 
the light object?”
Lifting heavy objects requires more power or strength.

Recall the story of Elijah calling down fire from heaven. Help your family see 
that what Elijah proposed was impossible for men to accomplish. Since Elijah 
knew that God is the only true God, Elijah trusted that God was going to deliver—and He did.

Discovery Club and Kid'z Zone Newsletter-September 2013

·         The Gospel Project: The Gospel Project is kicking off a new session this week. Gospel Project Big Picture Cards have gone home in Sunday School. However, if your child has not received a pack of cards for this session, please see Don Wright to get a copy for your family! The cool collectors cards are a fun way to review everything your child has learned in Sunday School, Discovery Club, or Kid’Z Zone.

·         Awana: Awana is back in full swing with all clubs meeting on Wednesday Nights. We would love for your child to join us in Awana from 6:00-7:30 on Wednesdays. Awana Sunday is September 8 during the 10:45 am service. Everyone is encouraged to wear their Awana gear.

·         5^th Sunday Stay: Kid’z Zone has a 5^th Sunday Stay this month on September 29. All KZ students will remain in worship for the full 10:45 am service on this date.

·         Fall Festival 2013: Our Annual Fall Festival will be October 27. We will have the entire event in the gym including a “Table or Treat.” You can volunteer to decorate at table with the church office. And we need lots of donations of candy. Last year, we had a donation from a sister church, but without their help, we would not have had enough candy for the 250-300 guest who came to our campus. If you have questions about our Fall Festival this year, contact Chuck Sumner, Chuck@BBCLife.org. Chuck will be heading up the Fall Outreach while Elizabeth is out on maternity leave.

·         A Note from Mrs. Elizabeth:  Thank you to everyone who has volunteered to work in Discovery Club and Kid’z Zone during my final weeks of pregnancy and my leave after Connor is born. Caleb and I appreciate your continued prayer and support as we go through these last few weeks. Due to complications from the pregnancy, I have been placed on bed rest until further notice. Pray for myself and Caleb as we trust the Lord to provide for us during this time and pray for the baby’s safety in these crucial final stages of development. We appreciate your prayers and help to continue making BBC Kids run smoothly over the next several weeks. 

The Gospel Project Family Devotion Week of 9/1-9/7, 2013

Unit 13, Session 1: Israel's History of Evil Kings

1 Kings 16
Christ Connection: Godʼs people asked for a king to lead them, but no king led 
them perfectly. Was there any king on earth who would be faithful? God would 
send a king from heaven—His own Son—who would lead Godʼs people back to 
God. He would be the King of all kings—Jesus Christ.

Adult Connection Point:
Genesis 9:1-7
Everything changed in Genesis 3. The harmony of creation—a result of the 
perfect, image-bearing lives of the first man and woman—turned to discord and 
chaos when Adam and Eve sinned. Death and disease followed, and every 
kind of evil was birthed in the hearts of men. Therefore, no leader could be 
perfect. The situation became so dire that God determined to start over—saving 
only one man and his family—in the story of Noah and the ark. Yet, even after 
starting afresh, God acknowledged the inevitable return of evil. Even the flood 
couldnʼt wash away the curse. So in this story, God reaffirmed the truth: while 
things would go wrong again, His image remained in man. In His instructions to 
Noah, God showed that He has a plan for the future. He cares for us and He 
gave a promise to Noah in Genesis 9:7: “But you, be fruitful and multiply; spread 
out over the earth and multiply on it.” God wasnʼt giving up on man. He had a 
plan! And that plan was Jesus.

Family Devotion: 

Guide your kids to name people who are in charge of things. For example: 
Kings/queens in charge of a country, a president in charge of a company, a 
captain in charge of the boat, and so forth. See how many you can come up 
with. See which family member can come up with the most creative suggestion. 

Ask your kids if they remember any facts from todayʼs story about the kings who 
were in charge of Israel. 

Recall the story of Noah and the ark. Ask, “Who was in charge of the boat that 
Noah and his family were on?” God was, since He is the one who told Noah 
how to build it and what to do while inside. God protected Noah and his family, 
even though God knew sin would still exist in the world. Through one of Noahʼs 
offspring would come the One who would ultimately deal with sin. 

Ask: “Were any of the kings of Israel faithful to God?” Godʼs people begged Him 
to give them a king, but no king could be completely faithful to God.

Pray, thanking God for sending Jesus to be the perfect King who would lead 
Godʼs people back to Him.