There are some things we hope for which are completely out of our control. Whether or not what we hope for happens, from our perspective, seems like nothing more than random chance.
We might hope in this way that there is no traffic for an upcoming commute.
We might hope in this way that a job opportunity in a new city opens up for us.
We might hope in this way for a white Christmas.
Then there are things we hope for which we still cannot count on, but we have reason to suspect that they might come to pass.
We might hope in this way that we get that gift that we hinted about for our birthday.
We might hope in this way that it doesn’t rain, knowing that the forecast indicates only a ten percent chance it will.
We might hope in this way that the roast finishes in time for dinner, knowing that the recipe puts it being done within a reasonable timeframe.
Then there are things we hope for which we can know will happen. This hope, however, is not like any hope we find in anything in this word. It is a hope that defies any chance of it not coming to pass. It is a hope of certainty. A hope of confident expectation. It is a hope found only in the gospel.
We need to understand these different ways people hope because this week, we need to help our kids understand that the Bible uses this third hope to speak of Christ’s return one day to make all things new.
Our hope is not like the first—even though it is out of our control. But Christ’s return is not “random chance,” it has been promised by a sovereign God who cannot lie.
Neither is our hope like the second—highly probable, but still not absolute. Again, our hope in Christ is fixed on His character and revealed will.
This week, be sure that your kids understand this biblical definition of hope. Let God use you to give them the joy and peace that comes from such hope.
They do not need to worry about God rejecting them if they have trusted in Christ. They can hope in God’s eternal love and acceptance.
They do not need to worry about Jesus not returning and making all things new. They can hope in God’s decree that this will come to pass.
Give your kids hope from the gospel this week, but be sure to give them the right kind of hope.
*Devo from Pastor Brian, from The Gospel Project.
#JesusJams for today!
---> And here's this week's story!!
Christ Connection: The prophets in the Old Testament told about the day when God would judge the world and save His people. Paul said that in the future, Jesus will come back for His people and judge the wicked. Believers can live with hope because Jesus will come again.
If you have a bible at your house, you'll be turning to 1–2 Thessalonians . If you don't have a Bible, that's okay! CLICK HERE!
OPTION 1: Build a tall tower Set out wooden blocks, cardboard blocks, or interlocking blocks. Guide children to work together to build a tower using all the blocks. When the tower falls down, encourage preschoolers not to give up and keep building.
SAY • You worked together! Building a tower with all the blocks was not easy to do, but you did not give up. In today’s Bible story, we will hear about the believers in Thessalonica. Following Jesus was not easy for them, but they did not give up. Listen to the Bible story to hear how Paul encouraged these believers.
OPTION 2: Make a card of hope Show preschoolers how to fold construction paper in half to create a card. Guide children to draw pictures, add stickers, or glue pictures of people who look happy on their cards. Ask children what they would say to someone who is sad, scared, or lonely. Transcribe their messages inside their cards. Help children remember a Bible truth or key passage they have learned that you could write on the card for them. Suggest children think of people that they could give their cards to. Collect the cards to deliver for children after the session or show parents the card their child made at pick-up. Consider sending a reminder during the week encouraging families to deliver the cards. SAY • Sometimes hard things happen like people being sick or hurt, or even dying. We may feel sad, lonely, scared. When we feel that way, we can remember that Jesus promised to come back and have hope. When Jesus comes back, believers will not suffer any more. Paul reminded believers in Thessalonica of this truth. Believers have hope because Jesus will come again.
OPTION 3: Play with play dough Give each child a “Paul’s Second Journey Map” and a ball of play dough. Help children find cities that begin with different letters. Point out Thessalonica. Guide the children to make tiny buildings for the towns they find. Suggest that they also make tiny boats to put in the water. Other children may want to roll their play dough into snake-like shapes and form the letters that spell Jesus with the snakes.
SAY • Paul traveled from city to city telling the good news about Jesus. Paul knew following Jesus was hard for the believers in Thessalonica. He wanted to encourage them, so he wrote them a letter reminding them to have hope. The prophets in the Old Testament told about the day when God would judge the world and save His people. Paul said that in the future, Jesus will come back for His people. Believers have hope because Jesus will come again.
UNIT QUESTION:
UNIT VERSE:
THE GOSPEL PRESENTATION: