Series Overview
Growing in faith is not something that happens by simply cramming more information about the Bible into a child’s brain. All of that knowledge in their head means nothing if we don’t help them experience how that knowledge can transform their heart. To experience faith, we want kids to practice their faith, and that takes commitment. Commitment is part of God’s nature and how God interacts with us, keeping promises and putting plans into action. God’s commitment to us is just one of the many reasons we can trust God no matter what. Because God’s promises and plans came true in Jesus, we can be with God forever. We reflect God’s character when we make a plan and stick to it. This month, we’ll help kids discover that one of the best plans they can make is to commit to an ongoing relationship with Jesus. We hope they commit to practicing their faith by reading God’s Word, praying to God honestly and consistently, talking about God with others, and living for God in how they show love throughout the everyday moments of their life.
Memory Verse
“Training the body has some value. But being godly has value in every way. It promises help for the life you are now living and the life to come.” – 1 Timothy 4:8, NIRV
Week One (May 5)
Light My Way
Bible Story: God’s Word Is A Light | Psalm 119:105
Key Question: How can you hear from God?
Virtue: Commitment – Making a plan and putting it into practice
We start the month with Psalm 119:105, where David wrote, “Your word is like a lamp that shows me the way. It is like a light that guides me.” When we read what the authors of the Bible wrote, we can find out how God wants us to live. It’s like we’re listening to God. God offers us wisdom throughout the pages of the Bible that can guide us to not only discover more about ourselves, but also how to love God, trust Jesus, and treat others well.
When kids are taught that they should learn to hear from God, they might have some big questions. As concrete thinkers, they still process what they learn about the world quite literally. And while they might not audibly hear God speak, they might wonder if hearing from God is even possible. Thankfully, we can point them to the Bible—or other people who can read and understand the Bible to help them discern how God might be speaking to them. We hope this question gives kids a chance to wrestle with what it means to hear from God and discover that hearing from God might not be as difficult as they might have thought.
Week Two (May 12)
You Say
Bible Story: The Lord’s Prayer | Matthew 6:9-13
Key Question: How do you pray to God?
Virtue: Commitment – Making a plan and putting it into practice
In Matthew 6:9-13 we find Jesus talking about prayer during His Sermon on the Mount. Jesus shared a model for prayer that helps us understand more about how we can talk to God. We can pray with gratitude and honesty, pray for our needs, and ask for forgiveness. It’s comforting to know that we can pray while remembering that God knows us and wants to hear from us.
Kids in your ministry will have varied experiences with prayer. Many might just be starting to discover that they can pray more than before meals and at bedtime. Others might never have prayed out loud on their own. Whatever their experience with prayer, we hope all kids can learn that they can talk to God through prayer whenever they feel like praying, with whatever words come to mind. God is always there to listen and cares about what we have to say.
Week Three (May 19)
Speak Now
Bible Story: Peter Says That Jesus Is The Messiah | Matthew 16:13-20
Key Question: Who do you talk to about God?
Virtue: Commitment – Making a plan and putting it into practice
For Week 3, we head to Matthew 16:13-20, where Jesus asked his disciples: “Who do you say I am?”After everything they’d seen Jesus do and heard Jesus say, what did they really think about Jesus? This gave Peter the perfect moment to declare what he believed: that Jesus truly is the Son of God.
If you want to grow in your faith, it’s important to talk about what God is doing in your life. However, for kids, this can feel overwhelming, especially if they’ve never really chatted about their faith with anyone before. This week, let’s help kids understand that talking about God with others can be helpful as they grow in their relationship with Jesus. We hope they’ll figure out some of the trusted people in their lives who can be a sounding board to help them process their questions and listen to their faith stories.
Week Four (May 26)
All I Have To Give
Bible Story: The Widow’s Offering | Mark 12:41-44
Key Question: How can you live for God?
Virtue: Commitment – Making a plan and putting it into practice
We finish the month in Mark 12:41-44. Jesus noticed how wealthy people were giving lots of money at the temple. Then a poor widow walked up to the offering box and gave just two small coins. While this seemed like a small gift, Jesus told His disciples that this woman actually gave more than the rich people did—because she gave everything she had.
Kids might think that they only practice their faith when they come to church, go to Small Group, or sing worship songs during Large Group. But when you practice living for God, you discover that whatever you do—work, play, read, sing, listen, whatever—can be a way you worship God with your life.