Faithful in Hard Times- Sunday December 27, 2020

Sunday December 27, 2020 (Vol 10, Unit 28, Session 4)

Hi-there parents. We, at Friendship Kids, hope you had a very Merry Christmas and are looking forward to the new year ahead. 

Welcome back! Or if you're new here, welcome! The following blog is here to be a tool for you to help your kids grow in their faith. Please feel free to use as much of it as you choose. You know your kids and are the best possible teacher for them. God has given you the power of the Holy Spirit to enable you to do more than you think possible (Eph 3:20).  

 If you would like to join us in person, we are excited to announce that Children's Church for Kindergarten through 5th grade and Preschool has resumed and is meeting during the 10:30 service. We would love to see you and your kids there!   

Parent Devotional: This week’s lesson is found in 1 Peter 1-2.

Peter’s story of faith began when Jesus said, “Follow Me.” (Matt. 4:19) Peter and his brother Andrew—two fishermen from Galilee—left their nets and followed Jesus. As one of Jesus’ twelve disciples, Peter witnessed firsthand Jesus’ miracles and teachings.

Peter believed that Jesus is the Messiah (Matt. 16:16), and he was understandably upset when Jesus predicted that Peter would deny Him (Matt. 26:34-35). Peter fell asleep as Jesus prayed in the garden, and he drew his sword to defend Jesus when He was arrested. (Matt. 26:40; John 18:10) Peter denied Jesus three times, but after the resurrection Jesus appeared to Peter and the other disciples. Then Jesus restored Peter to ministry at the sea of Galilee. (John 21:15-19)

The first 12 chapters in the Book of Acts record the Holy Spirit’s work through Peter after Pentecost. God revealed to Peter that the gospel is for everyone—Jews and Gentiles. Peter was arrested and imprisoned for sharing the gospel, but an angel of the Lord rescued him. (Acts 12:1-8)

Peter wrote his first letter sometime between AD 62 and 64 to believers who had experienced persecution and suffering. He encouraged them and reminded them how to live holy lives as followers of Christ, looking forward to an eternal reward in their true home—heaven.

Peter’s letter was written nearly two thousand years ago to believers who were not far removed from Jesus’ life on earth. We still wait eagerly for Jesus’ return, but God calls us to faithfulness in hard times—using our time on earth to better know and love Him, and to tell others about Him. As believers, we are all called to live a life of love and to glorify God by what we do and say, even in the midst of trials and troubles.

As we begin to explore this week’s lesson, take a moment to remember the verse from Deuteronomy about teaching your children the scriptures. Deuteronomy 6:9 says: "You shall teach them diligently to your children and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise." Maybe you don't have time to sit and have an hour of Bible time all at once, or maybe your children are too young to sit for that long. Consider the key points of the lesson and ask God to give you opportunities to speak them into the hearts of your children throughout the week. Let the Bible become a part of your day to day. Be blessed this week my friends!  

Each week we include songs, activity pages, the bible lesson video, memory verses and possibly a craft or 2. We pray this will help you find ways to engage your kids spiritually. It is written in script form from the K-2nd grade lesson so you can read directly from it or change it up to suit your children. Take some time to look at and print the activity pages as well as the additional activities and information (found in the links at the bottom of the page) also to review the lesson so you can make adjustments as needed. I have included the Bible and Discussion questions along with a breakdown of the Gospel in the Older Kids Activities pages and loads of activities and crafts on the Preschool Extra Activity Pages. Once you are ready,go ahead and start with these songs if you'd like or pick some of your favorite worship songs and then jump right in! Have fun! And remember, this does not need to be done in one sitting! Feel free to break it up over the course of the week. Please contact me if you have any questions or suggestions. I'd love to hear from you!

So, let's get started. I like to begin each week with Blessings and Bummers. Tell me, what have you seen the Lord doing in your lives this week? What have your greatest blessings been? How about your biggest challenges? 

Parents share your blessings and bummers and encourage the kids to do the same. 

Let's go to the Lord in prayer. Father God, Thank you. Thank you for providing for our needs. You are so good to us even though we don't deserve it! Thank you for continuing to bless us Lord. Thank you for being patient with us. Thank you for our friends as well as our families. Most importantly, we thank you always, but especially during the Christmas season, for sending Jesus to live a perfect life and die to pay for our sins. Thank you for raising Him from the dead and promising us life with you forever if we believe. Help us to appreciate all you do for us and to look to you in all that we do. In Jesus name, Amen. (please add to or customize prayer time to fit your family)

Praise the Lord for hearing our prayers! 

Prompt kids to discuss a time they felt sad, scared, or alone. 

Say • We all face situations where we feel sad, scared, or alone. Thankfully, God sent the Holy Spirit to help us when we have faith in Jesus. That means we are never truly alone! Today we will learn about a time Peter wrote a letter to encourage Christians who felt sad, scared, and alone.

Optional Session Starter Activity Pick one of two options, or do both, this is your party. These are found in the activity pages attached below.

The Holy Spirit inspired Peter to write his letters to believers, and those letters contained comforting words and encouragement to Christians who faced persecution for their faith. That’s just one way the Holy Spirit helps us. How does the Holy Spirit help Christians? The Holy Spirit comforts us, shows us our sin, and guides us as we live for God’s glory. God wants us to live our lives in obedience to Him, and with the Holy Spirit’s help, we really can do that!

Soon after Jesus returned to heaven, God kept His promise to send the Holy Spirit. After that, the apostles began to do mighty works by His power. The Holy Spirit gave Peter power to heal a man. This week, we will learn about a time the Holy Spirit inspired Peter to write a letter to encourage believers who faced persecution—hateful treatment because of their faith in Jesus. Our story is called “Faithful in Hard Times.”

While Jesus was on earth, one of the things He taught was that all Christians would face persecution. As always, Jesus’ words were true. After Jesus went back to heaven, believers faced lots of persecution from those who did not believe Jesus was God’s Son. 

Peter knew that the benefits of loving and following Jesus were worth any kind of persecution we might face, so his letter aimed to remind believers what was true. He wanted them to know that God’s love for them was real. God had adopted them into His family, and no one could take that away. 

The suffering we face in life is an opportunity to show the world what Jesus is like. When we face suffering with love, patience, and faithfulness, it provides a picture of the love, patience, and faithfulness God has shown to us.

Every single Christian was born in sin, an enemy of God. It is only through God’s love and grace that anyone can be saved. For those of us who are saved, all the hard times we face in life are temporary. The eternal life we get through faith will outlast all the sadness of our broken world. Peter reminded Christians that our home isn’t the world as it is now, broken by sin. Our home is the perfectly restored world that Jesus will bring when He returns.

The Bible says Christians will suffer for following Jesus. Peter encouraged believers who faced persecution for their faith. Through suffering, God can make us more like His Son. Jesus gives us hope and true life so we can live joyfully for Him, even in hard times.

Bible Time! 

Distribute a Bible to each kid. Help them find 1 Peter 1. Explain that 1 Peter is part of the General Letters division of the New Testament. The apostle Peter wrote this letter around 30 years after Jesus’ ascension. It’s not known for sure, but it’s likely Peter wrote from Rome.

 Ask the following questions. Lead the group to discuss:

What did Peter say we are born into when we have faith in Jesus? (blessings in heaven, a perfect inheritance; 1 Peter 1:4)

What reason did Peter give for us to be faithful in hard times? (it honors God, 1 Peter 2:12)

Why did Peter say Jesus bore our sins? (So that we could live for righteousness; 1 Peter 2:24)

What does it mean to live for righteousness? Guide kids to discuss what righteousness is. Talk through what the Bible says about righteousness. Remind them that we only have righteousness through faith in Jesus’ righteousness. Help them see that we are saved from sin, so we can choose obedience.

What is our inheritance from God? Explain to kids what an inheritance is and talk about what we receive from God as a result of being adopted into His family. Remind them that we gain eternal life with God, joy, peace, wisdom, mercy and grace. Spend time explaining each of those concepts if kids do not understand them.

Why does God allow us to face hard times? Discuss the benefits of facing hard times, such as growing in patience, learning to trust God more, and showing His power and love to the world by responding graciously to those who are cruel to us. Remind kids that God can turn all things to good, even when we don’t see the good that He is working out.

Say • Peter encouraged believers who faced persecution. Jesus promised us that we would go through struggles as a result of our faith. We can trust Jesus no matter what and know that all our struggles will be worth it because of our eternal life with God.

Let's take a look at our memory verse, 2 Peter 1:3, and say it together:

Through the Holy Spirit, we have everything we need to live for God. God knows everything. He created us and knows what is best for us. When we live for His glory, we are also living for our own good! This key passage helps us remember that truth.

Memory Verse Activity:

Write each word of the key passage on a separate index card. Challenge the kids to say the key passage from memory and use the index cards to either reveal as the kids say the key passage or use as prompts to help them remember what comes next.

Say • Our key passage comes from words Peter wrote in the second letter of his in the Bible. Peter wrote to churches who faced lots of persecution. They were being mistreated, hurt, and even killed for their faith. Peter’s words came directly from God and reminded people that their power to live in hard times came from the Holy Spirit. He provides everything a that believer needs!

That's it for this week!

Let's pray:  

Lord, thank You for giving us Your Son. Thank You for sending the Holy Spirit to live with us and help us glorify You with our whole lives. Give us courage to face hard times and remain faithful to You no matter what. We love You. Amen.

Thanks for joining us! I hope to meet you here again next week!

Additional Activities and Information