Week of 2.27.2022 | Day Two
This month’s Big Picture Question from The Gospel Project for Kids has focused on the holiness of God. Holy means to be separate, set apart, and describes God’s character as totally unique and separate from what He has created. God’s holiness describes His perfect goodness, purity, and righteousness. To be holy is to be different in a good way. As such, holiness is at the core of the Old Testament law. The reason behind many of God’s commands that may make us scratch our heads is holiness. These commands were meant to teach Israel what it means to be holy and to model holiness to the watching world. All of this points us to the even greater idea of God’s holiness. God’s people—His image bearers–are to imitate God. The problem is, God’s holiness is impossible to achieve! As sinful people, we are completely unable to attain holiness. So why would God want us to strive for something we can never achieve?
God gave the impossible command to “be holy, as I am holy,” knowing we could never achieve it, and graciously offering to achieve it for us, through Jesus Christ. We can indeed be holy as God is holy because Christ is holy. And when we trust in Christ, our sin is removed and in its place we are credited with Christ’s perfect righteousness. (2 Cor. 5:21) We obey this command to be holy by trusting in Christ!
Then, with our new identity in Christ, holy and righteous, we seek to glorify God by living a life that is set apart from the world. The power of the Holy Spirit enables us to live in such a way.
This week you will read through scripture to remember God’s holiness and how we are to live in response to it.
Big Picture Question
What is God like? God is holy, good, and loving.
Christ Connection
No one is like God. God is holy, good, and loving. Jesus shows us what God is like and gives us hope. God can make us more like Jesus. We can trust Him and live joyfully for Him.
Key Passage
“Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?”
Exodus 15:11
Read
1 Peter 1, focus in on 1:14-16
Discuss
What does it mean to be holy?
Holy means to be separate, set apart from anything else.
1 Peter 1: 18-25 is a reminder of the good news of the Gospel. Review the gospel with your kids using these verses. Here is an idea of how to summarize it from this passage:
God rescued us from the hopelessness of our sin by the perfect sacrifice of Jesus, God’s Son. When we have faith that Jesus was the only way for us to be rescued from sin, we are believing in God’s perfect plan that He had since the beginning. That faith causes us to be reborn into a new life in Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Our new life in Christ is imperishable, not fading away like the grass, but remaining forever in eternity with God. Through Christ, we can live in obedience to God, growing in holiness as He is holy.
You can also use The Gospel Project for Kids gospel presentation, The Gospel- God’s Plan for Me, which your kids are familiar with from Sunday mornings:
GOD RULES.
Ask: “Who is in charge at home?” Explain that because God created everything, He is in charge of everything. Read Revelation 4:11.
WE SINNED.
Ask: “Have you ever done something wrong?” Tell kids that everyone sins, or disobeys God. Our sin separates us from God. Read Romans 3:23.
GOD PROVIDED.
Explain that God is holy and must punish sin. God sent His Son, Jesus, to take the punishment we deserve. Read John 3:16.
JESUS GIVES.
Ask: “What is the best gift you’ve ever received?” Say that Jesus took our punishment for sin by giving His life, and He gives us His righteousness. God sees us as if we lived the perfect life Jesus lived. This is the best gift ever! Read 2 Corinthians 5:21.
WE RESPOND.
Explain that everyone has a choice to make. Ask: “Will you trust Jesus as your Savior and Lord? You can turn from self and sin and turn to Jesus.” Read Romans 10:9-10.
Pray
Father, You are holy. Help us to be holy like You. We thank You for all that You’ve done for us, are doing for us, and will do for us. We know we don’t deserve it, and we thank You for the grace You show us. Above all, we praise You for what Jesus did for us on the cross. Thank You for Your Word and how it shows us who You are. Amen.
Family Challenge
Choose someone you can show the love of Jesus to this week. Commit to pray for them, show acts of kindness, and share the good news of Jesus with them. An example of this could be a neighbor that you bake cookies for and when you deliver them, ask them if there is anything you can be praying for? Listen to their response. Pray immediately for them if possible. Then as a family, tell them what God has been teaching you in your family devotion time, specifically the good news of the gospel.