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ANBOCPDQERFSGTHUIVJWKXLYMZDay 1: The Word Is a Seed15

Read the WordIn our game, we learned about the different names of trees. Some ofthose trees grow so big that they become nesting places for birds andhomes for other animals.Some of these trees, like the mango tree, become very big later on.But trees do not start out that way. They start as seeds planted intothe soil.Today ’s verses talk about a different type of seed. One which is notseen but bears fruit and grows big. Let’s read 1 Peter 1:13–25 to checkout this seed!But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” . . . 23For you havebeen born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable,through the living and enduring word of God. 24For, “All peopleare like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;the grass withers and the flowers fall, 25but the word of theLord endures forever.” And this is the word that was preachedto you.”151 PETER 1:15, 23–25 (NIV)Imperishable means it will last forever. The imperishable seed thatPeter was talking about was the Word of God, the Bible. Althoughthe Bible is printed on paper, or nowadays accessible on our digitaldevices, the written Word of God is still very powerful, even today. Itcan change us and make our hearts new.Just like a mango tree that started as a seed and grew, reading theBible allows God to sow his Word in our hearts so we can grow big inour faith.16Abide

GatherParents to Kids4–6 years oldÎDo you have a favorite Bible verse or story? What is it and why doyou like it?7–12 years oldÎWhat is your favorite Bible verse? Do you want us to read theBible together daily?ÎCan you share some of your Bible reading habits with us?Kids to ParentsÎWhen do you read the Bible?ÎWhat is a recent verse you read and how did God speak to youthrough it?Unlike the things of this world that we hold on to but will fade away,God’s Word will endure forever. As a family, let us get into the habit ofreading it daily and ask God to plant his Word in our hearts.Day 1: The Word Is a Seed17

PrayDear God, we are grateful that you made it possible for us to readyour word. We pray that you help us consistently read and meditateon it so it takes root in our lives and in our relationships. In Jesus’name, amen.DiscoverSome of the oldest trees in the world have been around forapproximately 5,000 years. One of these is the Great Basinbristlecone pine and is mostly found in California. It is also calledMethuselah, which is the name of a man in the Bible who lived thelongest—969 years!This pine tree has cones and seeds. It also started with seeds plantedin the soil and then it grew and aged.So if a perishable seed can do that much, imagine how far theimperishable seed will help us endure eternally. That is beyond this lifefor sure!18Abide

ConnectSpend some time talking and trying to come up with answers to thefollowing questions. Do not search the internet nor do any researchelsewhere. Any answer you come up with is okay.1. How deep is the ocean?2. How much money is there inthe world?3. Can a bee fly all the wayto space?4. What is the largest number inthe world?What happens when you addone to it?5. Why is water wet?If you dry the water, is itstill water?Day 2: The Word Is Light19

Feel free to add similar questions if you can think of more:Do you have answers to the questions? Do you think your answers arecorrect? Or did the questions leave you even more confused than whenyou started? Sometimes, it is fun coming up with wacky answers toquestions that seem to be unanswerable.You know what? There are also times when we have unanswerablequestions in our lives. Like, why do bad things happen to a person?These questions are definitely not fun to answer, but we have a Bookthat can shed light to some of our questions.Read the WordLet’s read Psalm 119:105–112:Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. 106I havetaken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteouslaws. 107I have suffered much; preserve my life, Lord, accordingto your word. 108Accept, Lord, the willing praise of my mouth,and teach me your laws. 109Though I constantly take my life inmy hands, I will not forget your law. 110The wicked have set asnare for me, but I have not strayed from your precepts. 111Yourstatutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart.112My heart is set on keeping your decrees to the very end.105PSALM 119:105–112 (NIV)20Abide

In the last few months and years, many of us have experienced tryingtimes and different challenges. Sadly, sometimes, our circumstanceshave brought us to the end of our wits. With clouds of darkness anduncertainty hanging over us, it seems that there is no end to thistunnel. But as we travel through this dark and unclear path, God’s Wordcan be our light to guide us and to protect us. When we don’t knowwhat to do, God’s Word can give us wisdom. When we are tempted, itcan steer us away from sin’s path. When we are in doubt, its truth willhelp us clear our vision. When we feel hopeless, its promises will pointus to the One who is in control of the future. We can trust what it saysbecause it is from God.GatherParents to Kids4–6 years oldÎWhat do you do when you are in the dark and you need to lookat something?7–12 years oldÎDo you read the Bible every day? How has it encouraged you andgiven you wisdom and clarity in the past year? Share a specificsituation with your family.Kids to ParentsÎHow did God’s Word help you through a difficult time in the past?ÎHow do you hide God’s Word in your heart?Day 2: The Word Is Light21

Just as light keeps us from stumbling in the dark, God’s Word alsokeeps us from stumbling as we go through life. Let’s keep reading God’sWord. Let’s learn to meditate on it and hide it in our hearts. Let’s dowhat it teaches us to do. As we do, God will use it to speak to us, toguide us, and to give us clarity in the midst of our circumstances.PrayDear God, thank you for your Word because it gives us light inthese dark times. Thank you because it has the power to guideand protect us. Please help us to come to your Word whenever wefeel doubt and uncertainty creeping in our hearts. Help us also tobelieve and to obey what it teaches. In Jesus’ name, amen!22Abide

DiscoverToday, when we say light, we normally think of the manmade sourcesof lights that we are so used to, like electric lights, flashlights, andother similar lights. But the first time light appeared was on the firstday of creation when God created it. Light is so vital to life that it wasthe first thing God created! Without it, our world would be plungedin total darkness. Through the centuries, because of advancementsin technology, we no longer just rely on natural light, which arethe sun and the moon. Man has developed many different kinds ofartificial light.The following is a brief look at the different sources of light that manhas used: Sun, when God created itCandles, around hundreds of years before ChristGas lamps, invented around the 1700sModern lights (light bulbs, fluorescent, etc.), around the 1800s upto the presentDay 2: The Word Is Light23

ConnectLet’s play a game! Using a pencil, pen, or highlighter, look for thefollowing words in the puzzle below:ULTRASOUNDMRICT GHQLNUBLEYADQKGKAYREGHSJMJMIRRORFRGBOXYGENGSDN

BONUS QUESTION:Do you know what all these things have in common? They all show us apicture of ourselves.An ultrasound, MRI, CT scan, and x-ray all give us pictures of what theinside of our bodies look like. They show us pictures of our bones,hearts, and other organs, and they help doctors see if there is anythingwrong inside of us.We use mirrors to see how we look. We use it to check if our clothes fitus well or if we need to brush our hair. We also use it to make sure wedon’t have dirt on our faces. We use mirrors to check if we look goodand clean for other people to see.What about the Bible? The Bible is the Word of God. God tells usthrough the Bible how he wants us to live and that he wants us to beholy and obedient to his Word. This means we can use the Bible justlike a mirror. We can use it to check if we look good and clean insidewhere only God can see us.Day 3: The Word Is a Mirror25

Read the WordLet’s read James 1:19–25:My dear brothers and sisters, always be more willing to listenthan to speak. Keep control of your anger. 20Anger does nothelp you live the way God wants. 21So get rid of everythingevil in your lives—every kind of wrong you do. Be humble andaccept God’s teaching that is planted in your hearts. Thisteaching can save you. 22Do what God’s teaching says; don’tjust listen and do nothing. When you only sit and listen, you arefooling yourselves. 23Hearing God’s teaching and doing nothingis like looking at your face in the mirror 24and doing nothingabout what you saw. You go away and immediately forget howbad you looked. 25But when you look into God’s perfect law thatsets people free, pay attention to it. If you do what it says, youwill have God’s blessing. Never just listen to his teaching andforget what you heard.19JAMES 1:19–25 (ERV)When you look at yourself in the mirror and you see dirt on your face,or maybe a bit of food is stuck between your teeth, you immediatelyremove it or wash your face. The verses above are saying the samething. The Bible tells us how we should live as children of God. If wecome up short against what the Bible says and ignore it, it’s like seeingour faces with a lot of mud but not washing the mud away. We wantto look clean and neat when we face other people. We should feel thesame way when we face God. God looks at our hearts more than ourfaces, and he can see when our hearts are not clean. The Bible helps ussee that. We should not only read it but should also do what it teaches.Being obedient to what the Bible teaches is a way to continue to keepyour heart clean.26Abide

GatherParents to Kids4–6 years oldÎDo you want to obey God? Why or why not?ÎDo you think you are obeying God when you obey your parents?7–12 years oldÎIs the Bible revealing anything to you that you need to obey?What do you plan to do about it?Kids to ParentsÎHow has God’s Word changed you?Similar to how a mirror can show us what we want to see, the Bibleshows us the condition of our hearts. As we examine our hearts againstwhat the Bible teaches, God will reveal to us when we have sinfulthoughts, emotions, and even motives. When we find that they are notin line with God’s Word, let us be obedient and ask the Holy Spirit tohelp us align them with God’s.PrayDear God, thank you for loving us even during times when we arenot obedient children. Thank you for giving us your Word so thatwe can see if we are following you or are moving away from you.We trust that you will continue to love us and teach us your waysfor our own good. You will even use our parents and others to bringus closer to you. Please help us obey you because we want ourthoughts, our words, and our actions to be pleasing in your eyes.In Jesus’ name, amen.Day 3: The Word Is a Mirror27

DiscoverTry creating an infinity mirror. Get a smaller mirror that you can carryor hold and go in front of a larger mirror. See how the mirrors keepreflecting one another so it looks like you have multiplied!There are also other cool experiments you can do to show the powerof mirrors.28Abide

ConnectPrepare a paper and pen for everyone.On the piece of paper the players willwrite two truths and a lie aboutthemselves. Once everyone isdone writing, each player willtake turns reading their answersout loud. Everyone gets a turn toguess which one is the lie. Onceeveryone is done guessing, theplayer will reveal which of thethree statements they made is alie. The players that guessed rightwill get one point. The one withthe most points at the end wins.If you are good at spotting lies, sowas the prophet Jeremiah. He wasa prophet of God who wrote the Biblepassage that we will read today.Day 4: The Word Is a Hammer29

Read the WordRead Jeremiah 23:23–32“I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesylies in my name, saying, ‘I have dreamed, I have dreamed!’26How long shall there be lies in the heart of the prophetswho prophesy lies, and who prophesy the deceit of their ownheart, 27who think to make my people forget my name bytheir dreams that they tell one another, even as their fathersforgot my name for Baal? 28Let the prophet who has a dreamtell the dream, but let him who has my word speak my wordfaithfully. What has straw in common with wheat? declaresthe L ORD. 29Is not my word like fire, declares the LORD, and likea hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? 30Therefore, behold,I am against the prophets, declares the LORD, who steal mywords from one another. 31Behold, I am against the prophets,declares the L ORD, who use their tongues and declare,‘declares the L ORD.’ 32Behold, I am against those who prophesylying dreams, declares the L ORD, and who tell them and leadmy people astray by their lies and their recklessness, when Idid not send them or charge them. So they do not profit thispeople at all, declares the LORD.”25JEREMIAH 23:25–32Have you ever been cheated out of something because you were liedto? This is where we find the people of Israel in Jeremiah 23. Theprophets at that time were lying to the people and turning their hardhearts away from God. But God desired to correct the worship of Israeland restore his relationship with them. He chose Jeremiah to givewarning and instruction to his people, giving them a chance to repentand change their ways. God used his Word like a hammer to pound onand smash the hardness in their hearts.30Abide

GatherParents to Kids4–6 years oldÎWhen was the last time you lied? Why did you lie?7–12 years oldÎThink carefully. Is there anything in your heart that seems hardand unbreakable right now? Perhaps it is something you areholding onto tightly and refusing to let go? What is it?ÎWhat have you been feeding your spirit lately? Is it more ofthe Word of God or do you feed off the things you see on theinternet? Why?Kids to ParentsÎHow do you let go of the hard things in your heart?ÎCan God really break the hardness in our hearts?There are many things going on around us. The internet is on 24/7, andwhen there are things we cannot understand, we try to find answersto our questions on the internet. By itself, this is not harmful, butthe danger comes when we constantly fill our minds and hearts withthe things of this world. You see, the things of this world are like thefalse prophets during Jeremiah’s time. But the more we feed off these“false prophets,” the more our hearts become hard toward God. ButGod wants to break that in order that our hearts may be turned back tohim. God wants our hearts to be filled with things of him because onlythrough him can we be truly satisfied.If you think or feel that you have veered off from following God andhave started to follow the “false prophets,” perhaps God is calling yourattention now. Go back to spending time in his Word and allow it to bethe “hammer” that will smash your hard heart and turn it soft for Jesus!Day 4: The Word Is a Hammer31

PrayDear God, please give me a hunger for your Word. Help me to knowyou more by it. Increase my faith and understanding in your Word.Show me any area of hardness in my heart and change it by yourWord and the Holy Spirit. Help me to grow in your love and truth. InJesus’ name, amen.DiscoverThere are many types of hammers that serve different purposes.Common ones would be:1.A ball and pein hammer for shaping metals2. A roofing hammer for putting on a roof3. A rubber mallet for assembling wood parts like your cabinetsand shelves4. A welder’s hammer for weldingWhen we look back at the verse we talked about, we can imagine thatthe hammer could be like a sledgehammer which is used to break rocksand do demolition work—something like the one used in the homethemed TV shows doing house renovations!32Abide

ConnectTalk about this as a family:Suppose you have a house. There are different rooms in your house,such as your bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, dining room, living room,study, and office. Perhaps you have other rooms in your home, whichyou may add here.Now, when a guest comes to your home, which rooms will he or she beallowed to go to? Why?Which rooms would you prefer that the guest will not enter? Why?Usually, when a guest comes to our home, we decide where he or shecan go. To the living room, yes. To the dining room, yes. To the kitchen,maybe. To the study or office, maybe. To the bathroom, yes. To thebedroom, most likely, no! Because it is our private sanctuary and wherewe keep our most private things. And sometimes, it is messy. That’swhy we don’t want our guests to go there.Day 5: The Word Is a Sword33

Now, imagine if this house were your heart. And oneday, Jesus comes knocking.He wants to go to yourbedroom, where you keepyour most private things,like your thoughts, yourfears, and everything else.The thing is, Jesus alreadyknows about all our privatethings. Will you allow him inand let him see all your messyand private stuff?Read the WordFor the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than anydouble-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul andspirit, joints a

time to focus more on God. We can also fast from different media (TV, video games) and technology (gadgets, lowercase internet) if we cannot fast from food. Instead of eating or using our gadgets, we spend time with God. This means praying, worshiping, and reading the Bible. Th