DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR EARLY LEARNERS AGES 4-6

What is Gopher Buddies?

Gopher Buddies is a special program designed to teach Early Learners foundational truths from Scripture.

How does theprogram work?

Children grow through applying the following five disciplines:

Quiet Time Quiet Time is a time your child spends each day having the Bible read to them and learning to apply it to their lives. It also includes a time of prayer and an age-appropriate activity.

Scripture Memory Your child will be learning a Bible verse each month by playing review games at Gopher Buddies. You can review these verses with your child at home using the verse list in the front of your child’s Quiet Time.

Bible Study A Bible lesson is taught each week using various teaching techniques to help young children learn about God, the Bible, Jesus, Sin, Christian Growth, and the Church. There are also lessons to help teach your child character traits as well as themed lessons for Christmas, Easter, Parent and Friend Nights.

Selected Reading Your child will enjoy listening to carefully selected books as they are read throughout the year at Gopher Buddies.

Christian Service Christian Service activities listed in the front of the Quiet Time give you and your child the opportunity to learn about serving God and others together. There will also be Christian Service activities at Gopher Buddies for the children to do as a group throughout the year.

RequirementsMembership, Levels 1, 2, 3 Your child can earn a membership sticker by attending Gopher Buddies three times; saying one Bible verse; and saying the Gopher Buddies motto (Digging Deeper in God's Word). The membership sticker is to be placed on the identification tag of their tote bag.

There are three levels of achievement your child can earn throughout the year. To complete each level, your child needs to be faithful in Quiet Time; complete one Christian Service activity at home or at Gopher Buddies; learn and say three Scripture memory verses; and read or listen to one selected reading book at Gopher Buddies.

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When a level is completed the character sticker

is awarded.

Motto sticker goes here.

Verse stickers are placed numerically as

they are learned.

Awards GophervilleYou will find a fold-out chart of Gopherville, home of the Gopher family, in the back cover of your child’s Quiet Time. As your child completes each activity or requirement for the various levels of achievement, they will be awarded a sticker to place on the Gopherville chart. You will want to make note of new stickers your child receives and encourage their progress along the way.

Stickers are placed on the Gopherville chart in the white areas from the top of the chart to the bottom.

This area is for Membership.

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Each level is marked.

Membership sticker proudly displayed here.

Other Awards and Materials

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Tote Bag As your child is awarded the special patches for each achievement level, they can be ironed onto the Gopher Buddies tote bag. This bag will provide a convenient way for the children to carry their books and papers to and from Gopher Buddies.

Certificates Certificates for various achievements can be awarded throughout the year at the discretion of the Gopher Buddies Leaders.

Award Sticker Sheet In addition to the Gopherville award stickers that are included with every

Student Pack, the Celebration stickers can be purchased for extra encouragement and acknowledgment.

How can parents help?

You can help your child progress through the Gopher Buddies program by assisting them in the following ways:

Read the daily Scripture passage and help your child complete the Quiet Time activity.

Use the “I Can Pray” section at the bottom of each day’s Quiet Time to lead your child in meaningful prayer.

Review the Scripture memory verse with your child each week. You will find it listed on the Home Connection page, which is located on the back of the weekly Activity Sheet.

Read through the Home Connection page for an overview of the lesson and other suggestions to engage your child.

Complete some Christian Service activities with your child. They are listed in the front of this Quiet Time.

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A note to parentsThis Quiet Time is a great opportunity to help your child develop a relationship with God. Enjoy having fun with your child as you explore the Bible together. Each day has a Scripture passage for you to read to your child. Next, share the instructions for one of the many activities that will help your child develop key skills as they learn. Finally, read the I Can Pray section to your child as you guide them in prayer. What a wonderful time you will share with each other as you have a quiet time together!

Here are some tips to help your child with their quiet time:

1. Have a pencil and crayons available for activities.

2. Sit down together at a regular time each day.

3. Use the Bible to look up references with your child.

4. Talk through the activity and personal application.

5. Complete the week by documenting how many days were completed and writing an encouraging note.

Family Devotions

Word of Life publishes a Quiet Time for all age groups. Each Quiet Time uses the same Scripture passage for the week. This makes it easier for your whole family to discuss the Word of God together.

God loves you and wants to spend time with you!

Parent’s Note: Read this section to your child.

A quiet time is a special time that you have each day to learn more about God and how He wants you to live. During this time, God speaks to you through His Holy Word, the Bible, and you speak to God through prayer. What an exciting adventure! Having this time every day with God will help you grow closer to Him.

Your Quiet Time will help you have this time each day with God. Every day you will have a Bible verse read to you. After

you listen to the verse, there is a fun activity for you to do. Then you can spend a special time with God in prayer.

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Next, read the “I CAN KNOW” text and discuss it with your child.

Then, read the instructions for “I CAN LEARN”.

Lastly, read the “I CAN PRAY” statement to your child and pray

together.

On Saturdays,

count the days completed for the

week and write the number in the circle. Write encouraging

comments (and read them to your child).

Take time to award a sticker.

Your Daily Quiet TimeYour Daily Quiet TimeBegin by reading

the Scripture passage to your child.

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Introducing the Gopher family! Dad, Mom, Andy and Emily want to go with you on your adventure this year. Together, you can dig deeper in God’s Word.

Spending time with God in prayerKeeping a personal prayer diary will help you to remember to pray for people and their needs. It also reminds you to thank God and to tell others when He answers your prayers.

Use the spaces on the prayer pages to draw pictures or write the names of special people you want to pray for. Don’t forget to include the things for which you are thankful.

Your Bible

Your Quiet Time

Crayons

A Pencil

A Quiet Place

Meet Your Gopher BuddiesMeet Your Gopher Buddies

Things You Need for Your Quiet TimeThings You Need for Your Quiet Time

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Mark 2:14-15Matthew left everything and followed Jesus.

Matthew was Jesus’ friend.

Write 1 beside what happened first. Write 2 beside what happened next.

Write 3 beside what happened last.

Tell Jesus thank you for being your friend.

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My Prayer DiaryMy Prayer DiaryThese pages are where you can draw a picture or write words to remindyou to pray for special people or things that you care about.

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James 1:1

This book of the Bible is called James after its author. James saw himself, as you should see yourself,

as a servant of God.

A servant is someone who does things for others without whining or complaining. the ways you can serve someone today.

Ask God to help you serve Him and others without complaining.

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James1:13-14

God does not try to get you to sin. You sin because you want to do things your

own way instead of God’s way.

Ask God to help you do things His way.

Draw a happy face under the children who are doing things God’s way. Draw a sad face under the children who are doing things their own way.

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James 1:22

You should listen to God's Word and do what it says.

Thank God for your hands and feet to obey His Word.

You use your to hear God’s Word, your to read God’s Word, and your and to do what God’s Word says. Draw a around the hidden ears, eyes, hands, and feet.

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James 2:2-4

Be kind to everyone whether rich or poor.

Kind begins with the letter sound K. Color the K. Draw a to all the word pictures that start with the letter K.

Ask God to help you to be kind to everyone.

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James 2:10

Everyone sins. Even if you break one of God’s rules just a little bit, you have

disobeyed Him and have sinned.

Color the balloon with the letter S pink. Color the balloon with the letter I blue. Color the balloon with the letter N orange.

Ask God to forgive you for the sin you did today.

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James 2:22

Your actions should show othersthat you believe in Jesus.

Trace your hand inside the box as a reminder to show Jesus to others by what you do.

Pray that you will show Jesus to your friends by how you behave.

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James 3:9-10

You can use your mouth to say good things and bad things. God only wants you

to say good things.

Use the number on the left to the correct amount of objects in each row.

Ask God to help you say only nice things today.

Quiet Time Schedule OptionsQuiet Time Schedule OptionsThe following chart displays the Bible books and chapters for this year’s quiet times. All quiet times cover the same passages each day so the whole family can stay connected to God’s Word. Two schedules have been included or you can create your own for your group or family. 2019-20 2020 Week Academic Calendar # Books/Chapters Schedule Schedule 1 James 1-3 Aug 25 - Aug 31 Dec 29 - Jan 42 James 3-5 Sep 1 - Sep 7 Jan 5 - Jan 113 Genesis 1-5 Sep 8 - Sep 14 Jan 12 - Jan 184 Genesis 6-11 Sep 15 - Sep 21 Jan 19 - Jan 255 Matthew 1-5 Sep 22 - Sep 28 Jan 26 - Feb 16 Matthew 5, 1 Corinthians 1 Sep 29 - Oct 5 Feb 2 - Feb 87 1 Corinthians 1-3 Oct 6 - Oct 12 Feb 9 - Feb 158 1 Corinthians 4, Psalms 1-2, Proverbs 1 Oct 13 - Oct 19 Feb 16 - Feb 229 Genesis 12-22 Oct 20 - Oct 26 Feb 23 - Feb 2910 1 Corinthians 5-8 Oct 27 - Nov 2 Mar 1 - Mar 711 1 Corinthians 9-10, Genesis 24 Nov 3 - Nov 9 Mar 8 - Mar 1412 Genesis 24-29 Nov 10 - Nov 16 Mar 15 - Mar 2113 Genesis 31-35, 2 Peter 1 Nov 17 - Nov 23 Mar 22 - Mar 2814 2 Peter 1-3 Nov 24 - Nov 30 Mar 29 - Apr 415 1 Corinthians 10-12 Dec 1 - Dec 7 Apr 5 - Apr 1116 1 Corinthians 12-14, Matthew 8 Dec 8 - Dec 14 Apr 12 - Apr 1817 Matthew 8-10 Dec 15 - Dec 21 Apr 19 - Apr 2518 Matthew 11-12, Genesis 37 Dec 22 - Dec 28 Apr 26 - May 219 Genesis 37-41 Dec 29 - Jan 4 May 3 - May 920 Genesis 42-45 Jan 5 - Jan 11 May 10 - May 1621 Genesis 45-50, Matthew 13 Jan 12 - Jan 18 May 17 - May 2322 Matthew 13-16 Jan 19 - Jan 25 May 24 - May 3023 Galatians 1-3 Jan 26 - Feb 1 May 31 - Jun 624 Galatians 3-4 Feb 2 - Feb 8 Jun 7 - Jun 1325 Galatians 5-6 Feb 9 - Feb 15 Jun 14 - Jun 2026 Matthew 16-18 Feb 16 - Feb 22 Jun 21 - Jun 2727 Matthew 18-20, Nehemiah 1 Feb 23 - Feb 29 Jun 28 - Jul 4 28 Nehemiah 2-5 Mar 1 - Mar 7 Jul 5 - Jul 1129 Nehemiah 5-9 Mar 8 - Mar 14 Jul 12 - Jul 1830 Nehemiah 9-13, Matthew 20 Mar 15 - Mar 21 Jul 19 - Jul 2531 Matthew 21-22 Mar 22 - Mar 28 Jul 26 - Aug 132 Matthew 23-24, 1 Corinthians 15 Mar 29 - Apr 4 Aug 2 - Aug 833 1 Corinthians 15-16 Apr 5 - Apr 11 Aug 9 - Aug 1534 Matthew 25-26 Apr 12 - Apr 18 Aug 16 - Aug 2235 Matthew 26-28 Apr 19 - Apr 25 Aug 23 - Aug 2936 Jude, Psalm 22 Apr 26 - May 2 Aug 30 - Sep 537 Psalms 23-27, Proverbs 2-3 May 3 - May 9 Sep 6 - Sep 12 38 1 Timothy 1-4 May 10 - May 16 Sep 13 - Sep 1939 1 Timothy 4-6 May 17 - May 23 Sep 20 - Sep 2640 Psalms 37, 46, Proverbs 4 May 24 - May 30 Sep 27 - Oct 341 Mark 1-3 May 31 - Jun 6 Oct 4 - Oct 1042 Mark 3-5 Jun 7 - Jun 13 Oct 11 - Oct 1743 1 Thessalonians 1-3 Jun 14 - Jun 20 Oct 18 - Oct 2444 1 Thessalonians 4-5 Jun 21 - Jun 27 Oct 25 - Oct 3145 Mark 5-7 Jun 28 - Jul 4 Nov 1 - Nov 746 Mark 7-9 Jul 5 - Jul 11 Nov 8 - Nov 1447 Mark 9-10, Psalm 19 Jul 12 - Jul 18 Nov 15 - Nov 2148 Ecclesiastes 1-12 Jul 19 - Jul 25 Nov 22 - Nov 2849 Psalms 51, 53, Proverbs 6-8 Jul 26 - Aug 1 Nov 29 - Dec 550 Mark 11-13 Aug 2 - Aug 8 Dec 6 - Dec 1251 Mark 13-14 Aug 9 - Aug 15 Dec 13 - Dec 1952 Mark 14-16 Aug 16 - Aug 22 Dec 20 - Dec 26

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