Memory Text: Isaiah 40:11 NIV “He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.”

Sunday, January 22 A Unique Stewardship
What does it mean that children are God’s property?
Psalm 50:10-12 Holman Christian Standard Bible “for every animal of the forest is Mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird of the mountains, and the creatures of the field are Mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and everything in it is Mine.”
Psalm 127:3 Holman “Sons are indeed a heritage from the LORD, children, a reward.”
Isaiah 43:1,7 Holman “1 Now this is what the LORD says–– the One who created you, Jacob, and the One who formed you, Israel–– “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine. 7 everyone called by My name and created for My glory. I have formed him; indeed, I have made him.”
1 Peter 2:9 Holman “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”
What might stewardship of children mean?
1 Corinthians 4:2 Holman “In this regard, it is expected of managers that each one be found faithful.”

Monday, January 23 Momentous Decisions
What impact did infertility have on these families? What could have been done to ease the situations?
Genesis 16:1-2 MKJV “1 ¶ Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, did not bear. And she had a female slave, an Egyptian, and her name [was] Hagar. 2 And Sarai said to Abram, Behold now, the LORD has kept me from bearing. I pray you, go in to my slave woman. It may be that I may be built by her. And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.”
Genesis 30:1-9 KJ21 “1 ¶ And when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister, and said unto Jacob, "Give me children, or else I die." 2 And Jacob’s anger was kindled against Rachel; and he said, "Am I in God’s stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?" 3 And she said, "Behold my maid Bilhah. Go in unto her, and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her." 4 And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid for a wife; and Jacob went in unto her. 5 And Bilhah conceived and bore Jacob a son. 6 And Rachel said, "God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice and hath given me a son." Therefore she called his name Dan [that is, Judging]. 7 And Bilhah, Rachel’s maid, conceived again and bore Jacob a second son. 8 And Rachel said, "With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed." And she called his name Naphtali [that is, My wrestling]. 9 When Leah saw that she had ceased bearing, she took Zilpah her maid and gave her to Jacob for a wife;”
1 Samuel 1:1-20 NKJV “1 ¶ Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim Zophim, of the mountains of Ephraim, and his name [was] Elkanah the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 2 And he had two wives: the name of one [was] Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. 3 This man went up from his city yearly to worship and sacrifice to the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. Also the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, [were] there. 4 And whenever the time came for Elkanah to make an offering, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. 5 But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, although the LORD had closed her womb. 6 And her rival also provoked her severely, to make her miserable, because the LORD had closed her womb. 7 So it was, year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, that she provoked her; therefore she wept and did not eat. 8 Then Elkanah her husband said to her, "Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? And why is your heart grieved? [Am] I not better to you than ten sons?" 9 ¶ So Hannah arose after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the tabernacle of the LORD. 10 And she [was] in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the LORD and wept in anguish. 11 Then she made a vow and said, "O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head." 12 And it happened, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli watched her mouth. 13 Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk. 14 So Eli said to her, "How long will you be drunk? Put your wine away from you!" 15 And Hannah answered and said, "No, my lord, I [am] a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD. 16 "Do not consider your maidservant a wicked woman, for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now." 17 Then Eli answered and said, "Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him." 18 And she said, "Let your maidservant find favor in your sight." So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer . 19 ¶ Then they rose early in the morning and worshiped before the LORD, and returned and came to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her. 20 So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived and bore a son, and called his name Samuel, [saying], "Because I have asked for him from the LORD."”

Tuesday, January 24 Lessons From the Heavenly Parent
What lessons can be seen from God’s parenting as in these text groups?
Group A - Deuteronomy 1:31 NRSV “and in the wilderness, where you saw how the LORD your God carried you, just as one carries a child, all the way that you traveled until you reached this place.”
John 6:33-35 NRSV “33 For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." 34 They said to him, "Sir, give us this bread always." 35 Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”
Philippines 4:19 NRSV “And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
Group B – Psalm 32:8 MKJV “I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you, My eye [shall be] on you.”
Isaiah 54:13 MKJV “And all your sons [shall be] taught of the LORD; and great [shall be] the peace of your sons.”
Hosea 11:3 MKJV “I also taught Ephraim to go; He took them on His arm. But they did not know that I healed them.”
Group C – Deuteronomy 8:5 ESV “Know then in your heart that, as a man disciplines his son, the LORD your God disciplines you.”
Proverbs 3:11-12 ESV “11 My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, 12 for the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.”
Hebrews 12:5-7 ESV “5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” 7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?”

Wednesday, January 25 Doing What Is Good For Children
Micah 6:8 NLT “No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”
Evaluate the parenting practices in these families:
Genesis 37:3-4 NKJV “3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he [was] the son of his old age. Also he made him a tunic of [many] colors. 4 But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him.”
Judges 14:1-3 Holman “1 ¶ Samson went down to Timnah and saw a young Philistine woman there. 2 He went back and told his father and his mother: “I have seen a young Philistine woman in Timnah. Now get her for me as a wife.” 3 But his father and mother said to him, “Can’t you find a young woman among your relatives or among any of our people? Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines for a wife?” But Samson told his father, “Get her for me, because I want her.””
1 Samuel 2:22-25 Holman “22 Now Eli was very old. He heard about everything his sons were doing to all Israel and how they were sleeping with the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 23 He said to them, “Why are you doing these things? I have heard about your evil actions from all these people. 24 No, my sons, the report I hear from the LORD’s people is not good. 25 If a man sins against another man, God can intercede for him, but if a man sins against the LORD, who can intercede for him?” But they would not listen to their father, since the LORD intended to kill them.”
1 Samuel 3:13 Holman “I told him that I am going to judge his family forever because of the iniquity he knows about: his sons are defiling the sanctuary, and he has not stopped them.”

Thursday, January 26 Shepherding a Child’s Heart
How did Jesus relate to children?
Matthew 18:2-5 Holman “2 Then He called a child to Him and had him stand among them. 3 “I assure you,” He said, “unless you are converted and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child––this one is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes one child like this in My name welcomes Me.”
Mark 9:36-37, 41 KJ21 “36 And He took a child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said unto them, 37 "Whosoever shall receive one of such children in My name, receiveth Me; and whosoever shall receive Me, receiveth not Me, but Him that sent Me. 41 “For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in My name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.”
What was Christ’s warning to those who offend children and cause them to sin?
Matthew 18:5-6 Holman “5 And whoever welcomes one child like this in My name welcomes Me. 6 “But whoever causes the downfall of one of these little ones who believe in Me––it would be better for him if a heavy millstone were hung around his neck and he were drowned in the depths of the sea!”
Mark 9:42 MKJV “And whoever shall offend one of [these] little ones who believe in Me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged around his neck and he were cast into the sea.”