HEY KIDS… DID YOU KNOW? Here’s something you won’t hear everyday: “Hey! We are all ordinary.” That’s right! We have a secret code in the cells of our bodies that tell us the color of our skin and eyes and hair. It’s one very small change in that secret code and our skin is a little darker or lighter. Sometimes we focus on those things and think we are different but really we are all the same—just ordinary. Now here’s the great news: It’s God who makes us special! I love that. When we become a child of God and then choose to live according to His Word, we become special and God does special things through us—just like He did through Joseph, Jacob’s son. The story of his life is found in Genesis.

Joseph Joseph was Mr. Jacob-Israel’s favorite child and Joseph made sure everyone knew it. He was spoiled and his brothers hated him. They hated him so much, they threw him into a pit. But God had a plan.

Mr. Jacob-Israel Jacob had to run away from his home because he was a cheat-er and a trickster. Born with the name Jacob, God wrestled with him and changed his name to Israel when he was an adult on his way back to his homeland to meet his brother Esau.

Isaac The promised son to Abraham, Isaac grew up and had two sons: Jacob and Esau. He picked favorites and Jacob was Isaac’s favorite son.

Abraham He was too old to have children but God promised Abraham a son and that from his son, a great nation of people would grow. And from that great nation, our Messiah Jesus Christ would come and save His people from their sin.

Connecting your child every weekend to the Word of God through story

G WEEK #1 SEPTEMBER 2/3 2017 PARENT DEVOTIONAL GUIDE

WHAT IS THE WEEKLY WORD? Children of all ages are able to learn ten new words a

day! During ORDINARY KIDS we are teaching children eight new words in 11 weeks.

These words are intentionally chosen to enrich a child’s experience and grow them in

their young faith.

PARENT: It’s important to engage your child with God’s Word everyday. Here are three days to guide you and then you share for three days about what God is teaching you. Save day seven to talk about what you learned in church this weekend. This is storing up God’s Word in their hearts.

WHAT DID WE DO THIS WEEKEND?

We set up the story of Joseph beginning with his great grandfather Abra-

ham. We learned how Joseph’s family moved around the Middle East of

the World and then settled back in Canaan. And, we experienced engineer-

ing for the first time. Engineers simply find problems, ask good questions

and then use ordinary materials (like paper) to solve the problem.

GUARD: To protect … and remember

we only guard what is valuable

ASK YOUR CHILD: Why does God want us to guard our way? DISCOVER & LEARN: OPEN YOUR BIBLE TO PSALM 119:9. IMAGINE & SOLVE: Ask your child to circle the words YOUNG and MAN. Draw a line and write “Anyone from birth to 18 years old” about YOUNG and “Girls too” above man. This will help you understand what the Lord is telling us in this verse. God wants all kids to keep their WAY pure. Why is this important?

IMPROVE & TRY AGAIN: Read another verse. Turn to Jeremiah 29:11. PRAY OVER YOUR CHILD: Heavenly Father, help __________ and me to guard our way by learning Your Word. In Jesus’ name, amen.

ASK YOUR CHILD: What does it mean to guard your way? DISCOVER & LEARN: OPEN YOUR BIBLE TO PSALM 119:9. IMAGINE & SOLVE: Guarding our way means protecting it and staying away from something that may harm us. Sin harms us and is never good for us. Ever. Not one

single time. What are some things that cause you to sin that are right in front of you? (Like shar-ing, obeying the first time, saying “I’m sorry”, and not bragging about what you own!) Ask your child to circle the words KEEP and WAY. Then draw a line and write “put a hedge around” below KEEP and “well-traveled road” above the word WAY, IMPROVE & TRY AGAIN: Read more. Turn to Psalm 1:1-2 PRAY OVER YOUR CHILD: Heavenly Father, protect us from sin. Give us the strength to say “no” to sin. In Jesus’ name, amen.

ASK YOUR CHILD: Do you need to guard your way? DISCOVER & LEARN: OPEN YOUR BIBLE TO PSALM 119:9. IMAGINE & SOLVE: Yes, we need to our guard our way and keep it pure. Something that isn’t pure is sin. Circle GUARDING and WORD. Write “to protect” above GUARD-

ING and “Bible” above WORD. What can we do to keep our way pure? IMPROVE & TRY AGAIN: It starts with asking God to give us a pure heart and asking God to teach us what is right and wrong. Read Psalm 51:10. PRAY OVER YOUR CHILD: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word. Please give ________ and me a pure heart to guard our way and teach us what is right and wrong. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Psalm 119:9 (ESV)

How Action: Two hands outward; questioning face

can a young man Action: Two thumbs to self

keep his way Action: Hands parallel zig-zagging in front of you

pure? Action: Two thumbs up

By guarding it Action: Hands clasped together

according to your word. Action: Hands together like a Bible

BEYOND THE WORDS: YOUNG: Anyone from birth to 18 years old

MAN: Just boys or girls too? (Girls too, of course.)

KEEP: To put a hedge around, to look closely at

WAY: A well-traveled road that has been used by people in groups

GUARD: To protect. We only guard what is valuable

WORD: Anything God says in the Bible

FIVE STEPS to BEING SPECIAL for CHILDREN 1. Become God’s child. (John 3) Motion: start at the top of your head and move hands over body 2. Learn God’s Word. (Psalm 119:9) Motion: place hands over your heart 3. Wander not from the Lord. (Psalm 119:10) Motion: place right hand over eyes like you are looking for direction 4. Ask the Lord to teach you. (Psalm 119:12) Motion: fold hands in pray-ing position 5. Remember what you learn. (Psalm 119:15-16) Motion: point left hand index finger to side of head