Peace Wk 3

Going Further

Hi Everyone! A couple of ideas for family activities after watching the video:

1) Read/Review: Luke 2:6-20 and John 14:27

2) Family Time:

• Family Discussion: Who did the angel of the Lord first appear to? Where were they? Why were the shepherds afraid? Think of it! It’s a normal night. You’re focused on keeping your sheep safe, but there are no electric lights, so it’s very dark – and suddenly the angels appear with the glory of the Lord shining around them. Do you think that’s probably a bright light? Would you be afraid? What did the angel say to them? Why do you think the angel called it “good news of great joy”? What did the angel say would be a sign? After the angel left, where did the shepherds go? What was the name of Jesus’ mother and earthly father? After they saw Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus, what did the shepherds do? Do you think if you saw everything the shepherds saw and heard that night that you would be so excited that you would have to tell everyone about it just as the shepherds did? Even though we weren’t there that night to physically see Jesus’ birth, we have something even better and more exciting. Although Jesus came to this earth as a human baby boy, He also is the Son of God. He was sent here so that He could live in our hearts if we accept Him as Lord and Savior. That means we believe He is the Son of God, we confess that we are sinners and that we ask Him into our hearts to forgive our sins so that we can live with Him forever in Heaven. Have you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Take time to discuss this important decision and pray together as a family. If you make the decision to accept Jesus into your heart,Jesus will live in your heart forever. No one can take that away from you. Now – you have something even more exciting to share than the shepherds!
• Activity: Give a candy cane to each child. Have them each give a description of it. Use each description as a method to help them remember Jesus.Here are a few examples: hook on the end is like a shepherd’s staff – used to pull sheep out of danger, just like Jesus, the Good Shepherd does for us (figuratively) when we stray from Him. If you turn the candy cane upside down, it forms a letter “J” for Jesus. The red reminds us of the blood Jesus shed for our sins. The white reminds us of how our hearts are white as snow when He forgives us our sins. Taste of the candy cane is sweet, like our time with Jesus when we pray. It tastes minty fresh, like the freshness we have when He forgives our sins and makes us new.
• Pray together as a family: Is there someone in your family who has not yet accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior?