Resources Family

Week 1:
Vision for the One

Passage: Luke 15:1-7 (The Parable of the Lost Sheep)

Find the Sheep

What You Need

Cotton balls or other small items to represent sheep.

What You Do

Pick one person to hide the sheep around a room or around your house. Have everyone else keep their eyes closed as they hide the “sheep.”
Once hidden, let the other player(s) run around and find as many “sheep” as you can. Make sure to count your “sheep” so not even one is missing. Continue playing and taking turns as time and interest allows.

What you Say

“Great job! You made sure every "sheep" was found right down to the very last one. You never gave up. God is the same way. He loves each of us. Jesus once told a story about it. Let’s check it out.”

The Lost Sheep

Watch on Youtube

Find the Sheep

Who does the shepherd represent? (Jesus)
Why did the shepherd leave the 99? Why does he care about just one sheep? Isn’t it just enough to have the 99? (For the one, for the missing sheep, because he loved the one, no! He can’t leave the one behind.)
Why does Jesus care about the one? (Everyone matters to Jesus, He loves them, He wants everyone to be with him, etc.)
Did you know that Jesus loves you like that? How does it make you feel knowing you are the one he loves?
Can you believe that this is how Jesus feels about everyone in the world? Think about how many people you have seen this week. Let's count them (take time to count everyone that you can. The idea is to show how many people there are. Jesus loves each and every one.) That was so many people. Jesus loves each one of them! Do you think they should know how much they are loved?
How amazing is it that there is a party in Heaven when even one person starts to follow Jesus? What do you think a Heaven party looks like?
PRAY- take time to pray as a family and thank Jesus for loving every single one of us.

Care for the One

What You Need

A coin and flashlight (or similar light) for every person in your family.

What You Do

Pick one person to hide the coins in a room in your home. Then turn off the lights. Tell the rest your family to find the coins, but they can only use the flashlights. Continue playing and taking turns as time and interest allows.

What you Say

"We found all the coins! They are worth a lot. Have you ever lost something really important? How long did you have to look for it before you found it?Let’s check out a story Jesus told about a lady who lost a really important coin."

Care for the One

Watch on Youtube

Care for the One

Why did the woman never give up looking for the coin? (It was important, it was irreplaceable, she cared about her collection.)
This story reminds me of the story from last week. The shepherd and the woman are both looking for the one. What is Jesus teaching us about people that are lost? (He cares about the one that is lost, whether it's one in 100 or one in 10.)
When you think about caring for a person who doesn't know Jesus, how can you show them God's love? (Meet their felt needs, show them kindness, invite them to church, invite them for a meal at your home, etc.)
Who is one in your life? Who needs to know how much Jesus loves them?
When the woman finds her lost coin she has a party with friends to celebrate. How can we celebrate when someone decides to follow Jesus? How does celebrating show where our heart is? (Celebrating shows value. When we clap and cheer when someone is baptized, it's like we're celebrating when someone finds Jesus.)
How do you think Jesus celebrated you when you found Him? How does Jesus show that He cares for us?
PRAY- take time to pray as a family and ask God to show us who in our lives needs to know him.

Week 2:
Care for the One

Passage: Luke 15:8-10 (The Parable of the Lost Coin)

Week 3:
Prayer for the One

Passage: Matthew 9:35-38 (Prayer for Harvest Workers)

Prayer for the One

What You Need

A fruit or vegetable

What You Do

Hide the fruit or vegetable somewhere in your house. Tell your family that you are going to harvest some food. They will be "harvesters." They will have to go into the fields (your home) and find the food you have hidden. Then play "Hot or Cold" to find it. Continue playing and taking turns as time and interest allows.

What you Say

"Do you know the name of our Church? It's Harvester Christian Church. One of the reasons we are called that is because of today's verse. Let's read the verse all about it."

Prayer for the One

read Matthew 9:35-38

Prayer for the One

When Jesus is talking about the harvest, he's not talking about food or a crop is he? No! He's talking about people; he's talking about the one who doesn't know him yet. What is a "harvest worker"? (Someone who introduces the lost to Jesus.)
How are you a "harvester"? (I can introduce people to Jesus, I can see people's needs around me and do something about their needs, etc.)
Jesus says to pray for more harvest workers, to pray for more people to reach people who are not in God's family. How can we do what Jesus says and pray? Can we pray right now for more people to reach lost people? Yes! Let's pray as a family for more harvest workers. (Take time to pray.)

Compliment Circle

What You Need

Your family

What You Do

Have everyone sit in a circle. Choose one member to go first, and everyone will give that person a compliment or say something they are thankful for about that person. Each member gets a turn to be complimented by everyone else.

What you Say

"I am so glad you are my family and love you no matter what. Let's check out a story of a family that needed to remember that."

Grateful for the One

Watch on Youtube

Grateful for the One

How does the father show his love for both of his sons in the story? (He runs to the younger son when he comes home and throws a party. He goes to the older son outside the party and tries to persuade him to come in.)
How does the younger son make money and stuff more important than people? (He asks for his inheritance and then spends it all.)
When are we guilty of valuing stuff more than people?
When the younger son comes home, the father welcomes him home with a party no matter where he's been or what he's done. How can we be more like the father? Why do we not want to be like the older brother? (We are more like the father when we celebrate the one coming to Jesus. We should always be happy when someone starts to follow Jesus.)
Sometimes we can be like the older brother and think people who do bad things should not get to be loved by Jesus. Is that right or wrong? You're right, that is really wrong. Everyone needs to know Jesus. Who is someone that you know that needs to learn that Jesus loves them?
How can we use what we have for the One to know Jesus?
PRAY- take time to pray as a family and pray for the one who needs to know Jesus

Week 4:
Grateful for the One

Passage: Luke 15:11-32 (The Parable of the Prodigal Son)

Week 5:
All for the One

Mark 12:41-44 (The Widow’s Offering)

Helping Harvester

What You Need

a non-breakable cup or bowl and 10-20 coins

What You Do

Set the cup on one side of the room. Stand next to cup and have everyone try to throw in their coin. Then take a step back and try it again. Repeat over and over until you are as far away as possible. OPTION: Have the players toss the coins in different ways or longer distances.

What you Say

"Great job throwing all those coins. You really had to give it your all. Now let's check out a story where someone gave everything they had."

Helping Harvester

Watch on Youtube

All For the One

How does the widow give more than others at the temple? (She gives all she has to live on.)
What does Jesus teach us about giving through her example?
How does Jesus loving you change your life? Why is helping people know Jesus so important?
How can you give to help reach the One?
PRAY- take time to pray as a family.

Join our
Family Conversations

Hey Harvester Families

Join ourFamily Conversations

Hey Harvester Families

Join our
Family Conversations