Guidance

CONNECT

Do you know that God can guide us through difficult times? Even if we cannot see what is going on, He sees what is happening and can lead us in the right direction.

Let’s play a game!

Stick the Smile on the Child

(This is essentially pinning the tail on the donkey, but instead of a donkey and a tail, it’s a smile on the child.)

Prepare:

• Two sheets of paper
• A pin or tape
• Scissors
• A blindfold
• Coloring materials (optional)

What to do:

1. Take two sheets of paper. On one sheet, draw a face without a mouth. On the second sheet, draw a smile.
2. Cut along the outline of the smile.
3. Attach a pin or a piece of tape to the back part of the smile.
4. Ask a child to put on the blindfold.
5. Spin the child around three times.
6. Give the child instructions on how they can stick a smile on the face.
7. Play again or color the face while discussing the story.

Make it fun by giving everybody a turn and letting each player draw his or her own smile!

In our activity, we were guided by the voice of a loved one. Even if we could not see, this voice helped us win the game. In the same way, God guides us in our situations, even if we do not know where to go or what to do.

READ THE WORD

In our story today, we will see how God guides us in different ways. God can use our lives to make a difference if we listen to Him and obey Him.

An angel of the Lord spoke to Philip. “Go south to the desert road,” he said. “It’s the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” So Philip started out. On his way he met an Ethiopian official. The man had an important position in charge of all the wealth of the Kandake. Kandake means queen of Ethiopia. This official had gone to Jerusalem to worship. On his way home he was sitting in his chariot. He was reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. The Holy Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot. Stay near it.” So Philip ran up to the chariot. He heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you’re reading?” Philip asked. “How can I?” he said. “I need someone to explain it to me.” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. Here is the part of Scripture the official was reading. It says, “He was led like a sheep to be killed. Just as lambs are silent while their wool is being cut off, he did not open his mouth. When he was treated badly, he was refused a fair trial. Who can say anything about his children? His life was cut off from the earth.” The official said to Philip, “Tell me, please. Who is the prophet talking about? Himself, or someone else?” Then Philip began with that same part of Scripture. He told him the good news about Jesus. As they traveled along the road, they came to some water. The official said, “Look! Here is water! What can stop me from being baptized?” He gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the official went down into the water. Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away. The official did not see him again. He went on his way full of joy. Philip was seen next at Azotus. From there he traveled all around. He preached the good news in all the towns. Finally he arrived in Caesarea. Acts 8:26–40

Would Philip have known to take this road if God did not direct him? Probably not. It was, after all, a desert road. Yet, he obeyed God’s direction. And the result? People from far away Africa came to know Jesus! Indeed, that is a miracle.

How often do we listen to and obey what God says to us? If we open our ears to Jesus’ guidance, we, too, can be witnesses of miracles like this. It may not be something as big as what happened to Philip, but trust that when you follow God’s guidance, He will make things happen in ways beyond your imagination.

HUDDLE

Parents to Kids

2–6 years old

• How does God talk to us?

7–12 years old

• In our Bible story for today, how did God guide both Philip and the Ethiopian minister?
• How has God guided you in your own life?
• Is there a situation in your life that needs God’s guidance?

Kids to Parents

• Did you ever ask God for guidance? What happened?
• How has God guided you?

How many of the countless decisions we face every day have you sought guidance from God? Big or small, we can always go to God. Let us learn to lean in and be sensitive to where He leads us. And as you obey, God can do mighty things through you.

PRAY

Dear God, thank You for sending Your Holy Spirit to guide us and teach us where to go, especially when we do not know. Give us the ability to recognize, listen to, and obey Your voice. Please guide me every day. In Jesus’ name, amen.

DISCOVER

Did you know that God loves you so much that He delights in every detail of your life?

It says in Psalm 37:23:

The LORD makes secure the footsteps of the person who delights in him . . . Psalm 37:23

People in the Bible and believers who have looked to God for guidance have experienced their lives being changed, and God has used them to change the world:

Gladys Aylward was a maid in England, but God wanted her to go to China to bring the gospel to the Chinese people. She listened to God’s calling, and today she is known for many things, including saving the lives of over 100 orphans during World War II.

Another example is Corrie Ten Boom and her family. During the German invasion of the Netherlands in World War II, they decided to protect the Jews because they were God’s people. Corrie and her family hid Jews in their home and helped them escape the country.

We also have Bruce Olson. He is lovingly known as “Bruchko” by the Motilone Bari Indians. Originally, these people were known to be brutal killers, as they would murder people working in the forest. But God called him to share his faith with these tribes. Today, over 70% of the Bari people are Christians.

These are just a few people God called to do big things for Him. Don’t be afraid to ask God for guidance with the big things and the little things because He delights in you!

Sources:

1. Kiefer, James E. “Gladys Aylward, Missionary To China.” Biographical sketches of memorable Christians of the past. The Society of Archbishop Justus.
2. “Corrie ten Boom Biography.” The Biography website. Last updated June 5, 2020.
3. Olson, Bruce. Bruchko: The Astonishing True Story of a 19-Year-Old American, His Capture by the Motilone Indians and His Adventures in Christianizing the Stone Age Tribe. Charisma House, 2006.