May 2023 Children’s Ministry Guide
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God Delivered His People (Ezra 1)
FAMILY TALKING POINTS
CHRIST CONNECTION
This is the big idea of how this week’s Bible story points to Jesus.
• Babies & Toddlers: God keeps His promises. God chose King Cyrus as part of His plan. God chose Jesus as His plan to rescue and bring us home to His kingdom forever.
• Younger Preschool: God keeps His promises. He chose King Cyrus as part of His plan to bring His people home from Babylon. God chose Jesus as His plan to rescue sinners and bring us home to His kingdom forever.
• Kids: God always keeps His promises. God chose to use King Cyrus in His plan to graciously deliver His people from exile. King Cyrus’ action to free the people reminds us of Jesus, whom God chose to rescue sinners and bring us to our true home in His kingdom of grace.
BIG PICTURE QUESTION & ANSWER
Younger Preschool: Can God be trusted? Yes, we can trust whatever He has said.
Kids: Can God be trusted? Yes, God cannot lie or ever be wrong, so we can trust whatever He has said.
KEY PASSAGE
• Babies & Toddlers: Trust in the Lord. Jeremiah 17:7
• Younger Preschool: The person who trusts in the Lord is blessed. Jeremiah 17:7
• Kids: The person who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence indeed is the LORD, is blessed. Jeremiah 17:7
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Jesus Called His Disciples (John 1)
FAMILY TALKING POINTS
CHRIST CONNECTION
• Babies & Toddlers: We are Jesus’ disciples when we trust in Him.
• Younger Preschool: Jesus came to earth to save people from their sins. He called disciples to follow Him. We are Jesus’ disciples when we trust in Him.
• Kids: Jesus, the Son of God and true King of Israel, came to earth to show what God is like and to save people from their sins. He called disciples to follow Him. We are Jesus’ disciples when we trust in Him. We can invite everyone to come and see the good news about Jesus.
BIG PICTURE QUESTION & ANSWER
• Younger Preschool: What did Jesus do to save us? Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead.
• Kids: What did Jesus do to save us? Jesus lived a sinless life, died on the cross, and rose from the dead.
KEY PASSAGE
• Babies & Toddlers: Jesus takes away the sin of the world. John 1:29
• Younger Preschool: Jesus takes away the sin of the world. John 1:29
• Kids: John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29
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Jesus Told Nicodemus about Eternal Life (John 3)
FAMILY TALKING POINTS
CHRIST CONNECTION
This is the big idea of how this week’s Bible story points to Jesus.
• Babies & Toddlers: Jesus gives us life forever with God.
• Younger Preschool: God showed His love by sending His one and only Son to rescue people from sin. Jesus gives us life forever with God.
• Kids: Nicodemus needed new life—eternal life—but he could not do anything to earn it. Eternal life is a gift that comes only from God. God showed His love in this way: He sent His one and only Son to save the world. Everyone who believes in Him will not perish but will have eternal life.
BIG PICTURE QUESTION & ANSWER
• Younger Preschool: How do we know God loves us? We can know that God loves us because He sent His Son Jesus.
• Kids: How do we know God loves us? We can know that God loves us because He gave us Jesus to forgive the sins of the world.
KEY PASSAGE
• Babies & Toddlers: God sent His Son Jesus. Romans 5:8
• Younger Preschool: We know that God loves us because He sent His Son Jesus. Romans 5:8
• Kids: But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
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Jesus Told a Woman about Living Water (John 4)
FAMILY TALKING POINTS
CHRIST CONNECTION
• Babies & Toddlers: Jesus loves everyone. Anyone who trusts in Jesus will be saved from sin.
• Younger Preschool: Jesus loves everyone. He came to give people salvation from sin. When we trust in Jesus, we worship Him as our Lord and Savior.
• Kids: Jesus offers something better than physical water; He gives us Himself. Jesus gives the Holy Spirit to everyone who comes to Him by faith. We can worship Him as Lord and Savior wherever we are.
BIG PICTURE QUESTION & ANSWER
• Younger Preschool: How do we know God loves us? We can know that God loves us because He sent His Son Jesus.
• Kids: How do we know God loves us? We can know that God loves us because He gave us Jesus to forgive the sins of the world.
KEY PASSAGE
• Babies & Toddlers: God sent His Son Jesus. Romans 5:8
• Younger Preschool: We know that God loves us because He sent His Son Jesus. Romans 5:8
• Kids: But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8