Happy Harbor

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Talk It Over

The Parable Of The Lost Sheep

Hey parents! Use these questions as a guide to talk over this week’s lesson about The Parable of the Lost Sheep with your child after they’ve listened to the episode!

1. Who was today's Bible story about?
   Jesus.
2. A man had 100 sheep. What sound does a sheep make?
   Baa.
3. Uh-oh. What happened when he lost one of his sheep?
   He looked and looked all around to find it. Let’s play peek-a-boo! You can pretend to be the sheep and I’ll cover my eyes then find you. Ready? Peek-a-boo sheep!
4. How did the man feel when he finally found the lost sheep?
   He was happy! He asked everyone to come celebrate. Let’s jump and clap our hands and celebrate, too.
5. Take some time to pray with your toddler. Encourage your toddler to sit with you and fold their hands, saying something like:
   God, thank you for loving us. Thank you for making us. Thank you for wanting to be our friend. Thank you that you will take care of us. We love you! Amen!

Parent Encouragement - The Parable of the Lost Sheep

Hey parents! Here's something for you to be encouraged by and get ideas to bring this Bible story into your everyday conversation with your child at home!

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Craft – I-Spy Bag

In this craft, your toddler will make an I-Spy bag filled with hidden items from the Bible story. As they look for the items in their bag, they will be reminded that the shepherd looked for the sheep. He loved the sheep, and God loves us!

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Activity – Balloon Sheep

In this activity, your toddler will have fun as they find all of the sheep like the shepherd found his lost sheep in our Bible story. The shepherd loved his sheep, and God loves us!

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Coloring Page - The Parable of the Lost Sheep

We have a variety of coloring pages to help your child remember familiar faces from this month’s lesson!

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Navigating Parenthood: Step Up - Week 2

Hey parents! Saddleback Parents has great training, tips, and tools to help you win. Check out part 2 of this Two Minute Tip series all about how we can help our kids hold onto faith.

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Arlo, Tilly, and Kelby learn how to be a good neighbor in today's story. Do you know how to be a good neighbor? Share your neighbor stories in the comments and reviews! We would love to hear them!

Christmas

Hey parents! Use these questions as a guide to talk over this week’s lesson about Christmas with your child after they’ve watched the video service!

1. Who was the baby in today's Bible story?
   Jesus. Christmas is all about Jesus!
2. Jesus was born in a barn. What kind of animals do you think were in the barn with baby Jesus?
   What sounds do those animals make? Have fun making barnyard sounds with your toddler.
3. An angel told the shepherds that Jesus was born. Were the shepherds happy or sad when they heard this good news?
   They were very happy and excited! Show me your happy face.
4. What did the wise men see in the sky that helped them find Jesus?
   A star!
5. Take some time to pray with your toddler. Encourage your toddler to sit with you and fold their hands, saying something like:
   Dear God, thank you for loving me, making me, and for sending Jesus to be my friend. Thank you that we can celebrate Jesus’ birthday on Christmas! Happy birthday Jesus! Amen.

Activities and Resources

Toddler Coloring Page - Christmas

We have a variety of coloring pages to help your child remember familiar faces from this month’s lesson!

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Toddler Craft – Happy Birthday Jesus Party Hats

In this craft, your toddler will celebrate Jesus’ birth at Christmas by making a party hat! Have fun with your toddler as you remember Christmas is Jesus’ birthday.

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Toddler Activity – Birthday Party for Jesus

Bring this week’s craft to life as you host your own birthday party for Jesus! With party hats, noisemakers, and playdough birthday cakes, your toddler will love celebrating Jesus’ birthday this Christmas.

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Parent Encouragement - Christmas

Hey Parents! Here's something for you to be encouraged by and get ideas to bring this Bible story into your everyday conversation with your child at home!

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Navigating Parenthood - Christmas

Hey parents! Saddleback Parents has great training, tips, and tools to help you win. Check out this blog post, Having Fun and Making Memories Along the Way. Christmas is a great time to start some family traditions and make memories with your kids!

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“And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28, NLT)

Genesis 37 

The same question gets asked in a variety of forms: Where is God when it hurts? Why do bad things happen to good people? How can a good and loving God allow suffering?

Joseph could have asked these same questions; maybe he did. Mistreated and abused by his brothers, and eventually sold into slavery by them, Joseph could have easily chosen to believe that this was all evidence that God didn’t love him or wasn’t “on his side.” Isn’t that the same place our minds are often tempted to go when we face difficulties or troubles? “God must not care about me. If He did, these things wouldn’t be happening to me.” This seems to be especially true if our troubles come about because of other people’s meanness or sin, while we were simply trying to live our lives following God.

Joseph was living a life of obedience even as a young boy. He wasn’t perfect, as evidenced by his somewhat boastful interactions with his brothers, where he relayed his dreams of ruling over them. But he definitely didn’t deserve to be thrown in a pit and then sold as a slave by his own family members! Can you imagine how he must have felt when his brothers ripped off his colorful robe? This robe represented the special bond he had with his father and his brothers, in their jealousy, destroyed it.

Have you ever seen something you treasured be ripped apart before your eyes? Maybe it was a tangible object like Joseph’s robe, or maybe it was a long-treasured dream that you saw crumble. In those moments, it’s easy to ask, “Where are you, God? Don’t you see me?”

One thing we can learn from Joseph’s life is that God never leaves us. Even when we can’t see Him or feel Him, He is there and He is working on our behalf. Joseph must have wondered what God was up to as he was being led off to Egypt as a slave, but he didn’t waiver in his trust and obedience to God.

Questions to think about:

1. How does it feel to be mistreated when you have done nothing wrong?
2. What do you learn from Joseph’s life that can help you respond to people who mistreat you or are jealous of you?
3. Do you ever struggle with envy like Joseph’s brothers did? If so, what are some healthy ways you can deal with it?

Jesus Calms the Storm

“When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Silence! Be still!’ Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm.” (Mark 4:39)

Mark 4:35-41

Jesus told us in scripture that we will face many trials in this life (John 16:33). This is a fact of life – not an “if,” but a “when.” Maybe you have not experienced trials yet or maybe you have been through more than your fair share of struggle. Whatever the case may be, God can handle it.

Jesus demonstrates His power to the disciples by effortlessly calming a raging storm after suggesting He and the disciples cross the lake in a boat. Soon after setting off on their journey, a storm, described as “fierce,” comes upon them. The boat began to fill with water and, understandably so, the disciples began to panic. They looked around for Jesus, but could not find Him. Eventually, they found Him sleeping peacefully in the back of the boat. He was unfazed by the storm because He was not afraid. The disciples began yelling, “Don’t you care that we are going to drown?” Jesus woke up and using only His voice, instructed the waves and wind to be still. Immediately, the storm subsided.

Once the storm had ended, Jesus turned to His disciples and asked, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” In the midst of a raging storm, Jesus felt peace because He knew He was stronger than the storm. He would not let it bring down the ship. Yet, the disciples let fear consume them when they faced the storm, not believing that Jesus could save them.

When trials or “storms” enter our lives, it is easy to let our fear lead us. Let this miracle be a testament to the power of Christ in our lives. By calming the dangerous storm, He showed us that He can calm any type of storm we are facing. When something scary happens, we do not have to be afraid because Jesus has proved that He is more powerful than anything we will face, including nature.

Questions to think about:

1. What storm are you facing?
2. What stands in the way of you handing over your fear to Christ?
3. Is there a time in your life when Jesus has calmed a storm you faced? Trust that He can do it again.

God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” Genesis 1:28

Genesis 1-2

Have you ever house-sat before? Usually it includes a long list of responsibilities like checking the mail, watering the plants, rolling trashcans in and out and caring for animals while the owner is away. It is a big undertaking, but it proves how much the owners trust you if you are asked to take care of their home and everything in it while they leave. In the same way, when God created the Earth, He asked humans to take care of it. Talk about a big responsibility!

It only took God six days to create the Earth and everything in it: light, darkness, sky, land, seas, sun, moon, stars, plants, animals and finally man and woman. When He brought humans into this world, God told them that He had created this place for them! What an awesome gift! However, it was Adam and Eve’s responsibility to care for it and be good stewards of what He had entrusted them with.

This may seem like a big job for us to continue fulfilling this today, but since humans were created in the image of God, we have been given characteristics of God that naturally make us want to care for the things He cares for. When we become followers of Christ, we begin to take on many of His qualities and desires. One of these being the desire to care for the Earth. We do this in both big and small ways by throwing away our trash, not wasting food, being gentle and loving toward animals and even something as simple as watering the plants!

God put a lot of thought and care into this beautiful world He created for us and the least we can do is put the same thought and care into appreciating and maintaining it.

Questions to think about:

1. What does it mean to be created in God’s image?
2. What is something God created that makes you feel His presence and appreciate His power?
3. What is one way you can do your part to be a good steward of God’s creation?

QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT: 

1. Are there times when I feel alone and/or isolated? If so, when?
2. Why did God create the light and darkness?
3. Take some time to sit still before God outside in a quiet area. Look up at the sky and reflect on how God created everything you see and how He promises to never leave us.

So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you. – Deuteronomy 31:6

Genesis 1:3-5, Genesis 1:14-19 

The Story of Creation 

Though it can be hard to admit, there are times when we feel all alone. We know that God loves us, but some days are just really hard. When experiencing pain in any way, we tend to feel like we are suffering all by ourselves, leading us to feel alone and isolated. We may think no one understands what I am going through. But when in the midst of our darkest moments, what if we were to take the time to think about God’s creation and how God perfectly created and placed the moon and stars in the sky and how He created the light during the day and the darkness through the night. Because God created both the light and the darkness, we can take comfort in knowing that God is always with us. Even when we sin and when we face our most difficult moments, God is with us. There is nothing we could ever do that could make God stop loving us. So when we look up at God’s beautiful creation, we can take comfort in reflecting on how God is with us all through the day and all through the night. He is always with us. Me.

GOD IS ALWAYS WITH ME.

David And Goliath

Hey parents! Use these questions as a guide to talk over this week’s lesson, David and Goliath, with your child after they’ve watched the video service!

1. What was your favorite part of the video we just watched?
2. Was David afraid of Goliath? Why did he feel this way?
   David wasn’t afraid of Goliath because he knew God was bigger and stronger. He was confident in God!
3. Why was David confident in God?
   David remembered the times that God had taken care of him before – like when he rescued David from lions and bears. He knew that God was bigger and stronger than all things – even Goliath. David didn’t need to be afraid because he knew that God would still do great things.
4. What are some great things God has done?
   Spend some time thinking with your child about the good things God has done in the Bible and some good things God has done for you and your family!
5. Pray with your child. You might say something like this:
   Dear God, thank you for the great things you have done for me. Help me to remember those great things, and to always know that you will do great things again because you are a good God, and you love me. I love you! Amen.

Parent Devotional - Big and Strong Week 3

Hey parents! We have something just for you to enjoy this week’s Bible story for yourself. Read over this devotion sometime this week as a way for you to reflect on the Bible story your child saw from Church at Home. We love you!

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Early Childhood Craft – David Story Stones

Your child will create their own pouch filled with stones like the pouch David used to hold his stones. Each stone will represent a part of the Bible story and remind them they can be confident like David.

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Early Childhood Coloring Page and Activity Sheet

Each week we have a new coloring page and activity sheet for your child to remember the Bible story for the week and learn more about our Big Idea.

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Navigating Parenthood - Big and Strong Week 3

Hey parents! Saddleback Parents has great training, tips, and tools to help you win. Check out this blog post all about building our kids’ confidence – not only in themselves but as children of God, too.

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Prayer is talking to God

Daniel would continuously talk to God through prayer. Even when he was threatened to be thrown into the lion’s den, Daniel would continue to pray to God.

Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.
– Colossians 4:2

Daniel 2, Daniel 6

Daniel and the Lion’s Den
Daniel was a very good, faithful man, who always obeyed God. He would pray to God consistently, three times a day. Daniel had a very close relationship to God due to how often he would talk to God through prayer and because of his unshakable faith. God also gave Daniel an incredible gift—Daniel was able to interpret dreams. This gift led Daniel to successfully interpreted King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. The king then gave Daniel a high up position in the kingdom and gave him many gifts. Because Daniel was so smart, other wise men in the kingdom were very jealous. Their jealousy led them to convince King Darius to make a new law—that the people were only allowed to pray to the king. If people chose not to obey this law, they would be thrown in the lion’s den. These jealous men knew that Daniel would never obey this law since he would pray to God several times a day.

Daniel continued to pray in his room, even when he had heard about this new law. After the jealous men saw him do this, they told King Darius. This made King very upset because he cared for Daniel and tried to get him out of trouble, but knew there was no way around it. Before throwing him in the den, King Darius told Daniel “Your God, to whom you are so loyal, is going to get you out of this.” The next morning, King Darius went to check on Daniel and heard Daniel say “My God sent his angel to shut the lion’s mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have wronged you, Your majesty.” Daniel had not been harmed! They both knew that Daniel was protected because he had completely trusted God and had faith in Him. Daniel had a great amount of love for the Lord. Daniel also had a deep and personal connection to God because he would intentionally talk to God all the time through prayer. Regardless of the situation he was facing, he would make time to pray. Sometimes, we can get so caught up in our daily routine, that we neglect to prioritize our quiet time with God. But the truth is, God wants to hear from us—He wants us to talk to Him because of His love for each and every one of us.

I can talk to God.

 
Questions to think about:

1. Why did Daniel continue to pray, even when he knew his life would be threatened?
2. Why did Daniel have such a close relationship with God?
3. How can I remember to talk to God on a daily basis?