THEME: THE PARENTS
READ IT: Memory Verse: Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you. Deuteronomy 5:16 NIV
HEAR IT: Yes You May!
Have you played a round of Mother May I on the playground lately?
“Take two baby steps forward.”
“Mother May I.”
“Yes you may.”
“Take one giant leap forward.”
“Mother May I.”
“Yes you may.”
This is a fun game to play, but you must ask permission and obey correctly or you will certainly lose the game. God tells us to obey our parents. It’s a command, a rule that must be followed, but obey with a happy heart and the results will turn out much better. For example, imagine if your mom asked you to clear the dinner table after a meal. You could respond, “Fine, Mother, if I have to,” and loudly bang the dishes, cups, and silverware together and grumpily plop them into the soapy dish water. Or, you could say, “Yes Ma’am,” with a cheerful tone and put away the dishes thanking Mom for the great dinner she just prepared. Which scenario do you think would go over better in your home? Wouldn’t the rest of the evening be more pleasant if you politely obeyed, finished the chores quickly, and moved on to something fun? Obey is not a bad word. It’s not a scary word. Obey is a loving word. Obey because you love your parents and your Father in heaven.
PRAY IT: (Pray with your group.)
STUDY IT: Decisions, Decisions
Obeying isn’t fun. Sure, you would rather watch TV instead of work on your homework. Playing soccer in the backyard beats taking out the trash every time. I don’t know too many people who wake up each morning with happy thoughts of cleaning out closets and vacuuming floors. Obeying is tough. Jesus told a parable about two sons who had difficulty obeying. Dad asked the boys to go work in the vineyard, water the grapes, and pull some weeds. One son rudely said, “I will not,” but later had a change of heart and went to help. The second son answered his dad, “I will, sir,” but then decided not to show up. He went and did his own thing. One son obeyed and the other didn’t. Their words didn’t actually matter, it was their actions that counted. Are you obeying or just pretending to obey? You might be able to fool Mom and Dad, but God knows whether you do your chores, eat your vegetables, or complete all of your homework on time. When you obey your parents, you show love to them and to God. Get ready to obey today!
Want to know more? Read the entire story in Matthew 21:28-32.
TRY IT: Watch the Ketchup Obey
Items needed:
2 liter clear soda bottle and a ketchup packet
Directions:
The ketchup packet was very obedient. It went down when you squeezed and came back up to the surface when you released the bottle. Unless there was a defect in the packet or bottle, this should work every time. God wants us to obey our parents in the same way. When is it difficult to obey? When is it easy? How will you work on obedience this week?
LIVE IT: Trampoline Toss
Bounce, bounce, spring! Bouncing up, down, and flipping upside down on trampolines, that is serious fun! Jump alone and there is no problem. Now when a friend joins you, watch out little lady, you’re in for some surprises. A simple jump from your friend will send you springing in a totally different direction. Sit on the trampoline and your jumping friend will send you flying into the sky. Trampolines are kind of like obeying parents. Obey your parents and you will find the trampoline a fun toy. Things go well for kids like you that obey. Parents are happy, proud, and they have been known to reward obedient children. However, if you disobey your parents, it’s like jumping on a crowded trampoline. You never really know what will happen next. Your refusal to obey might cause you to lose privileges, not get to hang out with friends, and even wind up stuck in your room while everyone else is having fun. Disobeying is unpredictable just like that busy trampoline. Make it easy on you and easy on your parents. Obey the first time. They will be happy, you will be happy, and you might even have more free time for trampolines.
SHARE IT: Family Cook Off
Cook a new recipe with your family tonight. Try out a brand new cookie, pie, meat, or appetizer. Whatever you pick, follow the directions exactly. Obedience is the key in cooking, just like it is in life. Obey the recipe and you will get awesome results. Disobey the recipe and you might have a fabulous flop on your hands. Obey and enjoy the tasty results.
READ IT: Memory Verse: Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you. Deuteronomy 5:16 NIV
HEAR IT: Yes You May!
Have you played a round of Mother May I on the playground lately?
“Take two baby steps forward.”
“Mother May I.”
“Yes you may.”
“Take one giant leap forward.”
“Mother May I.”
“Yes you may.”
This is a fun game to play, but you must ask permission and obey correctly or you will certainly lose the game. God tells us to obey our parents. It’s a command, a rule that must be followed, but obey with a happy heart and the results will turn out much better. For example, imagine if your mom asked you to clear the dinner table after a meal. You could respond, “Fine, Mother, if I have to,” and loudly bang the dishes, cups, and silverware together and grumpily plop them into the soapy dish water. Or, you could say, “Yes Ma’am,” with a cheerful tone and put away the dishes thanking Mom for the great dinner she just prepared. Which scenario do you think would go over better in your home? Wouldn’t the rest of the evening be more pleasant if you politely obeyed, finished the chores quickly, and moved on to something fun? Obey is not a bad word. It’s not a scary word. Obey is a loving word. Obey because you love your parents and your Father in heaven.
PRAY IT: (Pray with your group.)
STUDY IT: Decisions, Decisions
Obeying isn’t fun. Sure, you would rather watch TV instead of work on your homework. Playing soccer in the backyard beats taking out the trash every time. I don’t know too many people who wake up each morning with happy thoughts of cleaning out closets and vacuuming floors. Obeying is tough. Jesus told a parable about two sons who had difficulty obeying. Dad asked the boys to go work in the vineyard, water the grapes, and pull some weeds. One son rudely said, “I will not,” but later had a change of heart and went to help. The second son answered his dad, “I will, sir,” but then decided not to show up. He went and did his own thing. One son obeyed and the other didn’t. Their words didn’t actually matter, it was their actions that counted. Are you obeying or just pretending to obey? You might be able to fool Mom and Dad, but God knows whether you do your chores, eat your vegetables, or complete all of your homework on time. When you obey your parents, you show love to them and to God. Get ready to obey today!
Want to know more? Read the entire story in Matthew 21:28-32.
TRY IT: Watch the Ketchup Obey
Items needed:
2 liter clear soda bottle and a ketchup packet
Directions:
- Fill the soda bottle full of water.
- Put a ketchup packet in the bottle of water and twist the lid to close.
- Squeeze the bottle with two hands and observe the ketchup packet.
- Release the bottle and watch the ketchup packet react.
The ketchup packet was very obedient. It went down when you squeezed and came back up to the surface when you released the bottle. Unless there was a defect in the packet or bottle, this should work every time. God wants us to obey our parents in the same way. When is it difficult to obey? When is it easy? How will you work on obedience this week?
LIVE IT: Trampoline Toss
Bounce, bounce, spring! Bouncing up, down, and flipping upside down on trampolines, that is serious fun! Jump alone and there is no problem. Now when a friend joins you, watch out little lady, you’re in for some surprises. A simple jump from your friend will send you springing in a totally different direction. Sit on the trampoline and your jumping friend will send you flying into the sky. Trampolines are kind of like obeying parents. Obey your parents and you will find the trampoline a fun toy. Things go well for kids like you that obey. Parents are happy, proud, and they have been known to reward obedient children. However, if you disobey your parents, it’s like jumping on a crowded trampoline. You never really know what will happen next. Your refusal to obey might cause you to lose privileges, not get to hang out with friends, and even wind up stuck in your room while everyone else is having fun. Disobeying is unpredictable just like that busy trampoline. Make it easy on you and easy on your parents. Obey the first time. They will be happy, you will be happy, and you might even have more free time for trampolines.
SHARE IT: Family Cook Off
Cook a new recipe with your family tonight. Try out a brand new cookie, pie, meat, or appetizer. Whatever you pick, follow the directions exactly. Obedience is the key in cooking, just like it is in life. Obey the recipe and you will get awesome results. Disobey the recipe and you might have a fabulous flop on your hands. Obey and enjoy the tasty results.