Sunday, October 13: Hosea, Prophet to Israel

Hosea 1 - 14

Today’s Bible account in The Gospel Project^® for Kids reveals what true and unconditional godly love looks like. God told Hosea to show the people of Israel how much God loved them, but in an unexpected way. God told Hosea to marry an unfaithful woman, and to raise her children who were conceived with other men.

Hosea obeyed God. He married a woman named Gomer, and she was unfaithful just as God said she would be. God’s people were no different than Gomer. They loved and worshiped idols, people and things that were not the one true God.

It would have been easier for God (and Hosea) to throw up His hands and say, “Enough! I’m done with you!” But God’s love never gives up. He gave Hosea a love for his wife that compelled him to buy her back from the slave market even after all she had done.

Hosea’s relationship with Gomer reminds us of God’s relationship with the people of Israel and with us. Even though God’s people are unfaithful and love other things more than they love God, God still loves us. God loves us so much that He sent Jesus to die on the cross for our sin and bring us back to Him.

Sunday, October 6: Amos, Prophet to Israel

Amos 1 - 9

Thank you for continuing this journey of The Gospel Project^® for Kids. Over the next four weeks, we will focus on the Bible accounts of four prophets whose messages to God’s people foreshadowed Jesus Christ. In Sunday’s account, we learn of Amos, a regular, hard-working man who raised sheep in the southern kingdom of Judah. God called Amos to prophesy to the people of Israel.

On the outside, the northern kingdom of Israel looked good. They were prospering economically, their borders were expanding and sure, King Jeroboam was an evil and ungodly man, but he could have been worse. But God was not pleased with His people. Their hearts were far from Him. They ignored God’s laws, worshiped idols, and mistreated the poor. They were greedy, hypocritical, and prideful. So God called Amos to tell Israel that God was going to judge them for their sin.

Taking God’s message to the people of Israel was no easy task. When Amos told Israel through three sermons that God’s judgment would also fall on them, they told him to go away. The Israelites’ refusal to turn back to God brought an end to their time of prosperity and eventually led to their exile.

God is Loving and Gracious, but He is also Holy and Just. God wanted His people to turn back to Him, but they refused, and the people of Israel were punished for their sin. God sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sin. God accepts anyone who trusts in Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Sunday, September 29: The Northern Kingdom Was Destroyed

2 Kings 17: 1-23

 

Sunday’s Bible account in The Gospel Project^® for Kids focuses once again on the Northern Kingdom of Israel. God’s people in the Northern Kingdom had a long history of disobeying God. God sent His prophets to the people of Israel and the prophets told the people of Israel to repent and worship God again. Many times, the prophets told the people what would happen in the future if they continued to sin.

Some of God’s people listened to the prophets, repented of their sins, and followed God. But many people did not. God had been very patient with the Israelites. He had helped them in times of trouble and had delayed their punishment because He is gracious and compassionate. (2 Kings 13:23) But many years passed, and God knew His people would not love Him with all their hearts.

God had had enough of His people’s sinning. They wouldn’t listen to Him, so He allowed their enemies to send them into exile. The king of Assyria attacked Israel and laid siege to Samaria. Assyria captured Samaria and forced the people to leave the city. The Northern Kingdom of Israel was destroyed and the people were scattered, just as God had said it would be. (1 Kings 14:15)

When the Israelites disobeyed God, God judged their sin and punished them by removing them from His presence. Jesus took the punishment for our sin upon Himself. He unites and restores those who trust in Him. Jesus brings us into God’s presence and keeps us there.

Sunday, September 22: Elisha and Naaman

2 Kings 5

This week in The Gospel Project^® for Kids, we turn our attention to Elisha, Elijah’s friend and successor, and Naaman, commander of the Syrian army. The Syrians often attacked Israelite cities and took whatever they wanted, including people to work as slaves. One of the slaves carried off by the Syrians has a pivotal role in Sunday’s account.

Naaman was sick with leprosy—a serious skin disease. Without a cure, Naaman would suffer horribly. A young slave girl from the land of Israel, however, knew about the one true God. She told her mistress that Elisha the prophet could heal Naaman.

Naaman told his master, the king of Aram (Syria), what his servant said. The king of Aram wrote a letter to King Ahab, commanding him to heal Naaman. King Ahab panicked. He couldn’t heal Naaman—only God could do that! Elisha sent for Naaman and told him to wash seven times in the Jordan River. It wasn’t the “cure” Naaman was expecting, and he rejected Elisha’s instructions. His servants, however, encouraged him to obey, and when Naaman washed in the Jordan as Elisha had instructed, he was healed! Naaman told Elisha, “I know there’s no God in the whole world except in Israel” (2 Kings 5:15).

Naaman was sick with a skin problem. His disease went away when he washed in the river. All people are sick with a sin problem. They need a Healer. When we trust Jesus as Lord and Savior, God forgives our sin and heals us.

Sunday, September 15: Elijah Ran from Jezebel

1 Kings 19

In our continuing journey of The Gospel Project^® for Kids, Sunday's Bible account takes place immediately after Elijah’s confrontation with King Ahab and the false prophets of Baal. Elijah saw God send fire from heaven. God showed King Ahab, the Israelites, and all the people who worshiped the false god Baal that God is the one true God. Elijah probably felt very happy and victorious, but he was about to face trouble.

King Ahab’s wife, Jezebel, was furious with Elijah. Jezebel had already killed many of God’s prophets, and after Baal’s defeat at Mount Carmel, Jezebel sent a message to Elijah: she was going to kill Elijah like she had killed God’s prophets. Elijah was afraid! He ran away from Jezebel and hid in the wilderness. Overcome with despair, Elijah begged the Lord to take his life. (See 1 Kings 19:4.)

God sent an angel to bring food and water to Elijah while he rested. Then Elijah traveled to Mount Horeb—another name for Mount Sinai—to have a personal encounter with God. God revealed Himself to Elijah in a voice, a soft whisper. God assured Elijah that he was not alone; there were 7,000 people in Israel who had not turned to worship Baal. Elijah’s circumstances were difficult, but God never left him. And God gave him Elisha, a friend and successor.

Elijah was God’s prophet, and wicked Jezebel wanted to kill him. God was in control, and He protected Elijah. Jesus is the true and final Prophet. People hated Jesus and wanted to kill Him. God was in control. He used Jesus’ enemies to fulfill His plan to save people from sin.

Off to a Good Start!

Weekday Preschool, Mother's Day Out, and MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) resumed meeting in September and all are excited to be back! JAMM is in full swing, and preschoolers are singing and learning about our friends in other places all around the world. Contact the Preschool Office 318.868.6552 or email sandrah@broadmoor.tv to see how you and your preschooler can be involved!

Recommended Resources

Website: 
homepointe.com  provides resources to help couples and parents be more intentional one step at a time

Other Resources:
Parents' Guide to the Spiritual Growth of Children (by John Trent, Rick Osborne and Kurt Bruner)

Shepherding a Child's Heart (by Tedd Tripp)

Parents' Guide to the Spiritual Mentoring of Teens (by Joe White and Jim Weidmann)