Dear GCBC Parents:
For this Sunday, I am attaching a worksheet our children can use as they listen to the sermon with us. Actually, they could use this each Sunday if we like!
I am also including a colouring page of Psalm 90:12. If you remember, Jason mentioned this verse at the beginning of our series on Ecclesiastes and said it would be a good one to memorise as it sums up the thoughts from Ecclesiastes so well. The NLT version puts it this way, “Teach us to realise the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.”
The Scripture passage for the sermon today, Ecclesiastes 9:1-12, describes how death comes to us all (brevity of life). In light of this, verses 7 and 10 say to live life well with joy. It’s only in thinking on death that we gain the wisdom to enjoy the life we have because we begin to understand its “brevity.”
It is okay to talk with our kids about death. It is part of life, and some kids will experience death earlier than others (death of a grandparent or face death themselves). We just need to remember to point them to TRUTHS about death from the Bible so I have listed some other verses for more discussion if you want to dig deeper with your children. I’m also including a link to an article with further encouragement on this topic.
May the Lord continue to bless your time as a family worshiping together in the home!
God Bless,
Mandy
Sunday, 5th April Links:
Digging Deeper Verses (NLT) –
John 3:16 – “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” (Jesus)
Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
1 Corinthians 15:55–57 – “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 – For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever.
Hebrews 9:27-28 – And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of any people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.
Articles with encouragement on talking about death with our children –
- https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/how-should-we-teach-children-about-death-and-eternal-life
- https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/explaining-hell-to-our-children
Great article for our youth – https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/a-call-to-teenagers-to-be-free
Activity Pages