December 9
“These words the Lord spoke to all your assembly at the mountain out of the midst of the fire, the cloud, and the thick darkness, with a loud voice; and he added no more. And he wrote them on two tablets of stone and gave them to me.” Deuteronomy 5:22
Today’s symbol: Ten Commandments
Ideas to do and talk about:
*Read an account of Moses receiving the Ten Commandments (from Exodus 19-20) in a children’s bible. The title of the Jesus Story Book Bible chapter on this subject is “Ten ways to be perfect.” I appreciate that title because it gets to the heart of the matter—there is NO way to keep all these commandments and NO way to be perfect…But we can trust in Jesus' perfection!
* “And God spoke all these words, saying, ‘I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.’” Exodus 20:1-2 These people belonged to God—They were in God’s family so they had family rules. What are some of our family rules? Why are these rules important to our family? Should we add any rules? What should happen if we do not follow these rules? Do we ask other people to follow our rules?
*Thank God for His rules that guide us to Him.
*Color the Tablets ornament and hang it on the tree!
December 10
“But she had brought them up to the roof and hid them with the stalks of flax that she had laid in order on the roof.” Joshua 2:6
“”Then when the Lord gives us the land we will deal kindly and faithfully with you.” Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was built into the city wall…” Joshua 2:14
“Behold, when we come into the land, you shall tie this scarlet cord in the window through with you let us down…” Joshua 2:18
Today’s symbol: Rahab’s Rope
Ideas to do and talk about:
*Read an account of Joshua 2 in a children’s Bible. The Beginner’s Bible states the story very simply. This is the story of a sinful woman who had an opportunity to follow God and through her saying “yes” to God, she saved her family AND is listed in Jesus’ family tree (Matthew 1:5)! God didn’t have to use Rahab to bring about His purposes but He did….
*Talk about how we do not have to be perfect (we can’t be!) to follow God. We just have to say “Yes!” Reminds me of a VBS song from Studio Go! which we will probably sing and Hudson will do all the moves…. “You don’t have to be the biggest, you don’t have to be the best, you just have to be willing, you just have to say Yes….”
*Color the rope ornament—our rope will be scarlet!
December 11
“But Ruth said, ‘Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people and your God my God…And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.” Ruth 1:16, 22
Today’s symbol: Sack of Grain
Ideas to do and talk about:
*Read an account of Ruth and Naomi from the book of Ruth in a children’s Bible. Ruth was not born into God’s chosen people, yet she is named in Jesus’ family tree (Matthew 1:5). Clearly, God’s plan includes calling ALL people to Himself, but just like Ruth, we all have the choice to go back where we came from…
*Talk about the truth that all we have comes from God…this includes the people in our lives – our family, friends, teachers. These people are gifts from God just like food, our home, and other things are gifts from God. Ruth and Naomi were gifts to each other. Through Naomi’s friendship, Ruth came into God’s family and through Ruth’s friendship, Naomi still had a family. How can we bless the people we know?
*Color the grain ornament and thank God from providing food to eat and family and friends with whom to share it!
December 12
“And the LORD came and stood, calling as at other times, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ And Samuel said, ‘Speak, for your servant hears.’ Then the LORD said the Samuel, ‘Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel at which the two ears of everyone who hears it will tingle.’” 1 Samuel 3:10-11
Today’s symbol: Crown
Ideas to do and talk about:
*Read an account of Samuel hearing God’s call (1 Samuel 3) and then anointing Saul as king (1 Samuel 9-10) in a children’s Bible.
*We will sing our CBS songs about Samuel... Sung to Mulberry Bush tune: “This is the way that Samuel grew, Samuel grew, Samuel grew. This is the way that Samuel grew…just like you!”
And sung to Frere Jacques:
"Where is Samuel, where is Samuel?
Here I am, here I am
Speak Lord I am listening
Speak Lord I am listening
I will obey
I will obey "
*Talk about how God knew that an earthly king was not what God’s people really needed. But they did not listen to God’s servant Samuel. Many many stories in the Bible show that Samuel was right; Israel’s earthly kings were often evil and self-serving. Ask God for help in doing what’s really best for us and not necessarily what we think is best.
*Color the crown and thank God for His forever King, Jesus!
December 13
“’There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep.’ And Samuel said to Jesse, ‘Send and get him…’ And the LORD said, ‘Arise, anoint him, for this is he.’” 1 Samuel 16:11,12
Today’s symbol: Shepherd’s Crook
Ideas to do and talk about:
*Read an account of David being anointed king from 1 Samuel 16 in a children’s Bible. David was a lowly shepherd as a boy who became a shepherd of God’s people as their king. Years later, Joseph and Mary would have to travel to Bethlehem, the city of David, because Joseph was in David’s family tree.
*Read the 23rd Psalm (perhaps in a kid-friendly translation) and talk about God providing what we need.
*Talk about Jesus as the Good Shepherd and the parable of the lost sheep (Luke 15).
*Color the Shepherd’s Crook ornament and add it to the Jesse tree!
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