Memory Treasure Devotions Based on the Christ-Light Core Memory Treasures For Grades 1-4. The 61 Memory Treasure Devotions for Grades 1-4 are found in one file: 1_4 MemTreasDevotions.pdf The program to read these files, Adobe Reader, is included with almost every computer. To avoid potential printing difficulties, use the latest available version of Adobe Reader. If your computer does not have Adobe Reader or has an outdated version, you may download the latest version for free at www.adobe.com. Adobe Reader is a registered trademark of Adobe Systems Incorporated. Printing the Devotions In order to achieve the optimum format of the printed devotions and to make sure that the page numbers print, do the following: from the print menu click on Page Scaling and set to Fit to Printable Area. The entire set of devotions is in one file. If you wish to print the entire file, simply open it and print. Note: No matter which page is on the screen, when you click on the print button, the default option will be to print all the pages of the PDF file. If you wish to print just certain devotions, in the print window indicate the page range for those devotions. You can also click on the page you wish to print, then in the print window, click on current page. Copyright Information All rights reserved. The contents of this CD may be reproduced and used only by the purchasing school or congregation. Sharing this material with other congregations or schools is prohibited.
Memory Treasure Devotions Based on the Christ-Light Core Memory Treasures Grades 1-4
I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. John 8:12 Project Coordinator: Pastor Raymond Schumacher Author: Karen Sinn Editor: Lynn Groth Scripture is taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. Christ-Light and the Christ-Light logo are registered property of Northwestern Publishing House. Northwestern Publishing House 1250 N. 113th St., Milwaukee, WI 53226-3284 www.nph.net 2012 by Northwestern Publishing House Published 2012 ISBN 978-0-8100-2378-9 All rights reserved. The contents of this CD may be reproduced and used only by the purchasing school or congregation. Sharing this material with other congregations or schools is prohibited.
Table of Contents Introduction Page vi Memory Treasure Reference Genesis 1:1 1 Genesis 39:9b 2 Exodus 20:11a 3 Job 19:25-27 4 Psalm 37:5 5 Psalm 50:15 6 Psalm 51:5 7 Psalm 103:1,2 8 Psalm 118:1 9 Psalm 119:105 10 Psalm 139:14 11 Psalm 145:15,16 12 Proverbs 3:5 13 Isaiah 41:10 14 Isaiah 43:11 15 Isaiah 64:6a 16 Matthew 4:10b 17 Matthew 6:33 18 Matthew 7:7 19 Matthew 11:28 20 Matthew 18:20 21 Matthew 22:37 22 Matthew 22:39b 23 Matthew 26:41 24 Matthew 28:19 25 Matthew 28:19,20 26 Matthew 28:20b 27 Mark 10:45 28 Mark 16:16 29 Luke 11:28 30 Luke 18:13b 31 John 1:29b 32 John 3:16 33 John 5:39 34 John 11:25,26a 35 John 14:19b 36 Romans 1:16 37 Romans 3:23 38 Romans 3:24 39 Romans 6:23 40
Romans 8:28 41 Romans 10:17 42 1 Corinthians 10:31 43 1 Corinthians 12:3b 44 Galatians 3:26 45 Galatians 3:27 46 Galatians 4:4,5 47 Ephesians 2:8,9 48 Ephesians 4:32 49 Ephesians 6:1 50 1 Timothy 2:3,4 51 2 Timothy 3:15 52 2 Timothy 3:16 53 Hebrews 11:1 54 James 1:22 55 1 Peter 5:7 56 1 Peter 5:8 57 1 John 1:7b 58 1 John 3:15 59 1 John 4:19 60 Revelation 2:10b 61
Introduction These devotions are based on the 61 Christ-Light core memory treasures that are taught and reviewed throughout grades 1-6. You can use the devotions to introduce and explain the memory treasures or to review their content. To help the children commit the passages to memory, have them sing along with the Christ-Light Memory Treasures: Passages CD. The easy-to-sing melodies and a variety of interesting accompaniments will make memorization of the passages easier, and the words and messages likely will stay with the children for a lifetime. Suggestions: (1) After each devotion, play the musical version and then teach it to the children one phrase at a time. Then have them sing the memory treasure along with the music on the CD. (2) Play the CD during work or craft times or while children are arriving for class. (3) Suggest that parents help their children learn memory treasures by playing the CD at home and while traveling in the car. vi
Genesis 1:1 Scripture Reading Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Devotion Imagine a place with no light and no sounds of people, birds, animals, or cars. (Suggestion: Have young children close their eyes and cover their ears for a short time.) Before there was a world, it was like that. There was nothing none of the things we see, hear, smell, taste, or feel. There was only God. God, in his wisdom, wanted to make a world. When you or I make something, we start with the supplies we need. To make a bowl we shape clay, let it dry, and then paint designs on it. To make a tree house, we use wood and nails. But when God made the world, he didn t need supplies. He created. That means he made things out of nothing. He made everything with his almighty power and Word. He said what he wanted to make, and it appeared! Trees, from nothing. Animals, from nothing. God uses his almighty power in other ways too. God protects and takes care of all that he has made, including you and me. So the next time you see the sun shining, hear a bird singing, smell the blooming flowers, or feel hugs from your parents, remember who created all things and gives us wonderful blessings because of his great love. Prayer Dear heavenly Father, when I look around at all that you have made, I am amazed. When I remember that you did this all for me, I am very thankful. Help me take care of your creation and trust that you always take care of me. I pray in Jesus name. Amen. 2012 Northwestern Publishing House. All rights reserved. 1
Genesis 39:9b Scripture Reading Genesis 39:9b How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God? Devotion The words of our Bible reading were spoken by a young man named Joseph, who lived many years before Jesus was born. Joseph s brothers had hated him, picked on him, and sold him as a slave. Joseph had a hard life. Listen to a story about a present-day young boy who said words much like the ones Joseph said. Jackson was a third grader and a bully. Sam and Billy were two of his favorite people to pick on. At recess, Jackson would tease them by taking their ball and kicking it across the playground. One day at lunch when Jackson went to get a drink, he left his bag of chips at his table. Billy said, Sam, no one is looking. Let s go take Jackson s chips. That will serve him right for being mean to us. Sam saw the opportunity to get back at Jackson, but instead of using it, he told Billy, How could we do such a thing? That would be wrong. The chips would have tasted good, and the idea of getting back at Jackson was tempting, but getting even, stealing chips, and hurting someone would have been sins. Sam did not listen to his friend s temptation. Long ago when Joseph was tempted to sin, he could have thought, It s hard being a slave. I deserve some fun. But instead, Joseph said, How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God? He knew it would be wrong to give in to temptation instead of obeying his loving Lord. Temptations are around you and me too. They creep up and can look fun and exciting, but in the end they lead to sin. When we feel temptations coming, let s remember to pray to God for help. Let s also remember Joseph s words: How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God? Prayer Dear God, I have to deal with temptations every day. I am tempted to get even with others, to say mean things, and to disobey my parents. Forgive me when I listen to temptations and sin against you. Help me fight against them. Help me remember Joseph s words: How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God? Teach me to obey to thank you for saving me through your Son. Amen. 2012 Northwestern Publishing House. All rights reserved. 2
Exodus 20:11a Scripture Reading Exodus 20:11a In six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them. Devotion How many days are there in a week? (Seven.) God chose to use only six of seven days to make the entire world. God decided to make many things: light, darkness, sky, grasses, flowers, bushes, mountains, soil, rocks, trees, rivers, lakes, sun, moon, planets, stars, fish, other water creatures, birds, dogs, lions, other land animals, and, finally, people his most special creation. God made everything, and everything was perfect! God could do this in just six days because he is all-powerful. God could have used six seconds or six minutes, but he chose to use six days. All God had to do was speak, and whatever he said happened. We could never just speak and have something appear. (Suggestion: Demonstrate this by having a student say, Let there be a monkey! ) Only God can use his words and power to make things out of nothing. Today there are many people who think that it took millions or billions or trillions of years for the world to form. They say things had to evolve, or change, for a long time in order to become what we have today. Some say that slime turned into tiny creatures that turned into bigger creatures that eventually became human beings. These people don t believe that the all-powerful God made everything. By faith we believe what the Bible says: In six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them. By faith, that same power of God is on our side, protecting us and giving us all that we need. Prayer Dear Lord, you used your amazing power to make a beautiful world in six days. Continue to use that power in my life, as you protect and preserve me. Help me use all my days to praise and thank you for taking care of me and saving me through your Son. Amen. 2012 Northwestern Publishing House. All rights reserved. 3
Job 19:25-27 Scripture Reading Job 19:25-27 I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes I, and not another. Devotion A man named Job said the words of our Bible reading. Job said them about the promised Savior, even though Job lived and died many years before Jesus was born. Job believed that Jesus would come to be his Redeemer and that someday he would see his Redeemer with his own eyes. Listen to learn what it means to redeem someone. Chris and Frank were playing catch in Frank s backyard. They were having a great time until Frank threw the ball just a little too high for Chris to catch. The ball ricocheted off Chris glove and right into the window of Mr. Brown s house. Right after hearing the crash of breaking glass, Mr. Brown ran out of his house and grabbed Chris arm. Mr. Brown roared, I have told you boys not to play ball out here. Now look what you ve done! You are going to pay for a new window. But I don t have any money, Chris sobbed. Just then Frank s teenage brother, Nate, came out. What s the problem? he asked. When Nate found out about the broken window and what it would cost to fix it, he said, I will pay for a new window. You can let these boys go. Nate paid the price owed by Chris and Frank. That is what a redeemer does. The meaning of the word redeem is to buy back. That is what Jesus did as our Redeemer. He bought us back from sin and the devil. Jesus didn t pay money to redeem us; he paid with his life. Jesus suffered and died for our sins so that we won t have to go to hell. But Jesus didn t stay dead! He used his almighty power to rise from the dead. At the end of the world, he will use that same power to raise us from the dead. Just as Jesus grave was empty on Easter morning, so our graves will be empty on judgment day. God will make our bodies perfect and reunite them (put them back together) with our souls. When Job spoke the words of our Bible reading, his body was covered with sores and he was hurting. But Job knew that his troubles would not last forever. He looked forward to the day when there would be no more pain or sadness. We look forward to judgment day when we, in perfect bodies, will begin life in heaven with our Redeemer Jesus. Prayer Dear Redeemer, thank you for paying the price for my sins so that I someday will be with you in heaven. I don t deserve your love, and I could never get to heaven without you. What a wonderful day it will be when I get to see you with my own eyes! Amen. 2012 Northwestern Publishing House. All rights reserved. 4
Psalm 37:5 Scripture Reading Psalm 37:5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this. Devotion There is a game called Trust Me. One person stands behind another. The person in front leans back, trusting that the person behind will catch him or her. (Demonstrate the game, if you wish.) In our Bible verse for today, God tells us to trust him to commit, or hand over, our lives to him. As we follow God s path to heaven, God is with us, ready to catch us when we stumble or fall. Things in life will not always go as we plan, but God tells us to trust him. He will always be with us. How do we stay on God s path to heaven? (By being in his Word; then the Holy Spirit will strengthen our faith in the Savior.) When we read and hear God s Word through home devotions, during church services, in Sunday school, and at vacation Bible school, we learn about the wonderful things God has done to save us through his Son. We learn that God protects us and gives us what we need for our lives. We also hear how we can use our lives to honor and thank him for saving us. The more we learn about God in his Word, the easier it is to trust him in all things. The more we learn about our wonderful Lord, the easier it will be to choose words and actions that obey God and show love and kindness to others. Prayer Dear Father in heaven, it is often hard for me to trust completely in you. Sometimes I think I can do things without your guidance. Other times I m frightened by what happens around me. Help me stay in your Word and remember that you are always with me, guiding and protecting me on the way to heaven. I pray in Jesus name. Amen. 2012 Northwestern Publishing House. All rights reserved. 5