Spiritual Emphasis Week Daily Classroom Devotionals and themes

Transcription

1 Spiritual Emphasis Week 2018 Daily Classroom Devotionals and themes

2 Monday, March 26: How wide is the love of Christ Scripture Psalm 103:8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. Psalm 103:12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. Theme/Emphasis/imagery God s love for us is wide, ongoing, never stops Think of the following images: A sunset with a clear, blue sky that just keeps on going Jesus arms stretched out on the cross A field of pure white snow

3 Monday, March 26: How wide is the love of Christ Questions for discussion/reflection: 1) What type of place have you been to where it seems like it just keeps on going forever? 2) When Psalm 103:12 says that as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us., what do you think that means? 3) Do you believe that God has a wide, ongoing, never-ending love for you? 4) When Jesus died on the cross for our sins, he was giving up his own life so that God could forgive us and offer his ongoing, never-ending love. What do you think of that? How does that make you feel?

4 Monday, March 26: How wide is the love of Christ

5 Monday, March 26: How wide is the love of Christ Questions for discussion/reflection: 1) How do you think you would respond to Jesus riding in a donkey if you were in that crowd? 2) Why do you think that the people are waving palm branches and shouting Hosanna? 3) Hosanna means save now. What has Jesus already saved you from? What do you need God to save you from in your life now?

6 Tuesday, March 27: How long is the love of Christ Scripture Psalm 103:8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. Luke 15:3-6 Then Jesus told them this parable: Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep. Theme/Emphasis Jesus has gone to great lengths to reveal God s love for us Think of the following images: The distance from the earth to the sun the size of the earth compared to Jupiter Someone going on a long journey to find the person/thing he/she loves

7 Tuesday, March 27: How long is the love of Christ Questions for discussion/reflection: 1) What s the longest/farthest distance you have ever traveled? How long did it take you to get there? 2) Did you know that the diameter distance from the earth to the sun is million miles? If you got into a jumbo jet, it would take you about 19 years to travel from the earth to the sun! 3) When Jesus says that he will leave a flock of 99 sheep to get just one who has wandered off, how far do you think he went? 4) How long do you think God s love is for you? Is it a short road trip? Like the distance of from the earth to the Sun? Here s a great video that s just really cool, showing the distance/size of our earth to the Sun and more!

8 Tuesday, March 27: How long is the love of Christ

9 Wednesday, March 28: How HIGH is the love of Christ Scripture Psalm 103:8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. Psalm 103:11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; Theme/Emphasis/imagery God s love extends far above and beyond what we can imagine Think of the following images: Being on an air balloon high up in the air, looking down Hiking or climbing up a high mountain peak

10 Wednesday, March 28: How HIGH is the love of Christ Questions for discussion/reflection: 1) Have you ever hiked to a REALLY high point? What is the tallest building or mountain you have ever seen? 2) What do you think about the idea that the entire space in between the ground all the way up to the sky matches God s love for you? 3) What are ways that Jesus showed how high God s love is for us? Here s a great video as an example of something that is REALLY HIGH up!

11 Wednesday, March 28: How HIGH is the love of Christ

12 Thursday, March 29: How deep is the love of Christ Scripture Psalm 103:8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. Psalm 137:7-8 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. Theme/Emphasis/imagery God s love goes deeper than anything we can know or imagine. God also shows his love to us when we are at any low points in our lives. Think of the following images: The depths of the ocean

13 Thursday, March 29: How deep is the love of Christ Questions for discussion/reflection 1) Have you ever tried to dig a deep hole into the ground, or a pit at the beach? What s the farthest you think you could dig? Can God go farther than that? 2) Imagine swimming in a big lake or an ocean (let s say you re a really good swimmer!). How far down do you think you could go if you hold your breath? How does God s love compare to the depths of the ocean? 3) Think about how deep God s love is for each of you. Do you think it goes deeper than the ocean? Does it go deeper than any hole you can dig? How far do you think God s love goes down? Here s a great video as an example of something that is REALLY DEEP!

14 Thursday, March 29: How deep is the love of Christ

15 Thursday, April 13: Jesus Resurrection Theme/Emphasis/images Earthquake empty tomb with stone rolled away Angels clothed in white Women coming to see Jesus; them later telling the disciples Peter rushing to go see the empty tomb The linen scraps lying where Jesus body was Scripture Matthew 28:1-10/Luke 24:1-12

16 Thursday, April 13: Jesus Resurrection Activity/Lesson Ideas Strips of cloth which students can write on, decorate, paint, etc. An empty tomb with a stone that you can roll away. Here are some pinterest ideas:

17 Thursday, April 13: Jesus Resurrection Questions for discussion/reflection 1) How was Jesus able to come back from the dead? 2) What did Jesus tell the women to go do? Why? Who goes to the tomb after the women tell them about it? 3) What if you saw and experienced what the women who see Jesus alive? How would you respond? What would you think?

18 Thursday, April 13: Jesus Resurrection