Introduction: The Call to Holiness

CONNECT

Players will be given a set of five words and they must determine which one does not belong.

Parents, prepare as many sets of words as you can so more rounds can be played.

Example:

• Cucumber, pineapple, broccoli, lettuce, onion: pineapple is a fruit
• Eagle, owl, penguin, parrot, hawk: penguins don’t fly
• Rose, daisy, tulip, water lily, sunflower: a water lily grows in water
• Bicycle, bus, jeep, car, truck: bicycles have two wheels

In this game, we determined one object that does not belong to the group. In our lesson today, we will similarly talk about not belonging, but this time, it is about people who are different from others.

READ THE WORD

So be watchful, and control yourselves completely. In this way, put your hope in the grace that lies ahead. This grace will be brought to you when Jesus Christ returns. You should obey your Father. You shouldn’t give in to evil desires. They controlled your life when you didn’t know any better. The God who chose you is holy. So you should be holy in all that you do. It is written, “Be holy, because I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:13–16

God is holy in every way, which means that He is completely different from everything else. What exactly does it mean to be holy? People today are quick to say that "holy" means doing what God wants us to do. “Holy” originally means set apart, dedicated, set apart from the world, and set apart from the rest of the world.

When God calls us to be holy, it is more than just a goal to reach or a request to change our actions. It is more than just a call to turn away from our sinful desires and live in obedience to the Father. It's a call to put our hope in God's grace through Jesus so that we can be completely changed and live holy lives. This is because living holy is not something we can simply do by our own ability, commitment, and willpower. This comes from knowing Jesus and from trusting and receiving the grace that God has given us through Him.

God’s call to holiness is based on the fact that He is holy. As God’s children, we are to be like our heavenly Father and reflect Him in everything that we are and in everything that we do.

HUDDLE

Parents to Kids

2–6 years old

• Do you trust God’s word?

7–12 years old

• What does being “set apart” mean for you?

Kids to Parents

• Why is holiness important?
• As a family, how can we be set apart?

God desires all of His children to be holy. He calls us to step away from how we used to live, and from how the world calls us to live. As we study this call to holiness this week, may we have a better understanding of this calling that we have from our Father.

PRAY

Dear God, I pray for Your grace and truth to live a life worthy of Your calling for holiness. Transform me by Your grace and guide me through the Holy Spirit to live a life more pleasing to You, God. I want to live in Your call to holiness, and I pray for Your help to do this. In Jesus’ name, amen.

DISCOVER

Did you know that when God sets you apart for Himself, it means that you are His special treasure?

You are a holy nation. The LORD your God has set you apart for himself. He has chosen you to be his special treasure. He chose you out of all the nations on the face of the earth. Deuteronomy 14:2