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Eggnog

Give me eggnog,

Every day,

Pour me a glass,

Please I say.

Would you like some?

“Yes,” my friend said.

Then he licked his lips,

And nodded his head.

He drank it all down,

The whole big cup.

Then my friend turned green.

Then he threw up!

Right and Wrong

Whether or not you like eggnog is a matter of taste. There’s no right or wrong opinion, but in life, right will always be right and wrong will always be wrong. What is right today was right when God made the world and will be right until the end of time. What’s wrong today has always been wrong and will always be wrong. Right and wrong will NEVER change. So if anyone tells you that it’s just a matter of opinion, you’ll know it’s not true.

Fake Snowball Fight

You will need:


Get Started

Have an inside “snowball” fight using large marshmallow. You may want to outline certain boundaries, such as not going in bedrooms, etc. Or, if you desire, you can play all over the house. You can even play a hide-and-seek version. Have fun and don’t worry about marshmallows going everywhere. Messes last a little while; memories last a lifetime. 

(NOTE: If you don’t want to use marshmallows, use wadded up pieces of paper.)

After your game, gather your family around and continue with the following:

ASK—Did anybody get hit by a marshmallow they didn’t see coming?

SAY—In life sometimes you get hit by a temptation you didn’t see coming.

ASK—What is an example of temptation? (Being tempted to cheat on a test, etc.)

ASK—Is it wrong to be tempted? (No. Temptation is not wrong, but if you give into the temptation, that’s sin. Jesus was tempted, but He overcame it.)

Read 1 Corinthians 10:13 from your Bible.

SAY—God always makes a way for you to escape from temptation. So the next time you’re being tempted, talk to Jesus and ask Him for the strength to do what’s right. Then let your love for Jesus overcome the temptation because those who love Jesus, obey Him.

ASK—As New Year gets closer, let’s find ways we can live for Jesus all the way every day this next year. What are some changes each of us could make to walk closer with God this next year? 

PRAY—Thank God for always making a way to escape from temptation.

D.I.V.E. Devotions 

Dig In
Dig in and enjoy God’s Word. What should I read in the Bible today?

• DAY 1 – Luke 21:20-33 – The coming of the Son of Man

• DAY 2 – Luke 21:34-38 – Teaching in the Temple

• DAY 3 – Luke 22:1-6 – The betrayal of Judas

• DAY 4 – Luke 22:7-23 – The Last Supper

• DAY 5 – Luke 22:24-34 – Peter’s denial is predicted

Answer these questions each day…

Insight
What did you see? What did you hear?

Value
What did you learn? What should you do?

Examine
Examine yourself as you pray. What will you pray?

T’was the Night Before Christmas

T’was the night before Christmas,

And all through the home,

We could hear the loud snoring,

Of Uncle Jerome.

The family had come,

From real far and real near,

To share with us,

Their Christmas cheer.

I laid awake,

On top of my bed,

Thinking of presents,

Stacked as high as my head.

When to where,

Should my weary mind go,

But to toys and treats,

And Christmas snow.

When what should my wandering thoughts,

Finally see,

But lots of presents,

And all for me.

Above the loud snoring,

That kept pace with the time,

Came one word—

Mine! Mine! Mine!

Then my dreams drifted,

Back to a time long ago,

When a Savior was born,

Who loved me so.

Then above the noise,

Of the loud snores,

One word came to me—

Yours! Yours! Yours!

That’s when it struck me,

And I knew it was true,

That Christmas isn’t about gifts,

But it’s all about YOU—

And whether you know,

The God of love,

Who sent His Son,

From heaven above.

With these thoughts,

I fell asleep until light,

Wishing that everyone,

Knew my Jesus tonight.

Sharing Christ

The best gift you can share with a friend is the Good News of Jesus, and sharing Christ begins by realizing that not everyone knows Him. Who do you know who might not know the Lord?

The Bible says in John 1:12, “But as many as received him [Jesus], to them he gave the right to become God’s children, to those who believed in his name.”

Gift Wrapped

  • You will need:
  • 1 roll of toilet paper
  • A Bible marked at Luke 2:11-12

Get Started
Wrap your children from head to toe in toilet paper (Or you can use wrapping paper.) (NOTE: Be careful that they don’t fall over and are unable to catch themselves.) Keep them wrapped while you continue with the following.

ASK—How does it feel to be wrapped up like a gift?

SAY—Since you’re wrapped up like a toilet-papered, Christmas gift, I want you to know that you are a special gift from God to us and we love you and are proud of you.

On the count of three, have them break free as fast as they can. Put the toilet paper aside.

ASK—Do you know how the greatest gift in the world was wrapped?

SAY—Listen to what the Bible says and let’s find out. 

Read Luke 2:11-12 from your Bible.

ANSWER—The greatest gift in the world was wrapped in cloths and laid in a manger. Jesus is the greatest gift of all.

ASK—Do you know what the name Jesus means?

SAY—“Jesus” means “He saves,” and that’s why Jesus came, to become the Savior of the world by taking the punishment for all the wrong things we would ever do so that we could be forgiven and have a way to go to heaven.

PRAY—Thank Jesus for being our Savior.

D.I.V.E. Devotions 

Dig In
Dig in and enjoy God’s Word. What should I read in the Bible today?

• DAY 1 – Luke 20:27-44 – Trick questions

• DAY 2 – Luke 20:45-47 – The dangers of pride and self-righteousness

• DAY 3 – Luke 21:1-4 – The widow’s offering

• DAY 4 – Luke 21:5-11 – Destruction of the Temple predicted

• DAY 5 – Luke 21:12-19 – Persecution and endurance

Answer these questions each day…

Insight
What did you see? What did you hear?

Value
What did you learn? What should you do?

Examine
Examine yourself as you pray. What will you pray?

Accountability

During World War II, a plant of parachute packers achieved notoriety because their parachutes only opened 19 out of 20 times. That’s an average of 95%, and although that will get you an ‘A’ in school, when you’re jumping out of a plane, it’s just not good enough. The manager of the plant developed a strategy to increase reliability. He required the packer to test the parachutes themselves. It wasn’t long until quality rose to 100%. That’s the principle of accountability at work.1 

Reflect 

But the people answered Joshua, saying, “No, we are determined to serve the LORD!” “You are accountable for this decision,” Joshua said. “You have chosen to serve the LORD.” “Yes,” they replied, “We are accountable.” (Joshua 24:21-22 NLT) 

Respond 

Parachute packers need accountability and so do the leaders of children. To whom are you accountable and why do you think it’s important? 

Your thoughts?

Remember 

The value of accountability is that it “pressures” us into right living. Try asking one or two of the following questions to those with whom you are serving this week. 

Quiet Time 

What are you reading this week in your daily time with God? 

Scripture Memory 

What verse have you been focusing on lately? 

Prayer 

How have you seen God at work in your prayer-life recently? 

Attending Worship Service 

What did you get out of the worship service today? 

Overall 

What is God doing in your life right now? 

Little Jack Spree

Little Jack Spree,

Lived on a Christmas tree,

And late at night,

He’d turn on the lights,

So that he could see.

Then he’d hide,

And he’d slide,

Down the trim,

From limb to limb,

That’s Little Jack Spree, you see.

But late one day,

While Jack did play,

He heard a sudden knocking,

And fell into a stocking,

And couldn’t get free, you see.

He did pull and tug,

But he was stuck so snug,

And though he wiggled about,

He couldn’t get out,

Poor Jack Spree, I see.

Then he did something very unwise,

He shouted and screamed and gave loud cries,

And in panic he lost his wits,

And threw twelve different kinds of fits.

Little Jack Spree lost control, you see.

In terror, he just couldn’t say no,

And the more he struggled the deeper he’d go,

Finally he sank in candy to his chin.

And he thought at last that this was the end.

Poor Jack Spree no more would be, you see.

Then he recalled what to do,

When something happens that really scares you.

On God you can cast all your care,

Because the Lord is always standing right there.

Then he said, “I will not fear,

Though I think the end is finally here,

Because I know the Lord is near.”

He kept saying this as he would think.

Then a thought hit him: This sock doesn’t stink.

It’s bad enough to be stuck in there,

Without a nasty smell filling the air.

And though he wasn’t free,

He became thankful, you see.

Even in the bad you can still thank the Lord,

Because that’s what it says in His Holy Word.

Then something changed in Little Jack Spree,

The thankfulness stole the fear from he,

And slowly he did struggle and slowly he did climb,

Because he now felt a peace on his mind.

At last he came out,

And he declared with a shout,

“Even in bad you can still find the good!”

Little Jack Spree understood, you see.

Then he climbed up real far,

As high as the shining star,

And he said a thankful prayer,

That God is always there,

And we need not ever fear,

Because He’s always near.

Calmness

Someone can be calm and have peace in the middle of hard or frightening situations when their trust is fixed on Christ. The Bible says in Philippians 4:6-7, “Do not worry about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.”

Ice Cube Melt

You will need:

  • An ice cube or a small ice sickle for each child 
  • A Bible marked at Luke 22:39-44

Get Started
Give each family member an ice cube and race to see who can melt theirs the fastest by holding it in their hand. (NOTE: Be sure to tell them that if it feels too cold, it’s okay to stop.)

ASK—Did you ever feel like giving up?
SAY—I’m going to read a story to you out of the Bible about a time when Jesus didn’t give up.

Read Luke 22:39-44 from your Bible.

ASK—When Jesus said “cup” what do you think He was talking about?

SAY—This happened just before Jesus died. He was referring to all the pain and suffering He had to endure to pay the price for our sins. Even though He was born to be the Savior of the world and even though He was perfect, it still didn’t make it easy for Him to take the punishment for everybody’s wrongdoings. But this is how much He loves you—That he suffered and died to make a way to forgive your sins and to make a way for you to go to heaven.

SAY—This is the real meaning of Christmas. God gave His Son to save us. This makes Jesus the greatest gift of all.

PRAY—Thank Jesus for enduring suffering and death to be the Savior of the world and for being the greatest gift of all.

D.I.V.E. Devotions 

Dig In
Dig in and enjoy God’s Word. What should I read in the Bible today?

• DAY 1 – Luke 18:31-34 – Jesus predicts his death

• DAY 2 – Luke 18:35-43 – Healing a blind man

• DAY 3 – Luke 19:1-10 – Zacchaeus

• DAY 4 – Luke 19:11-27 – The parable of the pounds

• DAY 5 – Luke 19:28-40 – The triumphal entry

Answer these questions each day…

Insight
What did you see? What did you hear?

Value
What did you learn? What should you do?

Examine
Examine yourself as you pray. What will you pray?