Deuteronomy 6:5-7 commands us "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." Family discipleship happens during the ordinary moments in our day-to-day lives. It overflows into our daily rhythms out of our own love for God. However, it also must be intentional. At CCC, we want to partner with you as you strengthen your own faith and live purposefully. One way we do that is by providing weekly at home discipleship opportunities that correlate with what our kids are doing in Community Kids each Sunday. The Gospel Project At Home - God Defeated Jericho has resources designed to help you lead a family worship experience as well as suggestions for morning and evening prayer times and family activities.
In our Bible story in Community Kids this week, we see not just mercy, but courageous mercy. Rahab by faith, courageously trusted God and hid the Hebrew spies. Mercy is not courageous until being merciful costs us something. Rahab's mercy was pushed to the testing point. She had compassion and, in doing so, risked her life. She showed mercy; as a result, she received mercy.
Mercy is compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm. Mercy was one of the marks of Jesus’ ministry. He modeled it for us on earth. There are countless examples of Jesus’ showing compassion and forgiveness to those who didn't deserve it. Mercy always involves courage because you have the power—and often the right—to punish rather than forgive. In our world today, the act of forgiveness is often seen as a weakness. It's risky. Mercy that lacks courage will be sporadic in its application. We, like Pilate, will forgive until it costs us something. We will have compassion, but only from a distance. This is the beauty of Christ that we see in stories like Rahab.
The God we serve is lavish in His mercy and rich in His kindness. What Rahab experienced is a glimpse of God’s mercy we see in Christ. Jesus is the full expression of the mercy and kindness of God. Jesus isn't concerned from a distance; He took on human flesh and dwelt among us. Jesus didn't just act mercifully when it was convenient. He laid down his life so that we could be forgiven. Rahab modeled for us what Jesus preached in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:7: “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” Let us today be extenders of mercy to others because of the tender mercy of God in Christ we have received because of the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ.
FAMILY TALKING POINTS
CHRIST CONNECTION
This is the big idea of how this week’s Bible story points to Jesus.
● Toddlers: Everyone who trusts in Jesus becomes part of God’s family forever.
● Preschool: By faith Rahab believed God would win the battle. The Israelites kept Rahab and her family safe, and she joined God’s people. Jesus has won against sin and death. Everyone who trusts in Jesus is safe and becomes part of God’s family forever.
● Kids: By faith, Rahab believed God would win the battle. When the Israelites attacked Jericho, Rahab and her family received mercy and became part of God’s people. Jesus has won against sin and death. Everyone who trusts in Jesus receives mercy and becomes part of God’s family forever.
BIG PICTURE QUESTION & ANSWER
This is an important biblical truth that your child will encounter each week of this unit.
● Toddlers: What is a miracle? A miracle is something that shows God’s power.
● Preschool: What is a miracle? A miracle is something God does that usually cannot be done.
● Kids: What is a miracle? A miracle is something God does that usually cannot be done so that we can know He is all-powerful.
KEY PASSAGE
This is a Bible verse that relates to what your child will encounter each week of this unit.
● Toddlers: God shows His strength to people. Psalm 77:14
● Preschool: You are the God who works wonders; you revealed your strength among the peoples. Psalm 77:14
● Kids: You are the God who works wonders; you revealed your strength among the peoples. Psalm 77:14
** Next Community Kids Gathering (10/1): God Gave the People the Land (Joshua 7–11)