Lesson 3, Week 5: Passing on a Spiritual Heritage is A Grandparent’s Responsibility

Scripture Focus: “That the generation to come might know them, the children who would be born.”Psalm 78:6a

*Before you begin, ask the Holy Spirit to teach you as you read God’s Word and seek His meaning.

If you will look back at the Scripture for this week, you will see that telling our grandchildren how God has taken care of us is not just a suggestion, buta command. So if passing on a spiritual heritage is our responsibility, thenhow will we do it? How will we share His faithful to us and our faith in Him?

Think on These Things 

Remember the Israelites in the desert? God dealt with the physical needs of His people, while at the same time, He was caring for their spiritual need.  Even then, He planned to send His Son, Jesus, who said, “I am the bread of life.  He who comes to Me shall never hunger. . .”  John 6:35 NKJV

What faith evidence are you sharing with your children and grandchildren?  You may not have an omer full of Manna, but you can help your grandkids remember that God is faithful. 

--God has commanded me to share how He has been active in my life.

--I need to do this so my grandchildren will see how God is working in their lives and praise

Him.

--This is a responsibility God has entrusted to me.

I Will Apply What I Have Learned

Try the following activities, or think up your own, to lead into a spiritual discussion and cause the spiritual lesson to connect with a memory.  Have fun while learning a spiritual truth!

Ø  PRETZEL BAKING PARTY-- Bake bread with your children or grandchildren.  Share the Exodus passage, plus John 6, on Jesus being the “Bread of Life”. If you are not a bread baker, buy a bag of frozen bread dough at the supermarket, divide into small portions and let your grandchildren roll out on wax paper and form into pretzel shapes.  Share the story of how Jesus fed the 5000, providing deliverance from hunger and unconditional love although some doubted that He could do so.  (Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:30-44, Luke 9:10-17, John 6:1-13) 

Ø  MINI-PIZZA PARTY—Using the frozen dough, form it into individual-sized pizza.  Provide the usual pizza toppings, as well as raisins, nuts, and honey for grandkids to use.  Share how God provided Manna in the wilderness.  Talk about the fact that it was sweet, and the love of Jesus is sweet.

Ø  TAKE TWO—Have the grandkids take two servings of some type of bread.  They are to eat one and leave the other uncovered overnight.  In the morning

have them taste the second serving.  Discuss what happened to the bread and what happened when the Israelites didn’t trust God to provide for them as He promised He would.  Ask your grandkids to imagine what the spoiled, stale Manna would have been like.

Ø  PROVIDE FOR OTHERS—Children are never too young to learn about helping others.  Make miniature loaves of bread, wrap in cellophane, and tie with some pretty ribbon.  Have your grandchildren help you distribute these to people in your neighborhood, or a nearby nursing home.  Talk about how Jesus said He is the Bread of Life.  Discuss what that means.

Ø  TAKE IT ONE STEP FARTHER—Save change and as a family sponsor a needy child in a worthwhile organization.  Explain that we are God’s legs and arms.  He faithfully provides for us that we may provide for others.

Ø  BRAINSTORM WITH THE GRANDCHILDREN—Decide on some ways that God has been faithful to your family, and brainstorm how the family can pass on that faithfulness to others.

Father God,

I come to you with the realization that it is important to share You, along with my faith journey. Show me each day how to do this. May I be worthy to be called Your servant.

Amen