GOd's Team
We live in a highly competitive society. Competition can be good and is a part of life, but in order for it to be productive and healthy later in life, children must first learn to collaborate. Developmentally, young children are firmly in that “collaboration” stage. As parents, we help them learn to be okay with not always getting what they want, and we don’t always let them win at games so that they learn to lose gracefully. But our more important task at this age is helping them learn to work together toward a common goal. In the body of Christ, when we are fighting against each other, working at competing goals, we get nowhere. When we collaborate, pulling together in the same direction, we become the light of the world.
Read It
I Corinthians 1:10-17
10 Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters. 12 What I mean is that each of you says, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.”13 Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name. 16 (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power.
10 Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters. 12 What I mean is that each of you says, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.”13 Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name. 16 (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power.
Do It
Read the scripture passage - if you read it with a pretty heavy dose of sarcasm, it’s almost funny, and will make a lot more sense to you and your child(ren). Then talk about it. People in Corinth were choosing teams. Paul said no - we’re all on God’s team. Choose an activity to do together (we chose shooting baskets on our little hoop). If your child is old enough or needs this example, try first all working for your own goal - to get 10 hoops on your own (this made our boys really frustrated). Then work together, on the same team, for a bigger goal - we chose to work toward making 60 baskets together. Notice how much more fun you had, and how much more you got accomplished.
For ages 1-3: Just do the cooperative part - notice how fun it is to work together on a project (putting together a puzzle, playing catch, building a tall tower with blocks…)
For ages 4-8: Contrast the competition versus cooperation (see above basketball example)
For ages 1-3: Just do the cooperative part - notice how fun it is to work together on a project (putting together a puzzle, playing catch, building a tall tower with blocks…)
For ages 4-8: Contrast the competition versus cooperation (see above basketball example)
Pray It
God, we are so glad to belong to your team. Thank you for the way you call us to work together. Help us to remember that we are yours. In Jesus’ name, Amen
Explore It
