Table Talk for Elementary Students

Here are some ways to do "Table Talk" i.e. bring up what they learned that morning to the table over Sunday lunch. Reinforcing what they were just taught will help greatly with retention and comprehension of fundamental truths.

The elementary class are learning about the early church in Acts, more specifically Ananias and Sapphira. To brush up on your church history, go here: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=acts%205&version=ESV

Some great questions to ask your children:

: What was the big mistake did Ananias and Sapphira make?

(They deceived the apostles on purpose. They made it look like they gave all their money, just like Barnabas did, so they could look like good people. Instead, they kept part of the money just in case they needed it. They didn't trust the leadership of the apostles to provide for all their needs.)

: Do you think they were forced to sell their land to give away all their money? Maybe that's why they felt they had to keep some of the money for themselves....?

(No because it says in Acts 4:34 that "from time to time" landowners sold their land. It never says that it was a requirement for them to give everything. It was a way to be generous, to bless the church and to worship God. Ananias and Sapphira didn't do these things and were punished for it.)


The verse they studied for this lesson was:

1 Samuel 16:7

"...The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

Talk about what that means when it comes to motives, how they treat their friends and family, etc. Get a dry erase marker and write it on their mirror so they can see it every day this week. Hiding, or memorizing, Scripture in their heart is a great way to be restored and renewed. Talk with your child about other ways your family can work on their hearts this week.


See you Sunday!

Table Talk for Preschoolers

The 2's through 1st grade classrooms are learning about Naaman (2 Kings 5). If you need a refresher on that story, it is here:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20kings%205&version=ESV

Some great questions to ask your child (and answers for you to give) while sitting around eating lunch or even on your way home from church:


: Who healed Naaman?

(God! Elisha helped because he was obedient to God. He received the blessing of being a part of God's work in Naaman's life.. pretty cool!)

: What can we learn from the story of Naaman and Elisha?

(Naaman didn't trust at first. In fact, he was angry that Elisha didn't just wave his hand and cure him. It was delayed obedience. How much more blessing he could've received [being healed more quickly, joy in God] if he had been obedient in the first place!)

(Remember, it was the idea of a little girl in the beginning to have Elisha help cure Naaman. Our big and mighty God used a child, just like you, to help do His work in Naaman. How exciting! God can use us if we are willing for Him to use us!)

Activities

: Make cookies with gingerbread man cookie cutters. Decorate them with your child, making some of the cookies Naaman before being healed and some after he was healed.

: Get those circular labels and let your child act out being Naaman! After lunch, let them put the stickers all over their face and arms and they can tell your family the story of Naaman. They can even jump behind the couch to "wash in the river" (take off all the stickers) and be cured by God!

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What do you think? Is Table Talk something you'd utilize in your Sunday routine? Let us know! Post a comment or links to additional resources.

See you on Sunday!