Life is full of choices. Some are easy and some are really difficult. Some difficult decisions of no great impact but, in the moment, are a struggle. I have a friend that once took 15 minutes to decide between a cinnamon roll and a pecan roll. Some of you may be thinking, “seriously!” But others of you know exactly how he felt.
We all have different struggles and we all have different things that drive us. So the question is, when the choice you make really matters, who do you turn to? God wants to be involved with every decision (even the ones between a cinnamon roll and a pecan roll). Bringing the small stuff to God is how we build a relationship with our Heavenly Father. But it is His power through the Holy Spirit that can help us make the right choice when it really matters.
Here is a snapshot of what we will show the kids this week:
Bible Story Focus: God’s power helps me make the right choice. (Daniel’s Food • Daniel 1:8-17)
Memory Verse: “Great is our Lord and mighty in power.” Psalm 147:5, NIV
Key Question: Who is powerful?
Bottom Line: God is powerful.
Bible Story & Worship
Watch the Bible Story Video with your kids so you can recap and discuss it with them in the “Bring Jesus To Their Level” section. Then join your kids in worship as we sing and dance for God.
Bible Story Video – Daniel's Food
Worship – Anything At All
Worship – Super Wonderful
Activities
Next, use the Memory Verse video to practice our monthly verse. This is our last week to practice the memory verse. Be sure to think of a fun reward you can give them next week when they are able to say it all by themselves. The activity sheet and coloring page are fun resources to help reinforce story and/or big idea.
Memory Verse with Hand Motions
Bible Story Activity
Coloring Page
Bring Jesus To Their Level
Finish up your church at home by recapping the story and practicing the memory again. Then say: “Our Bible story, today, was about a choice Daniel had to make. He could have chosen to eat the king’s food like everyone else. But Daniel knew the right choice was following God’s rules, which meant he had to choose to eat different food. God’s power helped Daniel make the right choice!
“We have lots of choices to make every day, and God wants to help us make right choices, too. The Bible verse we are learning will help us remember that God’s power is mighty and will help us. It says . . . ‘Great is our Lord and mighty in power,’ Psalm 147:5. (Practice this verse several times with your kids.)
“When we remember how great and mighty God’s power is, it will help us make the right choices. But since today’s story had a lot of food in it, we’ll make a list of our favorite foods. Then we can use our list to thank God for food! (Have each family member list something.)
“This list is making me hungry! Let’s use it when we pray. Would anyone like to pray before I pray?” (Give your kid(s) an opportunity to pray if they want to.)
PRAYER: “Dear God, Thank You for food and how You use it to make us grow strong. Thank You for foods like (read the list your family made). They are SO good to eat! We also want to thank You for using Your awesome power to help us make right choices. I pray that (say each family member’s name) will always look to You to help them know the right choice to make. We love You, God. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
As we wrap up, I would like to leave you with one of the kids’ favorite ‘good-bye’ songs:
Let Me See Your Alligator
Thank you for the opportunity to partner with you in the discipleship of your kid(s). My prayers are with you.
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”
Jeremiah 1:5
Angela Moody is the Early Years Ministry Lead at Abundant Life.
