Driving Home Point

Week of May 4, 2008


This week children learn how they could thank Jesus for the gift He's given them. It's so freeing to understand that we can't earn our friendship with Jesus. Because Jesus initiates and sustains our friendship with Him, we don't have to work to maintain His favor. This gives us the energy to live lives of grateful service for Him.

Ask children;

• What would you do if someone gave you the most valuable thing in the world- and you didn't have anything to give in return?


• If we are not saved by the good things we do, why should we do good things?


• How can you thank Jesus for the gift He's given you?

BIBLE POINT: God's power saves us by His grace.
BIBLE STORY: Paul Explains Christians' Relationship With Christ (Ephesians 1:15-2:10)KEY VERSE: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)

PRESCHOOL Play and Pray

Find a children's book at the library about volcanoes, storms, or other forces of nature. Look at or read the book with your child, and talk about how God's power is greater than all of these.

ELEMENTARY Truths

Encourage our child to write or type the words to Ephesians 2:8-9 on a sheet of paper and decorate it with colorful artwork. Discuss with your child what it means that God's grace is a gift to us. Help your child think of someone to share the gift with; then help your child wrap the paper in a gift box and present it to that person.


Time With TEENAGERS

As you're shopping with your teenager or talking about things your teenager needs, talk a little about the relative importance of things your child "needs" - for example, help your teenager conclude that shoes are more important than a video. Then talk about the gift God has given us and what we need in order to be saved.