Families
Week 91
We are in families so we can fill the earth
The complete family unit is found only among human beings. Very few animals have strong parent/child or male/female relationships, but none have the complete family unit for life that man has. Some animals have strong social relationships, mostly based on instincts and hierarchy.
Genesis 1:28 says, “And God blessed them; and God said to them, Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth…” The family unit with father, mother, and children was instituted by God. Since this thought is under severe attack in our society, we felt we must address the truth of families with the youngest among us. This will instill the simple truth into them so that as they grow, they can remain firm in this truth.
Note to the serving ones: While we faithfully present God’s view of a family, we recognize that some of our children’s families may not relate to what is being presented in these topics due to different types of situations. (For example, there may be children whose parents have passed away, children whose parents are not involved in the family/church life, children who are adopted, children who were raised by step-parents/grandparents, etc.) The serving ones need to be careful/sensitive in how they address these matters so that the children don’t come away from the story feeling bad because they may not have a mom and a dad to do the things that we are presenting. We don’t want them to feel like their families aren’t “real” families, but rather, we want to give them an appreciation for the complete family unit from God’s view. In your time with the children, please be sensitive to their personal circumstances. Be careful that no child feels that his or her family is wrong or worse than the others.
Point to emphasize
God’s desire is to see the earth filled with families that know Him.
Sample content and conversation with children
- Today we are talking about how God desires to see the earth filled with families that know Him.
- God made the heavens with the stars, sun and moon. [Show pictures #1-3 and let children respond by saying stars, sun, moon.] And God was glad. But did this make God really happy? No. And on the earth, He created all the trees, plants and flowers [Show picture #4]. And God was glad. But did this make God really happy? No. He also made all the animals. [Show picture #5.] But did this really make God happy? No.
- But God was just not satisfied with only a beautiful earth filled with plants and animals! His creation was not complete. Something special was missing. God wanted something more, something so important! So, He finally made a family!!! This is what made God so happy. [Show pictures #6-7 or pictures of your family or the family of those serving with you.]
- Families knowing Him on the earth make God happy! Using a picture of the earth from space you can show how beautiful the earth is. Even though it is so beautiful God is not so happy about it unless it is filled with families that know Him. Using a picture of many plants and animals, show how it still does not make God so happy. The Bible tells us that God wanted the families to be fruitful (have children) and fill the earth.
- Our families are important to God. So, when God looks at the earth, the thing He likes to see are families who know Him.
Suggested song
I Love God, He Put the Leaves on the Trees
Suggested activities
- You could play a game:
- Whenever we think something makes God happy, we will shout, “HAPPY”.
- Whenever we think something makes God super happy, we will jump up, clap and shout, “Happy, happy, happy”.
- Show pictures as you say each word: sun, stars, moon, earth, flowers, fruit trees, etc. and families.
- The children could all bring pictures of their families, and they could make an earth from a shopping bag and pin all the pictures on it. OR the children could trace their hand. Each finger becomes a family member while the hand becomes “earth”
Pictures
#1: Stars
#2: Moon
#3: Sunshine
#4: Plants and flowers
#5: Animals
#6: Family (1)
#7: Family (2)
