Day 1: The Community of Holiness

CONNECT

Prepare digital photos of people in various jobs, such as:

• Police officer

• Firefighter

• Dentist or doctor

• Nurse

• Baker

• Soldier

• Chef

• Pilot

This is a guessing game. Starting with one photo, zoom in to the maximum level you can and ask the kids to guess what the job depicted in the photo is. If they are not able to guess it correctly, you can gradually zoom it out as the kids continue guessing. Once a child makes the correct guess, zoom out to reveal the entire photo. Ask them why the person's job in the photo is important to the community. Continue until all photos are used up.

These are just some of the different people that make up a community. A community is a group of people who live in the same place or it may be a group of people who have something in common. We will look at the second kind as we learn more about the community of holiness God has called us to.

READ THE WORD

1 Peter 2:4–5, 9 says:

Christ is the living Stone. People did not accept him, but God chose him. God places the highest value on him. You also are like living stones. As you come to Christ, you are being built into a house for worship. There you will be holy priests. You will offer spiritual sacrifices. God will accept them because of what Jesus Christ has done. . . . But God chose you to be his people. You are royal priests. You are a holy nation. You are God’s special treasure. You are all these things so that you can give him praise. God brought you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:4–5, 9

The temple was where God lived in the Old Testament. It was set apart and holy for worshiping God. However, Peter is showing us that in the New Testament, we, the people of God, are now His dwelling place. Together, as a spiritual community, we are being built together as God’s home that brings God’s presence wherever we go. This community of holiness is made up of God's holy people who are filled with His spirit.

Since God has set us apart as a community of holiness, He wants us to live in a way that shows others how He has transformed us. As His "spiritual house," we are supposed to live and act differently so that we can show people how good God is and call them out of darkness. We do this not only through our own lives, but also as a community. This is why it is important to be part of a local church. As a community, we can reflect Christ to the world in the way we treat one another and those who do not yet know the Lord.

HUDDLE

Parents to Kids

2–6 years old

• What would you like to be when you grow up? How can you help the community that way?

7–12 years old

• What does it mean for you to be part of your church community?

Kids to Parents

• How can we, as a family, help our church and be a light to the community around us?

We are meant to live our lives as part of a bigger community of people who follow Christ. We are not meant to live our lives alone but to join with people who love Jesus. As one Church, we are called to bring light and hope to the people around us. Are you part of a church? Are you serving others through the church?

PRAY

Dear God, thank You for calling us Your chosen people and giving us the privilege to serve others through the Church. We pray that as we grow and participate in our church community, You will use us to touch people’s lives. As You appoint us to be Your priests, may we serve them with the same heart that You have served us. Help us to be a light for the people around us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

DISCOVER

What is a community?

According to the New World Encyclopedia, the word “community” is derived from the Latin word “communitas” (meaning the same), which is in turn derived from “communis,” which means "common, public, shared by all or many.”

As part of the community of God’s people, let us be the light and hope for the world around us and may they see Jesus through us.

Source

Ditto, Joy. “Dissecting the True Meaning of Community.” American Public Power Association. August 29, 2022.