ROCKHARBOR Churchmedia1.razorplanet.com/share/510525-7911/siteDocs/...the Feast of Tabernacles...

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© 2012 David C. Cook. TruResources are developed in partnership with ROCKHARBOR Church and a national network of family and children’s ministry leaders. All rights reserved.

Feast of Tabernacles: Remembering God’s Blessings

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© 2012 David C. Cook

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InspireIt was windy and rainy for three days. The wind blew over our lawn chairs, ruined the new tablecloth I’d put on the outside table, and scattered pine needles everywhere. During these rainy and windy days, I was sick—stuck lying in bed, aching and unable to do anything except hope sleep would come.

One afternoon, at the end of the storm, I woke up from a long nap to see the sun shining through the clouds. When I opened the back door, clean air floated into the room. I wrapped myself in a blanket and sat outside in one of the only chairs that still stood upright. It felt wonderful to be enveloped in the warm, heavy glow of the sun. It also felt good to just sit there. Not working. Not thinking about bills. Not cleaning up pine needles. Just sitting and soaking up the sun.

There I talked with God. “Hi, God,” I told Him. “It’s wonderful that You created the sun. It’s wonderful that I know You. I love being with You. You’re beautiful. I am happy to be alive. You are so good to me. I praise You.”

I’m thankful for moments like these—moments when I have the time to remember how good God is and praise Him for simply giving me the gift of His presence. I pray for more moments like these when I can remember and celebrate our wonderful God in that still, quiet place in my soul.

Tori FunkhouserTruStory Team

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EquipEvery 6th and 13th lesson, we pause to remember and celebrate, just as God instructed His people to do.

During this week’s Remember & Celebrate lesson, we’re celebrating the Feast of the Tabernacles. The Israelites celebrated this feast in thanksgiving to remember God’s provision in the wilderness as well as His continued provision in their lives. For seven days they lived in tents or temporary shelters they decorated with colorful ornaments. The New Testament significance of this feast reminds us that this life is temporary, and all our lifelong dreams, hopes, and aspirations will one day be fulfilled in our future home and inheritance with Jesus.

Old Testament SignificanceSeveral times a year, the Israelites gathered for a feast or festival. In Leviticus 23, “the Lord said to Moses, ‘Speak to the Israelites and say to them: “These are my appointed feasts … which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies.”’” These seven feasts and festivals are Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of First Fruits, the Feast of Harvest, the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles (or Booths). In addition, the Israelites would gather weekly to celebrate the Sabbath. These were times to remember what God had done for His people and to celebrate His goodness. They were times for the entire faith community to gather without the burden of work to simply worship and celebrate. During the feasts, the Israelites ate, danced, sang, played instruments, prayed, and offered sacrifices to God.

New Testament SignificanceThe Feast of Passover was fulfilled by the death of the Messiah, the Feast of Unleavened Bread was fulfilled by His sinless sacrifice, and the Festival of First Fruits was fulfilled by His resurrection. The Feast of Harvest began with a great harvest of three thousand souls by the coming of the promised Holy Spirit, who continues to harvest souls today. The Feast of Trumpets will announce Christ’s return, the Day of Atonement will usher in His judgment of the nations, and, finally, the Feast of Tabernacles begins the journey to our new home in a new heaven and new earth.

Further ResourcesFor more information on biblical feasts and festivals, see “How It Works” under the Resource Tab, or visit:

http://www.shamar.org/articles/godsplan.php

http://www.maranathalife.com/teaching/jew-hol.htm





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ADAM & EVE

SUSEJ

OUR FUTURE WITH JESUS

YOU & ME

TIM

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ABRAHAM

MOSES

JOSHUA

SAMUELHANNAH

KING DAVID

ELIJAHKING AHAB

KING JOSIAH

JEREMIAH

SHADRACH/MESHACH/ABEDNEGO

DANIEL

ESTHER

NEHEMIAH

SIMEON/ANNAZECHARIAH

MARYZACCHAEUS

LYDIACORNELIUS

PHILIP

PAUL

AP

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TLES

400 Y

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PETER

JAMESJOHN

SupportWhen we take time to remember and celebrate, we can become overwhelmed with thankfulness for the many blessings we’ve received—blessings we take for granted and may not even have noticed. We realize that even though we may be thankful for these blessings, we may not have praised God for them yet! God is the Giver of every good gift, including the greatest gift: being in relationship with Him.

Take a moment and look around you. If you’re inside, thank God that you have a roof over your head. If you’re outside, thank God for the sun, the mountains, or the sea. Notice the small things, and ask God to remind you of the important things. Take time to thank God for these blessings—small and large. Praise Him for the blessing of His presence in your life.

TruStory Team

5© 2012 David C. Cook

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Lesson Overview

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Experience Time Summary Supplies/Prepare (Master Supply List under Resource Tab)

Anticipate//Small Group Check-In

5–10 min.

Encouraging interaction among kids, leaders, and parents; to engage the kids in curiosity and anticipation of the lesson; and to create an inviting atmosphere.

Give Me Shelter• pop-up tents, tables, large sticks of wood, or

large planks of wood• sheets or blankets • dried flowers, ivy, or other plant materials

(for decorating the structures) • string, tape, or binder clips• optional: canvas, permanent marker; snack

Remember//Large Group

25–40 min.

Telling stories about what God has done in their lives, and in the lives of others.

Traditions• mementos for your church Traditions

(e.g., rocks, gum balls, building blocks)

Connect Game: Chasing the Tail• bandana• Connect Game slide (see Resource Folder)

Connect Question• Connect Question slide (see Resource Folder)

Remember and Play• supplies for ZONK (see supply detail on p. 9;

for ZONK question and answer slides, see Resource Folder)

Celebrate//Large Group

25–35min.

Celebrating like the Israelites during the biblical feasts and festivals—by singing, dancing, eating, playing instruments, worshipping together, and praying.

Remembering My Experience with God• Bible• large group Respond and Create/Engage

pieces• Worship Response Stations

Storytelling• Bible• image of a campfire and sound effect

(see Resource Tab)

Feasts and Festivals• TruWorship (suggestion: “Your Love” or

“Jump Up,” TruWorship You Are)• food, plates, napkins, utensils

Celebration Station• rocks, permanent markers

Bless//Small Group

5min.

Sending the kids out with a sense of peace and blessing so that they can be a blessing to their families and others.

• Bible (for the blessing)• HomeFront Weekly (1 per child; see Resource Folder)

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ANTICIPATE | REMEMBER | CELEBRATE | BLESS

Anticipate// 5–10 min.

An energizing time for parents and kids to start engaging with the material that will be presented in the lesson.

Small Group Leaders

SMALL GRouPS E C T I O N

Anticipate is an exciting time during the Remember & Celebrate weekends for parents, Small Group Leaders, and kids to begin engaging in activities that will be revealed within the large group time of Remember & Celebrate. Anticipate is intentionally designed to spark curiosity and cultivate a sense of awe and wonder about God. Encourage parents to participate as they transition with their child into worship.

Give Me ShelterDuring this Anticipate, let kids make temporary homes out of various items to remind them of how the Israelites made shelters for themselves during the Feast of Tabernacles.

SUPPLIES• pop-up tents, tables, large sticks of wood, or large planks of wood• sheets or blankets • dried flowers, ivy, or other plant materials (for decorating the structures) • string, tape, or binder clips• optional: canvas, permanent marker; snack

SET UPIf using pop-up tents, assemble them before the kids arrive. Set out the remaining supplies. Optional: Write “God’s Blessings in Our Lives” at the top of the canvas and hang it in the room. Set the permanent markers nearby.

ENGAGEGod told Moses to tell the people: “‘On the first day you are to take choice fruit from the trees, and palm fronds, leafy branches and poplars, and rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days … All native-born Israelites are to live in booths so your descendants will know that I had the Israelites live in booths when I brought them out of Egypt. I am the Lord your God’” (Leviticus 23:40, 42–43). God commanded His people to build temporary homes in remembrance of how He brought them out of slavery and blessed them with His presence. Because of this, the Israelites made temporary homes—out of trees, flowers, plants, and other materials that grew in the area—during the Feast of Tabernacles.

Show the kids the building materials and encourage them to get creative and work together to create temporary shelters. They might tie sticks together to create a roof, which they could prop over two chairs. They might create a lean-to with larger boards or sticks against a wall. They could throw a sheet or blanket over a table. Anything goes as long as it somehow resembles a temporary home. Once the kids finish their shelters, if you have time, share a snack inside them and talk about the ways God has blessed you and your families. Optional: If you hung the canvas, encourage the kids to visit it and write praises for blessings they’ve received from God.

Partner Church Comments “The kids liked making the shelters. It got pretty crazy in there—sheets, tarps, canvas, clothespins, and rope. It was like a maze! Fun!” Mountainbrook Community Church

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This is an opportunity to pause and look back at all that God has done and who He has been leading up to the present day.

Remember// 25–40 min.

LARGE GRouPS E C T I O N

Host/Storyteller

First we will remember God’s faithfulness throughout The Big God Story. Children will hear how God has woven His redemptive plan throughout time. In response to what they have seen God do in the past through His story, children will share together in remembering what He has done in and through their lives, as they too are a part of His big story.

For today’s Remember & Celebrate lesson we’ll be celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles. During this feast, Jewish people built temporary homes, or booths, out of local trees and plants. They did this as a remembrance of the time when their ancestors wandered in the wilderness and lived in temporary homes after God brought them out of Egypt. During this feast, the Israelites also spent time praising God for His many blessings. Today we’ll also take time to praise God for His blessings because He’s the same yesterday, today, and forever!

Welcome and TraditionsAfter everyone is gathered together as a large group, open with Traditions. During Traditions, you are helping the kids work toward a common goal and giving them mementos to celebrate things like memorizing the Remember Verse, inviting a friend, or bringing their Bibles.

Mementos can be anything, such as rocks, marbles, gum balls, or connecting blocks. Use a clear plastic or glass container to fill so kids can watch their progress. Or have them contribute to the building of a structure with connecting blocks. If you have multiple services, use separate containers or building stations for each one. Once the kids have been awarded their mementos, direct them to put the mementos into the container or to add them to the building effort. When the common-goal tradition is complete, have a celebration!

If there is time, take it a step further and choose one or two child volunteers each week to share praise reports, testimonies, or funny and intriguing events. Sing familiar worship songs with corresponding motions. Encourage kids to think of their own motions to personalize the songs for your church community.

ConnectConnect is a time to laugh, play, and enjoy each other’s company. Engaging questions, energizing games, and creative activities encourage the community to get to know each other. (See the Resource Folder for the Connect Game and Question slides.)

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Game: Chasing the TailSUPPLIES • bandana• Connect Game slide (see Resource Folder)

SET UP AND ENGAGESplit the kids into groups of about 10 kids. Have the groups line up, single file, and have each team member place his hands on the shoulders of the person in front of him. Tuck the bandana into the waistband, belt, or pocket of the child last in line. Now the first person in line, or “head,” should try to grab the “tail” (bandana) of the last person in line. Tell the rest of the kids not to let go of the person in front of them!

Once the first person in line catches the tail, she goes to the end of the line and gets the tail, while the second person in line becomes the new head. Play until everyone gets a chance to catch the tail.

Question Invite kids to ask each other the question below (or one of your own). Encourage them to ask someone they might not know yet. After a minute or two, ask several kids to tell their friends’ answers to the group.

What’s the coolest camping experience you’ve ever had?

Remember and PlayIsraelite children were so excited about the upcoming feasts and festivals that they wouldn’t sleep for days in anticipation. During the feasts and festivals, they would eat special foods, see special people, and engage in special dances, tribal games, and ceremonies!

The feasts and festivals were both fun and meaningful. God’s people reveled in how good it was to be together as they remembered what God had done in their lives. During this time, we will seek to remember in a spirit of fun and celebration—making the experience exciting and interesting as well as meaningful, community-building, and spiritually forming.

Remembering The Big God StoryEngage the kids by playing a game to help them remember where they have been during the last few weeks. (See ZONK! questions and answers slides in the Resource Folder and ZONK! animation and blank ZONK! slides under the Resource Tab.)

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Let’s Play ZONK! (New options included!)SUPPLIES• 30 index cards, hat or paper bag, permanent markers, paper, pen• optional: medium-size, perfectly square (equal-sided) cardboard box, all sides taped

closed

SET UP• Write point values (e.g., “1,000” or “200”) on 10 index cards, write “ZONK!” on 10 index

cards, and place all the cards in a hat or bag. • Write 10 “Challenge Cards” with point values. Some examples of challenges: do 20

jumping jacks, sing “I’m a Little Teapot,” or quack like a duck.• Assign someone to keep score. • Optional: If you use the cardboard box, write a challenge on each side, and also write

“ZONK! Cube” on an index card and put it in the hat or bag.

ENGAGETo play, split the kids into two teams (e.g., girls versus boys). Ask one team a question and have kids from that team raise their hands to answer. If a child answers correctly, have him come up and pull a card from the hat or bag. He can grab as many cards as he and his team want. Point values are added together, but if he pulls a ZONK! card, his team loses all of its points. So watch out!

If the child draws a Challenge Card from the hat, the whole team must act out the challenge (e.g., the chicken dance) to get the amount of points written on the card. Everyone on the team must participate in the challenge or the team loses the amount of points written on the card!

If the child draws an optional ZONK! Cube challenge card, he must roll the box (like a die) between the teams. Whichever challenge appears facing up, his team must perform—if he and his team want to continue drawing more cards.

Whichever team has the most points after all the questions wins! Note: Kids get loud during this game! One team yells, “Points, points, points!” and the other team yells, “ZONK! ZONK! ZONK!”

Note: Ask questions for the purpose of spiritual formation instead of memorization. Ask questions that remind the kids of the narrative of The Big God Story, what God did in their hearts during the past few weeks, or what they learned about who God is.

Partner Church Comments “ZONK—we love it. Period.” Impact Christian Church

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Sample Remember Questions (for playing ZoNK!)1) Whom did Jesus promise to send to the disciples after He returned to His Father in

heaven? ANSWER: The Holy Spirit.

2) Right after the Holy Spirit fell on the disciples for the first time, what happened? a. The people began to speak in other languages b. Those on the street heard the good news in their own languages c. Three thousand people came to believe in Jesus that day d. All of the above ANSWER: D

3) When Philip came up to the Ethiopian on the desert road, what was the Ethiopian doing? a. Reading a scroll of Isaiah b. Doing cartwheels while singing the national anthem c. Praying loudly while clapping his hands d. Talking to his friends about Jesus ANSWER: A

4) True or False: The Ethiopian man hesitated to accept Jesus. ANSWER: False. (He believed instantly and couldn’t wait to be baptized as an outward sign of his salvation.)

5) God gave Peter a vision that led him to tell a Gentile centurion about Jesus. What was that vision about? a. Clean and unclean foods, and whether or not Peter could eat them b. God calling everyone clean c. God breaking down barriers so everyone could be in His faith community d. All of the above ANSWER: D. (God used a vision to help break down barriers between Jews and Gentiles and opened the way for everyone to be part of His faith community.)

6) True or False: God loves certain types of people more than He loves other types of people. ANSWER: False. (God loves everyone the same and wants everyone to be a part of His faith community!)

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7) While Peter was in jail, what was the faith community doing? a. Eating b. Talking about sports c. Taking a walk d. Praying ANSWER: D. (The faith community was praying together, in faith, for Peter’s release.)

8) True or False: The faith community instantly knew it was Peter when he knocked at the door. ANSWER: False. (Peter had to keep knocking because they were still praying for his release!)

9) True or False: Paul decided where to go and who would hear the good news of Jesus. ANSWER: False. (The Holy Spirit led Paul where He wanted him to go.)

10) When Paul and his companions got to Philippi, they found ____, who believed in Jesus and became the first believers in the city. a. A synagogue full of Jewish men b. A group of women c. A circus troupe d. Pharisees ANSWER: B. (With the help of the Holy Spirit, Lydia and her household founded one of the most joyful churches recorded in the New Testament.)

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Celebrate// 25–35 min.

LARGE GRouPS E C T I O N


Kids gather together as one faith community and celebrate what God has done and who God is. They participate in storytelling and connect through fun and engaging worship.

Host/Storyteller

Remembering My Experience with God SUPPLIES• Bible• large group Respond* and Create**/Engage** pieces from previous weeks• Worship Response Stations

SET UPSet up the large group Respond* and Create**/Engage** pieces in lesson order around the room. Bring out the Worship Response Stations.

ENGAGEFrom the large group Respond and Create/Engage pieces, choose three or so you might want to discuss, and have them available. Talk and pray about this with your team, and choose the pieces that most impacted your group.

Storytelling tip: Present all large group Respond and Create pieces from your past lessons, highlighting what God did during these times. Have each child turn to another child and discuss a moment when God moved in his heart during these times. Afterward, move through the pieces and ask if kids have stories or memories to share about each specific activity or response experience.

*Large Group Respond• 4.1 God, Be the Source of my Strength: During this lesson we prayed that God

would be the Source of our strength like He was for the disciples who told so many people the good news. How has God recently been the Source of your strength?

• 4.2 Faith Community Web: What did you think when you saw your ribbon threaded through the faith community web? What did the faith community web look like? 4.3 God, Please Break Down Barriers: During this lesson we heard about how sometimes things hold us back from being able to completely love others. What were some things that held you back from loving others the way God loves them? How did God break down those barriers?

• 4.4 Prayers of the Faith Community: During this lesson we talked about how God answers prayers. Some of you prayed together for the faith community. What was this experience like? Does anybody have any praise reports from those who received prayer?

• 4.5 Letting the Holy Spirit Lead: The Holy Spirit leads those who believe in Jesus. He leads them to speak to others, pray for others, and act in ways that please God. During this lesson, did the Holy Spirit lead you to write or draw anything on the butcher paper? Share a story about how He’s led you in your life.

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**Create/Engage• 4.1 Strands of Strength: During this lesson you created a strength braid of three

strands: one declaring God’s truth, one declaring God’s strength in our lives, and one declaring how we need God’s strength in our lives. What are some places in your lives where you need God’s strength?

• 4.2 Encouraging and Loving the Faith Community: You wrote some letters to missionaries working either in your neighborhoods or around the world. What was it like being able to encourage those working so hard to share the good news about Jesus?

• 4.3 Our Faith Community: What was it like to pray for the faith community in countries such as China, Africa, and India? What types of prayers do you still want to pray for the persecuted faith communities in these countries?

• 4.4 Praying for the Church Worldwide: During this lesson you prayed for the faith community worldwide. Whom did you pray for, and how have you spent time praying for them since?

• 4.5 Listening, Following, and Responding: What was it like to listen closely to our friend walking you through her house in your imagination? How was listening to the voice of your friend similar to listening to the Holy Spirit? How was it different?

Questions about God, the One who blesses His people:• What is a blessing?• How have you been blessed before?• How does God bless us?• Why do you think God loves to bless His people?

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StorytellingDuring Remember & Celebrate weekends, storytelling is a time for the community to tell stories about what God has been doing in their hearts—at church and at home. Storytelling is a time to hear the stories that have been gathered throughout the last few weeks (in the form of videos, emails from parents, written or spoken stories from kids and leaders, etc.).

As you tell stories, encourage kids to be respectful of their friends and leaders by listening quietly while they speak. Also, whether you choose to experience storytelling with high energy or in a more restful way, remember to continue in a spirit of celebration for what God has done in the lives of your kids, leaders, church, and families.

Storytelling IdeasBefore the lesson, pick one or two of these options. Prepare ahead of time by gathering stories from your kids, leaders, parents, and faith community.

• Set up open mics around the room and allow kids to tell their stories.• How God answered their prayers• How God used the Remember Verse—as encouragement, blessing, comfort, etc.—in

their lives • What God did in their hearts during the last few weeks (e.g., what they learned about

God and how that changed them)• How they saw God with their families or outside of church (Note: As weeks progress,

prepare kids to come ready with stories so they will be able and excited to share.)• Gather stories from the community.

• Ask parents for stories about their experiences with God at home with their children.• Ask parents to email pictures of spiritual experiences with their children (example: a

baptism). • Set up video cameras during Anticipate or Respond on the weekends prior to

Remember & Celebrate.• Take pictures on weekends of family church experiences.• Show a video or picture collage gathered during the last few weeks.

• Set up interviews. (Ask an interviewee questions about what he experienced, discovered, or learned about God.)• Someone who has recently come home from a mission trip• A parent who had a God experience with his child, or a child who experienced God

with her family• Someone who recently accepted Christ

Campfire Set up your storytelling time like an experience of telling stories around a campfire. Have kids sit in a giant circle. Be creative with ways to create the sense of being around a campfire by using sound effects of a crackling fire or crickets, pictures of fire on the screens, real wood, etc. (For an image of a campfire and sound effect, see the Resource Folder.)

Partner Church Comments “We invested in a ‘flammen lampe.’ It looks like a campfire, so it makes the storytelling fun. For our feast the kids made s’mores.” Revolution Church

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Feasts and FestivalsIn the same way that the biblical feasts were times to celebrate God’s goodness and faithfulness, festivals give believers a time to celebrate together as a community through food, music, dance, prayer, and worship.

SUPPLIES• food, plates, napkins, utensils• TruWorship (suggestions: “Your Love” or “Jump Up,” TruWorship You Are; available on

the Extras Tab for Premium, Unlimited, and Combo users; or iTunes)

SET UPAsk parents to bring snacks or prepare food.

Celebrate by Breaking BreadCelebrate with the kids by “breaking bread” together. Explain that eating together is one of the ways people celebrate today and one of the ways the Israelites celebrated together during their festivals. You can break bread many ways. Here are some options:

• Have parents bring food and come to eat with the kids—on both Remember & Celebrate weekends or on the last weekend of the quarter.

• Have a feast after church—a potluck or smorgasbord. Parents, leaders, and kids can make food, bring it to church, and then eat together after the service.

• If your kids are filling a clear container or building a structure as part of a Tradition, give out simple foods such as pretzels or animal crackers on most Remember & Celebrate weekends. Save the more extensive party for when they have completed their goal.

Celebrate with MusicPlay upbeat songs and encourage the kids to sing along and dance.

Celebration StationSUPPLIES

• rocks, permanent markers (1 per child and parent)

SET UPSet out rocks and markers for kids and families to use.

Rocks are a symbol of remembrance in Scripture (e.g., Samuel setting up an Ebenezer pile of stones for remembrance). At this station (used only during Remember & Celebrate weekends), kids and parents write a word or phrase they want to celebrate (e.g., “new job,” “God is faithful,” “God has a plan for my life,” etc.) on the rocks. You can find an image and instructions for building your own Celebration Station in “How It Works” under the Resource Tab. Feel free to adapt this idea to fit your program.

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Bless// 5 min.

SMALL GRouPS E C T I O N

Small Group LeadersAs the children are blessed, share with them about the opportunity they have to be a blessing to others. Encourage them to freely give away to others the love and joy they have received from God.

BLESSINGFor this experience, have small groups gather together. Spend time praying over the kids in your small group and think of a short blessing for each child. A blessing can be a phrase such as “I pray you have peace”; “I pray God blesses you at home, at school, etc., this week”; or “I pray God gives you joy.”

Optional: If your church is larger, have the kids hold hands and form a large circle. Have leaders join the prayer circle and gather around and pray for them as another leader reads the blessing over the group.

Open a Bible, and read Psalm 3:8:From the Lord comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people.

Children, may God bless you and your families this week with His love, His grace, and His presence in your lives. May you be blessed to know that in God alone you can find salvation.

A blessing can be a prayer of commission, a portion of Scripture, or words of encouragement or guidance.

A blessing can be offered in order to ask God’s Spirit to overflow from the child’s life to bless others or prayed over a child for the purpose of declaring God’s protection, joy, or wisdom. HomeFront Weekly: Be sure to send home the HomeFront

Weekly for next week’s lesson! This preteaching tool for parents encourages families to spend time in God’s Word together before children arrive on the weekend.

HomeFront Monthly: Every four weeks we highlight one of the 10 environments. For each new environment, parents should receive HomeFront Monthly. This resource gives families ideas for how to create fun, spiritually forming times in their home—setting aside a sacred space for family in the midst of their active, everyday lives!

Inspire (for parents) As I walk down the path of the cemetery where my father was buried, leaves rustle in the wind. All around me, graves mark the resting places for mothers, sons, daughters, fathers, and loved ones.

Some of the memorials along the path are huge, imposing, with names prominently displayed on stone that will stand the ravages of weather and time. But the one that means the most to me was my Dad’s simple plaque that hunkers flush to the grass, nearly hidden. My dad left for work on February 1, 1965, and never returned. He was 45 years old—too young to die. On the grave, his name was written along with his favorite quote, “… the world has yet to see what a man fully committed to God can accomplish.” As I stare at his grave, images of places, times, experiences, pain, and laughter stir up emotion in my heart.

Memorials are like that. God knows we need places for remembrance. Throughout Scripture, God instructed His people to create memorials out of stone in worship and reverence for what He has done. He wanted

them to be places that helped us keep walking on the path toward Him. As I drive away from my visit to my Dad’s gravesite, I think of how God uses both the prominent and the hidden memorials in our lives as touchstones for remembering and celebrating. From the road, the large gravestones humble me in my mortality and bring me to praise the God who gave me eternal life. And my father’s gravestone, now laying hidden in the grass, leads me to thank God for my father’s life and pray that I can walk for my children, as he was for me, on the path toward being a “man fully committed to God.”

by Rick Lund

Equip (for parents)Seven times a year the Israelites gathered together for a festival. These seven festivals are: Passover, Feast of Unleavened Bread, Feast of First Fruits, Feast of Harvest, Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles (or Booths). In addition, the Israelites would gather weekly to celebrate the Sabbath. These were times to remember what God had done for His people and to celebrate His goodness. During the feasts, the Israelites ate, danced, sang, played instruments, prayed, and offered sacrifices to God.

Why do we celebrate? We celebrate to be together as a community—to collectively look backward so that we can look forward. We celebrate to stop for a moment in time and remember what God has done. We celebrate to teach children what is important—to show what we value. And we celebrate because God commanded it. In Exodus 12:47 He said, “The whole community … must celebrate.”This week we are highlighting the Festival of Passover. During Passover, the Israelites celebrated their deliverance from the Egyptians, as well as God as the Deliverer. The Passover meal is symbolic in that each food represents a different part of their escape from Egypt.

The meal includes lamb to symbolize the slain lambs, whose blood marked the doorposts of the Hebrews on the night of the 10th plague, which “passed over” those homes. In the New Testament, Jesus became the sacrificial lamb on Passover to offer deliverance from sin for all people, for all time, for those who receive Him.

Support (for parents & kids)This weekend your children will pause to remember and celebrate while highlighting the Passover Feast.

Ask your children if they understand what it means to be delivered. Have them think about something that has been delivered to your home, a pizza, a package etc. Talk with them about the journey that item might have taken to arrive safely to your home. Then share with them how God rescued and protected the Israelites and brought them out of Egypt. Explain to them how He delivered His people safely to the land He had promised them and how they remembered and celebrated their delivery with the Passover Feast. Read with your children Psalm 18:1–3: I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies.Celebrate God as your family’s deliverer …put on some of your favorite worship music and dance and sing together. Then pray together, thanking God that He protects and delivers us!

ELEMENTARYKIDS & FAMILIES

REMEMBER & CELEBRATE!

REMEMBER vERsE

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© 2010 David C. Cook. TruResources are developed in partnership with ROCKHARBOR Church

and a national network of family and children’s ministry leaders. All right reserved.

date: / /

Getting Started Main Point: REMEMBER & CELEBRATE!This resource is designed to allow your family to have time in God’s Word before your children attend church. Because God’s plan is for parents to be the spiritual nurturers of their children’s faith, we know that as you grow spiritually, your children will grow spiritually as well.

“O Lord my God, I

called to you for help

and you healed me.”

Psalm 30:2

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