I have always been inspired by the Genesis story of Joseph. It’s a remarkable account of one who experienced unimaginable pain and disappointment, although never growing bitter or resentful. As a teenager, Joseph had a God-inspired dream. He also had jealous brothers and a dysfunctional family. Betrayed by those closest to him, Joseph is sold into slavery. As a loyal servant in a foreign leader’s palace, this young man is falsely accused by an Egyptian temptress and thrown into a prison cell—disgraced and forgotten. The Hebrew prisoner must find a way to rise from the ashes of ruin and injustice. Though everything is stripped away from him, including his reputation and dignity, Joseph manages to hold fast to his faith in God’s redemptive purposes. Years pass until the Pharaoh of Egypt, troubled by two puzzling dreams, hears of Joseph’s abilities. Pharaoh summons Joseph to exercise his gifts in interpreting the dreams, thus catapulting him into a powerful position of leadership and influence. Then a worldwide famine brings him back face to face with the past. The result is an inspiring depiction of forgiveness and reconciliation. Through this amazing narrative we are reminded that God will never waste our pain, and that some of the most beautiful things indeed rise out of the ashes of our pain. This book is my reflection on life lessons drawn from Joseph’s timeless story.

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Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Beautiful People Don’t Just Happen, They Rise
Chapter 2: When The Dream Becomes a Nightmare
Chapter 3: It Might Get Worse Before It Gets Better
Chapter 4: Are You Facing a Setback or a Setup?
Chapter 5: From The Pit to The Palace
Chapter 6: Everything Is Made Beautiful In It’s Time
Chapter 7: Waves of Mercy, Grace, and Forgiveness
Chapter 8: They Intended Harm, God Had Other Plans
Chapter 9: Your Story Is Bigger Than You Think

The post Joseph the Dreamer: From These Ashes I Will Rise appeared first on Jimmy Larche.

Day One: When The Dream Becomes a Nightmare
Day Two: When Things Go From Bad To Worse
Day Three: When It Seems God Has Forgotten
Day Four: When God’s Purposes Are Revealed
Day Five: When It’s Time To Forgive

Kit includes:

• 5-Daily Lessons with Leader Guides
• Group Activities, Games, Object Lessons
• Craft Ideas and Talk Sheets
• Logo and Graphic Files
• PowerPoint Backgrounds and Template
• 5-Minute HD Countdown Video
• Music Playlist
• Links to External Video Resources

Get Joseph the Dreamer VBS curriculum here.

The post Joseph the Dreamer: VBS Curriculum or Camp Theme appeared first on Jimmy Larche.

The leader guides come with background summaries and overviews, and include group discussion questions in a format of ice-breaker, inductive, instrospective, and application. Comes with printable handouts (Talk Sheets), high resolution logo/graphics/backgrounds for banners, visuals, and presentations, as well as a PowerPoint template.

SUMMARY:

What can an ancient Jewish exile teach us about living with courage in a world growing increasingly hostile to people of the Christian faith? Just like the Old Testament story of Daniel, Christ-followers today find themselves in a changing world where “cancel culture” runs rampant, social bullying has become the norm, and Christian persecution is on the rise. These are times of hostility and uncertainty. Apart from the grace and abiding presence of Jesus, our hearts would surely faint. But we are not alone, and that makes all the difference in our lifetime.

Living as a captive in a land far from home, Daniel didn’t conform to his world but transformed it. It wasn’t easy, but it was all part of God’s redemptive plan. We too, have been divinely placed and positioned in a broken world for such a time as this. God has a plan, and we are part of His purposes to be light in the darkness around us. To be faithful to that calling we will need courage. Fortunately, this kind of boldness doesn’t come from our human strength, or something we must manufacture on our own—God wants to give it to us! He is all-sufficient to do that just as much as He is all-sufficient to save us from our sins. God wants to equip us with courage.

In Deuteronomy 31:6 it says, “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them…” Yet it also tells us why we can be bold and fearless… “for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” That’s an awesome promise for each of us today. Because our strength and courage come directly from the God Who is mighty to save, even the most timid person can be clothed and equipped to live with boldness in the face of the most intense persecution.

Lesson 1: Courage to Remain Pure

Lesson 2: Courage to Stand Up

Lesson 3: Courage to Speak Out

Lesson 4: Courage to Trust God

Get it HERE

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“Braveheart” is a youth Bible study series for teens and young adults, featuring lessons from the story of Gideon in the Old Testament book of Judges (chapters 6-8). It’s fitting for a youth group or Sunday School series, a summer camp theme, discipleship retreat, or small group study. Though this story is popular with young people, the curriculum and discussion format can easily be adapted for any age Bible study group, men’s ministry, or prison/juvenile center ministry. 

The leader guides come with background summaries and overviews, pre-lesson activities, icebreakers, student exercises, discussion outlines, team building activities, and printable handouts (Talk Sheets). Includes high resolution logo/graphics/backgrounds for banners, visuals, and presentations, as well as a PowerPoint template.

Lesson 1: God Has a Plan Even When Life is Hard. Though Gideon’s people had turned their back on God and were reaping the consequences, the Lord still heard their cries of distress. No matter  how ugly our circumstances get, no matter how far we have wandered, God is still faithful, and He still has a plan for our good and our future.

Lesson 2: Confronting Our Idols and Insecurity. God calls us to worship Him alone, with uncompromising devotion. Before Gideon could lead his people to bravely face their oppressors, he first had to confront his people’s idolatry and his own insecurities.

Lesson 3: Our Doubts and Fears Don’t Disqualify Us From God’s Plan. Through Gideon’s story, we see that God is much bigger than our weaknesses, and He takes great and gracious measures to overcome our trepidation and our fears, so that we can serve Him with a brave heart.

Lesson 4: The Dark Side of Success and Power. The Bible doesn’t sugarcoat people’s weaknesses; it gives us the good, the bad, and the ugly, so that we might learn to “guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”

Get it HERE

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Gideon Bible story camp theme or VBS curriculum is based on the Old Testament book of Judges. This resilient “overcomer” story will resonate with kids in many ways—Gideon was born into family hardship, his future looked bleak, he struggled with injustices, his people were forced into “social distancing” due to Midianite oppression, he had feelings of insecurity and inferiority, he faced insurmountable odds, and yet he saw God come through despite those odds. Gideon came to see that His LORD was the GOD OVER ALL THINGS (G.O.A.T.).

This resource was designed as a camp curriculum for children 8-12 years of age but can also serve as a VBS theme, a 5-week Sunday morning children’s ministry teaching series, Sunday School curriculum, Backyard Bible club, or kids’ sports camp curriculum. It’s also a fitting resource for homeschooling parents, or those facilitating their own Vacation Bible School during times of “social distancing” due to Covid-19.

• (DAY ONE) God Has a Plan Even When Life is Hard
  
• (DAY TWO) God Wants Us to Worship Him Alone
  
• (DAY THREE) God Is Bigger Than Our Doubts and Fears
  
• (DAY FOUR) God Wants Us to Trust and Rely On Him
  
• (DAY FIVE) Jesus is The One True King

Get it HERE

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Holy Week refers to Jesus’ last week on earth as a man. These seven days are called Holy Week because without the crucifixion, there would have been no Resurrection Sunday. Had Christ not hung on the cross, taken on our sins, and defeated Satan’s power, His rising again would not have been as meaningful. We wouldn’t be singing hymns about it. The New Testament probably wouldn’t have been written. And no one would have eternal life.

Read HOW TO KNOW GOD

By reading select Scriptures each day, you can follow the life of Jesus during Holy Week. Even though you know how the story ends, you shouldn’t jump ahead in your mind, but put yourself in the moment each day, seeing through the perspective of the disciples, of Jesus, of the Roman soldiers, and if you dare, of Judas. Live it as it unfolds.

Below is an outline for your Holy Week devotions and daily reflections. Begin each day with a prayer for understanding and clarity. Ask the Lord to reveal himself to you through your reading. Next, read the appropriate scriptures slowly. Take a few minutes to process what you’ve read. Reflect on what it teaches you about the character of God as revealed through Jesus Christ. What did you learn about God? What did you learn about yourself? Reflect on your reading throughout the day. Let it seep into your soul and transform you from the inside out.

Saturday (evening before Palm Sunday)

Jesus arrives in Bethany, on the eastern side of the Mount of Olives, to stay with friends (Lazarus, Mary, and Martha) where He has dinner and is anointed by Mary. Soon, a crowd gathers.

Holy Week Scripture Reading: John 12:1-11, Mark 14:3-9, Matthew 26:6-13

Reflection: Why did so much of Jesus’ ministry happen around tables? In what ways can meals shared together become enacted grace, community, and mission.

Palm Sunday (the Sunday before Easter Sunday)

On Palm Sunday, the disciples make preparation for Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a borrowed donkey, an event that has come to be known as His Triumphal Entry. This account was a fulfillment of prophecy about the coming Messiah. This is traditionally known as Palm Sunday because people laid the branches in His path. He arrived to much celebration, but it was the beginning of the end of his human life. Later, Jesus weeps over Jerusalem (which He will do again Tuesday afternoon). Some Gentile God-fearers, in Jerusalem for the Passover celebration, learn of His arrival and desire to meet with Him. Jesus enters the Temple court itself before retiring to Bethany for the evening (Mark 11:11).

Holy Week Scripture Reading: Zechariah 9:9, Luke 19:28-44, John 12:20-36

Reflection: How, and under what circumstances, did Jesus come into your life? If Jesus were to examine the temple of your body this day, would He recognize it as a vessel of pure devotion/worship to Him? (Romans 12:1-2)

Go HERE FOR A PALM SUNDAY DEVOTION

Monday

According to Mark, the curse of the fig tree event likely occurred in two stages on Monday and Tuesday morning. Matthew compresses this two-day event (Matthew 21:18-19, Mark 11:12-14). Jesus asserted his authority by cleansing the Temple court of its commercial atmosphere, throwing out anyone and everyone who was doing business inside the Temple complex. Even though Matthew places this scene immediately upon His arrival in Jerusalem, Mark’s account indicates that it occurred Monday morning (Mark 11:15-18, Matthew 21:12-13, Luke 19:45-46). The Jewish leaders were enraged by this display of power and authority.

Holy Week Scripture Reading: Isaiah 56:1-8, Luke 19:41-48

Reflection: Think about your body as the temple. What does Jesus need to clean or eradicate to be truly honored?

Tuesday

The lesson of the fig tree was continued (Mark 11:20-26, Matthew 21:20-22). Jesus teaches at length in the Temple court, largely concerning His own authority and judgment upon the religious leaders for discouraging the people from worshipping Him. The Temple leaders challenged Jesus by putting him to the test, raising a number of theological debates with him and questioning both his teaching and his God-given authority (Matthew 21:23-22:45, Mark 11:27-12:44, Luke 20:1-21:4). Again, Jesus weeps for Jerusalem before going out to the Kidron Valley to teach His disciples at the Mount of Olives, a small mountain just 3/5 mile east of Jerusalem. With a spectacular view of the Temple, Jesus delivers a prophetic overview to His disciples of the near and distant future. Due to the location, this challenging text is often called the Olivet Discourse.

Holy Week Scripture Reading: Luke 20:1-21:36, Psalm 118:19-27, Psalm 110

Reflection: Have there been times when Jesus’ truth has seemed harsh to you or hard to follow? In what ways has following Jesus cost you something in this world?

Wednesday

While we know that Jesus taught in the Temple every day, it is unclear from Scripture what body of teaching took place on Wednesday (Luke 21:37-38). The Jewish leaders continue to get riled up by Jesus’ teachings. The tipping point comes when a woman honored Jesus by anointing him with really expensive oil (Mark 14:1-9). Clearly, Wednesday was a day of wicked plotting on the part of the religious leaders in Jerusalem (Mark 14:1-2, Matthew 26:3-5, Luke 22:1-2). The plotting was not simply earthly, however, for Satan seizes upon the unbelief of Judas (Luke 22:3-6, Matthew 26:14-16, Mark 14:10-11).

Holy Week Scripture Reading: Mark 14:1-11, Matthew 26:1-16

Reflection: What are some of the ways that Jesus’ authority collides with religion, legalism, and/or political powers? In what ways can moralism deflect from the saving gospel of Jesus Christ?

Maundy Thursday (the Day of the Last Supper)

Jesus shares the Passover meal (Last Supper) with His disciples and washes their feet as an example of humility and servant leadership. John’s account provides a lengthy section of teaching, as well as what has become known as the High Priestly Prayer (John 17:1-26). The church marks this evening as Maundy Thursday due to John 13:34: “a new commandment I give” (mandatum is Latin for “commandment”). After Jesus’ lengthy Upper Room Discourse, He then leads His disciples out to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. Here He would be betrayed by Judas and arrested by officers of the Temple, accompanied by a small band of Pilate’s soldiers (after midnight), and brought before the authorities as His night-time trial begins. Meanwhile, in the courtyard below, Peter denies Jesus three times.

Holy Week Scripture Reading: Isaiah 50:4-10, Luke 22:7-23, John 13:1-14-31, Luke 22:39-62

Reflection: Scripture says that when we take the Lord’s Supper together, we proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes again (1 Corinthians 11:26). How often do you approach a shared meal together as a proclamation of the Lord’s return?

Friday (Good Friday)

On this day, Judas dies (Matthew 27:3-10). Jesus first meets with Governor Pontius Pilate privately (Matthew 27:11-14, Mark 15:2-5, Luke 23:2-7, John 18:28-40). Pilate sends Jesus to Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee and Perea (region across the Jordan), and murderer of John the Baptist (Luke 23:8-12). Several years earlier, Pilate had instituted a custom of releasing an imprisoned Jew at Passover as a means of courting favor among the people (Matthew 27:15-26, Mark 15:6-15, Luke 23:13-25, John 19:1-16). Jesus is crucified and, at 3:00pm, dies. Contemporary historian, Josephus, writes that this was the typical time for the evening sacrifice (Matthew 27:27-56, Mark 15:16-41, Luke 23:26-49, John 19:16b-37). The body of Jesus is buried before sunset by a wealthy member of the ruling council, Joseph of Arimathea (perhaps a city in Ephraim), along with Nicodemus, another member of the Sanhedrin (Isaiah 53:9, John 19:38-42, Matthew 27:57-61, Mark 15:42-47, Luke 23:50-56).

Holy Week Scripture Reading: Psalm 22:1-18, Luke 22:63-23:56, John 19:1-37

Reflection: Consider the suffering that Christ endured for you on the cross. He took all of your sins and absorbed the punishment for the wages of your sins (Romans 6:23). What kind of response does that warrant from you today?

Saturday

On Saturday, Jesus lies alone in the tomb. Scripture is mostly silent about this day, though we do know that the chief priests and the Pharisees campaigned for Pilate to secure the tomb with guards so that the disciples couldn’t take the body of Jesus (Matthew 27:62-66).

Holy Week Scripture Reading: Isaiah 52:13-15, Isaiah 53:1-12

Reflection: As you prepare for Easter worship, think of what Jesus is doing for your sake even though you can’t physically see Him.

Sunday—Easter!

On Easter Sunday, a couple of women went to Jesus’ tomb to anoint him for burial, but when they arrived, he wasn’t there. The tomb was empty, and an angel greeted them with the news that Jesus was alive. The women hurried back to tell the others, and Jesus surprised his grieving disciples by showing up in their midst. Jesus appeared in His glorified body to well over 500 people during a 40-day period (Acts 1:3, Matthew 28:9-10, John 20:11-18, Luke 24:13-48, John 20:19-23, Matthew 28:16-20, Mark 16:9-18, John 20:24-29, 21:1-23, Acts 1:3-8, 1 Corinthians 15:5-8).

Holy Week Scripture Reading: Luke 24:1-53, John 21:1-19, Matthew 28:16-20

Reflection: Awaken with a song in your heart. He is Risen! In what way did Jesus restore Peter after Peter had denied Him three times? What was Jesus’ affirmation to Peter (John 21), and His mandate for us (Matthew 28)?

The post Holy Week Scripture Reading Guide appeared first on Jimmy Larche.

1. What is a childhood memory you are thankful for?
2. If you could thank one person (living or dead) for his or her influence on your life, who would you thank?
3. What are three things that always make you smile?
4. What gave you the most joy this past year?
5. If you could share Thanksgiving dinner with one famous historical figure, who would you choose?
6. If you could invent a holiday, what would it be called and what would it celebrate?
7. If you could learn a new skill this coming year, what would it be?
8. What does the term “give thanks” mean to you?
9. What pieces of advice would you pass on to the next generation as they establish their own Thanksgiving traditions?
10. What are some truths about God that give you eternal reasons for rejoicing?
11. What are you most looking forward to this holiday season?
12. What electronic device are you most grateful for, and what does it add to your life?
13. What challenging experience has ended up changing your life for the better?
14. What place do you feel most grateful or sentimental about?
15. Name three days in your life that you feel especially grateful for.
16. What about your surroundings (home/neighborhood/city/etc.) are you thankful for?
17. What opportunities have you had this year that you are thankful for?
18. What was your favorite thing about where you grew up?
19. The Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 to be thankful in all circumstances. How do you think we can do this even in the really difficult times?
20. The Bible says in Romans 2:4 that God’s kindness leads us to repentance. Where have you seen God’s kindness manifested in your life?

The post 20 Discussion Questions for Your Thanksgiving Gathering appeared first on Jimmy Larche.

Holy Week, for members of the Christian faith, is the last week of the season of Lent before the celebrations of Easter Sunday, running from Palm Sunday to Holy Saturday. It is a time to commemorate, reflect upon, and reenact, specifically, the suffering and death of Jesus Christ, though many liturgies expand that practice to include his entire ministry.

Get a HOLY WEEK SCRIPTURE READING GUIDE here.

The Days of Holy Week

In Western Christianity, each day of Holy Week has its own significance and particular celebrations. In general, believers are encouraged to follow the biblical passages corresponding to the days the Week represents, beginning with Christ’s entry into Jerusalem on a donkey (Palm Sunday), moving through the Last Supper (Maundy Thursday) and the Crucifixion (Good Friday) to the Resurrection of Easter.

Attention to the Bible highlights the contrast between the sadness and suffering of the beginning of the week with the miraculous and joyous nature of its ending. That both sorts of emotions are important to the Week’s observance is evidenced in the Easter Triduum, the three days from Good Friday to Easter, which are considered by many denominations to be the holiest days of the year.

As we head into the sacred time of Passion Week, here are some Holy Week resources for celebrating with your kids:

Looking for activities?

Faith at home has some good suggestions on activities to participate in with children.

And Little Takas has a variety of coloring pages available for children of all ages.

Some great resources from the Iowa Farmer. Scroll down for ideas for a Last Supper with kids.

And a Messianic Passover for Families with Children

Here are some printable Stations of the Cross for Kids

And here are simple directions for making palm crosses

Or you might like to consider making Resurrection eggs

Want to do some Easter gardening?

Or make this Easter garden from Ann Voskamp with your kids.

Or this simpler Easter Resurrection Garden 

Looking for recipes?

Think of making Crown of Thorn bread

or the traditional English treat for Good Friday Hot cross buns

how about these creative Easter story cookies

The post Holy Week Resources: Kids Crafts, Activities, Recipes appeared first on Jimmy Larche.