Family is not always blood related. Naomi taught us that in the Book of Ruth. Naomi lost the only family she ever knew; she lost her husband and her two sons. But God blessed her with a new family in Ruth and Boaz.
You may be a spouse and parent to children you bore. You may be a single parent raising your children. Or maybe you adopted or are fostering children. Maybe, you graciously took in children from a friend or family member who could no longer care for them. No matter what your dynamic looks like, you are a family. And we can thank God for putting our family together just the way He did!
Here is a snapshot of what we will show the kids this week:
Bible Story Focus: I can thank God for my family. (Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz • Ruth 1–2)
Memory Verse: “I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart.” Psalm 111:1, ESV
Key Question: Who can you thank for everything?
Bottom Line: I can thank God for everything.
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 – Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz (link)
Worship – Attitude of Gratitude (link)
Worship – Don't be a Turkey (link)
Activities
Next, use the Memory Verse video to practice our monthly verse. We will practice this verse all month. Be sure to use the hand motions as it helps the kids to remember. Also, think of a fun reward you can give them at the end of the month 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 (link)
Bible Story Activity (link)
Coloring Page (link)
Bring Jesus To Their Level
Finish up your church at home by recapping the story and practicing the memory again. Then say: “Today’s Bible story was about family. When Naomi’s husband and sons died, the only family she had was Ruth. Ruth stayed with Naomi and told her she would be her family. Naomi thanked God for Ruth. When Naomi and Ruth got back to Naomi’s hometown, God added Boaz to their family! Naomi and Ruth were thankful for Boaz, and Boaz was thankful for Ruth and Naomi. They were all thankful for their family!
“You can thank God for your family, too, because you can thank God for everything. And the new Bible verse we’ll learn will help us remember to thank God for everything with our whole heart. It says . . . ‘I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,’ Psalm 111:1. (Practice this verse several times with your kids.)
“Since Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz were thankful for each other, I think we should make a list of our family we are thankful for. (List each member of your family and talk about why you’re all thankful for that person. You can list just those that live with your or add extended family if you want. Be sure to include yourself.)
“This is such a special list. Thank you for making it with me. Now it’s time to pray. Would anyone like to pray before I pray?” (Give each family member who wants to pray the opportunity to do so.)
Prayer: “Dear God, Thank You for our families. Thank You for [list each person on the list]. And thank You for giving us Jesus so we can be a part of Your family forever. You are amazing, God, and we love You. 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.
“Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from Him”
Psalm 127: 3, NLT
Angela Moody is the Early Years Ministry Lead at Abundant Life.
