Printer Friendly Version in MS Word: Family Blueprint #46

Family Blueprint Week #46

(An apple seed and an apple teach us that we cannot out give God!)

The Lord gave us the blueprint of His Word to architect our family on Jesus Christ.

Going through the Bible with your family…

Weekly Scripture:
1 Samuel 1 & 2

Story:
“Hannah”

Application:
You cannot out give God.

Summary:
Elkanah lived in Ephraim and had two wives Hannah and Peninnah. However, Hannah was unable to have children and because of this, Peninnah was mean to her. Hannah was not mean back to them, but she cried a lot and was very sad. One day she went into the temple and prayed for a long time, very quietly. She was just moving her lips as her heart really cried out to God for a baby, promising, if the Lord gave her a son, to give him back to the Lord, to serve Him. The old priest, Eli, thought she was drunk, but she explained to him that she was just very upset. God heard Hannah’s prayers and gave her a son, whom she called Samuel. Hannah was very happy, and when Samuel was a little boy, she took him to the temple and gave him back to God.

Focus:
That our children will learn that everything we have belongs to God. We are simply His stewards over His goods. We must be willing to give whatever He asks of us, knowing that we will never out give God. He will always meet our needs.

Finding Christ:
Hannah presents Samuel at the temple, as Mary presents Jesus at the temple. Samuel is the last judge of Israel , as Jesus is our Judge. Samuel is the prophet as Jesus is the Prophet.

Live the Lesson:
Tonight you will take an apple seed. Show the children how tiny the one apple seed is by itself. Now explain to them that this apple seed represents a gift to God. Ask them how they would feel if this was the last precious thing they owned? Could they and would they give it up to God?

If we plant the seed by giving it to God what will happen? Have we given God more than He can possibly give us? By entrusting that seed to God, He will out give us. That tiny apple seed can grow up into a huge tree to give us shade from the heat. That huge tree can make sweet smelling blossoms for us to enjoy, for bees to gather pollen to make honey for us to eat. Then the blooms wilt and grow into apples.

Now take an apple and show them how much bigger that one apple is than the tiny seed they gave to God. Ask them how many apples do they think they got from that one tree that grew from that one tiny seed over the years that it produces fruit?

Cut into the apple and show them how many more seeds there are in each apple to plant more and more trees to grow more and more fruit to share with others. Give each child an apple seed to hold onto. Then it is time to ask each child to think about this week what gift they have they need to give to Jesus and trust Him.

Now is a great time to have some apples for dessert. Either fresh apples or you can even make apple turnovers by cutting up some apples and sprinkling them with cinnamon and sugar. Wrap them up in a flour tortilla like a burrito and fry them golden brown. When they are finished sprinkle them with confectioner’s sugar (powdered sugar). Yummy!

For more free family devotional resources visit www.familyblueprint.org

Memory Verse:
“God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7

Prayer:
Dear Lord, please help us to give to you with joyful hearts, knowing we can never out give the Giver of all good things.

Living the Life:
This week discuss with your children all the things in your life that you take for granted, but that are truly gifts from God. Enjoy your gifts with thankfulness to God!

By Julianne Bell
Copyright © FamilyBluePrint 2002-2007
All rights reserved.
www.familyblueprint.org

'Family Blueprint' articles may be reproduced in whole under the following provisions:

1) A proper credit must be given to Julianne Bell at the end of each story, along with a link to http://www.familyblueprint.org

2) 'Family Blueprint' content may not be arranged or "mirrored" as a competitive online service.