Category: Spiritual Training ABC’s OF GOD

God is Gracious

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Day 1 – Read Ephesians 2:8

This verse tells us that by grace we have been saved through faith.
It also tells us that grace is a gift from God. 
You are a sinner, and you deserve to be separated from God for eternity. He is not okay with being separated from you, so He gave you His Son, who did not sin, and He took your punishment for sin on the cross. Because of Jesus, you get eternity, a gift you don’t deserve.

Day 2 – Read Ephesians 2-8Write the verse out. Memorize this verse today.

Day 3

Have you ever gotten anything that you didn’t deserve? Explain what it was and how you felt when you received it.
How do you think God is gracious to you?

Give it a try!

The hardest time to give someone grace is when someone is mean or does something bad to you. They don’t deserve your kindness to them, but you should do it anyway. Why?

Think about how many times you hurt Jesus by sinning.

No matter how you hurt God, He still gives you grace!

Day 4

Imagine if you had to take a test at school that you didn’t study for at all. Let’s pretend this test was so important that you couldn’t pass on to the next grade unless you got a certain score. What if while you were taking the test, you decide to cheat, and while looking on your friend’s paper your teacher catches you. You are sent to the principal’s office knowing you deserve to not move on to the next grade. Now imagine the principal and your teacher coming into the room and telling you they decided to give you a second chance to take the test. You didn’t deserve a second chance. In fact, there was nothing you could do to get a second chance, only they could give it to you. The principal and teacher would have given you the gift of grace.

Does this story help you understand how God is gracious? Romans 6:23 states that you deserve death. You deserve to be apart from God forever because you sin. God is gracious by sending us His Son to die on the cross. Because of Jesus, we get what we don’t deserve: a relationship with God forever.

Day 5

How can you be gracious to someone else today? Think of some ideas and go be gracious. When have you needed God’s grace?

CHECKPOINT #1Great Job! Email us at checkpoint@kanakuk.com so we can keep track of your progress. In your email, please include:
First Name
Last Name
Kamp you attended last summer
K-1 K-2 K-Seven K-West K-Kountry
Kamp you plan on attending next summer
K-1 K-2 K-Seven K-West K-Kountry
Title of the Book
One thing you learned
Parent’s Name
At Kanakuk, we will honor everyone who has completed all 3 checkpoints at closing ceremonies
Checkpoint 1 of 3

God is our Father

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Day 1 –  Read 1 John 3:1 

God is your Heavenly Father and you are one of His children. Think about what a dad is supposed to do. He loves you, guides you as you grow up, teaches you, protects you, disciplines you, and provides for what you need. Your dad is also your authority that God has given to you. There is no dad that is perfect and not everyone has a dad here on earth, but everyone has a Heavenly Father who will do all these things.

Day 2 – Read 1 John 3:1 and write it out.

Memorize this verse today.

No matter if your dad is active in your life or not, you all have an earthly dad. Did you know that Jesus had an earthly dad too? His name was Joseph. He wasn’t Jesus’ real dad, but Jesus loved and respected him like you love and respect your dad.

Day 3

How do dads provide for their kid’s needs?

Why do dads discipline their children when they are wrong?

What are some examples of how dads show love to their children?

How does your Heavenly Father love you, provide for you, and even discipline you?

Day 4

People love their children more than anything else, and the same is true for God. He loves His children more than anyone else can ever imagine. Everything He does is for you. He wants the best for you. Ties are great reminders of dads because they are always wearing them. Go to your dad or your granddad today and ask him for an old tie. If there are none in your house, you can grab one at a thrift store for 25 cents. Ask your dad or mom to tie the tie and then take it off. Take a sharpie and write “God is my Heavenly Father” and pin it to a bulletin board. It can remind you that you are His child, and He wants to love you and take care of you.

Day 5Take time today to write a thank you note to your dad. If you don’t have a dad you can write your granddad or any man in your family who helps you. Tell him you love him and thank him for all he has done for you. Also, pray to God and thank Him for being your Heavenly Father and for all He does for you.

DIG DEEPER Here are some other verses about how God is our Heavenly Father:
Ephesians  1: 3 and Isaiah 64:8.

 

God is Holy

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 Day 1 – Read 1 Peter 1:16

Holiness means you are perfect, without any flaws. It is also something that is different from anything or anyone else. Today, think about how God is perfect. How is God different from anyone else?

Day 2 – Read 1 Peter 1:16

Write this verse out.

Memorize this verse today.

Day 3God is the only One who is perfect, but He asks you to be holy like Him. To be like Him, you have to be different and stand out. How can you be different from who the world wants you to be in these situations?
How can you be different when someone is mean to you?
How can you be different in how you treat your parents?
How can you be different when you don’t get what you want?
How can you be different in how you use your words?

I PROMISE YOUGod knows it is hard to stand out in this world. He knows you will be tempted to do things the worlds way. He promises is in 1 Corinthians 10:6-13 that He will not allow you to have a temptation that you cannot handle. He will also give you all the help you need to do what is right.

Day 4It’s not easy being different in this world. It is easier to blend in and do what everyone else is doing, but God asks you to stand out. At Kanakuk, some Kampers get to go caving. You walk through a cave that has no sunlight at all. When you get to the back of the cave, if you turn your light out, you cannot see a thing because there is no source of light. The counselors press the button for their watch light to come on, and the tiny little light stands out in a big way. The crazy thing is that a watch light is so little. In the daylight you can’t even see it, but in the darkness it stands out and is bright enough to lead you out of the cave. The world can be a dark place, but if you live your life to be like Christ, who is holy, then you will be a light for the whole world to see.

Day 5

A few days ago, you were asked to think of how to be different. Make a commitment today to DO those things. Tell someone how you want to be like Christ and ask them to help you do it.

God is In Control

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Day 1 – Read Job 42:2The word “thwart” is a funny word. It means to prevent something from happening. You wear a rain jacket to thwart you from getting wet. You wear sunscreen to thwart being sunburned. This Bible verse tells us that God can do anything and nothing can thwart His plan. God is in control of everything that happens and nothing can stop Him from what He wants to do.

Day 2 – Read Job 42:2Write it down

Memorize this verse today.

Day 3

Today, think of all the people who are in control of your life and answer the following questions.
Did you know that God is in control of everything that has happened and will happen in history?
Did you know that God is in control of everything that happens, even in your life?
Do you feel safe and secure knowing that God, who is good, is in control?

Day 4

Have you ever played the board game Life? It’s a game where you roll the dice, and as you move, you experience different things about life. In the game, if you pass a certain point you might be able to buy a car. When you land on certain spaces, you pull a card that might tell you to go back 5 steps because your car broke down. You roll the dice for things such as what job you will do or how many kids you have.
Sometimes, landing on certain spots makes you pay money for going to the doctor, or you might receive money because you won a prize. It’s a fun game, and if you have it, you should play it. The dice and the cards are in control of the game. Everything that happens while you play is based on what you roll or what card you draw. Real life is NOT like the game of Life. Your life does not depend on a random card drawing or a chance dice roll. God has planned it all out for you and is in control. There is no need to worry.

Did you know?

All throughout the Bible, Satan tried to stop God’s plan to save you? One example is when God parted the Red Sea for His people. The people were running away from Pharaoh’s army who was chasing them. When they came to the Red Sea, they had no way to cross it. Those people were Jesus’ ancestors. If they died, it meant Jesus, your Savior, couldn’t be born. Nothing can stop God so He parted the Red Sea, and His people walked across on dry land to safety!

Day 5

Today, write down why you are thankful that God is in control.

God is Jesus

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Day 1 – Read Matthew 1:21:23Your mom and dad might have used a baby name book to pick your name. Every name has a meaning based on the way your name is formed. It is fun to look up what your name means. The Bible tells us that Jesus’ name means Immanuel, which means “God with us.” Jesus was God who came to earth as a human. Why would God leave His awesome heavenly home? The answer is to save you from your sin and to show you how to live on earth.

Day 2 –  Read John 1:29John the Baptist calls Jesus the Lamb of God. In the Old Testament, before Jesus was born, people who followed God had to sacrifice a lamb to take care of their sin. God asked them to do that while He made the way for Jesus, but the plan was always for Jesus to be the “true Lamb.” God had to become human to die for our sins.

Day 3

Why did God come down to earth?
How does it make you feel that the #1 reason God came to earth was to save you from your sins?

Day 4

God was a human. Think about that for a minute. Big ‘ole God, who is everywhere and eternal, came down as a baby and lived like you. God cried in His mom’s arms, God had to go to the bathroom. God might have stubbed His toe. God was bullied. God had friends. God played outside. God ate food. God was tempted to do wrong. God had family members. God might have had the flu. The list can go on and on and on. Jesus did everything a human does except He did it all without sinning. Are you amazed? You should be! He never fought with His siblings. He never complained about anything. He never disobeyed His parents. When bullied, He never fought back in anger. God came to earth and not only died for our sins, but showed us the right way to live our life.

Day 5Years ago, the “What Would Jesus Do” bracelets were popular. It challenged us to do things like Jesus would do. It’s time for a new saying, and you are going to come up with it. Think of a new saying or logo. It can be original, or it can play off of something that is already popular. The goal is for it to be a reminder to live like Jesus.

DIG DEEPER

Read Luke 2:25. Luke chapter 2 is the only part of the bible that told us about Jesus as a kid. Luke 2:25 tells you how He grew up in wisdom, stature, favor with God, and favor with man. At Kanakuk, we call this the 4 Square Life. How can you grow like Jesus did?

God is Just

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Day 1 – Read 2 Thessalonians 1:6

God is fair, and He will always do what is right. He will punish evil at the right time, and He will reward good at the right time. Sometimes, you want to take matters into your own hands when you think you deserve something. Sometimes, you think someone else needs to be punished, and you are the right one to do it. God is the only one that can do it the right way so we should leave it up to Him.

Day 2 – Read Thessalonians 1:6 again and write it down.Read Thessalonians 1:6 again and write it down.

This is the promise from God that you should memorize today.

Day 3

Sometimes, God punishes evil quickly, and sometimes it takes a while. Do you think it is hard to wait on God? Why?
The Bible tells us that God is patient with people when they do evil because He wants them to turn to Him. Are you glad that God was patient with you when you did something wrong?

Day 4 – Read Matthew 5:44

It will be easy for you to want to treat others as they have treated you. God tells us to do the exact opposite in this verse. What are we supposed to do for our enemies?

DID YOU KNOW..You spend most of your day focused on you. For example, you make sure you got dressed, you try to make yourself better, and often try and get what you want. God tells us in the bible to “love your neighbor as yourself.” Do you understand

Day 5

 You can trust that God will punish evil in the perfect timing. How can you respond to those who hurt you? While you trust God to deal with evil, it is always good to get help from an adult you trust if someone is doing something to hurt you.

God Knows Everything

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Day 1 – Read Psalms 139:1-4

God knows everything about you. He knows your thoughts, He knows what you are doing, and He knows what you will do. He, not only knows about you, but He also knows about everybody and everything in the world. There is nothing that surprises God. You don’t have to worry because God knows everything.

Day 2 – Read Psalm 139: 1-4 and write it down

Place it somewhere you will see it every day. Then memorize it!

Day 3Now that you have learned God knows everything, think about how that can help you in these situations. If someone is sick, do you feel better knowing that God knows what is wrong?
When something happens that you didn’t expect, do you feel better knowing that God knew it would happen?
Is there another situation when knowing God is in control brings you comfort?

Day 4Today, when people want to find an answer to something they grab their computer and “Google it.” The Internet is big and has lots of information, but it does not know everything. In fact, everything it says isn’t true. Often, there are some websites that tell you one thing and another website that teaches you something else. When you go to God to find answers, you can trust that He has one answer, and it’s the right one. He knows everything. Google’s got nothing on God!

Day 5God knows everything, and for four months He has been teaching you, through this Bible study, what He knows. What are some of things that you have learned from God while doing this Bible study?

BIGGER & betterHumans spend all of their time researching and finding out why things happen and what makes them happen. God knows it all. He doesn’t have to research or find answers because He knows the answer. Do you know how many hairs are on your head? To find out, you would have to start counting. The Bible tells you in Luke 12:7 that God knows even the craziest details like the number of hairs on your head!

God is Love

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Day 1 – Read 1 John 4:7-11

The dictionary could put just one word by its definition of love… God. Any love that you have, it comes from God. We only know about love because God first loves us. He is the example of true love.

Day 2 – Read 1 John 4:7-11

Memorize it. Circle every time the word love is used.

Day 3

Look at the verse that you wrote down yesterday. Today, answer some questions about God’s love.

Where does love come from?
How did God show us His love?
Is loving someone more than just saying it?
Because God loved us, what does He want us to do?

Day 4Have you ever thought about how much we use the word “love?” Put a rubber band around your wrist, and every time you say the word “love” put a mark on the rubber band. At the end of the day, count how many times you said it for any reason. You don’t realize it but you say things like “I love ice cream,” “I love my favorite football team,” “I love those shoes.” When you do catch yourself saying the word “love,” think about if you really mean it. God’s definition of love is sacrificing your life for something or someone you love. Would you really sacrifice your life for that scoop of ice cream or that pair of shoes? The answer hopefully will be “yes” for people who you love such as your family and friends. What if we only used the word love where it really applied? Would it make love more special? Since God is the definition of love, don’t you think it needs to be more special?

DID YOU KNOW…Americans buy 145 million Valentine’s Day cards every year.  People in our country also will spend 1 billion dollars on chocolate for Valentine’s Day. All of that money is spent to tell someone that you love them. Could you imagine what the world would be like if American’s spent that money on showing people they love them by helping them with their needs?

Day 5

Make a list of people you love. Have you shown them you love them lately? Think about how you can show each person on your list love today.

How have you seen God’s love?

God is the One and Only

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Day 1 – Read 1 Timothy 1:17The world says that there are many gods. The Bible says that God is the only God and none of the others are true. He has proven He is the one and only in the Bible and He proves it every day. Do you believe that God is the one and only God? Why?

Day 2 – Read 1 Timothy 1:17

Write out the verse. Memorize this verse today.

The Secret Service agents don’t have to study all the different kinds of fake money. They spend their time studying and knowing the characteristic of the real dollar so they can spot any type of fake dollar. Spend your time knowing God, and you will be able to spot anything or anyone that claims to be God or claims to have value and know they are not the real thing.

Day 3If God is the one and only God, then how special is He?

Should anything else be more important than God?

Day 4

The Secret Service is a group whose job is to protect the President and all of the important American government officials. Did you know that the Secret Service has one other task? Most Secret Service agents spend all their time making sure American money is not fake. The agents work very hard to make sure the money we use is real and not counterfeit. A counterfeit dollar is not worth anything. It might look good, but it can’t buy you anything because it has no value. There are things about a real dollar bill’s paper, the way it’s printed, and even the stuff inside the paper that show that it’s real.

People who make fake money can get pretty good at making it look real, but there is no way for them to recreate the real thing. Only the American treasury has the ability to make a real dollar bill. Ask your mom if you can put a dollar bill in your Bible next to 1 Timothy 1:17. Just like there can only be one true dollar, there is only one true God.

Let the dollar remind you He is the only real God who holds true value.

Day 5

Look back through your book and see all the things you have learned about God through your ABC’s. What have you learned that proves that God is the one and only God? Write your thoughts down.

 

 

God is Light

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Day 1 – Read John 8:12

Look around and see the light around you. What is lighting your room and keeping it from being dark? God is light. Where He is, there is no darkness. Sin and bad things can’t “hang out” with God, and when they do, they are exposed for what they are. Light shows everything, it keeps us safe, and it guides us where to go. God is our light, and if we spend time with Him, we can be a light, too.

Day 2 – Read John 8:12

Write out the verse. Memorize this verse today.

Day 3

When you walk into a dark room, what do you do first?
Why do you turn on the light in a dark room?
How does turning on the light help?

Give it a try!There are lots of things that you can make that are glow-in-the dark. Craft stores sell glow-in-the-dark paint. The Internet has lots of ways to make glow-in-the-dark slime. This week, turn off the TV and ask your mom or dad to help you make something glow-in –the dark. You could paint a picture frame or make some slime. Sit it under the light all day, and when you go to bed, watch it light up in your room. Let it be a reminder that God is light and spending time with Him will give you His light.

Day 4

Solar power is the coolest way to light your house. Your family might have a house that is powered by the sun. To do this, you have to put solar panels somewhere on your roof. The solar panels sit out in the sun and soak up the light. As they soak up the light, they are collecting energy from the sun to power your home’s electricity. Basically, the sun’s light gives your home light. God works in the same way. If you spend time with Him, you soak up His light, and it powers YOU to be a light to others.

Day 5What are some ways you can spend time with God so you can be a light to others?